Our Jamaica Project

The Jamaican Mission 2008 was very successful. It will take all year to tell all the wonderful stories! The experiences we’ve had, the wonderful people we’ve met will stay with us always.  For now, in order to get some word to you about our mission, I will make a quick list of this year’s accomplishments.  Stay tuned to future Labba Labba columns for more!

We built a small house with cooking porch and privy for a woman and her 12 year old son who have been waiting four years for assistance. We also provided them with new beds and bedding. Due to materials delays we had to contract the last bit of work to a local carpenter.  The Ridgemount United Church will over see the completion of the project.

We build a roof to ½ of a 2 room house for a very elderly woman. Hurricane Dean had blown it off.  Last year, we had provided her with cement blocks to build a privy. We also gave her several bags of staples from the grocery store. 

We repaired a retaining wall, roof corner and painted a kitchen for Roy Jones. We brought down with us 150 lbs of medical supplies for Roy.  The Jamaican Mission fund will be reimbursed for this expense ($2000) by Worker’s Compensation. We are also pre-purchasing for Roy via Western Union to a Jamaican pharmacy, $747. worth of catheters which will also be reimbursed to us by the insurance company.

A huge number of dental patients were seen and treated in the Porus free clinic. Alan and Bruni have many stories to tell about the people who have been returning to them over the 9 years. 

$7350 worth of donated dental equipment was used and/or left at the dental clinic for their permanent use. Also, the Jamaican Mission Fund purchased $650 worth of antibiotics for the dental clinic.

50 pounds of toothpaste samples and toothbrushes donated by area dentists were left in the Porus Dental Clinic for their dispensing.

300 pounds of doctors drug samples and over the counter drugs provided by area doctors and pharmacies given to the Porus Medical Clinic.

200 pounds of school supplies were brought down and given to a preschool, elementary school and orphanage.

150 pounds of nearly new clothing was brought to the infirmary (nursing home), to the Redberry Church of the Nazarene, and to families in need

Over 40 health kits were given out to families in need and to the orphanage.

61 beautiful handmade dresses donated by people of the North Country were given to children in need and to the children’s orphanage.   This brought smiles to many faces!