Dr.
Dean and Keitha Thomson
Team Leaders
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Thank you for your interest in our mission
project. I will give you a brief introduction to Falmouth, Jamaica, what we do
there, the cost, and how often we visit. Please feel free to call or write if you
desire more information. We have found this to be a wonderful and meaningful project
for everyone concerned, and love to experience it with others. We hope you will be
able to share this with us someday.
Our mission is a VIM project (Volunteers in Missions). Therefore we provide all of
our funding for each trip. The Nebraska Methodist Conference helps spread the word,
but there is no financial assistance. We usually allow ten days for each trip.
Falmouth is a non-tourist town about twenty miles east of Montego Bay.
It is on the ocean and the highway runs through it. We serve a larger parish, but I
am not sure of the population of the surrounding area. Many rural people come to our
clinic for their care and medication. The area is safe, the water is clean, and you
do not need special immunizations, just a current tetanus booster.
Our main mission is medical. Over the years we have built a dedicated clinic that
includes two dental chairs and four exam rooms. Depending on the number of
medical people available, we will see from 60 to 150 people a day, not counting the dental
contacts, when we are fortunate to have a dentist on the team. Once we know the
make-up of the team, we then develop non-medical projects depending on the talents and
resources. We have built playgrounds, small homes, the present clinic, and the
initial project was the educational unit/hostel where our teams stay when we are in
Jamaica. We do repair work at a local nursing home for the poor, and a home
for girls. We have built bed side stands and closets, painted, plus other odds and
ends including a chicken coup and an outhouse. In the summer we usually run a bible
school. Some team members assist the public schools with instruction. The
needs are tremendous. All we need to do is match up our team skills with a
particular need.
Dr. Wally and Diana Carpenter started this mission in 1989. Keitha and I joined them
in 1991, and we organize teams twice a year, in January and July. Our day starts
about 7:00AM and we try to close shop by 4:00PM in order to rest and enjoy other aspects
of Jamaica, but we often work into the evening. We may jump in the ocean, look for
sea shells, take a leisurely raft ride down the river, or just take a nap. We have
devotions every evening with singing and discussion. Many people end the day with a
walk around the area and along the beach. We constantly interact with the Jamaicans
and they join us for meals and devotions. So we work hard, but take time to get to
know the people, and see Jamaica.
The cost is determined by the airfare and the projects. An average fee is $800,
which includes all transportation from our local airport and back. It also includes
meals, lodging, tips, admission fees, and essentially everything but souvenirs. The
First United Methodist Church in Nebraska City is our sponsoring church.
We have been very pleased with our past team efforts in Jamaica and truly feel that we are
doing God's will. We will do what we can to help anyone who wishes to share in the
joy of this mission project. Thank you again for your interest.
In Christ's Love,
Dean Thomson
For additional information, Please email me.
drthomson@windstream.net
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