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Jamaica: New School, New Hope |
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JULY 2007 - VOLUME 26, NUMBER 7 |
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old, will be starting at the new Basic School in the fall. This school is such a blessing to the people of Bull Bay, and it is an incredible feeling to know that God worked through the people of St. John's to make it happen. Katie Stennes I only needed to see the smiles on the faces of the residents of Bull Bay to know that the Holy Spirit is at work there. The children have new hope for a good education, healthcare, and a daily meal as a result of the kindness and prayers of St. John's parishioners. On their behalf I'd like to say "thank you!" and remind you that our work in Jamaica is not finished.
My first encounter with the extreme poor was halfway around the world in Bangladesh, a country whose culture is drastically different from my own in the United States. What I realized during my experience in Jamaica is that the poor are not as far removed, geographically, as I had originally thought. People who practice the same religion as us, and live in a capitalist democracy, are living in extreme poverty in our own backyard. A history of exploitation has left Jamaica in debt, leaving the government with few resources to build their infrastructure. The work done by St. John's in Bull Bay has been an important first step in working to correct these injustices. Nikki Stennes
I absolutely loved being in Bull Bay and meeting the people of the community. When we shared the sign of peace during the Mass at African Martyrs of Uganda (AMU) Catholic Church, I felt so connected to them. It is something beautiful about the Catholic faith that we can celebrate Mass anywhere and have that universality of faith to bring us together. I was so impressed with the work of Food for the Poor, their employees, and everything they are doing in Jamaica. I am also impressed with all the work that St. John's has done in Bull Bay and your commitment to social justice. In the JustFaith program, we have talked about global solidarity, and St. John's partnership with AMU in Bull Bay is a great way to connect with others and work towards solidarity that is so important to our faith. Barbara Marshall The community is so incredibly grateful and excited... about sending their children to a Catholic school!
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In May, Joanne and Sarah Dehnbostel, Bonnie Heslin, Barbara Marshall, and Katie and Nikki Stennes traveled with Food for the Poor, Inc. to Jamaica. These parishioners represented St. John's for the dedication of the repaired clinic and the new school for our sister parish in Bull Bay, built through the generosity of St. John's faith community. They also brought school supplies donated by students from St. John's School and Faith Formation. Bonnie Heslin As we were flying into Jamaica, I couldn't imagine what we were going to do there. As we stepped off of the plane, I felt the hot wind blowing. We soon got on the bus and drove to Barbara's Village, and I saw how happy the children were with what I thought was nothing. I couldn't believe how excited they were to see us, just strangers in their yard. The second day, I saw some of the disabled and uneducated children in a special home. Most of them were lying in their beds asleep, and I was thinking that if they lived in the U.S., they would get the care they needed, and then they would be able to speak and live among others like they should. Sarah Dehnbostel It was amazing to see the drastic transformation of Bull Bay. There is a new energy and vibrancy within the community, and it is clear that everyone is so grateful for everything that St. John's has done. The highlight of my trip was seeing Miss Nicey, whom I met in October of 2005 on my first pilgrimage to Jamaica. When we had spoken during our first meeting, she was anguished, tired, and feeling hopeless as she expressed her concerns for the future of her great-granddaughter. Now, seeing her again, it was like she was a new person, completely filled with joy. Her great-granddaughter, who is now four years |
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