MBC Mission Trip to Jamaica!

Our Daily Updates

DAY 1: Hello everyone! A BIG thank you to everyone who made it out this morning to see us off! It is great having your support. We had a very smooth trip and we spent the afternoon resting and praying and relaxing. Tomorrow we hit the ground running when we speak to 500 kids at a local public school and build some playgrounds. Please pray for the kids and their receptivity. Pray that we are safe as we build the equipment and have opportunities to tell others about Jesus. And thank you for your prayers as we traveled today!

DAY 2: Today was a great first day of ministry. We spent the day at Eber Prep School and got to speak to about 600 kids. Through a skit and a short devotion, we talked with them about God and His ways. We helped build and rebuild garden beds and playground equipment that were destroyed by Hurricane Melissa in the fall. Caleb and Charity Gibbs (our missionaries) told us later that the older students have never had playground equipment. The kids were super excited to begin using it!

We are all exhausted (and a little sunburnt) from the day's work, but looking forward to tomorrow. We will work at another school to build more swing sets, paint a mural, and help to organize and restore some classrooms that have just been rebuilt. Also, Eber Prep asked us to come back and add some climbing rungs to the swing set so we will get to see those kids again, which is great!

Thank you for your continued prayers! We feel them!

DAY 3: Today was another day full of many blessings - both to give and to receive. The day started with Sharon leading children's Bible songs and Jen teaching the resurrection eggs story to the elementary school at Bay Life Baptist Church. Then we split into two groups. One group built a swing set for the school. This one we finished before lunch which was good because it got HOT in the afternoon sun. We then went back to Eber and finished setting up the other two swing sets. The kids were thrilled. One of the kids was swinging and giggling with so much joy he said he couldn't breathe. 

While some of us were doing construction, another team painted a mural on Bay Life's wall. Everyone loved it and we even got the children involved by putting their handprints in the center of the heart. They were thrilled to be involved and really connected with our team after that. The leaders of the school were so impressed that we were asked to come back and do more tomorrow. Also, Eber saw pictures of the work and have asked us to come back this week and paint a mural for them, so it looks like that is on the docket as well.

We were able to connect with the kids even more today which was so heart-warming.

We weren't sure exactly how this week was going to go so we focused on being flexible to wherever God leads. God has given us many open doors and opportunities and we are grateful to be able to walk through them. Keep up the prayers! We are exhausted, but so thankful God is using us to share His love with the Jamaicans.

DAY 4: Today was hump day. Our time here is half over, but many of us feel like our journey in missions is just beginning. While most of the team was able to complete the mural and other projects at Bay Life, Bethany and Amanda went to the hospital to do a little street evangelism.

In the mid-afternoon we went over to Eber to prime a couple walls for another mural. Students (and teachers!) were lining up to swing on the sets we built. After school we hung around and watched a school-wide soccer competition. It was great to hang out with the kids after school to join with them in cheering on their teams (go Sapphire House!) and build those connections for Caleb and Charity to follow up with.

In the evening, a few of us went out kayaking to unwind. It has been unbelievable to see tropical fish in the wild. We have seen lionfish, houndfish, puffers, a moray eel and even a manta ray jumping out of the water.

And as always, we appreciate and feel your prayers!

DAY 5: Today was a great final day of work at Eber. We were able to complete all our projects that we wanted to accomplish. We started out by making over 200 bracelets for the kids. Ashlyn led the team that started and finished a beautiful mural that teaches the Gospel story through pictures. The rest of us painted a backdrop to their outdoor stage with Bible truths and verses for the kids to think about daily. We also did a few more odds and ends for the school like move some soil for their gardens and sink the base of the last playset into the ground. 

The kids and the faculty were very appreciative for everything. They were all so encouraging to us and made us feel like we are truly making a difference. 

After a long, hard week we decided to have some fun at night and go to Glimmering Waters which is a bioluminescent bay. It was a great experience to see some of God's amazing creations that we just don't have in the U.S. 

DAY 6: Today was a beautiful day of rest and relaxation on the beach. We were able to do some snorkeling and swimming and simply rest and reflect on the week. We were hoping to go back to Eber in the afternoon to watch the kids play soccer and hang out with the students and parents, but the school cancelled the event. In the evening we went over to Caleb and Charity's house for dinner - tacos. Not quite a traditional Jamaican dinner, but we enjoyed their hospitality. Something Charity said really stuck a chord - when we look out at the widespread devastation and lostness of Jamaica it can feel like what our team is doing is just a drop in a very large bucket, but really, what we are doing is making a footpath of hope for others to travel along. Jamaica is loved, Jamaica is cared about, Jamaica is not forgotten neither by man nor God. 

Thank you all so much for your prayers, your notes of encouragement, your giving, and your heart for missions. It is because of you all that we were able to go and share Christ's love to the Jamaican people. 

The Overview:

WHAT: MBC is heading to Jamaica!

WHEN: March 22nd-28th, 2026

WHY: We will be heading to Montego Bay, Jamaica to partner with our ABWE Missionaries Caleb and Charity Gibbs as they serve outside of Montego Bay. This area was hit hard by Hurricane Melissa in this past fall and is still rebuilding. We will primarily be working as a construction crew to rebuild two school’s playgrounds. One of the schools has about 500 students who are unable to have recess because all their playground equipment was destroyed in the hurricane. While the plan is to rebuild the playground equipment, we are using the opportunity to establish relationships with the students and their families to begin Gospel conversations.

We will also have opportunities to give a morning devotion at each of the schools as well as paint a couple large murals and possibly help repair a library.

WHO:

Bethany Reeb

Karen Wolf

Sharon Kues

Amanda Gailey

Jen Whitcomb

Kaylen Whitcomb

Ashlyn Whitcomb

David Scafide

Sam Scafide

Micah Scafide

HOW To Support: Two ways…

The first way: Please pray for us! What we need more than anything is prayer coverage. Pray as you feel led by the Spirit, and here are some prompts you can use:

• Travel mercies (health, safety)

• Open hearts for those we will be ministering to

• Wisdom/Discernment as we witness to others

• A love and heart for the Jamaican people

• Caleb and Charity Gibbs and their leadership

• Boldness to show grace and truth to others

The second way:

We would love your financial support as well. Each of us will need to raise about $1500 for the trip. We will also need to purchase some equipment here in the US and ship it to Jamaica. If you feel like God is calling you to support us, you can donate through online giving or simply earmarking a check and putting in the offering plate.

Thank you for partnering with us as we spread the Good News around the world!