The Least of These

Hey everyone its Tayler. We will soon have a new video posted about the Infirmary that I would highly recommend watching (we are having some technical difficulties). Whether or not you have been able to experience the Infirmary first hand, this video captures the true essence of God’s work among “the least of these” here in Jamaica.

For those of you who may not know much about the Infirmary, at first glance it may not seem like a place you would expect God to be. At this rundown government facility, you will find people with mental and physical disabilities, those whose family could not take care of anymore, or even didn’t want anymore. Picture a nursing home in the worst condition in the U.S, multiply it by about 100, and you will come close to picturing the Infirmary.

Every week, Won By One To Jamaica takes teams to visit the Infirmary to spend time reading the Bible and talking with the patients there. Usually a little apprehensive and taken aback by the horrendous conditions, the Americans approach the experience with the intentions of blessing the residents, but surprisingly end up being blessed back more than they ever thought possible. The residents that live at the infirmary are so full of God’s love and joy that it is almost impossible to process or understand. I have heard some of the best sermons preached within the walls of the Infirmary, not to mention some of the most amazing prayers.

One of my dearest friends at the infirmary is a woman named Mary. Mary is in her early seventies and is permanently bedridden due to a faulty operation on her back several years ago. Not much is known about how she came to be at the infirmary, but her legacy is one that will live on in my life for several years to come. One would expect someone who spends every waking moment bedridden in the same room to be quite unpleasant and depressing. That couldn’t be more opposite from the witty, funny, and joyful woman who I have come to know and love. Each week we spend time together laughing, praying, reading the Bible, and reminiscing about her early years. Even more, my absolute favorite thing is to sit and listen to her sing hymns. Each week I walk away dumbfounded that such a woman exists. Never have I seen such faith in the midst of so much hardship. There are countless stories such as this from individuals who have experienced the Infirmary, and the amazing people who live there.

It is practically impossible to capture in words the depth of emotion that comes from experiencing the Infirmary, but it certainly is a favorite place of mine here in Jamaica.