On the weekend of November 11-13, 2017, I traveled to Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica with Rev. Connie Lee and her husband, Gentle, to help Mount Olivet Boys Home celebrate fifty years of service to youth. As you know, through our Partnership with First Presbyterian Church, the International Mission Committee has traveled to Jamaica for over fifteen years, each year visiting and working with the youth at Mount Olivet. We partner with the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI), who support Mount Olivet, along with many other initiatives. 

Hillside, along with First Presbyterian, has supported the youth at Mount Olivet in many ways: supporting the Annual Scholarship Tea, which provides support for individuals to participate in the mission trips; contributing to our annual Christmas offering where the boys and staff are given money to purchase gifts; communicating with the youth throughout the year and providing monetary support to assist in providing school supplies, uniforms, and other needs. 

The United Church invited our partnership to participate in the celebration because of our close connection with the boys’ home. Through the support of the Mission Council at First Presbyterian, the three of us were able to travel to Jamaica to enjoy the celebration. Text Link

And what a celebration it was! The service was held at the Mount Olivet Church and all the youth from the home attended. The Moderator of the United Church was the guest speaker. Representatives from the Yohan Blake Foundation, a member of Parliament, the General Secretary of the UCJCI, the Child Development Agency, the Jamaica Information Service, the Atlanta/Jamaica Partnership and members of the Mount Olivet Board all gave greetings and made monetary gifts and pledges of support. Former residents participated and told how their lives had been impacted through the assistance and training they received at the Boys Home. The Boys Home Chorale shared a gift of song and several of the youth read scripture, prayed, and served as hosts. Of course, after the worship service, everyone was treated to a delicious Jamaica meal which was served on the grounds of the church. Text Link

The focus of this celebration is to raise funds to support the residents beyond the age of eighteen, after which the home receives no governmental support. The funds will be used to provide post-secondary educational and residential assistance so that the youth will be able to be self-sufficient. The Yohan Blake Foundation plans to build another residence so that there will be residences for the older youth. Several agencies and individuals pledged their support and Hillside and First Presbyterian each gave $500 contributions.

 

Many thanks to everyone who has supported the Home over the past years. Your support and love are appreciated by all our friends in Jamaica. If you wish to support the Post-Secondary Educational Fund, our Session has approved this fund-raising effort and you may contact me for more information.