Staff Bio #1

Over the next several weeks, I will be doing a biography on each of our staff members, just so you get a better idea of who we are and what we are doing down here. For starters, I'll introduce myself!

Name: Lacy Donaldson
Age: 20
Hometown: Independence, MO
High School: William Chrisman
College: University of Missouri (Go TIGERS!)
Major: Secondary Education – English
Activities: Young Life and Jamaica
Interests: dancing, autumn, singing, writing music, traveling, roller coasters, camping, fishing, sarcasm, wiener dogs, poetry, reading books you can’t put down, taking pictures, surprises, road trips, love letters, and changing the world…
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Team: Mizzou Tigers and KC Royals
Favorite Book: A Severe Mercy, The Barbarian Way, and Catcher in the Rye
Favorite TV Show: Seinfeld
Favorite Foods: Orange soda, jalapeno chips, anything chocolate, and Chipotle
Favorite Jamaican food: it’s a tie between juicy patties or jerk chicken
Favorite Music: anything I can sing or dance to
Biggest Dreams: marrying the man of my dreams and having beautiful children, teaching high school English, singing in Nashville, starting a church, adopting a baby, doing mission work in a foreign country, writing for an international journal, and retiring to a big mountain farm house…
Job in Jamaica: I’m in charge of the store! Every week the store is open 2-3 days and I am in charge of stocking it, running it, etc. (You’ll learn more about the store and how it works later!) I’m also in charge of Ladies’ Night and writing this blog!
Biggest thing you’ve learned lately: I’ve learned about how HUGE the power of Christ is IN ME. I feel like I’ve always belittled who I am in Christ. But He is alive in ME and He is HUGE and at work!!! My life is no longer mine, but His! It is incredible…

That's it for now! Be sure to check back tomorrow for another entry...

Joyfully His,

Lacy

The Internet Was Down

Hello friends! Sorry for the delay. The internet has been down at the Harmony House so we haven’t been able to post any blog entries. We said goodbye to our first group from Olathe Bible Church this morning. Their lives were deeply impacted during their short stay here in Jamaica. They had an incredible week and went home changed.

I asked some of the group members questions about their experience here in Harmons and here is what they had to say:

What is the one thing you learned this week?

One thing that I learned is that we should be thankful to go to school and have a good education. When we went to the school, I realized that the teachers don’t really care what the kids do during class and it’s so loud in the classrooms that you can’t even think. – Kaitlyn

What was your most meaningful experience this week?

This whole week was filled with many meaningful experiences. One of the highest on the list was the trip to the infirmary. I loved it when we sat down to read to a lady named Louise, when another lady named Patricia came up to us. She said to kiss her friend Louise because, “she loves kisses!” Then we all sang songs together. When we began to read scripture, Louise began to repeat each verse. When we had to go she thanked us, as Patricia walked us to the bus. It was a very humbling and meaningful experience. – Michele

What was the one thing that made your week here different from a week at home?

There were many things that were different, such as: being in the jungle and having stars at night, having Christian friends all around me for encouragement, spending time discussing God everyday in a group, and reading to people at the infirmary. – Colton

What is one thing you will do when you go home to remind yourself of your week here in Harmons?

It was a big surprise to come back this year and see how close the bauxite mining had moved to the house and the community in Harmons. When I return home, every time I use aluminum, I am going to pray for Harmons and the people I’ve met there. – Sam

This evening, our second group arrived! (See picture above) We have a fairly large group this week, comprised of a group from Deerbrook Covenant Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, a group from Christ Community Church in Leawood, KS, and two girls from Geneva College in Pennsylvania. I will update this as soon as I can, so look for more entries and new photos! Be sure to look for our newest videocast , it will be coming soon!

One Love,

Lacy

Matilda's Story...

This afternoon, I spent some time with my friend, Matilda. I went to her house and just talked with her about her life. Here's her story...

77 year-old Matilda Morrant was born on June 23rd, 1930. Matilda was born here in Harmons and has lived here ever since. She was the oldest of 4, and the only girl in the family. Her favorite thing when she was little was all the fruit that grew in Harmons. When Matilda was 29 years old, she married the love of her life. They shared 44 years together, until he died in 2003. The two of them had 12 children, 5 which died in their infancy, and 7 who are still around today. Matilda is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of many.


During Matilda's adult years, she worked as a midwife, delivering several babies in the community of Harmons. Her husband had a hard and laborious job as a sugar cane cutter, and was the bread-winner for their entire family. Along with her midwifery job, Matilda watched several babies and children during the day.



Now that Matilda is older and without her husband, she lives with her family. During the day, Matilda takes care of her great-grandson while his mother goes to work. Throughout the week, Matilda volunteers as the secretary at her church, where she takes the minutes of meetings, goes to town to do business, etc. Matilda has a real servant's heart.

Some facts about Matilda:
-she has never been to school
-she has never seen a movie
-she likes to watch the news at night
-she enjoys cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry
-her favorite food is chicken soup or banana porridge that she eats when she is sick

At the end of my talk with Matilda today, I asked her if someone wrote a book about her life, what would she want everyone to know about her? This is what she said:

"I would want everyone to know about my lifestyle here in Harmons..."




One Love,

Lacy

First Team, First Full Day, First Flouring

Our first team, Olathe Bible Church (see picture above), arrived last night in Montego Bay. After traveling to Harmons, unpacking suitcases full of donations, and settling into the Harmony House, we all went to bed so that we would be fully energized and ready for our first day in Harmons. This morning the team went through orientation where they learned a little more about Won By One To Jamaica, the culture and religion of Jamaica, the community of Harmons, and more of what this week will look like. Afterwards, we went on a walking tour of Harmons and saw how people live back in the bush. Many people's eyes were opened to the reality of hard life here in Harmons.

At our courtyard time tonight, we shared ice cream with Jamaicans while dancing the night away to music played by the Harmony House's very own DJ, Blackmouth. We were also happy to celebrate the birthday of one of our very own staff members, Rachel Schomaker, who turned 20 today! A very fun tradition in Jamaica is "flouring"! Every time someone has a birthday, they must be floured by someone sneaking up on them and throwing flour on their head. This has been done in Jamaica for several years and it is a funny way to make the birthday boy or girl look a little older! I hope the picture below will make you laugh!

That's about it for tonight!

Check out the 2nd VideoCast - it's guaranteed to make you laugh...


Good night,


Lacy

2 days to go...

Yesterday we had a change of pace. We were privileged to spend the day with the Jamaican staff of Won By One To Jamaica (see picture above). We gathered for several hours where we introduced ourselves to the Jamaican staff, had a meeting about expectations for the summer, and shared a wonderfully prepared Jamaican lunch. Through a gospel presentation by Henry Shaffer (Founder and President of Won By One To Jamaica), the Jamaican workers were able to see and hear what this organization is all about. It was truly a great day and being able to spend time with our Jamaican friends really made each of us more excited about swinging things into full gear.

We eagerly await our first group, Olathe Bible Church. They arrive on Monday, June 4th, just two days from now. We all know that in two days, life will change dramatically. We will pick up the pace and get this summer started. We will be able to see transformation taking place in the lives and hearts of both Jamaicans and Americans. We will see the community of Harmons as they gather around to engage with the Americans who come to serve. We will see houses being built, marl being carried, new clothes being worn, and needs being met. We will see how just one conversation can cultivate a lifelong relationship. We will see the huge change that can take place in just one week of service, selflessness, and love. But most importantly, we will begin to see a tiny glimpse of what God is doing in Harmons...

In Christ Alone,

Lacy