GREAT LOVE

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

THANKSGIVING IN JAMAICA

GREAT LOVE FOUNDATION - THANKSGIVING IN JAMAICA
November 23rd - December 1st
OUR GOAL: TO RAISE $3,000. IN THE NEXT 14 DAYS

HERE'S WHY:

WEDDING VOWS
A small group of Great Love volunteers will travel to Jamaica to help put on a wedding for Brother's
United, Jermaine Clarke and his bride to be. He will be setting a new standard, by being the first
person in his family of origin to ever get legally married. Jermaine wants to invite his little brothers
who he grew up with at the Mount Olivet Boys Home, his fellow Brothers United and the
parishioners of Ridgemount United Church where he and his fiance Catrine attend. Catrine will be baptized in early December. She gave birth to their beautiful baby boy Eric last year.

PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Great Love Foundation sponsors pharmacy accounts for orphans and at risk young adults. Your gifts
also sponsor crisis counseling with Jennifer James of Jamaica Family Life Counseling Service in
Mandeville and Kingston. Ms. James specializes in helping youth that have been institutionalized.

SCHOLARSHIPS / TUTORING
Great Love continues to encourage the pursuit of overcoming poverty through education. Your gifts
have provided many at risk youth the gift of literacy and educational opportunities. As resources
allow, we will register and enroll needy kids that are waiting to enter classes and training centers.
We will facilitate introductions to prospective teachers and guidance counselors.

BUILDING DISCIPLES
Pastors Dwight and Shanda Pinnock of Generations Church have invited our team to stay at their
home on this visit and cast vision for a Great Love - Generations Church alliance.
They have expressed a desire to work with our Brothers and Sisters United, raising up and equipping future leaders of Jamaica. It's been our prayer to identify Jamaicans that are willing
to invest, mentor and disciple kids that have no families. Generations is located in downtown
Mandeville and is a vibrant diverse community of believer who express compassion as worship.
Great Love team member Andrea will stay on and remain with the Pinnocks for a time. She is
sensing the call to pray over the land of Jamaica.

PAYING RESPECT
We will go to the grave of Kemroy Crawford who was struck and killed from a lightning
strike this past September. He had lived at Mt. Olivet Boys Home till he was 13 years old and
then fostered by the McDonald family for the last 2 years.

THANKSGIVING - JAMAICA STYLE
If resources allow we will host a Thanksgiving dinner for the ones we serve and include an
invitation to American missionaries living on island. http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/258/Caribbean_Jerk_Turkey_with_Rice_and_Peas23225.shtml

CAMP CURTIS - FOURSQUARE
We will meet with Sister Mullings for a tour of Camp Curtis. We are looking forward to hosting
camps and leadership retreats for orphans, at risk youth, and those who serve them, during Great
Love's 2010 summer mission. Camp counselors will be comprised of both Jamaican nationals
and Great Love state side volunteers.

We invite you to partner with us by sending your tax deductible donation to:
Great Love 1951 Escarpa Drive Eagle Rock CA 90041
or donate on line www.cdprograms.org

"Live as free men, live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone;
Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King. 1 Peter 2

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!
Blessings, Carolee Mayne Watson / Great Love Foundation

Great Love is a project of Congressional District Programs TAX ID # 65-0970090

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Happy Birthday to Great Love Team Member Andrea

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: BEAUTIFUL ANDREA HAPPY B

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

HAITI NEEDS OUR GREAT LOVE

As a friend of the Great Love family and as a Haitian national who knows the compassion and practical care they show, I feel free to share the plight of the Haitian people at this time on this blog knowing that God will surely bless us to reach out to our brothers in Haiti who are facing tragedy.

We are seeking to help the people with provisions such as food, clothing, and needed funds; as many Haitians have lost everything in some communities where the storms hard hit.

The city of Gonaives and many others were in fact under water today as we speak. This is grassroots relief as friends, family, the community of faith and local church are trying to find help. The government is seeking help. We will not remain inactive. We will do our best.

We are asking all friends and partners of the Great love family to collaborate with our great friend Carolee and her team to help us make donations to the people in Haiti. We will work with those we trust on site in who will deliver the donations and hurricane relief funds.

We know that love will never fail as it always seeks to bring bread to those who suffers in Zion.

May the same love continues to motivate us and move our hearts and hands to uplift our fellowmen and women in Haiti.

We await with great anticipation your full support to this initiative.

Gob Bless you all.

Louinel Jean

Worship Pastor, recording artist

Haitian [currently living in Mandeville Jamaica]

Monday, July 21, 2008

Life Choices

  With Ramone's permission, I share  this.
  
 Last December, we met 16 year old Ramone.
 She was considering  abortion as an answer to her
 pregnancy. The father is one of the young  men we have 
 been working with in Brothers United.  He was  conflicted 
 and scared. The girls mother was making constant threats
 and  pushing both for the abortion. 
 Ramone opted to trust God in her  circumstance and faced
 being kicked out of her home, and losing her support at  school
 where she was an A student and involved in many 
 school activities.
 In February while getting baby supplies, Ramone  and I
 met with a woman who ran an orphanage
 nearby.  She kindly told Ramone that she would keep
 her baby with her until Ramone could get on her feet
 and through school.  It offered her some  hope as she
 tried to project her future. 
 Three and a half weeks ago,  Jason Emanuel was born to 
 Roger and Ramone. 
 Through this journey  Ramone's mother gave her life
 to Christ. You should have seen Ramone's  smile when
 she shared this news!  
 'Grandma'  is now in love with her new grandson and loves
 to share her bed with baby  Jason.  Rogers family who lives
 in a dangerous area in Kingston talk with Ramone often and
 are lending their emotional support to her.
 Ramone is now enrolled at the Jamaican Women's Centre  
 for pregnant  and post baby teens. 
 Great Love has ministered there many times and can attest
 that It's  good school. She is enjoying  it and excelling there.   
 Though she considered putting the child up for adoption, 
 Ramone has opted to keep her child.  Roger is growing
 in responsibility and learning to be a father.  He will need his
 heavenly father to teach him as he has never been fathered.
 I'm blessed to stand as Jason's Godmother.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

OUTCOMES

Brothers United, Chris Mc Giver's dream to be

chef is getting closer each day.

Last Dec. Chris prepared a Christmas meal in

the Brothers United kitchen for our Christmas

celebration.

We took pictures of his presentation and attested to the

fabulous flavor of our meal.

With resume in hand, Chris landed a job at the Golf View

Hotel in Mandeville in catering. Thank you Rosie James

for investing in another Brother's United young man!

OUTCOME

Last week while in Jamaica, Rev. Andy, recording

artist and Pastor, Louinel Jean and our team met for a

meal at the Golf View Hotel's dining room. Our chef

Chris prepared a sumptuous feast for us. He was

beaming when we asked for 'the chef' to come to our

table, applaud him and thank him for a fabulous meal.

He was thrilled and quick to share the credit with his

team. Chris is taking continued classes in food and nutrition.

He needs to raise $50.00 usd required for his food and

nutrition books for the classes.

Many of our young men have designs on becoming chef's.

There are dozens of resorts and restaurants around the shores

of the island nation. He is pictured with his friend Shawn

to announce that "Dinner is served!"

We are proud of you Chris!

OUTCOME

Dearest Family and Friends ,

Well I have magnificent news!!!

As you know, we have been waiting for

the results of the latest CTA scans on

Tuesday to discover whether Becca's

hemorrhagic stroke was the result of

a aneurysm or a AVM and what

sort of treatment she would need to

correct the damage or malformation.

Well Dr Tan called Becca today and

informed her that the scans came back

clear and normal! He said that no

surgery or radiation or any further

treatment would be needed!!! Becca

was in shock so after she spoke to

him we had Joel call him back to clarify

and he said that whatever it

was is gone and that whether it was an

aneurysm or a AVM it "must have

resolved itself". As you can imagine,

we are ecstatic and full of deep

gratefulness to God for His kindness

and merciful love.

He is good and though we may not

always understand His ways and the

things He allows us to go through,

we can be confident that He holds

us all at the very center of His heart

and walks with us through each and

every storm. We have experienced His

love and provision through so many of

you and I want to thank you all for

being His hands and feet, His arms of

love and strength, His words of comfort

and hope for all of us.

-Pricilla [Becca's mom] and family

Brothers United Mandeville Jamaica

Two years ago while in Jamaica on a Great Love Journey, several young Jamaican friends of mine were at the end of their stay at government subsidied children's homes. Some were fearful and at the end of their rope.

In government institutions life skills, conflict resolution, goal setting and emotional and spiritual support has been painfully lacking. There is a huge social gap for kids coming out of these homes. Many face homelessness and are prey for gangs, abuse and the unthinkable.

Young men and women have told me first hand of their rejections, the experience of hopelessness, humiliations and hardships that have thus far defined their lives. The thing is that with the help of God, the story is about to take a turn. This blog will be a platform to give voice to their stories.

Conflict resolution has often been resolved with the fist instead of mediation. Many have gone through the school system but are not literate. Some homes don't allow for ownership of things. Lack of trust is an ongoing issue. Growing up without parents or a support system is a lonely road.

With just 36 hours remaining before our team was to return to Los Angeles, our young men and Great Love volunteers gathered in worship and heartfelt prayers that we could find a place for them to live. My small faith was met with a Big and loving God. Andy came to breakfast the next morning and told us of a local resident Joyce Powell, who had a vacant home that was damaged during Hurricane Ivan. It needed allot of work. No Problem! It had 3 bedrooms and a little cottage out back. The lease to own home had come right on time and was a Godsend for our Brothers in need. We took a leap of faith and signed the lease. Local volunteers, the boys and our Great Love teams were willing laborers to make this house a livable home.

The boys voted on the name of their group and declared it Brother's United. Work began and funds were raised in the following months to buy supplies to fix the roof and floor. It was an exciting time.

Great Love invested in appliances, furniture, bunk beds, a punching bag and all the basics needed for the guys to move in. Some of the guys lived their with tarps during the repairs.

The Brothers United painted their house the colors of the Jamaican flag.

The Great Love Brothers United House provides shelter from the storms of life. It is a season where a young man can find a job, learn to save money, learn to cook, share chores and food, go to school, live in community, and transition into adulthood with a hand up.

The property sits on 3 1/4 acres with banana, bread-fruit, ackee and citrus. There is always something planted in the field.

The Brothers are asked to: find employment, contribute to the gas for cooking, water, food and power. Be committed to living in community with respect, attending house meetings, attending a church of their choice and setting educational goals are a part of this new journey. Great Love sponsors the rent and staple food of things like rice, peas and porriage.

The boys recently built a dog proof chicken coop. They did a great job. Broiler chicks mature every 6 weeks. The brothers eat some of the chickens and sell the rest to buy more broilers. They've invited me to help them slaughter the chicken's but I can't go down that road!

They are learning to pool their resources. Rev. Andy is called and equipped to help this generation find their way. Andy serves as the Brothers United Director.

The young men of Brothers United and our Brothers at large, are learning to have a voice and define their dreams and hopes. We love doing life with them!

Check out Andy McDonald's Face Book page.

"God loves us as we are not as we should be for we'll never be as we should be" brennan manning

Great Love Journeys

Great love teams form as caring individuals of various skill sets and talents emerge with a desire to give of their time and resources to serve another culture. The shape and focus of each trip is determined by the gifts and skill sets of the volunteers.

If a post hurricane building team or a medical team is requested by a children's home or other Great Love partner organization, a solicitation is made for specific volunteers to lend their services.

Great Love has facilitated relational teams, medical, dental, ob-gyn care, sports camps, disaster relief, counselors and construction teams.

Most often, it's the Spirit that stirs individuals to give up their vacations and give away their natural resources.

Our motto is coined after Mother Teresa's suggestion to "do small things with great love."

How is Great Love funded?

Great Love is funded by private individuals, hospitals, organizations, businesses, schools, churches and other foundations who desire to equip grassroots organizations like ours. Great Love donors help the forgotten and marginalized of society both in the U.S. and to the nations.

Great Love is a project of Congressional District Programs.

All donated funds are processed through CDP for financial and legal accountability.

Sow into His Great Love

Click this link to donate securely online

Thank you!

Lawrence's Story

When I was younger in a children’s home, church and Sunday school were compulsory. I remember learning the bible stories in pictorial form and acting out some of them in skits. So really I was taught the Christian rudiments back then. It was the same at Mount Olivet. I always had the chance to accept Christ from crusade and church service, but I felt I was not ready and needed to understand more. I always believed there was God and his son Jesus because it was the popular belief and what we were taught. I really wanted to experience Christ for myself.

I had no plans or place to go after my time expired at Mt. Olivet and I prayed about this. I was given a chance to live at the Cool Water Ministries which is Christian based. The Cool Water accepts young men who have a desire for Christ, personal growth and development. The curriculum includes bible studies, Christian leadership and personal development. I was exposed to so many people of faith, read great books and watched interesting series from Christian Speakers.

I am thrilled with the fact that Jesus accepts us as we are, no matter the background, possession, position or status. I was impressed with the way He lived; reaching out to sinners and being compassionate to what men considered “the outcast”. He is the only person who totally accepts me for who I am, and enduring the scars at Calvary for me. That is incredible!

Growing in Christ, I understand, is a life long journey and I always want to improve by reading His words, but more important doing the Word. As I approach my final year in university and looking forward to my future I can surely say that Jesus has been and will continue my buttress. I can sense Him working in my life developing me for the purpose He had uniquely created me for before I was conceived.