Waynesburg University puts on several service trips throughout the school year, and along with sixteen other students I traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica. We worked with Mustard Seed Communities (www.mustardseed.com). The community, Blessed Assurance, is one of several that are built and supported by MSC. They house and care for physically and mentally handicapped children, children with HIV, and teen mothers. All of these children are orphans, and they all needed our love.
We were there from January 3rd through the 10th, and worked hard to continue progress on the property. We painted an entire building (just about), built bunk beds, and some other small things around the property. It was exhausting, waking up at around six and going to bed around eleven. We experienced a lot of cultural differences as well, mainly the food. Jamaica's main dish is Ackee
- a type of fruit - and salt fish. Fish, a lot of fish in the morning, which was hard to get my head around. Fortunately, I went on this same trip last year, and I was prepared for the food because I had experienced it before. Other students did have a hard time. All of their dishes that had either chicken, goat, or beef were full of bones. A luxury that we have here in the US is not having to use every single part of the animal, including the bones. We also have a butcher that we can go to down the road and buy a nice cut of meat. It is not that easy in Jamaica, and the fact that MSC operates solely off of donation makes funds tight. 
The residents, whose ages range anywhere from 1 to 28, are all so amazing. It breaks my heart when I think about each of them in their fragile state. Two boys, Romaine and Romar who are twins, were there last year as well. They have the brightest smile, and I loved to simply love on them! We tried to help the staff as much as we could, and I am so impressed at the mountains they conquer. With a total of 37 residents, they have a lot to handle. The aides bathe the residents twice a day, clothe them, feed them, AND they do the laundry, clean the cottages twice a day - end up with urine or other bodily substances on them - and it is all for the love of God that they stick it out. The pay that they receive per month is about 18,000 Jamaican dollars...which in US dollars comes out to roughly $236. Like I said, it is all for the love of our Lord.
Working with MSC was an experience of a lifetime, and I am so happy that I was blessed enough to be able to go. With all of the trips that go out from Waynesburg U, I am sure that there is a trip for everyone.
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