jamaica diary
Day One
Our mission group (Fr. Comer, center)
Saturday, Jan. 22, was the beginning of our journey. Snow delayed our departure, but we got on our way eventually. We landed at Montego Bay and began our journey to Jacob's Ladder. This is one of 13 sites operated by the Mustard Seed Communities.
Jacob's Ladder houses 160 children and adults with various needs. There are teenage girls who are HIV-positive. (Rape is very common here.) There is also a house for those with autism, another for those who are nonverbal and who have a variety of mental illnesses and physical handicaps."
Jacob's Ladder houses 160 children and adults with various needs. There are teenage girls who are HIV-positive. (Rape is very common here.) There is also a house for those with autism, another for those who are nonverbal and who have a variety of mental illnesses and physical handicaps."
Day Two
On Sunday, we went to Mass at Our Lady of Fatima parish. It is a pretty little church facing out on the ocean. As you look to the sanctuary, large windows show the ocean behind the priest. I'm glad I don't have that distracting my congregation. The beauty of Mother of God is enough.
Later we visited some of the other villages run by Mustard Seed Communities. One was called "My Father's House. It is the home of 40 children who have profound mental and physical handicaps. They were so open and loving, just wanting to be touched and noticed. Some spoke of our desire to be Christ to them, but I was struck by something else. I saw each of the kids as Jesus, coming to me in the distressing disguise of their tragic handicap. As they looked at me, I sensed Jesus saying, "Please love me!"
It also struck me that, in the eyes of our world, each of these children should have been aborted from his or her mother's womb, unwanted and unloved. How tragic! This thought disturbed me greatly.
We also visited another village called "Jerusalem!" where we will be working tomorrow. A sign on a wall paraphrases Jesus: "Let the little children come to Jerusalem." An amazing day!
Later we visited some of the other villages run by Mustard Seed Communities. One was called "My Father's House. It is the home of 40 children who have profound mental and physical handicaps. They were so open and loving, just wanting to be touched and noticed. Some spoke of our desire to be Christ to them, but I was struck by something else. I saw each of the kids as Jesus, coming to me in the distressing disguise of their tragic handicap. As they looked at me, I sensed Jesus saying, "Please love me!"
It also struck me that, in the eyes of our world, each of these children should have been aborted from his or her mother's womb, unwanted and unloved. How tragic! This thought disturbed me greatly.
We also visited another village called "Jerusalem!" where we will be working tomorrow. A sign on a wall paraphrases Jesus: "Let the little children come to Jerusalem." An amazing day!
This little girl is one of the many who are cared for by the Mustard Seed Communities.
Fr. Mike makes some new friends
The Adoration Chapel at My Father's House. Each resident and staff member spends an hour with Jesus every single day. Msgr. Gregory, who is the founder of Mustard Seed Communities, explained that this happens in all the villages, as everything begins and ends with Jesus. The kids all belong to Him.
The full moon as seen from Jacob's Ladder.
Day Three
Today I had a tour of Jacob's Ladder by a religious brother from Zimbabwe. He is 30 years old and had been a Franciscan, but then he discovered this ministry.
There are five brothers from various countries who are in formation here. I got to spend time with some of the residents, visiting and helping to feed them.
There are hills and more hills. That is why the place is called Jacob's Ladder. You are constantly going up and down.
There are five brothers from various countries who are in formation here. I got to spend time with some of the residents, visiting and helping to feed them.
There are hills and more hills. That is why the place is called Jacob's Ladder. You are constantly going up and down.
This photo shows one of several villages at Jacob's Ladder. Forty-nine kids were recently brought here from Haiti. They seem very happy.
This is the house of formation. It can house 12, but they only have five brothers in residence now. The brothers hail from Nicaragua, Jamaica and Zimbabwe.
Day Four
This morning we had Mass with residents and staff and another Northern KY group working in another village. So joyful!
Day Five
All good things must come to an end. On our last day, we enjoyed a great dinner and spent time on the beach. The music was all reggae, especially Bob Marley.
These guys in our mission group worked incredibly hard all week. They worked, they prayed, and they played. I am so blessed to be with them, and we were so blessed to be with the residents of Jacob's Ladder. As we heard all week from Bob, "God is good...all the time. All the time...God is good."
I'm ready to come home but not looking forward to the temperature difference. It will be about 80 degrees colder in Northern Kentucky. See all of you soon.
These guys in our mission group worked incredibly hard all week. They worked, they prayed, and they played. I am so blessed to be with them, and we were so blessed to be with the residents of Jacob's Ladder. As we heard all week from Bob, "God is good...all the time. All the time...God is good."
I'm ready to come home but not looking forward to the temperature difference. It will be about 80 degrees colder in Northern Kentucky. See all of you soon.
Our final dinner.
We spent a few hours at the beach and then came to a great outdoor restaurant.
Yours truly trying to master the selfie.
Soaking up the sunset at the end of an amazing week.