Jamaica Service Trip 2024 Student Blog
Follow our Nursing and Social Work students on their spring break journey as they serve the local Mustard Seed Communities of Jamaica.
About the Trip
Part of GMercyU's Interprofessional Global Outreach course, future healthcare providers and professionals learn to work together as a team to improve patient and population healthcare. Nursing and Social Work students use evidence-based research to develop teaching sessions for the caregivers of the Mustard Seed Communities in Moneague, Jamaica. They offer multiple training sessions so that all caregivers have the opportunity to learn. These training sessions have included Self Care for Caregivers, De-escalating Violence, Basic First Aid, Applied Behavior Analysis, Sensory Integration, Proper Body Mechanics, and Trauma-Informed Care. The sessions ensure our impact is sustainable. In addition to sharing knowledge, students participate in fundraising efforts and gather supplies to share with the residents and caregivers of Mustard Seed. Students develop and participate in many fun activities with the residents, including Bingo, Pedicures and Manicures, Field Day, “Sweets and Painting,” jewelry making, gardening, soccer, singing, dancing, and our favorite: the Talent Show! In Spring of 2024, our team developed a sensory garden and contributed to the newly developed sensory room, ensuring a lasting effect. Our impact is not only left on Mustard Seed, but with the students. Many students return year after year and serve as mentors to new students, describing the experience as “life changing."
Friday, March 15 & Saturday, March 16
We spent our last day debriefing as a team at Bay Beach, then spent our final evening with the residents of Jacob's Ladder.
This team was amazing! Many lives changed, many friends made.
See you next time, Jamaica!
Professors Nuss, Amoia-Watters, and Razzi
Thursday, March 14
Today was an awesome day! The day started off with mass for staff, residents, and volunteers in the chapel. Mass was very informative; the priest touched on many topics, including receiving children from Haiti that will be staying at Jacob's Ladder, a Mustard Seed location.
After the ceremony, we the volunteers, boarded the bus and headed to Kingston to Our Father's House, which is another location for Mustard Seed Communities. We arrived at Our Father's House, where we were greeted by individuals from the community who were waiting patiently for us so that we could take their blood pressure for them. The individuals from the community did great and were intrigued by our presence that they embraced greatly.
We took a tour of the facility, where we got to see the basic (kindergarten) school for the little children, and they were happy to see us. Our next stop was the ceramic location; it was explained how clay pottery is made. After that location, we went to the news station where we heard a brief rundown of what the station is and does for the community.
We got to meet Monsignor Gregory, the founder of Mustard Seed. I think it was incredible to hear him talk about something that he's so passionate about. "I hope his cup never runs dry for the good that he's been doing for the disability community."
In the evening, we returned to Jacob's Ladder, where we had a talent show for the residents and everyone participated in it. There was singing, dancing, drumming, ice cream, and cake. The residents enjoyed every moment of it.
Jaritza and Rhonette
Click images below to expand.
Wednesday, March 13
Today was a great day, we started off with a reflection session between volunteers under the gazebo, where everyone explained their “why” and how this trip has impacted them thus far. Then, we accompanied six of the residents and one of their caregivers to Ocho Rios Bay beach. The residents had an amazing time in water; we did several activities with them such as helping them float, play beach ball, frisbee, and went around in circles while singing with them.
After an hour of fun in the water, we had lunch with the residents from Island Grill, which everyone enjoyed very much; we then went back to the water for another 30 minutes. Later on back on the campus, some of us went to the clinic to help with blood pressure screenings, and the rest of us visited the sensory room where the caregivers and social worker gave us a brief overview on how the room is currently being used and discussed future plans/interventions to keep the residents engaged with different activities.
In the evening, we had a dance party with drums, tambourines, bells, and some sticks with the residents. To finish the night off, we gave our last presentation to the night-shift caregivers on Universal Precautions, Self-Care for Caregivers, and Sensory Strategies.
Youbine and Tiesha
Click images below to expand.
Tuesday, March 12
Today, our morning started off with yoga exercises alongside some residents and practicing some earthing with them. Some of us visited the farm and planted seeds with them. Next, we had a great time training the caregivers on universal precautions, sensory enhancements, and self-care for themselves and the residents. Afterwards, we went to different villages and helped out with lunch for the residents. We served, fed, and cleaned. Then we all headed to over to Damascus, one of the villages, for the big field day. Some of us ran but we all cheered and celebrated. To end our eventful day, we headed over to Scotchies to enjoy a nice dinner together.
By Tara and Demadelye
Click images below to expand.
Monday, March 11
On Monday, we woke up around 7:00 a.m. and ate breakfast together at 7:30 a.m. as a group. After breakfast, we went to Care-plus to meet with Miss Lawrence, a social worker who taught us about the resident work program. At 10:00 a.m., we went to circle time with the residents to sing and dance with them.
At 10:30 a.m., we provided training for the Mustard Seed caregivers. We had three presentations of 20 minutes each and we informed them about universal precautions, sensory therapy, and self care. We assisted with lunch for the residents at 2:00 p.m.
In the afternoon, one group went to the health clinic to check blood pressures, heart rate, & accuchecks, while the other groups did a baking activity with the residents to prepare for a "pastries and paint" session in the evening. We had a group dinner at 6:30 p.m. and spent the rest of the night together playing Uno and other card games.
By Jenna & Yaci
Click images below to expand.
Sunday, March 10
Wah Gwan!
Today we woke up in Jamaica! We started our day at 7:00 a.m. followed by church service for some and sorting our many donations for others. Then, we separated into groups and ventured off to the villages for the first time. We were buzzing with nervous excitement as we helped with feeding, cleaning, and engaging with the residents who quickly became our new friends. We got to take six of the residents with us to the grocery store where they shopped for all their favorite snacks! But guess what?
The fun didn’t stop there…. because we got to pamper the residents with a mani pedi and played with temporary tattoos. The day ended on a good note as we played a couple exciting rounds of BINGO! Residents were thrilled to win prizes donated by the GMercyU community.
It’s only day two but already our lives have been changed forever as we embrace the love of the community and share the mercy within us.
Love,
Lana R. and Delaney M.
Click images below to expand.
Saturday, March 9
After a long day of travel, including a two-hour plane delay and heavy traffic in Jamaica, we finally arrived at our destination at 7:30 p.m.! We are so happy to be here and were greeted warmly by the residents who remembered us from last year. Can’t wait to start our week of service tomorrow!
Click images below to expand.
Thursday, March 7
It is two days until we leave for our service trip with the Mustard Seed Community in Jamaica! Today we had a packing party to engage in team building, pack our supplies, and tie dye t-shirts. Dean Tang and Associate Dean Sagedy stopped by to wish us well. Stay tuned for daily updates and thank you for following along in our journey!
Click images below to expand.
