Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

THE FIRST group of missionaries from the United States (US) to have travelled to the island since a robbery at the Salvation Army compound in St Andrew last month left Jamaica last Friday after an incident-free stay.

Earlier this month, The Gleaner reported that the group from Adventurers in Mission withdrew the cancellation of a trip to the island. It had initially opted out of the July trip, fearful of suffering a fate similar to the previous group of colleagues.

Great stay despite fears

Early on the morning of June 30, the day they were scheduled to leave the island, gunmen broke in on the group of 39 missionaries, robbing them of personal items and an undisclosed sum of money.

Major Ward Matthews, secretary for business administration at the Salvation Army, told The Gleaner yesterday that the missionaries who arrived on July 15 had a great stay, despite concerns for their safety.

"One of the victims of the robbery urged more missionary groups to volunteer more teams, not less," he said. "We just need to deal with improving security."

Matthews added: "Things are getting worse, and when poverty increases, crime and hopelessness seem to shoot up, so the Salvation Army wants to share that there is an eternal hope."

Boosting morale

During their stay, the team from the US participated in a number of activities, which Matthews said boosted the morale and motivation of both the residents and staff.

He said the missionaries participated in activities, including painting, completing minor repairs to the facility and playing football with the children at the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Group's role important

Matthews recognised the critical role missionary organisations, many of which are self-funded, play in providing educational programmes and activities the Salvation Army otherwise could not afford.

"We get this connection with the rest of the world, which doesn't just help the kids or the citizens, but it helps the workers because sometimes it feels like you're in the battle alone," he said.

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com