Welcome to Paradise

   Our team had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas in the Carribean! We spent the holidays passing out cookies and Christmas cards in an elderly home called Flambouyant Gardens. We were able to pray for many people, and were so blessed to be able to bring some love and cheer to this Christmas season. Christmas Eve our team spent the morning at the beach. We had a total blast!! Later that night we had a team celebration because Christmas Day we invited people to the YWAM base who didnt have any family to spend Christmas with and had a delicious Christmas dinner. :)

   In the past week our team went to two different projects here on the island. Projects are the government funded housing. In many cases one home in the project will have up to 10 or 15 people living in them. So they are very crowded. Monday we first visited the project called Paradise Mills. And it didnt take long for the kids to come out and play with us. We brought differnt balls to play with, frisbees, and jump-ropes. The kids were so eager to jump right in! Some were a little shy at first but after some dancing in the rain and jumping around there was non stop laughter and dancing. The whole day was filled with amazing experiences. We went back to Paradise Mills the next day and the kids, were so excited to see us again! We had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back and continue relationships with the children.

Leah with Quashen, they made fast friends!

Solveig with Quadiva and Mikia :)

   The other project community we have been going to is called Kennedy. This project has a lot more kids and as soon as we got there everyone was curious why we were there. So we got to share with some teens and adults why we were there and that we will be coming back. Everyone was so excited! Our team has had such a great time with the kids. Every time the kids see us again they open up and are more comfortable around us. All of our hearts are breaking over the family issues that go on here in St. Croix. We are thanking God daily for this open mission field to love on children and reach the community by bringing Gods Glory to these places! 

 Mindy playing some baseball

Malene loving on little girls

   We have also been helping the Lighthouse ministry about three times a week. As relationships are builiding, so is our teams confidence. We have stepped out in faith, leaving our comforts behind. It has been a wonderful experience so far! We have students preaching at the Lighthouse once a week and it has been so great to see how our willingness to say yes to the Lord has brought so much freedom in our team. After meeting with the leaders of the Lighthouse we were told of many things we could to do bless them as long term missionaries, and projects we will be able to help them pioneer. Our team is excstatic to see God opening so many doors to us!

Lighthouse Logo

Here is what our team has to say:
Mindy: The names sharty, I am a white chick but I am black at heart. ( Told this by some local homeless friends)
Hanna: I am falling more in love with this place and the people every day!
Jared:  They call me Captain Black Foot.
Leah: I started aerobics class with children in the projects, the LOVE it.
Joo: Holding Jesus' hand.
Solveig: I taught the Americans to not mix our Norwegian Rice Pudding.
Malene: I love the kids here so much.
Melissa B: Totally blown away by the opportunities God has given us!
Melissa J: "I've never been more aware of my skin color!"
Josh: The help of the kids here is improving my bball skills!

                                                                With all our love!!