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Jerusalem!

The Jerusalem! Children's home was opened in September 1996 with 35 children, 17 of whom were from Bellevue the state mental institution which has been closed. Located in Spanish Town, this facility with its wide-open spaces and country-like atmosphere is the perfect location to raise a family.

Initially the intention was to accommodate the older children from My Father's House, however the increase in abandonment of children with disabilities, coupled with Fr Gregory's commitment to care for all of God's 'rejected stones', it became necessary to expand the facility and change its focus. Presently Jerusalem! (including the Village and Dare To Care) is home to 140 residents ranging from infants to young adults.

There is a staff of committed people who with their various responsibilities have a direct and an indirect effect on the lives of the residents. The construction workers in the Village, the farm workers, maintenance and security staff, administration staff, cooks, washers, cleaners all work along with the caregivers at Jerusalem! offering the residents a variety of experiences.

Daily activities, which foster a spirit of caring and sharing, include spiritual exercises, physiotherapy, cognitive learning, occupational exercises, chores, and internal and external training programs. Outings to different venues of interest also form part of the children's development.

As a result of the limited special education services available in or around Spanish Town and the not so obvious fact that children with disabilities have a capacity for learning beyond expectations, Jerusalem! decided to start its own cognitive learning facility (home schooling). In 1997 a small classroom was established and six children began attending school, learning the basics of reading and writing under the tutelage of Brendan Smith (a volunteer from Atlanta). In 2002 Little Angels' Learning was opened with full approval from the Ministry of Education as an integrated, inclusive learning facility. Located on the ground floor of the Administration building, Jerusalem! is proud of its school with five classrooms, four teachers and twenty nine students.

Jerusalem! is also home to Zinc Link 3. This internet café provides a service for both children and staff at Jerusalem! residents from the local community and also children from nearby schools.

The spiritual growth of the residents as well as the staff is fundamental to maintaining the mission and purpose of Mustard Seed Communities. At Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel that was dedicated by the Archbishop of Kingston in 1999, there are daily devotions, communion service on Sundays (when there is no Mass) and continual meditation and Chapel visitations. Perpetual Adoration is also observed in our two Adoration Chapels. Here both staff and residents are encouraged to participate.

The Jerusalem! Clinic was opened by the Duchess of Kent (HRH) in October 1998. It offers medical and dental services to all our residents, and recently the services were extended to staff and senior citizens of the surrounding community. There is a nurse and dental nurse who keep the clinic running and visiting medical personnel who freely offer their services find it an exceptional facility.

Our Farm located on five acres of property, functions both as a therapeutic alternative which embraces training for our residents and as an income generating project. Our farm currently has two fishponds, which provide a good source of protein for our children, with surplus being sold to the neighboring communities. Our chicken farm currently houses twenty three hundred birds, producing approximately 2000 eggs on a daily basis. Vegetable gardens also provide cash crops which are sold to the markets and are also used for the in-house needs of our residents. Also located on the property is our green house which houses several variety of tropical horticultural plants used both in-house or at our other Apostolates.

July 2005

A Resident of Jerusalem!
A Resident of Jerusalem!

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