Hey folks, here's my little report on the recent trip to Jamaica...

I had an encouraging 5-day visit to Jamaica. Garfield Fray who is a Jamaican pastor living in Brampton, Ontario invited me to join him on an exploratory visit. He was going there to revamp an association of churches that was under his purview when he lived in Jamaica. I was going to determine if there was enough interest in a one-week leaders school so that we can minister to the pastors and leaders there. And hopefully this will be the start of our ongoing ministry in that island and the rest of the Caribbean.

As a result of the trip, I found good, emerging signs of interest and we are planning a school for January 2010.

On the Saturday afternoon, we had a meeting with about 30-40 people that included 8 or 9 pastors. I shared about the Father Heart of God interweaving my testimony, the history of the Toronto renewal and the Scriptures. Jamaica is a fatherless society and it is patently obvious at every turn. In the church, there is a powerful gravitation to following man-made rules and regulations that determine what righteousness is. From what I’ve observed, accentuated by some of Garfield’s testimonies, church leaders have a propensity for control and manipulation at a level to which I have not seen very often anywhere in the world. Frankly, it was heart wrenching because I’ve come to discover that there is such a better way.

On Sunday, I was in two churches. The first one was a rural church led by the pastor in whose house I stayed. The second was an inner city church in Kingston, the capital. I myself had a wonderful time talking about the love of our Abba God. The people in both places (in fact on all three occasions) had an adjustment to make because I was not shouting and screaming, as they are accustomed to hearing from their ministers. I rather suspect that they believe that I am not anointed because in their worldview the louder you shout the more anointed you are!

Having said that the people were warm and hospitable and I was very well taken care of while I was there. In fact, I think that I overate! This was my first visit to Jamaica and everyone made sure that I was able to sample the national dishes, which were all very tasty. So I became one with the famous ackee and salt fish! I also sampled mannish water, which is a soup containing various and sundry parts of the ram goat and also includes dumplings, yams and other un-discernible stuff. Quite tasty and it’s supposed to make you strong like a lion!

On the Monday, we drove up to the Ocho Rios area to Dunn’s River Falls. A touristy area. We enjoyed the beach and a relaxing time. It was a time to hang out with Garfield and our local pastor to get to know them a little better.

That night and the following, we went back up to the place where I ministered on Sunday to observe them do a roadside outreach. After the outreach on Monday night we drove back into Kingston for a radio interview which the Lord arranged for us. Garfield and I shared our respective visions for being in Jamaica. This was an encouraging contact because this radio host has some influence in the land and he seems to be pleased to meet us and hear all that we are hoping to do on the island.

So, all in all, it was a very good trip. We are preparing to do a school there next January plus we intend to do a few weekend ministry events combining vacation and ministry in order to prep the folks for the school. We’ll see what the Lord does with that. It’s going to be awesome!

If you are interested in joining us on one of those ventures you can contact us.

Blessings,

Ramesh and Elsie

peniel@peniel.ca