Awesome things about Jamaica you may or may not know- BALACLAVA!

Jamaican Highlights

As you likely know, i've spent a good amount of time over the past 8 years serving in Jamaica. I typically spend a few months of the year on the island helping guide our ministry and leading short term mission teams. Jamaica is such a small country but is literally packed full of awesomeness. I am beginning a series of blog posts that will highlight some of my favotires of Jamaica. These will be communities, restaurants, beaches, churches, etc. I hope this gives you a further look into my heart for Jamaica and the uniqueness of the island.

Balaclava

Since 2009 our organization has served in Balaclava. I was able to lead the first mission trip effort (with Mitchell Christian School, SD). Thinking back to that first effort, I recall our team staying at a house in town and helping with the construction of a church office and computer center, which is now actively being used. Balaclava is such a beautiful area. It's a very small town in St. Elizabeth, but is highlighted by the anchor institutions of the Balacalva Health Clinic, Police Station and High School. There are a handful of churches and a couple other schools. 

Praying Pelican Missions partners with all of these community institutions. It's been really exciting to see how our ministry and partnership in Balaclava grew from a simple phone call connection through the Jamaica Baptist Union in 2008 to what it is today. In 2009 during our first effort, we solely focued on activities at the Baptist church with the current pastor. Fast forward to today, we now have partnerships with 4 pastors in the Balaclava area, 4+ schools (included small schools just outside the town), and the health clinic. We've had many teams serve through children's ministry, health ministry, evangelism & outreach, visitation & street ministry, work projects, and more. 

Balaclava literally just feels 'homey'. The pastors we partner with welcome us as friends & family. The church doors are always open. Sister Verona Williams' Cut Stone Grill is a great little 'fast food' restaurant across the street from the Baptist Church. There's a terrific barber shop in town where you can get a great shave for like $4.00 USD. The view from Mt. Pleasant looking down on the sugar cane fields owned by Appleton is amazing. You can walk almost anywhere. The people are friendly & loving. It's generally one of my favorite spots in Jamaica. Balaclava is far from the beaches and far from the resorts. The nearest any tourists get to Balaclava is to the nearby Appleton Rum factory and YS Falls. But they're missing out on so much. And they'd only know it if they spend a week, 2 weeks, or a month there over the course of a couple years. Big up to Balaclava- easily one of my favorite places in Jamaica. Home to many of my friends and brothers & sisters in Christ.

Below: Hughroy Jackson (middle in gray polo) and me saying goodbye to our friends in Balaclava.. Lelieth, Lola, Prascilla, Omar, Pat & others

 Below: My home church's youth group (Edinbrook Church from Brooklyn Park, MN) poses in front of the foundation of a church hall / community center they helped begin. Pastor Ken Dwyer can be seen in the front row.

 Below: Bruce Peterson shows off the fantastic cabinets he built in the annex building at Balaclava Baptist. Love how God has blessed this guy and that he has a heart of serving others! This was a much needed project!

Below: A classic picture of Balaclava Baptist Church. The annex building on the left is the project I was able to help with back in 2009 as we began serving in Balaclava. Picture credit: Amy Norton.