An inside look at serving in Jamaica
Recently, the Berean Baptist Church missions team served in Jamaica. When they left, not only did they see the impact their team had made on the community – but felt the impact in their heart.
Get a glimpse into their experience below – and be inspired to put your faith into action. There are opportunities to serve in Jamaica now – from skilled to unskilled, from teams to individuals.
"What Jamaica taught me cannot be confined to a moment. It reshaped my mindset. I left not just thankful, but transformed, carrying lessons of service, resilience and the power of showing up where it matters most," shared Rev. Trevor Hyde, Jr., Berean Baptist Church pastor.
"Serving in the country of my parents' birth, where my family and culture are rooted, was a different kind of return home. I wasn't visiting relatives or simply dwelling among familiar faces, nor was I there to celebrate or receive the comfort of belonging," shared Cheyenne Palacio-McCarthy.
"Instead I found myself greeting strangers in my parents' homeland, stepping into communities I had never personally known, yet feeling a quiet connection through our shared heritage. That shift in purpose transformed the experience into something deeper than a visit; it became an opportunity to engage with the place in a more meaningful and intentional way," McCarthy continued.
"My mother spent years living abroad and sending resources back home. She understood the call, both near and far. I saw my mother's heart reflected in my service each day. I saw my grandmother in the mothers we served. I reflected on the joy that must have been felt in receiving the barrels that were sent. Though I've never witnessed my family receive them, I remember the labor of packing them. The gratitude in those women's eyes when we completed the roofs felt like a glimpse into that same exchange of care. I can only imagine it's just a portion of what it feels like to be truly seen."
"In choosing to serve humbly, to leave others better than I found them, I discovered that one must never stop looking back and beside oneself to see if a neighbor needs help. This experience has given fresh meaning to what it means to return to my community, emboldened to serve others," McCarthy said.
"Journeying through the sacred season of Lent and having the opportunity to serve during our mission trip to Jamaica exceeded my expectations," shared Rev. Dr. Bennetta Lee Gipson.
"I didn't know what to expect so I put one foot in front of the other, moved forward and literally sometimes backwards because of rocks on the road – the 'hilly' terrain. What a beautiful place Jamaica is – having courageous people who love their land, love our God and who are ready to proclaim their faith and trust in God, giving thanks to him in spite of Hurricane Melissa's devastation. The people I met displayed a joyful spirit and unshaken determination to enjoy the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
"I enjoyed seeing how an assigned site looked when we arrived, compared to the finished project. Observing the process of the men and women mission team assessing what needed to be done and then receiving needed supplies – from gloves and nails to ladders and saws – was enjoyable to me. I experienced God at work in me, around me and in others as we stepped out in faith. As I reflected on the days' activities, a sense of accomplishment propelled me to continue journeying with Jesus. Communication was peaceful," she continued.
"Participating in this mission trip to Jamaica gave me happiness and satisfaction to say, 'Mission accomplished!' God continues to pour into me as I pour into others. I am a doer of the Word and not just a hearer only!"