What is success?
Some would define success as “having everything you want”
Some would define success as “being respected among colleagues and peers”
Some would define success as “being balanced in your life”
Truly it is different for everyone . . . So I’ll pose the question, “How do you define success?”
Mama Amanda, the director of New Hope Orphanage in Mandeville, Jamaica, defines success as loving the children that are residents at the orphanage until they are adopted. She has had over 300 children over the past 18 years that she has worked there and all but 50 have been adopted/put in stable foster care beyond the orphanage. (When that happens they are placed in other institutional care.)
These are not the cute little cuddly children that you see on the front of brochures advertising international adoption. 95% of the children have disabilities – Hope is autistic and has cerebral palsy, she cannot walk. One little baby weighed 3 lbs at birth and now at 7 months looks like most American babies when they are firstborn.
Some have come to Amanda by way of a nighttime knock at the door (she lives at the orphanage with the children) and the policeman simply hands her the baby and she begins the legalities of trying to find the child’s identity in the morning . . .
One was found on the side of the road in a garbage bag and the person who brought the baby to her noticed the bag was moving . . .they stopped, looked inside, and found a horror that really, in our world, simply should not have to exist.
This week ALL the folks from our mission team, alongside some of the residents of the Deaf Village and the staff of the Caribbean Center Christian for the Deaf, went daily to New Hope Orphanage. Some time was spent simply holding and loving the kids . . .but then we moved into “structured” time and the kids had “school.” We took the oldest children and had a craft time with them, spent one on one time with them, then had a PHENOMENAL Bible time with the infamous “puppets!”
In fact, the puppets are soooo famous at the orphanage Felicia would go around to each individual on the team and whisper in our ears . . . “The Puppets are coming!” It reminded me of the phrase, “The British are coming, the British are coming” but this announcement was one that brought hope and GOOD News rather than distress!!!!
Felicia would begin this not too long after our arrival . . .and when they came she was mesmerized. What a way to share with them about the vastness and amazing breadth of God’s love.
This morn was our final time to be with Mama Amanda. She thanked us profusely as this apparently is the first time that a group has come day after day to have “Structure” with the children. Our visits were not just “throw some candy their way” and then be on our way 30 minutes later to leave her to contend with the aftermath. Our visits were ones that started with some attention, games, and love and then we moved on to things and activities that would be sustainable and hopefully leave a lasting impact.
This new relationship was born out of a need for something “different” this time. The airfare was astronomical this year as we booked our tickets and so our team is smaller than normal. And our ability to be mixing concrete . . . well, we just weren’t able to do that as much as well as past years. So we had to find a new purpose and we have been in prayer for many months to see where God would lead . . . all the while telling CCCD we would be flexible! We suggested shoes for some kids through Samaritan’s Feet . . . .going to the Infirmary . . . whatever they wanted from us that would bring about work that would make a difference in changing lives and changing the world through Jesus Christ.
And here we are today. A great trip . . . . a few business meetings out of the way on my end with some of the Board of Directors of CCCD . . . and NEW relationships that will be SUSTAINABLE and IMPACTING! 
The coolest thing of all for me personally is to see that our willingness to be “flexible” and do whatever this week has brought about new connections. You see, New Hope Orphanage is now being considered as a partner of the Board of Directors for the CCCD. They are willing to “host” teams here that will not just do work @ the Village here for the deaf community but they will provide transportation daily to New Hope and allow teams to be in service to those children and that community and the Village here will be their “home base.” Not only will they partner w/ New Hope in that way but they church that Pastor Damian leads, “New Life Christian Church” here on the campus . . they are going to start taking trips as a congregation to be in servant ministry NOT ONLY with the orphanage BUT also to the Infirmary . . . . (and by the way .. . .I learned just now Williamson’s Chapel is one of the few churches that is willing to go and do that b/c it is out of the comfort zones of most people . . . . ) Wow . . . as always I am so grateful and blessed to be a part of such an amazing family of God.
Looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!
Grace, Peace, and Much Love,
Andrea

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