Digging in to the work

Thursday June 18, Phyllis Machledt wrote:

The plan today is to mix and pour the cement at the church into the forms we made yesterday.  We’ll be at Mt. Osborn all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  However, the cultural program which had been planned has been switched to Sunday.

Breakfast at the church arrived a little late, but for the coffee drinkers in our group, there was an ample supply.  They served eggs and sausages, plantains and fried breadfruit as well as fresh pineapple.
Mize, Sean, Matt and Elijah did the devotions for the pre-school, telling the story of Noah and the significance of the rainbow.  They had also prepared a craft but because of all the work going on, the teachers decided to do it back at the school which is next door.

To Americans used to cement mixers filling the forms, the whole process was very different.  The local workers began mixing the sand, small stones and cement in a big circle in front of the church door on the parking area.  Once it was sufficiently mixed with water, we started the bucket brigade.  Buckets had to be hand carried and passed along the line a hill, up stairs and up a ladder to be poured in the forms.  The buckets were heavy and it was hard, messy work, but luckily with everyone working the first part was done in one and a half hours.  Then we had to stop to make more wooden forms for other beams.  The local men, especially brother Lewis, were definitely the experts!  None of us, with the exception of Bob and Mize, had done any construction quite like this.  However, we were good, cheap labor.

Meanwhile the ladies of the church were cooking and preparing lunch and dinner for us – curried chicken and escavitch (snapper) and ackee. After a full day of work moving cement, the team came back to the hotel, tired but feeling good about the progress we made on the building.  Our only casualty was Opal’s sprained ankle (she is recovering).  However, when she was injured, we called for help in the bucket bridge.  Three women from the church stepped forward to help and worked with as for the afternoon. There was an incredible feeling of accomplishment not only from the actual amount of concrete we moved but also from the cooperation with the people of Mt. Osborn.
Would that the whole world could find a way to work together with mutual respect and with God’s love.

Phyllis Machledt

Jamaican Breafkasts, Contrasts and Joyful Work

John Machledt writes:

Breakfast  at 7:30 AM.  We were served fruit, pancakes, eggs, boiled green bananas and akee which is the fruit that is poisonous if you do not cook it when it is ripe.  After breakfast, we headed to the Mt. Osborn church with 15 of us packed in the van with the driver.  On the way, we passed many run-down the  and standard colorful Jamaican houses, but there was one mansion, which was very strange to see. It was striking ato see this mansion among so many poor, a personal castle for show.  Fortunately, the van made it up the hill (more like a mountain) and we go to the church.

We first met with the children from the jpre-school and they sang songs and recited lines they had learned.  It was very sweet and touching and it reminded many of our mission group of their childhoods in Jamaica.  Then Opal and Byron led a story and song for the kids before they went went back to school. After that we prepared to start working. There were a few men there to help us which was more than we expected. They were all volunteers and great workers and they accomplished a lot for one day. One man was even standing on the cement wall working in flip-flops. At first we weren't sure what to do because no one was there to tell us, but we figured it out quickly with the help of brother Lewis who is a great carpenter.

Summing It Up - The YAM 2015 Team Reflects on Antigua

New Families, New Games, New Memories

Anna Jensen writes:

This morning began with my family (Jill’s Family) doing devotion. We decided to perform a skit about materialism. We then set out on an educational tour of the island, including a stop at a fort and a quick history lesson. We got lunch at “The Big Banana” which was great but Tyler and I didn’t get our food. Then we dispersed into family groups for shopping for our family and church. Currently we are playing "Kenyan mouse nail” a game derived from Egyptian Rat Screw, but with more rules. Every 10 minutes or so we remind each other that we leave tomorrow and all agree that refusing to leave and staying an extra week is the best choice. Karla requires me to include her name before I finish writing, so here.

Changing Me for the Better

Shamar Green writes:

First in my blog I’m going to talk about how last night I made a new friend in Antigua from who I think is a really cool guy. I am really enjoying my time in Antigua. I feel good about what we are doing in Antigua from building our relationship with each other, from helping building the church at Baster and at Gilbert. I’m happy that this trip is changing me for the better. I have made lifelong friends on this trip that I can look for when I’m down or in trouble. These guys and girls are like my brothers and sisters. OLEANDER

About Those Donkeys...

Randy Pringle writes:

This trip so far is fun, I met many new friends. We have to wake up early in the morning, eat breakfast and go to our work site. I’m used to waking up early in the morning because I got to get up at 5:45am for school. Coming to Antigua is a good experience because it was the birthplace of John Wesley’s Methodist teaching in the Americas. The first work site my group began to work at was Gilbert memorial. I didn’t like it at all. It had donkey droppings on the floor grounds. Every stop I took there was donkey dropping. I felt uncomfortable walking around the field. The second work site was Baster Methodist Church. It was good because it was no doodoo and it was mostly in the shade.

The Best Birthday Ever!

Michael Sibley-Prusak writes:

Coming on this was the most amazing experience of my life so far. I’ve made lots of new friend’s and made soooooo many new and awesome memories. I don’t want to leave, I don’t think anyone does. The memories I’ve made there will stay with me forever. It makes me sad when I realize that I won’t see any of these people again. Or at least not for a long time. I think I laugh the most and the hardest I ever have with these new friends. My squad/crew of me, Cameron and Jerami had the most fun EVER! after we found that we all share the same personality and all bonded so well. My bros, Presley, Joe, Jerami, John, Justin, Eriq and Matt. Then my girls, Cameron, Kyleigh, Tyler, Jess, Hanna, Sydey, Imama. I’ll miss the times we had together and hope I’ll be able to hang out with all of them again. ANYWAY, this trip was AMAZING!! The views were absolutely breath taking. I took as many pictures as possible. Swimming with the sting rays was a once in a life time experience that I am so happy I got to be part of. My birthday cake that totally shocked me when I saw it. My birthday here was the best one I have ever had. I love being here and I didn’t want to leave. If only pictures were like portals, I’d jump right into each and everyone everyday. Working with Bobby was the Best. Working up on the roof was so fun. Bobby gave me loss of life lessons, like how the last one could kill you. We get to pick coconuts from the trees and drink the water inside. I’ve learned so much and I enjoyed every second of the work we did. I wish I could come back. This past week was a dream that I lived in reality. I loved this trip. I don’t want to leave yet. Just one more week PLEASE. I love it here. The work was so accomplishing and I think I’ve left my mark.

Getting of the Dust

Jon Lohutko writes:

I feel as if I peak for everyone. When I say this trip has undoubtedly reached the “transforming” stage. Our chaperones, Youth, and religious leaders have all united in the boiling point in this stage of our faith journey. With Antigua acting as our figurative teapot. I feel as if my character has drastically developed with this trip acting as a catalyst. The friendships I’ve made on this excursion will last longer than I can ever imagine. As far as the members of 2015’s YAM group go, I’m sure as the dust settles from the quake that his trip was, a new refined more perfect group of future youth leaders will rise.

Knee Deep in the Experience of Mission

"Experience"

Mission Team Members Celebrate Ash Wednesday

Kyleigh Curtin writes:


My experience thus far has been the most wonderful experience I’ve had so far. On our flight here to Antigua it was crazy. I’ve clicked with so many people so fast it’s weird. I’ve never clicked with people this fast. The six hour flight had me all types of crazy because for one; I’ve never been on a six hour flight before, two; take off, landing, and turbulence was just ridiculous (never again, maybe), and three; it gave me the worst stomach ache in the world. The worksites are so much fun. I think it’s because we have a good group. I feel very good that I’m here being the best that I can and doing the best I can. Some of the work is work that I’ve never done before but I learned pretty fast. I really feel like this is something everyone should do because for me it gives me joy to know that I’m doing good and helping in the best way possible. Also you learn a lot from trips like this. It teaches you great life lessons.

"Storming" the Mission

Cameron Neiblum writes:

Once upon a time there was a group of teenagers that made it to Antigua. They were not alone for their faithful and caring adults were right alongside. The days went by smoothly with oceans, smiles, and ghost stories, but as all good things do, a bump in the trip came along. Siobhan once told me that a good mission trip goes through the stages of forming, norming, storming, performing and transforming. Today is Wednesday, some people call it middle of the week, others call it "hump-day" and some storming day. Well today started off brilliant enough. Breakfast had delicious cereal and egg sandwiches, and my group got to work at Baxter Methodist Church. We plastered walls, talked to Jermaine about his truck driving dreams, and ate the most delicious rotis you’ve ever tasted.

We came back and … well I was last in line for the shower and covered in cement so I jumped in the pool and started a little fiesta. The splashing, jumping, and marco poloing ensued until dinner. Have you ever had pasta while listening to live steel drums? If not I suggest you try it sometime! Until this point in time Mike, Jessie and I were sure that the storming phase would not appear. Could it be possible that this group is so amazing that storming cannot exist? Well unfortunately we spoke soon. When the subject of cell phones came up everything fell to pieces. Anyway, let’s fast forward back to the fun times. Currently I’m sitting around the table with Carolyn, Jon, Anna, Matthew and Jerami, Claudia, Jessie, Eric with a Q and Matt … I mean Mike. (I seem to be mixing Mike and his brother’s name up.) Good night world! That’s all there is for today!

Day Two in Antigua: Humble and Light Hearts at Work

Rev. Siohban Sargent writes:
I'm already amazed by our Youth Ambassadors. Arriving to the Baxter worksite, the youth were hard at work and they had been hard at work all morning, carrying large cement stones to the 2nd floor of what will soon be the Baxter community center, bringing piles of sand up bucket by bucket, and finally shoveling gravel and mixing cement to continue the masonry work to be done. They don't shy away from getting their hands dirty and their willingness to jump in is inspiring.

With their reflections the evening before during our sad/glad time, these 26 young people seem to not only recognize the meaning behind what we're doing here in Antigua but they also wield this gift of service and transformation with a sense of humility and light-heartedness. Even when asked to give up their prized electronic devices (phones, iPads, laptops) there was little reluctance and ultimately such requests are met with flexibility and understanding. They are a joy to be around and their gratitude is witnessed in their heartfelt prayers and willingness to chip in and help one another. The generosity we've received from our hosts has been received with appreciation.

It is only day two and I feel like I'm a part of one great big family marked by God's spirit, love and grace. We are playing games and enjoying our new friendships.

It is a blessing to witness the level of commitment and dedication among these youth to live out God's call on their lives and I'm excited to see their growth and deepening spiritual connections throughout this trip.

Reflections on the Journey to Antigua

A New Experience

We just got off the plane and I honestly feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I have taken a plane in the past, however I have never really taken the plane or traveled out of the country by myself or basically without my parents. But me being kind of scared to travel without my parents is not the only thing that made the weight heavier. Another thing that made that weight heavier on my shoulders is, before I got to the airport and since the beginning of all the meetings and what not, I really thought that no one was going to be talking to each other and the only people talking would be the people that already knew each other, which was kind of true at first, but after we got through security everyone started to converse and joke around with each other. Even right now as we are in Trinidad and I am writing this, all I hear is laughter and kids that just met having a good time. I really cannot wait until the end of the week because I feel that we will all be very close and act like an actual family.

Matthew Johnson

The Hours

Being punctual did not feel as sweet as it appeared. I was supposed to arrive at the airport at 5 O’clock. I got there at 3:30pm. After 2 minutes it was 10:30pm and I was boarding the plane, I only have a few thoughts:

I will get hotter

I will be smarter

I will be blessed

Soon I WILL BE INTERNATIONAL!!!

In a few more hours my environment will be different. I will see new people, In a fe hours I will help someone in need. In a few hours I will make a difference. I just have to wait for it...

Steven Cox

Up, Up and Away! Farewell Photos from JFK

The United Methodist Church's New York Annual Conference's Youth Ambassadors for Mission are now in Antigua! As they progress in their experiences there, we'll be keeping you abreast here on the blog with journal entries from them and select photos. Below are a few select photos. We'll be sharing the full set of photos with family members. Please offer your prayers of support and encouragement to these energetic young Christians in service to our Lord!