Jamaican Testimony

(As shared Sunday, Aug. 9th at West Point Baptist Church-WPBC. Today is going to be a busy day so today is a good day to post my Jamaica experience.)


I didn’t know that the Lord Jesus was going to lay it on my heart to go to Jamaica again. When I felt Him call me again, I shared with Cheryl and she said that Bethel Mission was interested in doing a Womens Bible study. Being that we just finished a Bible study on the book of Esther, it seemed appropriate that we teach one there. I was excited to have the opportunity to share what I learned.

Before I left for Jamaica, I was sharing with Kelly that I wasn’t initially sure I wanted to go to Jamaica again, but I knew that I was being called. Kelly stated that often God calls those who don’t think they are called, and often those who want to be called are not called. It may sound complicated but it made sense to me. I would not have chosen to fly over the ocean, eat/live in the unfamiliar, and leave my family again. Just like God, He called and he stretched our minds and hearts and then blessed us with the reward of the experience.

Jamaica truly blessed my soul again, this time not with appreciating life at home more, but seeing the value of giving and receiving the mission mindset…it’s not about me…not about us.

I want to thank those of you who held us in prayer. When we are on mission, there is a wonderful peace and security that surrounds us. God answered your prayers. We were safe and we remained healthy. His work was done. Thank you.

The youth girls represented us well. It was great to see the purity of service and genuine love they shared. Seeing Jamaica through their eyes was a gift.

As for the Esther study, we ended up teaching the study in 3 days. The Bible study was held at the Church of God of Prophecy in Ploudin, Jamaica, a 30 minute drive from Bethel.

The ladies there were very receptive and seemed to enjoy the study. We did about 3 chapters a day. The study was very important to the pastor’s wife because she heads up her church’s Womens ministry and wants to disciple her women. The ladies were given a notebook complete with questions, coloring pages, and a quiz for the end of the study. We learned last year that the Jamaican adults like to color, so I took colored pencils for them to use. The ladies were also given a different item to decorate their notebook each day. Karen helped to make the study successful by making sure all the ladies had what they needed and she fellowshipped with them as they studied.

Our last day of study Karen and I gave testimonies regarding our lives in Christ. We closed our fellowship by singing praises to Jesus. The ladies presented us with a bag of vegetables that included corn, pumpkin, fruits, and dried thyme. I wanted to smuggle the thyme back to the US but God was good to convict me being that my luggage was thoroughly searched, but I can’t complain because Greg Wall was bodily searched. The ladies also presented Karen and I with mugs and bracelets. It was a blessing to be part of this special ministry while in Jamaica.

I want to end my testimony with an insight I received in the form of a compliment which I received from one of our bus/van drivers named Calvert.

I had come to the van after spending time at the orphanage a little earlier than the others. My heart was very heavy. I needed a break. I had just told Jada (my orphanage favorite from last year) good bye. When I left she didn’t say, “Don’t Go” but “I want to go with you.” It crushed my heart.

I went to the van and told Calvert, “I don’t want to get in this van after dropping off toys and giving a few hugs and just go on with my life. I can’t do anything more physically, but my heart still hurts for Jada and the other children.” This is what Calvert told me… (I wish I had his accent.)
“Jesus was moved with compassion, Anna. I told some of my friends recently that there is a difference between sympathy and compassion. You, Anna, have compassion.”

WPBC I was honored but it was very clear to me. We no longer need sympathetic hearts. We need the compassion of Jesus. We need the heart of Jesus that moves us to prayer and service, not just a heart that says “I feel sorry for them.” We may not go abroad but we can have compassion for the very lost or hungry souls among us.

His word says in Matthew (9:10-13)…
10Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.

11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?"

12But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.

13"But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

It’s not enough that I go and sacrifice screens on my windows (this year it was bugs not Geckos or lizards), or the sacrifice of other familiar comforts. What Jesus wants from me,…from you is compassion. West Point we took not only toys, and money. We took hugs, we took love, we shared Jesus, and we had His compassion. Compassion is the treasure I brought home from Jamaica.

To be like Jesus is to move in compassion. One more scripture before closing:
Matthew (9:35-38) -
35Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

36Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

37Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

38"Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

West Point thank you for sending me out…sending us out. WPBC and the love of its members were truly represented well. Thank you.