Personal Narrative: My Mission Trip To Jamaica

Two years ago, my family did not know what to do on vacation at Key West, so my dad started looking for activities. We've already done all the main activities, like walking down Duval Street. While looking, my dad found snorkeling, and the whole family liked the idea. The next day we rode on a boat with two instructors/guides and their pet cat. We started out to the reef where our snorkeling session would occur. We put on our wetsuits and our snorkel masks, and when we jumped in the ocean, the water felt awfully cold even with our swimsuits on. We then had to swim to the reef because the boat could not come too close to it. When we finally arrived at the reef, I became a bit nervous due to the closeness of the reef to my body (about 2 feet

How everything back in the U.S? Right now I'm in Panama visiting its different places and people. Over here is Panama it can get sunny and hot. Panama is a really fascinating country but I think the two things I have enjoyed over here was visiting the Panama Canal and learning about the Kuna Indians. Did you know the Panama Canal connects both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean? The canal is huge! Its 50 miles long and stenches deep in land! The canal according to what I remember was finished in April 1907 by Colonel George W. Goethals. To cross the entire canal took around 8-10 hours !! Though it was nice to see the land around the canal when the ride took off.

Acts of service always created a desire in me to help make people’s lives better. People often put forth their best when

One day waking up thinking this was a normal day at my birth home, Jamaica, I walked to my grandparents’ house, stayed there for a couple of hours, then I saw this pretty, shiny, new Nissan Altima pulled up, and stopped. Moments later a tall dark-skinned guy stepped out the vehicle, fixed his hat, and walked to the door. When the doors open he burst into tears and said to me, “Hey son”, at first my siblings and I was in shock because we have not seen our father since 2004, I did not know what he looked like until I saw pictures of me and him together. Later that night we party and have fun together. The next morning, he drove in and we took pictures, then, we went to dunns-river falls, also we went and eat.

Often, we never see the effects of our actions. Sometimes, we find ourselves comfortably distancing acts of service from why they are committed and whom they impact. I never genuinely understood what lies at the root of service until my freshman year of high school.

Raised in Jamaica, NY in the 80s and from my personal experience, the only suggestion I must share to prevent bullying is not to back down to one. A young boy then who came from the streets of Coney Island, NY moved into my neighborhood his name was Damon and for whatever reason, this boy resented me and lived in an abusive alcoholic household and one of his siblings went to prison for shooting a police officer in the buttocks. Damon the “effectual aggressor,” and I dreaded every day because when I went out to play this boy was so cruel. The term bi-directional effect drew my attention, and I remember having high anxiety due to I was afraid what this boy was going to engage in. Every day I returned home overwhelmed by depression my mother and

With each experience, I have particular expectations; however, it is what I do not expect and cannot see which drives me to serve others and continue my journey. Last summer I spent a great deal of time at the LUMC campus, and while most of my time was spent in a lab, I did venture out, particularly to Hines V.A. Hospital. Being back at Hines brought back memories from when my grandfather was an extended stay patient. I had a realization that many veterans, with the exception of those that make it to the movie screen, can be so underappreciated. This group of men and women are shinning examples of selfless individuals. I developed a desire to give back to our nation’s heroes and became involved with a program through the Disabled American Veterans

In August of 2010, our church embarked on a work and witness trip to Jamaica. The group consisted of two teams, a work and a ministry team. The work team assisted the people of Westmoreland to complete their local church. The ministry team presented bible stories and skits through puppetry at various locations. This Mission was called "Maddy's Mission".

Volunteerism and willingness to serve others are magnificent character traits to discover while growing up. If one is involved with such activities, they will be able to contribute to society as a whole and “leave a mark” on the world for the better. However, such activities would not be available without the assistance of an outreach coordinator. Such people prepare service projects for the community, non-profit organization, or church in hopes of spreading good will among those affected by these actions. They also must be available to offer support to individuals who walk in and require the outreach coordinator’s services. Jeanna-Mar Simmons, a family friend, generously allowed me to shadow her on April 24, 2014. This wonderful lady is the outreach coordinator for Christ United Methodist Church. During my shadow, I was able to discover the intricacies of the organization behind all the service projects I participate in on a regular basis as well as learn about her relationship with God and how it intertwines with her work and the environment at the church.

Americans are among the wealthiest people in the world. Most of us US citizens do not fully realize how much poverty is out there in the world. Traveling internationally is a privilege that is often dreamed about by many people worldwide. We see postcards and pictures of places wishing that we could see the palm trees, the turquoise water, and the sandy beaches. But what the postcards do not portray is the dark and mysterious world that lies behind the pictures. The pictures made me feel very excited about traveling to Jamaica. I knew that it was a poorer country. I had seen mission trip videos from the past. For many years, I have longed to go there. The

My service helped me to do my “Best Work”, by teaching me responsibility, patience, and diligence. I had to be responsible when I was helping at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. I was responsible for my little brother and had to make sure he finished his homework and was safe when he played outside. I had to be very patient when I was helping the elderly’s, because I had to make sure I didn't rush them into walking faster. When helping the Citizen Patrol of Honolulu, I had to pass out brochures and talk to the pedestrians about safety while crossing the streets. I learned diligence during this service because I had to put in a lot of work into persuading others that it’s important to only cross the

In a quaint little village tucked away on a beautiful Caribbean island, lays the seaside town of Runaway bay. A town filled with deep rooted culture on an island filled with welcoming natives. The pleasant vibes of reggae music and Rastafarian culture flow from the hills to the sandy shores. This island rich with tropical fruits and spices is located in the heart of the Greater Antilles. History tells that the enslaved island once known to its natives as “Xaymeca”, has come a long way in becoming the independent nation known today as Jamaica. In the Sea of many islands known as the West Indies, Jamaica stands peaceful, welcoming tourist and expanding rapidly. From an early age my passion for the island and its culture

     Jamaica is a tropical island, located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Around the coastlines are beautiful beaches with crystal clear blue-green water. In some respects, this is the majority of what people know about Jamaica. In this orientation text you will better understand Jamaica’s history, the people who live there, the many different religions, geography, and governments that have ruled the land.

In spring of 2016, my youth group and I began planning a trip to a neighboring city. This wasn’t just any trip however, we were going on a mission. Each of us there were bound and determined to

Columbus discovered Jamaica on May 5, 1494, one year after he heard of the existence of the island. However, the true history of Jamaica begins with the African-Jamaican people who came to the island twenty years after the English took control from the Spaniards. The history of Jamaica can be broken up into different time periods, which were defined by watershed moments or events. Jamaican history begins with the establishment of the native islanders called the Tainos who inhabited the island for hundreds of years before the discoveries of Columbus. (JNHT 1)