Sharing the Gospel

We began our morning like other mornings at the hotel.  Some go for a walk, some prepare for the day, some head to Starbucks to bring back product for other team members.  But today was different:  Jesus had released the imprisoned glasses!

Jamie led our devotion based on Paul's letter, Phillippians 1:12-14. We have been given the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our friends without fear.  We sang along with Chris Tomlin on "Take My Life and Let it Be", reminding us to use our feet to take that freeing message to others.

We arrived at the worship center to lay out of tools and eat a light breakfast. We arranaged our station locations to ensure proper flow between education, testing, dispensing the eyeglasses.  The signs that Brenda created were placed outside.  We shared a prayer and broke off to manage the stations.  

We were able to start early to accomodate those that arrived early.  We knew that those screened before we had our supply of glasses were expected to return today.  We soon needed additional help at the dispensing station.  Several team members participated in this activity throughout the day.

Many of the friends who returned today were excited about the availability of glasses.  These glasses are donated by others who saw that they were no longer needed.  They were restored for reuse by MOST Ministries volunteers.  Our friends in Kingston see these glasses as an escape from a world of blurred vision.

We commented throughout the day of the smiles we saw as our friends received their eyeglasses and sunglasses.  This was our sign of seeing God today.  Our friends praised God for the release of the glasses.  They thanked us for being in Kingston to share these glasses.

We served groups of students from a local school.  We served three generations of family members.  We saw friends with uniforms from area businesses, even the grocery store we had visited earlier in the week.  In total, we served 120 people who completed the stations, with a total of 150 people that had started registration earlier in the week.

During our reflection in the evening, Alysia noted the number of Godly men who praised God and prayed during the clinic.  We met new believers and Christians of many years of faith.  We laughed with the children brought to the clinic by moms, grandmoms, and aunts.  One friend wanted to hear the reason why would come their island to serve.  The reason was clear:  we wanted to serve our Lord and Savior, prompted by a neighborhood church that wanted us to provide this service.

The day went quickly with the busyness of the clinic.  We flagged down an ice cream truck from I Scream to consume bowls of their tasty flavors.  We drove to PeppaThyme to enjoy an assortment of jerk pork, chicken, sausage, and sides dishes.  Our waitress even sang and danced to a Bob Marley song.

Rachel led the evening devotions using          1 Corinthians 10:31.  She reminded us that as Christians we have a reason for our actions at home or in Jamaica.  We do these things to give glory to God.  As we honor and serve, we reflect the love of Christ to others.  We listened to "Created for His Glory" inspired by Isaiah 43:7.  

We are made by Him to use our gifts to share the Gospel.  We have seen in Kingston that the friends we have met receive His gifts with thanksgiving.  We have seen Him in rwcent days keep His promises.  That is not only Good News, but great news for all of us.