GREAT LOVE: Giving Thanks

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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.

9.30.2010

Giving Thanks

Thank you to all who have extended their prayers and kindness toward our friends in Jamaica, in Haiti and locally in Los Angeles this past summer and fall.

We celebrated victories of employment, young people getting into classes and getting medical help through the Great Love Pharmacy Account.
We entered the pain in the struggle of life in the ghetto and stood with our young friends who witnessed death in the streets of Tivoli during a political uprising this past summer.
Our whole Great Love team's summer trip changed destination and focus. We had to reroute due to the state departments warning, our families who voiced concern and our wonderful driver O'neil who said, "Nogosa" when it came to traveling about and ministering in Kingston during the US extradition of arms dealer and drug lord, Dudus Coke who was known to be one of the most powerful forces in Jamaica. We joined with 12 young people on the YWAM base in Stones Hope and with believers in Manchester Parish to lift up the land of Jamaica and pray for peace and a new day to come.
Louinel Jean and Foursquare President Joy Mullings joined us in worship at the base.
We brought rice and peas to people living nearby in Salmon Town and asked them what they hoped for in life. It was a blessing to pray over those hopes and dreams for their nation and for their lives. Some of the young people we hosted, were in crisis, others were finding their way. It was good to facilitate times of sharing, listening, outreach and family fun of just being together.
I was so encouraged as we went for a visit at Mt. Olivet Boy's Home, with Director Mr. Brown who welcomed us warmly and said, "It's a new day, yes a new day". As a teacher, he has a passion for education and now the kids living at Olivet are excelling in their studies and in self confidence.
I remember the day that I happened to be at Olivet when a young 5 year old boy was brought to the home. It was about 6 years ago. He was so frightened and combative, holding a small stick to fend off the teasing and trying to find his place amongst 50 other boys living there ranging from 5 to 18 years old.
On the visit this past July, Mr. Brown proudly showed us the young man's school work posted on the wall and declared him a top student of his class. His future looks bright and he is thriving. Most of the 12 young men staying with us had once lived at the Mt. Olivet Boys Home in more difficult times and they all spoke of how glad they were for the 'little brothers' who were being treated with dignity and a higher standard was being set for each one to live in to. Good stuff! Two of our 'Brother's United' Thomas and Chris, who are both chef's, whipped up a spectacular meal for the Mt. O kids and the staff. The older boys each gave a welcome and shared words of encouragement. It was a healing and beautiful night for the older kids.
Great Love / Haiti:
Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, our friend Louinel Jean has fixed his gaze on implementing "The Haiti Initiative" and is looking forward to establishing a school of worship, worker training, sustainable farming, empowering Haitian citizens with tools to become true over comers. We are so glad to be sowing into the initial stages of this project.

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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.

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Worship

As I have participated in worship to the local church and the nations, I've become aware that that responding to the character of God and His love for His creation is what we were made for. "God inhabits the praises of His people". This happens wherever true worship takes place. As people sense His presence, extraordinary things can happen. People let go of their fear, pain, anxiety and shame, releasing their sorrow to the Man of Sorrows.

The act of worship as compassion to the poor [loving each one as if it were the Christ Himself] in the presence of our gracious and forgiving God is an inspiring place to move in. Worship evangelism provides a platform to express God's love and the story of the ultimate sacrifice for each man, woman and child of the earth. My hearts desire would be that all could be given the opportunity to step into their rightful destiny with God, the Life giver.

Everyone is invited to this party with the greatest gift being more than earthy life, but life eternal. c.m.

Brothers United - A Halfway House for young people in transition - 2006-2009

In 2006 while on a Great Love Journey to Jamaica, several young friends of mine were at the end of their stay at various government subsidized institutions aka orphanages, aka children's homes.

Some were fearful and at the end of their rope.

There are exceptions, but often, these institutions lack meaningful teaching in life skills, civics, healthy conflict resolution, goal setting and emotional and spiritual support. There is a huge social gap for kids coming out of these homes. Once turned out of children's 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.

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 fully 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.

Back to the December trip.....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 lifted up heartfelt prayers that we could find a place for them to live. My small faith was met with a Big and Loving God. Rev. 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, with holes in the floors and the roof, rotted windows and vines weaving in and out of the living areas. No Problem Mon! 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 subsequent Great Love teams were willing laborers to make this house a livable home in the months following.

The boys voted on the name of their group and declared it Brother's United. Work began and funds were raised to buy supplies and 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 moved right in and lived at the house with tarps serving as their roof, and used a lantern for their light. They got used to stepping over the holes in the floors, just grateful for the shelter that God provided.

The Brothers United painted their house the colors of the Jamaican flag. Local Jamaican volunteers lent their time and talents as well. Andy McDonald served as a guidance counsellor and home's director though he lived off site.

The Great Love Brothers United House provided shelter from the storms of life. It was a season where a young man learned what it took to get employed, learned to save money, some learned to cook, share chores and food, go to school, live in community, and transition into adulthood with a hand up.

Though some embraced the ideals and code of conduct that they drew up and agreed on, others continued with an institutionalized mindset, waiting for handouts, not understanding how to self initiate.

Life choices.... all your life.......choices.

The property sat on 3 1/4 acres with banana, bread-fruit, ackee and citrus. There is always something planted in the field. Sometimes harvested before it was harvest time.

The Brothers were asked to: find employment, contribute to the gas for cooking, water, food and power. They were asked to commit 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 sponsored the rent and staple food of things like rice, peas and porriage.

The brothers built a dog proof chicken coop. They did a great job. Broiler chicks mature every 6 weeks. The brothers ate some of the chickens and attempted to sell the rest to buy more broilers. On one trip, they invited me to help them slaughter the chicken's but I didn't have the stomach to go down that road. This exercise in raising, butchering and selling chickens to buy more only worked to a point. Without a teacher/missionary living on the site, sometimes hunger and lack of self control, made for early butchering of the chicken's and tempers would fly.

The young men of Brothers United and our Brothers at large, are learning to have a voice and define their dreams and hopes.

"God loves us as we are not as we should

be for we'll never be as we should be" brennan manning

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.