JAMAICA 2011 TESTIMONIES
Abby Weinberger: There was a little girl who was in my group for VBS 2 years ago named Ashley. This year when we went to go hand out invitations in the neighborhood, Alex Roberts heard a little girl asking for me. So Alex called me back to see who it was and it was Ashley! She had remembered me after 2 years. I was upset when she didn't come the first 3 days of VBS, but then on the last day of VBS, she came running up to me with a big smile in her face. She said that she had been involved with something at her church all week and hadn't been able to make it but she had made sure she would be at VBS on the last day so she could see me. I was so excited and glad that I could see her again.
Jeanne Lytle: This was my first mission trip, but seeing the excitement of that girl’s face and on Abby's face was worth the trip. Standing at the gates to let the kids in everyday and seeing the happy faces waiting to join their teams will stay with me for a long time.
Keith Edwards: On Sunday during our walking tour to invite everyone to the VBS and Crusade, we had a young girl stop our group and ask for Abby Weinberger. This was an amazing moment because Abby was with our group and was able to give hugs and personally invite the young girl to VBS the next day. Later in the tour I had a young man run up to us, and immediately we recognized each other. His name is Owen and he spent all 4 days in my team this trip, and all 4 days 2 years ago. What a wonderful picture of the impact our trip makes and how the memories last.
Brooke Peckinpaugh: I'm 16 and this was my first mission trip as well as my first time out of the country. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go on this trip because I feel like it's given me a whole new perspective on things that kids my age wouldn't understand. Just seeing and experiencing the Jamaican culture has made me realize how truly blessed we are in America. The highlight of my trip was when a young girl named Lavesha decided to get baptized. Over the course of the week she and I had become very close and we would hang out everyday after VBS was over. It was Monday night when she came to me and said that she was thinking about giving her life to Christ. I talked and prayed with her about it and suggested that she talk to her parents also. It was Thursday night during the crusade when Pastor Jerry opened the invitation for people to give their life to Christ. Lavesha was sitting right next to me, she leaned over and said "I'm getting baptized." I didn't know what to say or do because I was in shock. But I remember it being such a powerful moment for me, watching her walk up to the front of the church knowing she was about to make a life changing decision. Just being there to see her give everything over to Christ overwhelmed me with so much joy. I'm so proud of her and I'm so happy that I could be apart of that moment. I feel blessed to call Lavesha my friend. I unexpectedly got a phone call from her after being home for a day, it was so awesome to hear her voice. She is a friend that lives very differently from me, but each of us is living for Jesus!