Our Journey with Christ: Family Mission Trip to Jamaica: May 2025

Posted by Dan and Carole McClelland

McClelland's Mission Trip to Jamaica

Discipleship Bible School (DBS) Students

Dan's Teaching Week

Click on these links to see a short reel from the social media team in Jamaica to get a glimpse of our teaching weeks! We both had so much fun and love teaching these amazing, young Deaf missionaries to understand and experience God in a deeper way through His Bible! The last video, Lives Changed, shows how God was changing the students' lives during this season.

Carole's Teaching Week

Lives Changed

Dan and I also had the joy of leading intercession and worship throughout the three weeks. What a joy to invest in these young world- changers! The DBS students were not only Jamaicans, but Americans, South Africans and one Brazilian! I captured this photo on a day off when we had a spontaneous time of encouragement which led to prayers for the Deaf community in each of their countries: Jamaica, South Africa and Brazil. Yes, students from other countries had to learn a new sign language to be able to learn about the Bible, as it is the only Bible School available right now in YWAM! Here each prayed in their native sign language. It was a one of my favorite moments!

Homeschooling in Jamaica

First week: Mommy was the homeschool teacher while Daddy taught at the DBS

For a few days, God provided extra support for Mommy which was a blessing! Luz, who was volunteering for a week in Jamaica to visit her daughter, Marysabel, helped me homeschool. (Marysabel is a friend from our DC days and now was a Discipleship Bible School student in Jamaica.)

Second week: Dan and I alternated teaching the kids

We set up a table outside of the Bible School classroom as Dan and I were both interpreting for the DBS teacher. We alternated between supporting the kiddos in school while the other parent was interpreting. Mommy liked the snuggle breaks! It is what Mommy does best! Olive said it was hard to do homeschool in this location because Jamaica was so beautiful she easily got distracted. However, both kiddos did very well in completing their work.

Third week: Dan led homeschooling

Daddy was back as the teacher which meant a more regular homeschool week for Olive and Valor, as he is their primary, homeschool instructor. He did all the catch-up, final work as Mommy was teaching in the DBS.

A moment of silence and connection for Dan and me between teaching, homeschooling and all the one- on -one meetings with others we had during the three weeks. We really, really, really LOVE what we do, and it was even better when we got to do it together as a couple and family!

For example, we had the honor of visiting Fresh Bread Ministries International, the church that opened their doors for us to start Deaf church when we first moved to Jamaica. We love this church family and feel at home there.

There was a special Mother's Day service, and Dan and I were interpreting so our Deaf friends could attend too. As we were interpreting, it was time for the children to come on stage to do a special program. As the children came up, we saw Olive on the stage with them! Marion, our Jamaican mother, was the first to see her and just could not believe it. We were so shocked! We are so at home here that the leaders asked Olive to join the program the day of and, of course, our Olive did. This is one example of Olive making an impact on the mission field! I know the whole church was blessed to see Olive, who they knew for years when we lived in Jamaica, up on the stage wishing all the mothers a Happy Mother's Day. I love our daughter!

We did not get a picture of a time when our whole family lead Intercession at the base for the Amish in PA, particularly the Deaf Amish. However, we did an interview with our kids in sign language about the Amish and showed pictures. Valor was asked, "Do the Amish drive cars like we do?" He gave a BIG "No" in sign language which made everyone laugh and then shared about the horses and buggies. Olive shared about the one- room schoolhouse and how we see them outside sometimes at "recess" when we are driving by their school. Olive shared how Mommy always waves, which also got laughs. Olive and Valor did a great job sharing through this interview format about the Amish as a people. I know the staff and students enjoyed seeing the kids share in their sign language about a people group that we are praying for in PA! It was so much fun!

And I know that Valor blessed the Jamaicans with how much he loved their country and their fruit!

Mommy and Valor's favorite fruit: Sour sop!

Valor really loves the fruit in Jamaica! He scouted out all of his favorite fruit trees, searching for fruit the day we arrived, and any chance he got, he was eating it. He even tried some green mangos that were not ripe yet and said, "I gonna get my mangos!" This boy lived in Jamaica and was taught by Jamaicans well! And the blessing of this YWAM base is there is always more than enough to share.

We also did get to see Clifton, who was Valor's fruit teacher for so many years on base. He was so proud of Valor, and we are so proud of Clifton too! When we were ready to fly back to PA, someone asked Valor "Are you ready to go home? He quickly signed, "No, I want to stay here in Jamaica."

Jamaica will always be a place we call "home". Thank you, Jamaica, for changing our lives. It is such a joy to continue to bless you and see the spiritual fruit that God is producing through you!

Instant Friends on Base

During the time of the DTS and DBS, there was a family we love with 5 children who came to Jamaica for the parents to complete the DTS and the husband to complete the DBS. Our family was so sad that we had moved before they arrived, but we trust God's timing. However, when we went in May for three weeks, it was such a blessing for our kids to have other kids to play with on base. (When we lived on the base in Jamaica, we were the only family there.) Both of our families did homeschool in the morning, and then, after lunch, the kids played together for 3 hours, 2-5 pm! They made some really deep and special bonds with each other and will continue to keep in touch.