“God had only one Son and he made that Son a missionary.” — David Livingston
From the beginning, when Jesus Christ becomes our personal Lord and Savior, there is an inherent desire to take the message of hope we have received, and give it to a lost and dying world. David Livingston, one of the greatest missionaries to Africa during the 1800’s also understood this simple principle. He stated, “Christ alone can save the world, but Christ cannot save the world alone.” It is people reaching people, and extraordinary sacrifice that changes lives one at a time. All of creation longs to feel and experience the love of God, and to have a second chance at life.
Mother to the Nations
Since the time of my daughter Patrice’s departure to her heavenly home, destiny would call me to the mission field, to become a “Mother to the Nations”. Since I have a very small ministry, my faith was challenged. It was through much prayer and fasting, and the faithful support of my partners that my heart for the missions would flourish and become a reality. I went to Jamaica my first Mother’s Day without Patrice, and it became a Divine appointment to go every year thereafter.
My mission to Jamaica would be to minister to the orphans every Mother’s Day in honor of my precious Patrice. It is a time of celebration for their lives, and love is given to those who are abandoned and despised by family and society. The Bible plainly testifies that “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.” (James 1:27)
New Year
Each year begins with extended fasting and prayer to get clear direction from God for my life and for the New Year. As part of that time, I also always ask what He would have me to do concerning the ministry itinerary and orphans in Jamaica. Keep in mind; my ministry is based on faith. In other words, I don’t send out letters asking for donations or pleading for people to help me. I realize to a large extent, many people are approached this way and it can be overwhelming. So I choose to fast and pray for my needs to be met. I have asked the Lord to make me healthy enough to see the children for another year. I pray for God to send Holy Angels out, and bring people from the North, South, East, and West to help me with this great task. And I pray for favor from God and man to make all these things possible.
Faithworks
Even though I don’t have the finances in the beginning, I go ahead and make my plans for the missionary journey. As I continue to pray and fast, the phone calls start coming in, and precious saints like you send money and buy my books. As these gifts come in, we are able to purchase things for the children one day at a time.
Many times we miss our call because we want to see things in place first before we say yes Lord, I will go; however, this is not how faith works. You have to believe that God will make a way. Then the miracles begin to happen…ministers scheduling healing and revival services invite me to hold meetings; people miraculously become part of the ministry team; and donations come in from partners and vendors funding the gifts, toys and other things needed for the orphans and people in need. If I would wait on the finances before preparing for my journey I never would have gone the first time, let alone the eighth time. Friend, put your trust in God. He will never fail you.
Ministry Team
On our trip in 2009, the Lord brought together a wonderful team of people who shared the same vision. I was elated to see that the Lord surely heard my prayers. He sent me people I knew and then, He sent me some people I didn’t know before this wonderful trip. Gwen Reeser, previous secretary to Rev. Joyce Meyer for seventeen years, called me from Missouri after hearing about our trip last year. She not only brought such a spirit of joy to the children and everyone she came in contact with, but ministered greatly with puppet shows, which the children especially loved.
My dear friend and assistant, Linda Hanson who has a wonderful gift of organization started immediately helping me prepare for the trip. Ryan Thompson, a professional businessman came initially to one of my meetings with a friend and received a word of knowledge that deeply touched him. As he looked at the DVD of our last mission trip, he was visibly moved and committed to go. He brought to the team a technical side of taking pictures, videos and updating the website. Wilma Hummel from Missouri, a friend of Gwen Reeser also joined our team. She was ready to serve in any capacity bringing great strength to our team with her gift of intercession, and ministry of helps. Wilma told me of another friend who deeply loves children named Cindy Kolath. Cindy joined our team and worked with the children and assisted Ryan with some of his tasks. There is so much more I could say of how this group of people got together and formed the Mission team, but there are not enough words to express how wonderful it was. Isn’t God awesome?
Believing for the Impossible
There is much preparation that takes place before the actual mission trip in addition to prayer and fasting. We literally bring many amenities to help supplement the orphanages and bring gifts to the churches and people of Jamaica. Linda, my assistant and I went shopping for toys and found the most beautiful, brightly colored soft, cuddly teddy bears for each of the three hundred children, along with so many other goodies. Although, we knew what we wanted to get for the children and that we would need to raise money to cover the expense of the fence so desperately needed for West Havens Children’s Home, the need was bigger than what we had. As most of you know, I never let a little thing like money stop me from achieving my goals and you shouldn’t either. The word of God declares in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Do you realize what that means? I didn’t have the finances for all the gifts, toys, and the many needed supplies that the children needed let alone the expense of a fence, but I was hoping for it. King David said, “I’ve been young, and now I am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25. I can also truly attest to this scripture as well.
Winsome
Since going to Jamaica I have been very blessed to meet wonderful Jamaican people such as Winsome Hooper who just happen to be a manager at the hotel where we stay. Winsome is in charge of various tasks. One of them is meeting guests and assisting them with things that are needed. In other words she calls the shots and determines the outcome. I first met Winsome on the telephone which was a disadvantage because of my very southern accent. I was asking her if the hotel would provide the cakes for the parties for the children as they had in the past. She said I would have to email her, but there was no response. So when the day finally came that we met in person, she acted as if she had seen a ghost. She said, “I can’t believe it, you are beautiful, I mean very beautiful! When I talked to you on the phone, I thought you were some poor country woman.” She said, “What is it you have need of?” I felt like Queen Esther. God gave me favor with Winsome, so the children could have a wonderful dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, ice cream and a lovely cake. This year Winsome helped me with three beautiful cakes, and a full meal for all three of the orphanages. The children had a wonderful time with the puppet shows, the toys, the wonderful meal, and party. More importantly, we imparted so much love to them, hugs and kisses, and I prayed for each one individually.
We Are the Hands and Feet of Jesus
We are the hands and feet of Jesus and He is watching to see what we are going to do with them. If you could have seen how the children smiled, you would have been overwhelmed. Some of the children are blind, crippled, severely diseased and deformed as well as mentally and physically handicapped. I have been informed that some were found in dumps and even in places where people dispose of their feces. My heart is overwhelmed with compassion and love for these children.
Profound Prophecy for the Assistant Pastor
Our trip is multi-faceted. We visit the children during the day, and at night we are guest ministers in revival meetings held in Jamaica. Each year as the anointing increases, there is a greater manifestation of the word of knowledge, miracles, healings, prophetic utterances, people getting slain in the spirit, rededication and salvation. On the last night of our revival service, the assistant Pastor was driving to the service with some passengers. He was telling them that he felt the hand of the Lord mightily upon him, and was calling him to be an Apostle. At the service, I called him out and began to prophesy under a strong anointing, “Who should ascend to the hill of the Lord? Those who live holy! Your prayer touches the throne room of God. Surely, you love to work in an office, but I have given you a greater office…I have called you to the office of an Apostle. You have been asking me, and I have heard your heart’s cry!” He rejoiced greatly, and his faith arose as everything was confirmed word-for-word concerning his conversation just before the meeting. His wife came up for prayer, and I had a word of knowledge about unforgiveness that was holding her back from the breakthrough she so longed for. I began to sing something in the spirit; the musicians began to accompany me. They have since made it the theme song for their church. The people were so hungry for God and the church was packed out every night.
Come Join US!
Maybe next year you will want to go and help me, or maybe consider supporting my ministry for the purpose of ministering to the needs of these precious children. It was awesome to see what the Lord did through your gifts and offerings. Next year I will be putting money down to buy land to start the project of building a new orphanage.
You are our loved partners and dear friends. To you I will always be grateful, and again, thank you for giving to the children of Jamaica.
With Much Love,
Patricia