what can i say? i was introduced to MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME... 3years ago
I am beyond privileged to have not 1 but 2 church families... not only is Emory Valley my home church but i have had for the last few years the honor of being part of my parents church that i lovingly refer to as my FAV MARTINS CHAPEL...and with that honor has come the GREATEST BLESSINGS of my life RIPPLING HOPE MISSIONS TEAM.... for the last 3 yrs i have been honored to be a part of this group... My first trip was in 2009 only my 2nd time being out of the country...it was the most humbling and awesome experience ever and i was sharing it with an awesome group of people among them...MY PARENTS...my first trip i remember thinking WOW..what i wouldn't give for the people in America to want what the people in Jamaica want and i seen first hand how much we take for granted THE SON OF GOD and what HE DOES for us...we had so many things that weren't supposed to happen on that trip that was GOD doing and that's the only reason for the things happening...i learned that if you DON'T LIKE chicken..well Jamaica may not be your country ;) i learned that GODS GRANDEST blessings come in the smallest packages ...and sometimes his BLESSINGS are there...you just have to climb a mountain to find them..FAMILY is what makes the BAD things GOOD again no matter what you have or DON'T have...my 2nd trip in 2010.... i learned that sometimes even in Jamaica you have to make known what you already know is THE GREATEST BLESSING the SON OF GOD!! and even if they cant see it... HE IS STILL THERE... and will BE... i learned the he BLESSES his children and what GIVES HIM THE GLORY shall RICHLY BE BLESSED twice fold...i also experienced the pain and heartache of losing the ones you love and the joys of the LORD with another life coming into the world....my third trip just this past October was a mixture of the previous years i seen the ones that wanted it but the same was seen the ones that didn't want what we were there to bring..and honestly my heart was saddened.. we even experienced the devil first hand...ALL 3 of these trips hold special meanings and LASTING MEMORIES that are FOREVER ETCHED in my HEART.... i want to THANK GOD for the opportunity to be able to go and do this and to be his fisherman and to bring HIS SALVATION to those we may not otherwise have the opportunity to know him.. i have made lasting friendships and hope to go back again and lord willing if it is his will.... when he calls i will go!!
