Celebrating Christ in three different countries

While I celebrate Christ all year round, there is a particular day that has been set aside to commemorate His leaving heaven and coming to earth in the form of man, so He could pay the penalty for our sins by dying (so we wouldn't have to). There are many persons who are open to hearing this message around that particular time of year, and I am grateful to use these opportunities to share Christ with them.

Presents for the Bible Club children

At the end of the year, we usually have a special treat the children from our community of Dow Village who come out for Bible Club. Instead of having a guest speaker, two of our in-house teachers did an excellent job pointing the children to the importance of having Jesus as king of their lives, and listening and obeying His voice while blocking out the voices of the world.

Activity reinforces having Christ as king

Early in December, I had the pleasure of visiting my aunt who lives in New Jersey. When she heard the dates I was coming, she excitedly booked me for two events. The first one was a ladies brunch with the sisters from her church, where I was able to share my testimony of how God brought me through my diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder 1 in 2024. Later that evening some of the ladies at the second event who missed the brunch asked me to share my story again, and we spent almost two hours outside around the bonfire talking about my experience. One of them in particular appreciated my testimony because of a loved one she had that was going through something similar, so I thank God that it helped her get a better understanding of what her loved one was experiencing and how best she could support them.

Fellowshipping around a scrumptious meal

The second event was an outreach that her church friend hosted at her house every year. Children from the community and the school where her daughter teaches would come out and be treated to hot chocolate, donuts, a craft station and have fun bouncing on the trampoline. When it got dark everyone went to the front and the children from the church sang carols, which was followed by an evangelistic message by a brother from her church. It was a wonderful time of fun and fellowship.

Can you tell which one of us lives in 
the tropics? LOL

I worked at the slime station

I was also able to see my sister and
her husband minister at their
church's Advent concert :)

My initial plan for Christmas 2025 was to spend it with my friends who are my family in Tobago, relaxing on a beach. But while I was in the States my heart turned towards the people of Jamaica whose lives had been severly devastated by hurricane Melissa two months earlier. I reached out to Avonelle, founder of the relief and development organization Is There Not A Cause (ITNAC), to find out if there were any outreach plans for Jamaica for Christmas. She enthusiastically informed me that a small team from Trinidad was heading there to share the love of God in a tangible way during that time. So, five days after returning from the cold and snow in the States, I was on another plane heading to Jamaica.

Our "likkle but tallawah" crew

I must publicly thank my brother-from-another-mother Ricardo for accommodating us with just a few days notice. His hospitality was a tremendous blessing, picking us up from the airport and giving us a place to stay. Our schedule was packed with three days of ministry culminating on Christmas Day, and I was flying out the next day so I could fulfil my niece's desire that I be at home for her birthday.

Cardo always has my back

We got up early the first morning to join with the Richmond Park Church of the Nazarene on a three hour long journey to Aberdeen, one of the communities up in the mountains of St. Elizabeth that most Jamaicans I spoke to had never heard about before. The ladies from the church had been up from 5am cooking the meal that we would be distributing. The church members had packed hampers and wrapped toys which were donated through ITNAC, and by the time we loaded everything on the bus, along with the team, there was barely room for the door to close!

Loading up the snack bags

Praying before we go

Had to capture this personification of
humility: the pastor who waited until
everyone got a seat and took the last
space available - on the floor

As we got closer to Aberdeen we started seeing the effects of hurricane Melisssa - the buildings which were crumbled, the houses which had no roofs, the sparse vegetation. But there were signs of hope in the midst of disaster: the roads which were now cleared of fallen vegetation, the rubble which had been cleared from the inside of someone's home now on the outside so they could remain in the structure although they now had a tarpaulin as a roof, the leaves which started to grow back on the trees which would have been stripped bare by Melissa, the resilience of the people who had been living for the past two months without electricity or internet access and a limited supply of water. 

This 200 year old church looked like it was hit
by an earthquake instead of a hurricane

Seeing the leaves growing back
reminded me of God's mercies which
are new every morning

We left Kingston in brilliant sunshine, but by the time we got to Aberdeen it was raining. The villagers met us at the Aberdeen Nazarene church where the four walls were still standing, but the entire roof was gone. Rain was pouring through the gaps in the tarpaulin but still the people gathered and participated in the time of worship, and shared things that they were thankful for, despite all they had lost. One person started to sing "When I think of the goodness of God and all He has done for me". Another said that their clothes were gone, their home was gone, but they were giving God thanks for life. Someone else spoke about how they experienced water running through their home and losing everything, but they thanked God for life. For me it gave new meaning to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In everything give thanks.

Literally praising through the 'storm' (if you look
closely you will see the rain coming through the tarp)

Dishing out the traditional peas and rice
with fried chicken, macaroni salad and ham

Distributing gifts to the children

On Christmas Eve we loaded up our stocks of toys and headed to Rockly Bay in Westmoreland. We tried to divide the toys into three sets to ensure that we would have enough for the three different communities we were going to minister in. We left Kingston with our overnight bags packed by faith, believing that before the end of the day, we would be able to find an AirBnb to spend the night after our initial plans fell through. Our first stop was at a school where the children from the school were gathered awaiting our arrival. We shared the gospel with them, following which a meal was served. While the children we eating we distributed gifts for the children. It was a joy to see the delight of their faces when they received their toys; some of them started playing with their gifts immediately. For the majority of them, this would be the only toy they would receive for Christmas...

Avy sharing the Word, supported by her children

She couldn't wait to open it up

The boys started playing with their football immediately

When we left there we headed to a second distribution point where we followed the same pattern: sharing the Word, giving a meal, distributing toys. What was different about this time is that, four days prior, the person who was supposed to be cooking the meal was no longer able to. How were we going to find someone willing to provide food for 100 persons a few days before Christmas? Avy mentioned the predicament to her friend living in the USA, who referred her to someone in Tobago, who knew someone in that exact community in Rockly Bay who would be capable of doing the job for us! We met them for the first time that day and it was as if we had known them forever. We bless God for the connections we have through the body of believers.

Receiving physical food after being nourished spiritually

While we were on the road, we were finally able to get in touch with someone in the area who had an Airbnb that had not been affected by hurricane Melissa. They even had internet and electricity, so we were able to connect with our loved ones. Apart from serving those in Jamaica, I thank God for the opportunity to minister to members of our team, and also to be ministered to by them, during the short time we had together. Our driver, Toby, was also a God-send. He navigated those country roads with no streetlights like a boss, narrowly avoiding hitting a cow when it stepped out of the bushes and into the road that night.

De whole crew

On Christmas morning, we headed to a church in Four Roads, St. Elizabeth. They had lost their roof and walls during the hurricane, but the pastor had tied all the pews together and covered them with tarpaulin so they were saved. Each team members was given an opportunity to share a word of encouragement to those gathered there. While the church members finished cooking, a couple of us ran away with some of the villagers to a nearby river where we were able to soak in the beauty of God's creation. When we were finished we went back to the church and spent the rest of the day eating and fellowshipping with them. After all the children who came out got toys, there were still enough toys left over to send to another community that wasn't on our plan to visit - God multiplied what we had so many were able to be blessed!

The Church gathered without a building

Enjoying the beauty in the midst
of loss

All smiles with their toys

That night, our bus driver drove for six hours to get all the team members to the different places where we would be staying. I thank God for keeping us safe on the roads, and for the opportunity to have a conversation with him about his relationship with God on the way back. God truly showed up for us big time during that mission trip, and I am grateful for all the persons He used along the way to be a blessing to us.

Boxing Day Breakfast lime at the Burkes

Healthy ways to deal with stress

Over the past few years more and more people have responded to the "How are you?" question with answers like "tired", "overwhelmed", "stressed". We do not live in a perfect world, so it is inevitable that we will be faced with stressful situations. If we do not find healthy ways to deal with stress in our day to day living, it can negatively affect our mental and physical health. Here are some things that I have found to be helpful in ensuring that my mind is healthy enough to deal with the stresses of life:

Put God first

Matthew 6:33 encourages us to seek FIRST God's kingdom and His righteousness, and everything else will be added unto us. When we start our day with God, it helps focus our minds on where the help we need to take us through us through the day will come from. We may not have the time to read an entire chapter from the Bible every morning, but we can read at least one verse and meditate on how we can apply it to our lives. We can pray on our way to school or work, or while doing chores at home. Connecting with God as the first priority of our day fills our spirit and soul, so even if our day goes crazy, we will be able to get through it with His help.

Spend time in praise and worship

In Isaiah 61:3 mention is made of using the "garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness". When we worship God, we focus on who He is rather than the situations that we are facing. As we remind ourselves of how big God is and of His presence with us in the midst of our times of trial, we are able to lay our burdens at His feet and have a peace of mind that only He can bring.

Do something that brings joy 

It is easy to get so caught up with the demands of life that we feel that can't make the time to do things that we enjoy, but we have to realize that we cannot pour from an empty cup. If we keep giving of ourselves to all our various responsibilities and do not make the time to do the things that will rejuvenate and refresh us, we will soon find ourselves being ineffective and unable to cope with the stresses of life. We should not feel guilty about making time to do things that make us happy, because when we do so we would be in a better frame of mind to handle our other responsibilities.

Spend time in nature 

There is something about being immersed in nature, soaking in the beauty of God's creation, breathing in fresh air that brings peace to our soul. Whether it means taking a walk around a Savannah, soaking in the beach, relaxing by a river or going outside to take in a breathtaking sunset, time spent in nature does wonders for our mental well-being, and truly restores the soul.

Exercise regularly

One of the downsides of technology is that it has given us a much more sedentary lifestyle, which does not give our brain the oxygen it needs to function at its optimum. Physical exercise is not only good for our body, but also for the health of our minds. It is even better when we choose a form of exercise that we actually enjoy doing, and we do it with others, as this acts as motivation for us to be consistent.

Get sufficient sunlight

Sunshine gives us vitamin D which is a source of calcium, but it also helps to improve our mental well-being. We are generally happier when the sun is shining as opposed to when it is rainy and overcast all day. Best of all it is absolutely free and readily available to us in the Caribbean - all we have to do is to step outside :)

Get sufficient sleep

In order for our brains to function optimally, it needs to get sufficient rest. God rested on the seventh day, not because He was tired after creation, but to set an example for how we should function; there is a time to work, and a time to rest. Operating on limited sleep is likely to leave us exhausted and unable to function optimally the next day, which leads to even higher levels of stress.

Get a confidant

It is helpful to have someone who we can be open and honest with about how we are feeling, without fear of judgment. They don’t necessarily have to ‘fix’ us, but just be there to listen and encourage. They can also serve as someone who we can be accountable to and would check in from time to time to see how we are coping. 

Set attainable goals

Many times we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves by setting unrealistic goals, and then condemning ourselves when we are unable to accomplish them. If we develop more achievable goals, then the likelihood of completing them are increased, and this gives us a feeling of satisfaction instead of being stressed over what we were unable to do.

Be grateful for what you have

Sometimes we stress ourselves so much about what we do not have that we fail to recognize what we do have. While it is good to have goals and work towards achieving them, we should not be so consumed by what we are striving for that we do not enjoy what we already have.

Spend time connecting with loved ones

Surround yourself with positive community who lift you up and make you laugh until you cry and your belly hurts from laughing so much. There is a level of therapy that comes with making these connections with these persons in real life rather than digitally.

If you try all these things and you still feel stressed, seek professional counselling. This does not mean that you are crazy – it just means that you need someone with experience to help talk through what you are facing and help you come up with strategies to deal with it. If anyone needs a referral, my therapist is excellent! I hope this blog was an encouragement to you all, to know that you should take the steps necessary to deal with preserve your mental health so that stress doesn’t develop into a mental health disorder.

John 10:10 -  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

A different kind of birthday

If you had told me on my birthday last year that one year later, I would be in another country sharing my story about my journey with a mental health diagnosis, I would not have believed you. In June last year my mind was still in a haze from being on anti-psychotic medication. By April this year I started sharing my testimony in person of God's faithfulness in bringing me through one year since the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder 1, first in my local church, then at a church in Buenos Ayres the following month. In May I partnered with ISCF Grenada to share my testimony at a seminar they hosted which was designed to enlighten young people about the challenges of mental health, and I also shared my testimony at the church I fellowshipped at while I was living in Grenada. 

Psychologist Gillian Baptiste shared from
a professional viewpoint while I shared from
my experience

In June I was invited to travel to St. Vincent to share my story as part of a regional summit hosted by Response Caribbean: a network of Community Based Organizations and Faith Based Organizations throughout the region which have formed an alliance to help countries in the region in the event of a natural disaster. I shared about the importance of taking care of your mental health, and shared strategies which can be helpful in managing stress. I also shared what I learnt following my diagnosis, about the importance of taking care of myself instead of giving constantly, and not thinking that I am indispensable. Afterwards many persons expressed their appreciation for this message, as they fell in that category of working non-stop without any meaningful rest. They thought that the information that was shared was helpful and informative.

The summit was held on board the Logos
Hope and included presenters from Haiti
and Dominica apart from T&T

Since I had a few more days in St. Vincent, I scheduled additional sessions with persons I had never met before using contacts that I had. The day before my birthday I shared with about 50 students from ISCCF St. Vincent. Following that session students thanked me for my openness and vulnerability in sharing my story. The morning of my birthday, I shared a message on 'Standing in the midst of adversity' with a group of sisters from various churches, using my testimony as an example. This session was followed by a period of questions and answers, at the end of which I was able to connect persons in need of further help with resources they didn't know were available in St. Vincent. Many were happy to know that they were not dealing with mental health issues alone, and that they could reach out for support instead of suffering in silence.

When these ladies found out it was my
birthday, they blessed me with this lovely surprise!

Following that session I met up with two young ladies in ministry for lunch and, after I shared my story, one of them opened up about challenges that she was experiencing where she was serving. I encouraged her to take a break, which she did not think was possible, but after hearing my encouragement to take care of her mental health, she decided to apply for time off and it was granted! My heart was so full when I checked in with her a few days later and she reported that she was doing much better. Later that afternoon I shared my story with another group of women, some of whom were also having mental struggles. There was an open discussion afterwards, and at the end they thanked me for using my challenges to bring encouragement to others, and for pouring into God's kingdom with grace and kindness. Afterwards I went out to dinner with a psychologist I never met before, but she was intrigued to meet someone who was so willing to talk openly about their mental health diagnosis.

We were just supposed to go out for ice cream but 
when they found out it was my birthday they insisted
we do dinner instead :)

The following day was Father's Day, but Pastor Fidel graciously allowed me time in their Sunday morning service to share my testimony. Persons were again grateful for my openness to share about my journey, and found it to be helpful and encouraging. I give ALL THE GLORY TO GOD because without Him, I would not be where I am today. I am also grateful for the unwavering support of my family, my friends who are my family, my prayer partners, my psychologist and my psychiatrist, all of whom played critical roles in my recovery. I will continue to use any opportunity that is presented to me to show how followers of Jesus are not super-heroes, but are humans who are subject to limitations and not immune from trials.

Even though I didn't spend my actual birthday on
the beach, I made up for it afterwards!

This trip to St. Vincent was also a testimony of God making provision for me. When I went to St. Vincent, there was only one person I had a relationship with; by the time I left, I had at least 8 persons I could call on if I needed anything! When we left Trinidad, we did not know for sure where we would be staying after our initial three days on board the Logos; the day before we were scheduled to leave, we found out that our initial accommodation, which we were told was booked, was now in fact available, and we didn't have to pay to use it! God also provided transportation to and from every speaking engagement that I had, and even to Bequia where a lovely couple that I had never met before were our personal tour guides for the day! Did I also mention that we had perfect weather for each of our beach days?

Aunty Jean and Uncle Len took the best care of us :)

I distinctly remember that last year when I was in the height of my manic episode in the hospital, I told my loved ones to make note of what was happening, because I didn't want anyone else to have to experience what I went through. I am so thankful to God for the privilege of being used as a vessel to help persons with mental struggles to know that they are not alone, and to share with others the importance of taking care of their mental health, so they can avoid the mistakes I made. I can truly say that I have seen firsthand the fulfilment of Psalm 71:20 -

Though you have made me see troubles,

    many and bitter,

    you will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth

    you will again bring me up.

Turning Point - A New Beginning

That was the theme chosen for Christian Brethren Assemblies' Easter Camp 2025. For the first time in the history of CAC camping, it was held at Turning Point campsite, and this inspired our theme. We recognized that many campers experienced negative things in life, which would bring them to a turning point that would require them to change direction. Our aim was to present Jesus as the source of hope, who would help to guide them in the right direction, and navigate through the challenges of life.

Campers leading worship at one of the sessions

Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son was a major theme throughout camp: from the devotions to the chapel sessions to the skit night. They were assured that God loved them unconditionally no matter what they had done, and that they could always return to Him, repent and He would accept them back with open arms. They had the opportunity to portray this on skit night, with a modern day interpretation of the biblical account. They were very creative in their presentations: from the father who was a mechanic to the son who ended up driving a garbage truck when his inheritance ran out!

The car he was working on was my favorite prop for the night

The campers were also challenged to follow God's plans for their lives in times of trouble, and assured that God would not abandon them when they face difficulties - He would be their present help in adversity. They were encouraged to hold fast to God's Word, which promised to work out all things for good, even the things which are negative. They were also encouraged to embrace whatever changes they experienced in life as God working out His purposes in them.

Our camp speaker was excellent in engaging with
the campers as he ministered God's Word

One afternoon we invited a psychologist and a guidance counselor to conduct sessions with the campers about how to deal with their emotions. They were taught that life is full of challenges, but there are strategies which can help them cope with difficult times. The presenters also gave practical tips on real life scenarios that they face in life such as bullying. The interaction between the campers and the facilitators showed that this session was very much relevant and greatly appreciated.

Doing an activity to show how life has 'potholes'
that we need to navigate

My role on camp this year was different than in previous years. I did not have responsibility to lead either a dorm nor a team. This gave me the opportunity to be an observer. Because of my years of experience as a campworker, I was able to see things that other persons may have overlooked, like those campers who came to camp for the first time and were wandering around aimlessly until I offered to take them on a tour of the campsite; or that young lady who was outside of the auditorium during mealtime who eventually confessed that she had not eaten anything since she came up on camp; or that boy who was always running around barefooted because his sneakers were too tight for his feet.

I also got to perform my first viral TikTok dance that these
dorm 1 girls taught me 

I served in other areas such as taking up points for memory verses, being a judge for skit night and keeping an eye on the children while they were in the pool. Because I did not have responsibilities that required me being with the campers at all times, I was able to spend one on one time with that camper who learnt differently to teach him his memory verse, comb the hair for another camper for banquet night while having a conversation with her about the authenticity of the Bible, and rest whenever I needed to.

This was the view from my bed :)

It is always amazing to me to see how just a few days up on camp makes such a noticeable difference in the lives of the campers. There was one boy who kept running out of the auditorium in the middle of sessions or mealtimes, causing the campworkers to have to leave sessions to retrieve him; by the end of camp he was abiding within the boundaries established. There was one girl who wanted to go home on the morning of the second day of camp because she had no friends; by the afternoon she was moving with a whole crew of girls from her dorm. There were campers who committed their lives to Christ for the first time, those re-committed themselves to surrender to Him, and those who went up for prayer and counselling because of difficult situations they were facing. We trust God that the work that He started on camp in their lives would continue now that they have returned to their home environments.

Too busy having fun outdoors to miss the screens that
were banned at camp

We thank God for all who prayed or gave of their time or finances to make CAC Easter camp 2025 the success that it was. Please pray for all who attended, that God would bring back to their remembrance the biblical principles taught and the scriptures memorized whenever they face that challenges that are an inevitable part of our existence here on earth.

Posing with my "God's Dancers" crew on Banquet night