Medical Mission 

Each June a medical team sets up shop at a local church that has been identified by the JEMM staff. Pastors in the region help spread the word about where and when the medical clinic will be available. People walk from near and far for routine check-ups and simple medical procedures. Serious conditions are evaluated and referred to local medical facilities.

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When an optometrist is part of the team, people receive vision testing and eye glasses are distributed.

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The JEMM staff keeps detailed medical and dental records for all the procedures that are performed and all the medicine that is distributed as required by the Jamaica Ministry of Health.

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Housing Initiative

The housing initiative began about five years ago with a need to repair a home damaged in a hurricane. Since the, First Presbyterian Church in Perry has taken the lead in repairing and building homes. In 2014 teams went to Jamaica in January and June and built two more homes.

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Youth Exchange

Each year in July youth from Jamaica and Florida (Presbytery of St. Augustine) join together for two weeks and spend a week in each country. In each country, team members participate in service projects, fun adventures, Bible study, and worship.

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Congregations in both countries support the team members by providing housing, meals, entertainment, education, cultural exchanges, and worship.

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Adult Exchange

Each year an adult cultural exchange is planned. The venue alternates between Jamaica (November) and Florida (April). We recently sent a group of folks from our presbytery down to Jamaica for several days where they each stayed with a host family, visited with families involved in the housing initiative, served at a local school, and worshipped in local churches with their respective hosts.

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Last April we hosted a group of Jamaican school counselors in Florida who wanted training and discussion related to issues they regularly face in Jamaica such as bullying, suicide prevention, and many more topics.

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Tooth Bus

The Dental Team, through the leadership of Jim Gaff, purchased this bus and it is currently being outfitted as a mobile dental lab, which we are affectionately referring to as “The Tooth Bus.” Jim and others are hard at getting the bus in shape to function as mobile dental lab that will be shipped to Jamaica where it will stay year-round. Having the Tooth Bus in Jamaica will save the Dental Team hours of setup time when they arrive in Jamaica and will them more freedom (and mobility!) to see as many patients as possible.

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Thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Presbyterian Women, several generous donations by individuals, and offerings from presbytery meetings, this dream is on its way to becoming a reality.

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Our hope is to have the Tooth Bus shipped to Jamaica in 2015. We are also planning to take the bus on a tour throughout the presbytery before shipping it to Jamaica. Please contact us if you’d like for us to come to your congregation!