Friday - Final Day...We will miss Robin's Nest

Hey everyone! It’s Sara, I can’t believe what God is doing here in Jamaica. I have made so many deep connections with the kids, it’s unbelievable. Every time you look into a kids eyes, you see hope, peace, and love, love that they yearn to have and love that they return back to us as we spend small, soft moments with them. So many things are different at an orphanage and you know that these things are happening when you’re at home, but I believe that you can’t really make sense of it unless you see it. Yesterday I held a little boy while he was sick and feverish, he had no mother to hold him or care for him during that, the pod moms all tried to help him as much as they could but they couldn’t possibly take the time to just hold him for any amount of time because they have so many other duties, they couldn’t love him and kiss him long enough that a sick child deserves to be hugged or kissed, and there’s just something that happens in your heart when you see something like that, a tugging from God. God brought us here not only to love these children for a week, but remind them of love that will last them eternity, a true love and happiness that they really deserve. Each one of these beautiful kids deserves the world, when you look at them, you see hope. I can’t believe it’s Friday, and I can’t believe that it’s our last day here, please be praying as we make these hard goodbyes, can’t wait to see you all soon!

Love, Sara

Our experience has been nothing short of AMAZING!  I'm completely blown away with the maturity level of our team and their willingness to giveaway their interest for the interest of Robin's Nest and our team.  I'm so proud of each one of them!  It was an absolute privilege to be a part of this great group of young adults who allowed God to use them in the lives of so many kids!
Thanks for all your PRAYERS!
Tom

Thursday - God is molding and shaping us!

Aye guys, It’s Katie mahnnn! Its hard to believe that tomorrow is actually Friday!  I feel like just yesterday I was learning all the kids names.  Yesterday as a team we all got together and talked through some issues that were going on in our hearts.  Honestly it was hard to talk about at first but as the night went on God showed us His merciful and wonderful love once again. This morning, I woke up with Lindsey, Rebekah, Josiah, and my dad.  We were so pumped to get up early to read, color and make airplanes with the kids. Later on in the day we had our first day of VBS!  I was singing and playing with the preschoolers the whole time. We got to help the kids make necklaces (which they love!!!!) and thanks to God and Sheila’s teaching abilities everything went smoothly. :)  There are two little girls that I have grown attached to throughout this week. (Kimberly + Martinez) Although they were abandoned by their parents, I always see them smiling and having fun.  These girls have shown me that I have no excuse to be upset about a little sunburn.  I have a loving family that continually prays for me, and never stops caring for me! I came on this trip to serve and honor God knowing that I would have to sacrifice my pleasures for the sake of His work.  He has kept me safe and has blessed me with so many wonderful moments.  I am looking forward to spending all of tomorrow loving the kids!  Pray that our departure will go smoothly and that we would never forget how good God has been to us on this trip! 

LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL,

Katie mahhhnn :)

Hello from the mountains of Jamaica! What a reminder of God’s  awesome creation every time we walk out of our room. The past two days have taught me a lot.  Just because you’re on a mission trip does not mean that everything will go easy. You have to give up your sinful desires every day and submit to God.  It is so easy to sit back and let others do the work and only think about yourself… At home and in the mountains of Jamaica.  We constantly have to remind ourselves that “it isn’t all about me.” Not only do we have to remind 2 year olds who constantly say, “MINE!” but also ourselves.  Also, God has really showed me how important it is to have strong male leadership. The Jake’s House kids (ages 9-14), yearn for a leader to show them how to be a man.  They struggle with things most boys their age struggle with, but they don’t always have a male to sit them down and help them realize that they are doing wrong. These boys have so much potential.  Us guys (Tom, Josiah, Caleb), have been hanging out with them and trying to dig deeper and make them think about how a man should act.  Sometimes talking about that isn’t easy, so please continue to pray for these boys who long for a father figure in their lives.  Pray that we can challenge them and help them eventually become the men God made them to be.  One love,

Andrew Schauer

P.S.
Love and miss you mom!

Wednesday - Pre-School FUN DAY!

Hello hello everyone! It’s Lindsey! This week has been absolutely AMAZING! I couldn’t be more blessed to have this opportunity to be back at the Robin’s Nest with the kids I’ve already made relationships with last year. Today was a special day for the preschool age kids here; it was “Fun Day!” After breakfast, the big day began! There were three different groups of kids who rotated throughout three different stations: games, crafts, and pool time. Watching the kids play together, learn how to make puppets, and seeing them splash around in the pool are memories I will always remember. Their smiles, laughter, and maybe a few tears every now and then made my heart so happy. After lunch, the kids split up in age groups of 3,4, and 5 year olds and had an Easter Egg Hunt around the playground. The kids soon found out that the eggs held something rare and special to them “Sweets” (candy.) The hunt was a perfect ending to such a fun filled day. God is placing so many different emotions into my heart, it feels like a tornado is just flying around constantly. My heart is breaking for the pain that these kids have gone through and with every other emotion, my heart is still trying to figure out what else God is trying to tell me and show me through every little thing that happens each day. My mom once told me “In every situation, both good or bad, look for what God is trying to show you. And when you capture that lesson, give praise to the one who deserves it.” Those words are dear to my heart that are helping me get through this week. I am so excited to see what else God has planned for me to do while I am down here! Though, the trip is coming to an end in a few days, I am ready to be obedient to whatever He throws my way. Please pray the kids will open their hearts to what we have planned for them in their VBS for the next two days. Please pray for strength and patience for my team and I as we continue to let God’s light shine through our words and actions to the kids, staff members and any other person God places in our path. Thank you so much! With Love, Lindsey.

Hello Everyone! Its abbey. Its is only Wednesday, and God has moved so much throughout the week. His love and spirit has shown up all throughout the trip and I couldn’t be happier to be apart of the experience. Today we held “Fun Day”  We had multiple events such as swimming, puppet making,  some outdoor activities, and even an  Easter egg hunt. It was great to see the kids celebrating Easter , and worshipping God! As the week goes on the kids start to open up, I get to meet new people, laugh and play with kids, and love on the precious babies. As I sit here now, with a baby in my lap, smiling a big smile , I am reminded of Gods  undying love for us, how he smiles on each and everyone. Thank you all for the prayers, and letters, it is so encouraging! Cant wait to tell stories of this amazing trip. Love to all of you!! -Abbey