My name is Jordyn, and I have the honor of once again going on a mission trip to Knockpatrick, Jamaica with SMLCA from January 24–31! This year, instead of going as a student, I will be joining as an adult chaperone and I’ll have the incredible opportunity to share my personal story!

What We’ll Be Doing:

In Knockpatrick, we will be staying on a campus managed by the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD). The campus is home to Jamaican children of all ages who are deaf or hard of hearing. These students live and attend school there, receiving an education tailored to their needs, all within a Christian worldview. Many of the teachers are also deaf, and some live on campus as well!

This year, I have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share my testimony—how I came to Christ, what He has done in my life, and how He continues to show up for me.

During the day, we’ll work on various projects to help with campus upkeep and improvements. We also take on everyday tasks like washing dishes after meals. After dinner, we host a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the children, where we share Bible stories, sign worship songs together, and play games!

Throughout the week, our campus leaders also share their culture with us. We participate in a culture night, where we try popular Jamaican foods and enjoy campfire activities that help us better understand both Jamaican and Deaf culture.

After a week of hard work and spreading the gospel, we’ll have a free day to enjoy the beaches of Jamaica as a team. It’s an incredible opportunity to build new relationships—with the Deaf students and with my fellow team members—and to use the sign language I’ve been learning for over four years now.

(If you are interested in learning more about CCCD (the organization we are going with) I suggest checking out their website! https://www.cccdjamaica.org/about/

Last Year’s Service Activities:

While our activities will be different this year, here’s an idea of what we did last time:

Each morning after breakfast, while the children were in school, our team was divided into two groups, each with its own service project. My group helped prepare a greenhouse to be rebuilt. We worked alongside two campus groundskeepers/farmers to take the structure down to its frame. We removed the old mesh, dug out rotted wood, and cleared space for new materials to be installed. We also helped weed a large garden to prevent it from becoming overgrown.

The other team worked to rebuild the campus fence, which had been damaged in a recent hurricane. They drilled, mixed, and poured concrete, removed the old wire, and installed a new fence. A few team members also helped clean, paint, and reorganize the school library, which had suffered damage in the storm.

Thanks to generous support and donations, we were also able to provide the school with new books, toys, stuffed animals, and peanut butter.

In total, we:

-Rebuilt most of the campus fence, making it safer and more secure.

-Prepared the greenhouse for a full rebuild to grow more vegetables.

-Weeded a large garden.

-Restored and organized the school library.

-Donated supplies to the school community.

Personal Impact:

As mentioned before, I had the opportunity to go last year as a senior in high school. I went into the trip heartbroken as my father had passed away less than a week before we left, and his funeral was the day before we flew to Jamaica. I questioned why I was even going. I felt emotionally drained and unsure if I could contribute, afraid I would bring the team down. But I was quickly proven wrong. My team surrounded me with support, constantly checking in and lifting me up. But it was the Deaf children on campus who brought me unimaginable joy. They didn’t know what I was going through, yet their kindness, love, and patience reflected a kind of Christlike love I had never experienced before.

Despite having very little things like no air conditioning, often no flushable toilets, and none of the everyday luxuries we take for granted—they radiated joy. They were incredibly patient, especially when we struggled with communication. Many of us weren’t fluent in ASL (American Sign Language), yet the children repeated themselves when needed, slowed down their signing, and even taught us new signs with a smile, sometimes teasing us, saying, “You should practice signing more!”

Their unconditional love, overflowing joy, and Christlike patience deeply moved me. I never expected to witness these qualities so fully in even one person, let alone in 40+ children. Being away from the chaos of everyday life and disconnected from technology, I felt the strongest presence of God I’ve ever experienced. Since then, I’ve longed to feel Him that close again. I came back with a new appreciation for my blessings and a deep love for the people I encountered.

How You Can Help:

If you choose to donate, your money will go directly toward the cost of my trip. This includes:

-Plane tickets

-Campus lodging

-Ground transportation in Jamaica

-Food costs

-Other related expenses

Not a penny will be wasted. All funds will be given to SMLCA, and by God’s will, if I raise more than the required $1,700, the extra money will go toward supplies, crafts, food, and supporting other team members who are struggling to meet their fundraising goals. No matter how much or how little you’re able to give, I am deeply grateful for every single cent.

Every penny counts. Thank you, and God bless you!