When you think of Jamaica you think of a tropical paradise.  After all, over one million visitors travel to the island each year to enjoy the sparkling blue waters, warm Caribbean breezes and swaying palm trees.  When you “Google” the word Jamaica, you pull up information on spectacular resorts located in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Kingston, Negril and others.  So why does a small group of vacationing volunteers choose Steer Town instead of those luxurious, exotic resorts?  As in many areas around the world, this island offers relaxation & beauty, but also pockets of severe poverty.  So for a third year in a row, this small band of travelers chose Steer Town as their destination of choice.  But, for slightly different reasons than the one million other visitors.

 While a proud people, many living in Steer Town are homeless and cannot read or write.  Through a program offered by IsleGo Missions, Angie Taylor (Cornerstone Memphis), her husband Greg, and 23 others from the Colonial Hills Church (Southaven, MS) traveled to Steer Town April 12-19 to build homes.  Although many groups involved with IsleGo Missions travel to Steer Town to help out, Angie and her group are the ones who build homes.  This trip, they built 2 homes in one week.  One for a 75-year old man named Lloyd who was living on the street in a cardboard box.  Lloyd cannot read or write and signs his name with an “X”, but Lloyd is now the proud owner of his own home.  The other home was built for Janie, a single mother with 3 children, who was also living on the streets.  There are over 300 names on the waiting list for new homes.  Recipients are chosen by IsleGo Missions and their decision is based on specific criteria.    

 When the hard working volunteer group returned to the states, the proud people of Steer Town remained imprinted on their hearts & minds, and another project was born.  Angie and her friend Gayle (from the Grace Community Center, Steer Town, Jamaica) created the “Adopt a Friend” program.   Members of Cornerstone’s Bible study group in Memphis will write letters to the women who visit the community center in Steer Town.  Many of these women cannot read or write and the community center will use the letters to teach these basic and necessary skills.

 http://www.islego.com/page95.aspx

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