AMI | American-Caribbean Experience

New Life Has Begun!

by American-Caribbean Experience | Jun 22, 2025 | Book A Trip, Community

BY COURTNEY SIMMONS

Once again, this past month, I had the blessing of taking a group of families and students to Port Maria to serve with ACE. This was our eighth trip as a school (Sugar Hill Christian Academy), and what an amazing week we had. There were 17 people on our team who were returning with 13 additional, wide-eyed, and super excited first-timers. I absolutely love getting to share my favorite place with all my students and their families.

As a school, we sponsor 10 students. So, we had the opportunity to reconnect with them just after arrival by inviting them all to lunch and a time of swimming at the hotel on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday allowed us the opportunity to get in a great workout slinging concrete at two different schools. We timed our lunch with each school’s lunch to allow us the opportunity to spend time with the students. When they went back to class, we got back to work. Some of us mixed more concrete while others focused on untangling our hair…if you’ve been there, you know.

On Wednesday, we painted the new duplex in the Children’s Village, and on Thursday, we found the Lord working on us as we received blessing after blessing out on AMI (Ace Mobile Infirmary) visits. You always step into those moments thinking that you are there to bless someone in need, and you leave realizing that you are actually the one in need, having received the blessing for that day. Isn’t that always how the Lord works?

Speaking of the Lord’s work. As we ended our day on Thursday down at the river helping to clear it out for the benefit of the farm’s water pump, I had a first-time experience myself. After serving ACE for over 30 years and leading countless teams, I got the opportunity to baptize four of our team members in the river. I have heard of other teams doing it, but I have never personally had the privilege. We spent time on the bank sharing testimonies before wading into the river and obeying the Lord. As we did so, I noticed ACE staff and Farm staff had gathered around and mingled with our team to be blessed by this honored sacrament of The Church. In this moment, I was reminded again that we Americans always end up being blessed more than we bless. The Lord has a way of taking our time and our efforts to bless everyone involved just as He promised Abraham in Genesis 12:2: “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing.”

May His work of blessing continue at ACE as we honor them and Him by simply showing up to the work that HE has already begun (Ephesians 2:10).

The team from Sugar Hill Christian Academy

AMI Visits with Sugar Hill Christian Academy

Slinging concrete at Edgehill School of Special Education

Slinging concrete at a local school in Jamaica

Jamaican Students Playing with a Missionary's Hair

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Faithful with the Tasks at Hand

by American-Caribbean Experience | May 18, 2025 | Community, Outreach

When God closes the door to something that has been very special to many people, there are emotions that surface: sadness and frustration, as well as some anger and asking God why He chose to close that door! This is what many of us experienced when the gate to the entrance of the Port Maria Infirmary was shut to outsiders, leaving all of us wondering about the well-being of our infirmary friends. There was also the concern that they would experience abandonment and not understand why we no longer came to visit them.

But God! He knew this was going to happen, and He already had a plan ordained for ACE to embrace. He knew there were many elderly and infirm who desperately needed help within the communities where our sponsored children live. We were already visiting some of these dear people on a limited basis, but as we dug deeper into these communities, we found people who were often starving and living alone in deteriorating homes abandoned by family members. Many were in deep despair because they live in remote areas and there didn’t seem to be anyone who cared about what was happening to them.

As we became more aware of these dire situations, ACE Mobile Infirmary (AMI) was born to meet the physical and spiritual needs of these dear people. Our compassionate staff visit them regularly, and teams that come down to Jamaica also get to visit them, helping take care of their homes and property, sharing Scripture, singing, and praying for them.

Since lack of food is an issue for many, our staff provides them with a hot meal and a grocery bag of food that is easy for them to prepare. As an example of how desperately many of them need food, let me tell you about Pauline.

When we recently stopped by her house, Pauline greeted us with a huge smile and told us she had been praying that we would visit her that day. She had also prayed that God would provide food for her, since she had no food in her house! As we prayed for her before we left, she also prayed for us that God would keep us safe on the road.

Another one of our AMI regulars is Ricardo, a pleasant young man who is paralyzed from the waist down due to falling from a second-story roof while on a construction site. He needed a new home that didn’t have decaying walls or leak when it rained. With the help of four teams and our ACE staff, we spent several weeks building and painting his new home, complete with a ramp for accessibility. Teams were also able to build a small, one room home for Clive, an elderly gentleman who lives in a remote area. When we recently visited Clive, we could see that he is taking great pride in his new home by keeping it neat and tidy.

Verna was also delighted that we came to visit and was thankful for the food we brought. As Latoya combed and braided her hair, Verna sang one hymn after another and continually thanked God for how good He has been to her. Yes, we sang along with her! We also prayed for her, and she prayed for us in return.

Of course, we still would love to return to the infirmary, but we know that is in God’s hands. In the meantime, we will be faithful to the task He has given us to be Christ’s ambassadors, helping our AMI friends in any way that we can and knowing the joy and delight it brings to their lives—and to ours. God is faithful and so, so good!

In Christ,
Arlene, Long-Time ACE Volunteer

Pauline in the ACE Mobile Infirmary Program

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ACE’s Four Impact Buckets Unite for Spring!

by American-Caribbean Experience | Mar 26, 2025 | Community, Discipleship, Education, Outreach

What a fantastic start to our 2025 outreach year in St. Mary, Jamaica! In February, our medical and dental teams served the community, providing exams, cleanings, fillings, and other essential wellness services.

This month, our ACE team, along with volunteers from the States, helped feed and care for many elderly and special needs neighbors who lack support. They also helped clean their homes. It was inspiring to see college and high school students make such a significant impact in the lives of the lonely and hungry. In just four days, we received an overwhelmingly positive response to our staff and volunteers’ loving hospitality.

The Ricardo Ranch

While love, care, and support are essential, nothing compares to the impact of a dedicated team like the one from Ringgold Baptist in Ringgold, GA. Each year, they generously offer their construction skills to address a critical need: providing safe, dry housing for those in need.

This year, they supported Ricardo, a construction worker who suffered a life-changing accident when he fell from a roof and broke his neck. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down, Ricardo’s spirit and hope inspire everyone around him, making it hard for anyone to complain.

Thanks to ACE’s commitment and the many hands that joined in, we built Ricardo a new home. Just today, Ricardo moved in and can finally call this place home, all thanks to the generosity of those who dedicated their time to make a difference in his life.

Education & Edgehill

Many of you may remember that ACE is the primary sponsor for helping Edgehill School of Special Education meet its specific needs outside the classroom. This year, we aimed to transform a large closet into a computer lab, where 13 donated computers and a whiteboard will enable special needs students to access the world beyond their reach.

Construction began one day and was completed by noon the next. All that remains is for the electrician to install the electrical outlets, and then we’ll be ready for the students to embark on their journey to explore the “safe web.”

Our volunteers enjoyed reading, singing, and interacting with the classes during construction. It’s hard to say who had more fun at Edgehill—us or the students.

Help for Hampstead

Volunteers can’t discuss ACE without mentioning the “bucket brigade.” It’s true—ACE is known for tackling challenging projects in just a few days.

This week, Hampstead Primary School, one of our sponsored schools, requested our help to finish their multi-purpose court, which will be used for sports events and general assemblies. This month, we began constructing the seating for attendees.

This will be a full summer program, as it takes more than just a few days to complete. ACE is committed to our students and schools. If you’ve never participated in a “bucket brigade,” there’s still plenty of time to sign up. Many hands make the work light!

Hampstead Elementary School Construction Project

Fun and Discipleship during the Hampstead Elementary School Construction Project

Bucket Brigades at Hampstead Elementary School

Pigs & Microbusinesses

What do pigs and microbusinesses have in common? In some businesses, the answer might be a lot of fat. But not with ACE! The Green Life Farm pig pen business is thriving at Buccaneers, where Jamaicans flock to enjoy delicious jerk pork sandwiches and ribs.

Our pigs have outgrown their pens. So this month, with the help of volunteers from Kansas City Christian School, we tore down the old pens and constructed new ones—all in one day! This is what happens when you have seniors in tip-top shape doing the work. Our farm staff truly appreciated the assistance.

While most of the work is completed, we still have a few posts and some painting left. The pens almost look nice enough to spend a little time with the pigs… almost!

In other great news, we recently received a call from a couple we’ve come to love, Marty and Christa Bevel from Kentucky. They asked if they could assist on the farm for a month. Our answer was a resounding YES! We met Marty and Christa years ago and invited them to visit ACE about four years back. This time, they felt called by God to help us, and we couldn’t be more grateful. God always brings us the most incredible help!

Spiritual Development

Marty and Christa are knowledgeable about pigs, chickens, cows, and all things farming. More importantly, they have an incredible love for Jesus, which shines through in everything they do.

The Jamaican staff at the farm has fallen in love with them and even asked them to stay longer. Marty leads daily staff devotions to start the day, while Christa invests in the ladies on the farm and our ACE staff. We have all come to love them and will miss them when they return to Kentucky. But we’re keeping the lights on for them and expect a return visit. Please pray for a longer stay!

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Marla’s Minute: Unto the Least of These

by American-Caribbean Experience | Feb 24, 2025 | Book A Trip, Community, Outreach

The heart of ACE has always been and will always be focused on people. We call Jamaicans “our people,” “our seniors,” and “our extended families.” When you come to Jamaica to volunteer, you can rest assured that one of the days, if not two, will be spent in our community with one of “our people,” through our AMI visits.

This month made the top of the list compared to all of our previous Februarys for reaching out and helping our elderly and those in need. Friends bought food for distribution and helped clean up individuals and their living spaces. We even had friends assist our ACE staff by singing and reading to our elders. They were also treated to a gardening lesson or two from local yards.

Does it feel good to leave a home seeing smiles on our seniors’ faces? You bet it does! I just pray and hope someone will come visit me when it’s my time to rest. And hopefully have a garden of something to show or a song to sing.

Thank you, friends, for never growing tired of doing good for the least of these.

Blessings,
Marla