OCT 2010

Trust: Total.Reliance.Upon.Spoken.Truth. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 6

In Matthew 4:4 Jesus tells us, “It is written, Man shall not live by
What is the meaning of TRUST? To rely not on earthly things such
This is a newsletter updating you on the happenings of my life in
Spending time with a great group of friends after the
Deaf Youth Ministries National Convention
SNAPSHOT OF THE LAST MONTH
Sept 28 – Oct 4 – Deaf Youth Ministries National
Convention
Oct 4 – Arrive in Kingston and transition up to the
Jamaica Deaf Village
5-6 – Welding job in Kingston with Wayne and
Ionda
7-17 – Develop marketing fliers and brochures for
the JDV furniture business and adjust to life in
Mandeville
18 – Beach day in MoBay for National Heroes
holiday and to meet the new missionary family at
CCCD MoBay
19 – Begin the first of six planning sessions in an
effort to develop a strategic business plan for the
JDV home furnishings business
22-24 – Weekend in Kingston!
25-28 – Life at JDV
29-30 – Birthday weekend in Kingston
31 – Travel to Sav-la-mar for outreach and then our
3rd annual ACWR Team Cook-Out!
bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth
of God.” In John 1:1 we learn that “In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Later, in verse 14, it says “And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
as ourselves or material blessings (bread), but to depend on
what God has spoken to us through the Word, that Jesus came,
full of truth, to be our propitiation.
Jamaica, as I learn more about what it means to trust.
26 Is So, So, Irrelevant…
Last year I arrived in Kingston in October and got to experience my first
end of the month birthday party. It just so happened to be my birthday
month, so I got to sit at the honorary table. It was a lot of fun and turned out
to be fun every month when we had the parties. This year I didn’t want to
miss out on the action, so I planned to leave JDV in time to make the party.
Thankfully I arrived with about 5 minutes to spare (these things actually
happen on time!) and Kimmarley had a seat saved for me (he just turned
19).
The cake and ice cream was a huge treat for the kids, as always, and I was
thankful to be able to spend my birthday with my Kingston family (minus
those in the States). I got a huge kick out of the range of ages the kids
thought I was (some said 20 and others say 30, and yet others were closer to
the truth) and also Anesa Nesbitt cracked me up. While passing out the
cake, she kept asking if she could be the pig. I was confused, til I realized
she wanted to lick the cake pan…and boy, was she a pig!
Kimmarley Wright and I at the October birthday party!

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
 OCT 2010
Total.Reliance.Upon.Spoken.Truth. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 6

Wait, I Thought I Left That Job?

During the first week up at the Deaf Village in early October, my teammate
Chad Huber asked if I had worked with business plans at my previous job. Not John 17:15-18
to a great extent, I answered, but I was familiar with the structure and purpose of
one. He explained he had recently met with the Jamaican Business Development I do not ask that you take them
Centre (which helps start-up businesses) regarding the furniture factory, and that
they wanted to see a business plan before offering any assistance. So, he asked, out of the world, but that you
would you be up for taking on this project? I was up for it, albeit a tad hesitant,
yet thankful for the opportunity and challenge…now where do I start? keep them from the evil one.
My first inclination took me back to what got pounded in my head in two years
at ABG / Adayana. Ask the right questions! What was going to be the purpose
They are not of the world, just
of this document? Who was going to use it? How was it going to be used? By
what metrics were they going to measure success? Was it a short-term or long-
as I am not of the world.
term plan? When did it need to be completed?
Sanctify them in the truth; thy
We began our first of six planning sessions on the 19 and plan to wrap-up our
th

final meeting on Nov 4th. Two meetings a week for 3 weeks. Pretty intense, but word is truth. As you sent me
our Christmas travel schedules required a quick turnaround.
into the world, so I have sent

I reached out to Kevin Ochsner, a former colleague, and he provided some very
them into the world.
beneficial thoughts. Thankfully I found my last project at Adayana to be
extremely relevant and I still had several PowerPoint’s on my hard drive from
A PRAISE REPORT
that client, which meant I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, for
every step of the project. A safe and fruitful trip for CCCD Kingston’s
Hands in Praise team, led by principal Maria
Lawrence and students Semaj Barrett, Andreen
Smith, Petrona Dolphy, Jessica Jobson and Ricki
Bryan.

A spirit-filled and inspiring conference in

Birmingham where I was able to network and meet
a lot of amazing children of God that are seasoned
in Deaf Teen ministry, as well as strengthen some
awesome friendships.

God’s provision in a smooth transition to my time

up at JDV. I was a little unsure of what this would
be like, but the Lord has not ceased to pour out
Pastor Damian Campbell, teammate Chad Huber, Factory Manager Godley Dempster, CCCD teaching upon teaching and blessing upon blessing.
Managing Director Donville Jones and faithful interpreter Erin Davis in our “conference room”

BLAKE WIDMER
US Address:
9036 Northridge Lane
Battle Ground, IN 47920
 OCT 2010
Total.Reliance.Upon.Spoken.Truth. VOLUME 1 ISSUE 6

Deaf Youth Ministries National Convention 2010

While traveling in New York for my friend’s wedding, I got a phone call from Bob
Ayres (from Deaf Teen Quest, whom I had met in June) who strongly urged me to
consider coming to the DYM conference in Alabama. He said, Blake, you’re
already in the States and one flight away from being here. I don’t know of a better
time for you to join us and see what God is doing. It’d be a great opportunity for
you to learn and meet some fellow laborers, and frankly I’d just love to have you PRAYER REQUESTS:
along.
• An 8 member team from ACWR will
His argument was persuasive and I really had nothing of urgency for which I be visiting with our team Nov 6-13 as
needed to be back in Jamaica. I would simply delay my return for a week. My team well as checking in with the ministries
was supportive and my home church even more so, approving the expenses to be we support across the island. Pray for
reimbursed from the fund they started to support me in ministry. All the pieces the Lord’s guidance and blessing on all
came together and it was clear the Lord was opening this door for me. I couldn’t our conversation and travels, for His
say no to that, so I walked through the door. Boy, am I thankful! glory.
• For the Lord to add the increase, as
There were many blessings in store. I reconnected with friends I had met on the only He can, to the efforts of creating a
Deaf Teen Quest mission team that came to Kingston with Bob back in June and strategic business plan for JDV
those friendships become much deeper. God blessed me with several new business ventures
relationships during the course of the conference, and I anticipate looking back in a • Pray for the Chad and Pam Huber
number of years and being in awe at the timing of these friendships. I was also family as they travel to Indiana for
encouraged with sound, Biblical exhortations to cultivate my relationship with holiday furlough. They travel Nov. 11th
Christ as the foremost objective of ministry. Apart from Him, we are and can do and Jan 6th (with 7 kids!)
nothing. I witnessed first-hand the fruit of various Deaf ministries throughout • Continued support of the new Christian
America and left with renewed confidence that God can raise up men and women Fellowship recently begun in Sav-la-
of faith in Jamaica as well. With Christ, all things are possible. mar, an area with a large deaf
community. Pray for the Word to go
forth in Truth and Sincerity and God to
be honored.
• Tropical Storm Tomas is heading our
way. NOAA predicts it will reach
Hurricane strength by the 4th and
Jamaica is right in the path. Pray also
for our teammates and the country of
Haiti. The storm is likely going to hit
them hardest, and they already have
millions living in tents while dealing
with a cholera pandemic
Dr. Rick McClain of Deaf Online University challenged us with a very inspiring message
about “Reaching up and out”. In summary, he challenged us that if we were not first and
foremost “reaching up” to God and abiding in Him, then we would be unable to “reach out”
to lost Deaf teens effectively in ministry as God is the source of all fruit.

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

Other Ministry Activities in Jamaica:

You may recall last month’s prayer request for the recently established
Christian Fellowship in the coastal community of Savanna-la-mar. God
continues to gift a thirst to the deaf of Sav for His Word, and so each week a
small group from Mandeville make their way there and lead a church service.

On the 31st I was given the opportunity to go with Cresmore Fletcher,

Sheldon McKenzie, and Andrea Rose of New Life Church for the Deaf (aka
JDV). I am thankful for this experience and wait to see how the Lord directs
New Life Church and our ACWR team in the future at Sav. Please continue
to pray for this small group of believers and for the unsaved of Sav. There has
never been a Deaf ministry in this area, and therefore a lack of understanding
Cresmore Fletcher leads worship at the church in Sav-la-mar. The
of the Gospel and truth of God’s word. Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning is allowing us to use a
small classroom free of charge. Key word is not free, but small…