Jamaica Update...we're back!!

* To view more pictures of our trip please click here!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

In early December, Arianna Prince and I learned of an opportunity to join Dr. Willett and his amazing dental team to St. Elizabeth Jamaica on a medial mission trip! We excitedly answered God's call of “Whom shall I send to Jamaica?” with an enthusiastic “SEND ME!” Having now returned from an amazing eight-day adventure there, we are back to share all the things God showed us and taught us along the way.

ARRIVING IN JAMAICA

When we arrived in Jamaica, Arianna and I were both anxious to get started and begin our work alongside the Medical Ministry International team of 15 other people who came from all over the United States to help the people of Jamaica with their medical and dental needs. After a “day off” at YS Falls, and zip-lining over the waterfalls, we were ready to begin work on the reason we came to Jamaica...to help the Jamaican people with their dental and medical needs.


SORTING MEDICINE

Beginning at 1pm, the team gathered in the dining area of Ocean View Bible Camp (where we stayed) and laid out thousands and thousands of medicines that needed to be separated into bags for the patients. The medicines ranged from Tylenol to Methyldopa, and most were put in small bags of 30 (a months supply) for each patient. After five hours of sorting, I looked at Arianna and said “Tired yet?” Her response was classic “This is fun! I love this!”



OUR JOBS

Arianna and I were both assigned to the “Medical” side of the mission, and worked alongside some amazing doctors Dr. Wayne Farmer and Dr. John Kopchick. Each day, we were assigned different tasks at each clinic. Arianna got experience in the “intake” process (weighing people in, taking their blood pressure, and blood sugar, etc), “scribing” for doctors (writing out each patient's symptoms, the doctor's observations, the assessments and the prescriptions). She was also assigned to the pharmacy where she learned which medicines could be substituted for others and what each drug specifically was used for. I, personally, was paired with Dr. Farmer all week long and was in charge of “scribing” for him. We both learned SO much!




THE CLINICS

Each day, we left Ocean View Bible Camp around 7:00 a. m. and headed to a “city” in the mountains (usually about an hour or two away from where we were staying). After a long bumpy bus ride up and down the hills, we arrived at the clinics to set up. During our week there, we went to “Ginger Hill,” “Port Sea,” “Malvern,” and “Springfield.”

Each clinic had a different feel to it. Some had running water, some did not. Some had space for the doctors to work, while others forced the doctor to examine patients outside. However, each clinic had one thing in common...joyful people who were anxious to be seen by the “American Doctor,” and lots of kids who were anxious to laugh and play with us! Upon arrival each day, we were greeted with song of praise from the people of Jamaica...what a great way to start each day!



THE PEOPLE

The people of Jamaica captured our hearts right away! The first day at "Ginger Hill", Arianna was drawn to a little boy named “Kevoun” who kept finding any excuse to hang out with her! Throughout the week more and more kids found their to us anxious to play games, be held and sing to us! The Jamaicans being seen by the doctors were so open and trusting toward us, and before they left, all of them said over and over how thankful they were. We got lots of hugs and handshakes. Many of the children reminded both me and Arianna of Granny’s House kids, and we constantly found ourselves saying “Oh my gosh!! That little boy looks just like ________” or “Doesn’t this little girl remind you of_________.”








THE SICKNESSES

One of the most common reasons children were being seen at the clinic was for fungal infections of the skin and pin worms. Among adults, high blood pressure and diabetes were a common diagnoses. At times, there were stories that broke our hearts and left us praying to God for healing. One woman came in who had been hit with a machete by a boyfriend, and another man came in whose son had broken some of his ribs during an argument. One little boy had so many badly infected sores on his legs, that blood was streaming down his shins. It was a humbling and eye-opening look at how privilege we are in America. Each person who was seen at one of the clinics was prayed for by an MMI team member. What an amazing experience for both Arianna and me!


COMING HOME

On our last day in Jamaica, a woman from our team said, “This has been great...but I’m ready to get back home,” to which Arianna responded with “Not me! I want to stay!” It was so amazing watching God work in both of our lives and in the Jamaican’s hearts. We would both love to go back again return and help and watch God work in Jamaica!

Part 3: Leesha's Wedding

We’ve known Granny’s House mom, Leesha, for about eight years now and have been awed by the incredible changes that have happened in her life during that time. She literally immersed herself in everything “GOD,” and immediately began to model and spoon-feed her children all that she was experiencing. She surrounded herself with brand new Christ-following peers that reflected the night-to-day changes that had occurred in her life, all while finishing cosmetology school and starting work at a new salon.

It was several years ago that I first learned the depth of the profound changes that had happened in her family. The realization came as I read a note her young daughter had written in a Precious Jewels meeting at Granny’s House. Her love letter to the Lord began: “Dear God, thank you so much for changing my mom…” She then outlined the many ways her mom’s relationship with the Lord was affecting their family life.

After reading that note, it was clear that Leesha was reordering just about every aspect of her life to make plenty of room for her relationship with the Lord. Her heart was ablaze with love for Him and she wanted everything in her home to mirror that.

We were overjoyed when we learned of her engagement to Eric… this was, after all, our very first Granny’s House wedding since opening in 2001 and we felt honored to be a part of their big day at Leesha’s church, The Church of the Covenant.

When Leesha’s journey with Christ began all those years ago, we never imagined the dramatic changes that were to unfold in her family… changes that included not only a Godly husband, but a man who lovingly “fathers” her five children. It was, indeed, a grand day for us all – full of joy and lots of tears. ~Granny Pam

*The following photos are courtesy of Bethany Jones

Leesha - what a beautiful bride!

Leesha's children waiting (with infant nephew) for the big moment

...And the two became one

The groom and his boys

Part 2: The Second “FIRST” - Christmas With Our African Families

Pastor Aaron Gisonga and his incredible family – all three generations

For so many of our African children (some of whom grew up in refugee camps), Granny’s House is a real oasis and a place where they get to experience “childhood” from a totally different vantage point than they did in some of the war-torn nations from which they came. Our mission at Granny’s House is to provide opportunities for the kids to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Because of the generosity of Midway Heights Baptist Church, Christian Fellowship Church, and The Crossing, our recent Christmas party gave them one more chance to experience even more of His goodness!

We are especially grateful to Pastor Aaron Gisonga for pre-empting his usual Sunday evening African worship service at the Community Center so that we could use that space for our annual party. We simply did not have space at Granny’s House, considering that we only have two, tiny 700-square-foot apartments to accommodate the anticipated crowd (around 175). In the past, we would simply pass the gifts out the front door, but Missouri winter weather rarely cooperate with that kind of plan.

What a blessing to have so many of our new African families join us this year. We loved watching the parents as they watched their children on the big screen for the very first time as they viewed “IF I HAD (ANOTHER) MILLION DOLLAR$,” our new DVD starring the children of Granny’s House.

Whether remembering when the kids began slathering frosting onto pretzel rods to transform them into snowmen, or when we all belted out “Joy to the World,” we will never forget being able to celebrate Christmas with so many of our African friends! ~Granny Pam

Gire and Ira with Granny Pam. The boys definitely dressed up for the occasion!

Kezia… lovely, even while holding two babies as she watches the Granny’s House movie.

Kaylyn Lakebrink (left) tells the story of the “Three Trees.”

A Season of Firsts!

I don’t think we’ve ever experienced so many FIRSTS! at Granny’s House in such a short span of time. This past holiday season was mixed and mingled with oh-so-much joy as each event unfolded before us...

Part 1: The First “FIRST” - A Mission Trip to Jamaica

One of our sixteen-year-olds, Arianna Prince, accompanied by Granny’s House Program Coordinator, Angie Azzanni, is headed for Jamaica for their very first overseas mission trip this February. Everyone is so excited that you’d think we were all going along with them!

Arianna, a Princess Academy graduate, has been involved in Caleb -The Science Club as well as the club’s advanced summer Anatomy Worshops for several years now. Her growing passion for medical science and her compassion for people have landed her a spot on Dr. Kent Willett’s Jamaica mission team. They depart for St. Elizabeth on February 5th where they will join other MMI (Medical Missions International) team members in running

Arianna has been enrolled at Granny’s House for nearly eight years, and I’ll never forget the day I met her… or was it her identical twin, Brianna, that I met first? I vividly remember her pigtails, adorned with an array of crayon-colored barrettes... and who could ever forget that mischievous little sparkle in her eyes?

And now, eight years later, as we send her off to Jamaica with Angie, I can still only distinguish these twins’ personalities, but not their faces. They are “the” definition of the word “identical.” I’m so glad that only one of them is headed to Jamaica!! - Granny Pam


Angie Azzanni (left) wih Arianna Prince (right) at Kids Across America Kamp (KAA) circa 2005

Angie, (top right) with Arianna, (back row, 2nd from left), and her identical twin, Brianna, (3rd from right) at a Princess Academy meeting

Arianna, examining a pig heart with “Poppi” (Dr. Ellis Inram) during a recent Caleb - The Science Club meeting at the University of Missouri School of Medicine

VOX article

*The above photo is from VOX magazine

Recently, VOX reporter Stephanie Smith included Granny's House in their 'Movers and Shapers' series, and we thought you would enjoy reading a fresh take on what happens on Trinity Place! Take a look!

Jump in!

It wouldn't be fall without a big pile of leaves to jump in! Today (even though it was so windy that the leaves were blowing literally everywhere!), the kids decided to make some huge leaf piles and jump in them! Pretty soon we will be making snow angels in the front yard! Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall weather!--We are!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Spiderman, Power Rangers, Sully and Mike (Monsters Inc) and of course...Micheal Jackson! Have a good one!!

Happy Birthday to you!

Birthdays are always a fun time at Granny’s House. Each child receives a birthday present and a personalized cake, and they get so excited about their gifts, that most of the time, they don’t even make it home before tearing apart the gift bag to see what they got!

Last week, as I was looking through our enrollment forms, I noticed that three of children from Africa (a set of 11 year old twin boys and a beautiful five year old girl) had a birthday coming up! I found them right away and said “Hey guys! What do you want for your birthday this year?” They all looked at me like I was crazy (which by the way is a look I commonly get from many of our kids!!).

“What do you mean?” asked one of the boys
“Your birthday! It’s tomorrow isn’t it?” I said
“I don’t know...” he replied.
“You don’t know?!” I thought

What! Most of our kids remind me months in advance that their birthdays are approaching! Not only that, they come with a list of “ideas” for their present!

It turns out, the kids didn’t know when their birthday was, because they had never celebrated it! In Africa (from what I’ve been told) many of their birthdays are not recorded, and few are celebrated.

Immediately Pam and I decided we needed to make it a big celebration. We bought a huge birthday cake, got the kids party hats, and celebrated their first birthday in America (complete with the “Happy Birthday song” which sounded more like a bunch of kids screaming at the top of their lungs than the actual song!)

The kids had a great time, and what a blessing it was to celebrate their first birthday party with them! Can’t wait till the next one!

BEAUTIFUL BACKGROUND NOISE

He sat at his desk day after day, as weeks turned into months and months to years, doing what many call "numbers crunching." Along with his staff, he analyzed spread sheets and reconciled financial statements, helping his clients understand the bottom line. He did this sometimes-tedious work all to the backdrop of laughter, as he watched kids bouncing balls, and jumping rope. At the time, Jeff Echelmeier, Williams-Keepers CPA owner, didn't know what was going on across the street from his office; all he knew was that he liked what he saw and heard as he looked out the window.

"It was always fun for me to see dozens of young children playing in the yard across the street from my office. I loved hearing the laughter and seeing the fun they were having jumping rope, playing kickball, or tossing a football"

For Jeff, the goings-on across the street provided some "terrific background noise," a happy distraction from the, all-too-often, tedious work of accountancy. It wasn't until he was talking to a friend who was helping organize the annual "Golfing for Granny" fundraiser earlier this year that he realized that this was the very group he'd been watching from his office window watching for years.

While gazing out the window, Jeff sometimes observed neighborhood children who were, obviously, growing up in difficult situations. It always gladdened him to know that the kids he watched day after day "had some fun and laughter in their day when they arrived at Granny's House."

Not long after that discovery, the Williams-Keepers Tax Department sprang into action and organized a silent auction to raise funds for Granny's House. A football signed by some of the MU Tigers, rounds of golf at various Mid-Missouri golf courses, a gift basket full of goodies, and a private airplane ride over Mid-Missouri were some of the items the Williams-Keepers staff bid on and purchased, raising nearly a thousand dollars for Granny's House.

We never imagined that our "background noise" could be so productive!
-Granny Pam

CPR Training

On Saturday September 12th sixteen Granny's House youth ages 5th grade through 12th grade made their way to the University Hospital to learn CPR training. It was a great day filled with a lot of active learning, as well as some great food at the Campus Dining Hall.

Little did we know...a Columbia Tribune reporter would be there! Check out the newspaper article in which two of our girls were featured!