MAY 2011

LIFE: Love Intentionally Focus on Eternity VOLUME 2 ISSUE 5

In Hebrews 11:6 we learn that “God rewards those who

Carrie Burgess and Heather Suhr, from Deaf Teen
Quest, visited for a few days in preparation for their
summer mission trip. Pray for this ministry event,
June 26-July2
SNAPSHOT OF THE LAST MONTH
2 - 3 – Cheyenne and I study, trying to prepare
for her first round of CAPE exams
4 - 5 – Exams at Queens High School, both
Sociology and Communication Studies
7 - 8 – Weekend in Mandeville and some
fellowship time with a team from Florida
9 – Morning and afternoon exams with
Cheyenne, Communication Studies part II and
History
11 – Afternoon exam in Management of
Business
13 - 15 – Weekend in St Elizabeth and our first
men’s Bible study meeting
19 – Afternoon exam in Business, part II
20 – Morning exam in History, part II
23 – Jamaica national holiday, Labor Day was
good reason for a trip to the beach
27 – Interview at the US Embassy with Jordan,
hoping for a VISA to be granted but we were
denied. However, we will challenge as they
refused to allow me to interpret for Jordan.
Please pray for direction and patience as we try
to work with US gov’t officials at the Embassy
diligently seek Him.” In the Gospels Jesus teaches that the
greatest commandments are to love God and to love your
neighbor as yourself. James writes that pure religion, pure
worship, is centered on serving the helpless, the rejected. In
Colossians 3 Paul encourages a heavenly focus, not earthly.
What is the meaning of LIFE? To be diligent in seeking God, to
live with eyes and ears perceiving the needs of the people
around you and to have your hands and feet ready to serve.
To share the love of Christ. John 10:10 - Abundant life.
This is a newsletter updating you on the happenings of my
journey, as I learn more about what it means to live LIFE!
Coffee with Kemoy
When I first moved to Jamaica in ’09, Kemoy Campbell had already
graduated from CCCD (grade 10) and had begun his studies at LMG
School for the Deaf in Papine, Kingston. However, he would occasionally
come to my CCCD campus to be with his old friends and also to fellowship
with the work team members he had come to know over the years. David
and Kate Ringger had sponsored Kemoy, and through their interest in
Kemoy’s life I began to get to know him better.
Recently a bit of relationship drama in his life opened the door for us to
start talking beyond the superficial, mundane conversations that cloud the
world’s daily lives. Our first coffee chat at Ritual’s (Kingston’s version of
Starbucks) gave me insight into Kemoy’s life and heart, and we continue to
meet when we can for Friday chats. Kemoy is a brilliant young man who
desires to share Christ with others. Please pray for Kemoy.
Kemoy and I outside of Rituals.

BLAKE WIDMER
4 Cassia Park Road
Kingston 10, Jamaica, W.I.
876.587.3833 cell • blake.widmer skype
www.blakewidmer.blogspot.com
www.blakesjamaicapics.shutterfly.com
 MAY 2011
Love Intentionally Focus on Eternity VOLUME 2 ISSUE 5

Growing Relationships
As I spend more time in St. Elizabeth, I learn a lot, I meet new people and
friendships grow. Last month I asked you to pray for the start of a men’s Bible Acts 10:4
study in Tashi’s home area. Please continue to pray for direction, for men
willing to come and participate, and for the Lord to add the increase. And he said to him, "Your
At our first meeting we brainstormed and discussed the structure and purpose prayers and your alms have
of our study, and were thankful to have five men participate. Some of the
questions we decided to confront first are those surrounding Biblical history ascended as a memorial
and how the Bible came to be the Word that we live by. We will also look at
methods of how to study the Word and the importance of thinking about and before God.
meditating on the Word. These practical studies will open our meetings for
about 15-20 minutes and then follow it up with a devotion from Scripture. Acts 10:15
Each meeting we will rotate who is responsible for these devotions, ensuring
that we have mutual participation and shared responsibility. And the voice came to him
None of us know where this study will lead and how it will develop, but we
covet your prayers.
again a second time, "What
God has made clean, do not
call common or unclean."

A PRAISE REPORT

Kirk and Keri Plattner welcomed a healthy

baby girl, Danae Grace, into the world on
May 24th

Cheyenne’s exams are all finished, except for

her last one on June 2nd

We have received consistent rainfall across the

island just as things started to get very dry

Government import taxes unprecedentedly cut

in half, just as we were praying for the
Top: A few of the young men gathered for our first men’s meeting provision of a practical, reliable, not-too-
Bottom: Friends and family out on a trip during the Labor Day holiday expensive vehicle! Now pray for the provision
of a further tax break as a not-for-profit.

BLAKE WIDMER
US Address:
9036 Northridge Lane
Battle Ground, IN 47920
 MAY 2011
Love Intentionally Focus on Eternity VOLUME 2 ISSUE 5

Every New Beginning is Another Beginning’s End

There aren’t U-Haul trucks for rent down here, so by no means did we get Tashi
moved into her little apartment all in one shot, but over the course of a few weeks
we were able to get everything moved and settled.

Life always has transitional times, and certainly now is no exception. Tashi’s
“Portmore” family threw a farewell dinner for her in early May, which was a PRAYER REQUESTS:
special time. I understand why Tashi misses them at times, as they have from the
beginning shown me nothing but love and hospitality. Having never lived on her  Pray for Cheyenne’s last exam on
own, there are days where the solitude and emptiness of the apartment comes as a June 2nd in sociology
shock of sadness, so please remember Tashi in your prayers during these next few  Pray for June work team season, the
months. There have been two weekends already, though, where friends and family busiest month of the year, to go
(Erin one weekend and Jordan the next) have stayed with her, and we both look well and to bear fruit for the
forward to using our home as a place of rest and fellowship for guests. Kingdom
 When possible, we will begin
Although I won’t move out of my CCCD apt until July, the reality is gradually getting a small group of men
settling in and I too ask for your prayers as I say goodbye to my home of 2 years. together in St. Elizabeth to study
the history and context of the Bible,
particularly the New Testament
 Provision of a vehicle…the
government tax break is taking
effect and helps us with prices, but
we are still praying and applying
for an additional tax break
 Wedding plans continue to take
shape, as we’ve decided on venues
for the wedding and reception. Now
we need to plan logistics and
accommodations for the friends and
Jordan (Tashi’s brother) and I wrap a tarp over the loaded furniture and appliances. family coming from the US and UK
 For the ministry of
CCCD…recently there were
significant layoffs and downsizing
as the US based funding continues
to fall in the midst of economic
woes across the world. Although
my day to day role is gradually
moving away from CCCD, it is still
my primary purpose and my heart
is with the kids. The reality that a
school closure could occur is not
likely, but it is scary and a burden
Tashi and her former housemates capture a memory during her farewell dinner.
on my heart.

BLAKE WIDMER
4 Cassia Park Road
Kingston 10, Jamaica, W.I.
876.587.3833 cell • blake.widmer skype
blakewidmer.blogspot.com
 BLAKE WIDMER
Work Team Coordinator Serving Through: Serving With:
4 Cassia Park Road
Kingston 10, Jamaica, W.I.
876.587.3833 Cell • Blake.Widmer Skype
blakewidmer@gmail.com
BLOG: BlakeWidmer.blogspot.com
PICS: BlakesJamaicaPics.shutterfly.com

Ascent to the Peak of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains

For over a year I’ve been talking about hiking up the Blue Mountains,
located on the eastern side of the island. It’s the 2nd tallest peak in all of
the Caribbean, known to frost and even snow at rare times, standing over
7,000 feet above sea level.

Six of us set off on the journey, driving from Kingston mid afternoon, we
parked in a small town called Hagley Gap and then began our trek around
5pm. For a little over two hours we hiked up a narrow, steep road. After a
quick break, we hiked 3 hours to Portland Gap, which is the base camp for
the summit ascent. A very helpful Park Ranger opened a cabin for us and
we all crashed for a few hours on the floor of the bedless cabin. Before
2am we began the last leg, hoping to arrive at the Peak prior to sunrise.
We found a sign saying “500 meters” and thought it was just around the
corner, but it meant we had that much elevation to cover. Thankfully, we Jordan, Ionda,me, Kevon, Tashi and Erin….we had a great time
arrived just in time to catch a glimpse, snapped some great pics (see my and marveled at the grandeur of our Creator God! Can’t wait til
next time…
blog) and then hiked the 6 hours back down, arriving at the car at noon!