The Adventist Church, through its eastern region, which covers Kingston, St Andrew and St Thomas, visited the Vineyard Town Golden Age Home in Kingston and the Morant Bay Infirmary in St Thomas to distribute toiletries and other much-needed household items.

"We have started with the elderly because we believe that the elderly are individuals that the Church and the community have a responsibility to extend kindness to," said Pastor Adrian Cotterell, president of the Adventist Church in east Jamaica.

During the week of generosity, a number of activities will take place such as a visit to the taxi stands in Half-Way Tree and Cross Roads where Christian literature and chamois will be distributed to taxi drivers.

"We're really happy for the gifts this morning," said Delfredo Cammock-Thorpe, operations manager of the Vineyard Town Golden Age Home.

"The Adventists are no strangers to us; they're like family members to us. The residents will really enjoy the tokens today."

The Bible, which is currently on a two-year journey, covering six continents around the world, is part of an Adventist Global initiative known as "Follow the Bible", which seeks to call back Seventh-day Adventist members and the world at large to the study and benefits of following the Word of God.

The 18X12-inch Bible, which started its journey on October 11, 2008 from Manila, Philippines, has visited 108 countries since then. Each of its 66 books is written in a different language of the world. It has approximately 1,500 pages and weighs 16.80 pounds or 7.6 kg.

The Bible is scheduled to arrive in Jamaica at the Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, on Friday December 11, and departs the following Sunday.

Formal service

On December 11, the Bible will be received by Pastor Derek Bignall, president of the Adventist Church in the West Indies Union, and escorted in a motorcade led by uniformed groups, to Sam Sharpe Square Montego Bay, where a formal service will take place. On Saturday, it will journey to Mandeville for a service at the Northern Caribbean University and a civic ceremony in the square.

A grand finale before the departure of the Bible will take place at the National Arena in Kingston on Sunday.

The Bible will end its journey in Atlanta, Georgia on June 23, 2010 at the 59th Session of the Adventist World Church.

Countries covered so far by the traveling Bible

The Philippines

The Netherlands

Denmark

India

Australia

New Zealand

Korea

Romania

Russia

Norway

The Middle Eastern nations