Spirit: - The Salvation Army USA (Southern Territory)

July 9, 20085125634Photos byElaine French-RagoTeam finds ministry to both agegroups rewarding and inspiringJoe Lynch led a team ofeight employees from SouthernTerritorial Headquarters toKingston, Jamaica, June 9-14 todo relational ministry and manuallabor for The Salvation Army.Elaine French-Rago, SheilaLivingston, Stephen Okala, SueDamskey, Gabriela Elias Broome,Michelle Germany, CindyMcQueen and Army Watson eachraised $250 towards their trip.During the week, they paintedboys’ dorm rooms at the SalvationArmy School for the Blind, playedwith orphaned and abandonedchildren at “The Nest,” andbefriended ladies at the FrancesHamm Retirement Home.Reaching out to two differentaudiences – children ages 3 to18 and elderly women, many ofwhom are retired Salvation Armyofficers, was rewarding accordingto team members.Elaine French-Rago wasparticularly touched by two boysshe met at the School for theBlind. “Nigel and Richard willremain in my heart always. Sayinggoodbye to them…reminded mehow God works through eachand every one of us to be his feet,1. Sue Damskey walks with one of the retiredwomen at the Frances Hamm Retirement Home.2. The School for the Blind teaches children braille.3. A child from the Salvation Army daycare facility.4. One of the School for the Blind’s 100 students.5. L-R, back, Mrs. Major Laing, Elaine French-Rago,Major Laing (administrator of the School for theBlind), Sheila Livingston, Gabriela Broome, StephenOkala, Cindy McQueen, Joe Lynch, John Williamsonand front, Mrs. Major Jones and Mrs. MajorClark (cooks for the team), Sue Damskey, ArmyWatson and Michelle Germany.6. Michelle Germany and Elaine French-Rago enjoytime with students at the School for the Blind.7. Army Watson befriends a woman at the FrancesHamm Retirement Home.his hands, his voice, and mostimportantly, his heart,” she said.One of the activities the teamdid with the children from theschool (ages 3-18) and from TheNest (ages 7-18) is called “prayerbears.” The craft involved pairingup with the children to stuffthe bears and then put writtenScripture cards in the bears’ frontpockets. French-Rago said thechildren were eager to hear theverses read over and over again.Michelle Germany enjoyedministry to the elderly. “The ladiesat Frances Hamm were truly ablessing to me. I felt as if I hadbeen to a revival after spendingtime with these precious womenof God,” she said.The team is raising funds tobuy musical recorders for studentsat the School for the Blind. Tomake a donation, contact LindsayVick in the Human ResourcesDepartment at 404-728-1300,ext. 585. French-Rago is alsoaccepting donations of new,matching bed linens until July 15for each child’s bed. For moreinformation, contact her at 404-728-1300, ext. 469.Brooke Turbyfill7