Greetings from Jamaica!
Right now I am in the middle of a School of Performing Arts (SOPA) with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Ever since I was a child I have been interested in the performing arts I but have had little opportunity to explore my creative side. A few years ago I found out that YWAM offered a school of performing arts but even then it was not the right time for me to get involved. Only this past spring did God finally open the door for me to apply to this school, I was accepted in July and the school began in September.
Since the school began we have had classes on Reggae Dance, Mime, Creative Writing, Theater, Music, Vocals, Fine Arts, etc. And this week we will learn Caribbean Folk Dance! I have been challenged in many areas but it has been wonderful to explore my creative side and acquire resources that I can use in future ministry. It is my desire to use the tools I have learned to train young people in the performing arts and both to encourage the church for missions and to reach people with the gospel. I know how strongly I have been impacted by the arts throughout my life and that many people are more drawn to creative expressions than to spoken messages. Each new week brings a new adventure in the arts and I am finding creativity in me that I did not know existed! Surprisingly I think my favorite week thus far has been Creative Writing. I have not written but a few poems in my life and it was so neat to see how a story could come out of nowhere. I have always enjoyed reading so I guess that’s a place I can draw some ideas from. Right after writing class came theater and I was able to see how the two fit together for writing skits and plays which is something I would like to do.
Our outreach begins on Dec 20 and it has been decided that we will spend a couple of weeks ministering around Jamaica before heading off to Belize. Belize is located on the Caribbean side of Guatemala and even though it is a part of Central America I have never been there before so I am looking forward to it. Finances continue to be a challenge as I still owe US $1,200 for the training part of my school and probably over $2,000 for outreach! I invite you to pray about helping me to cover these expenses. Please also pray that I would continue to press into God during this time and receive all that He has for me. There have been many adjustments to food, culture and new relationships so I would appreciate prayer for those things as well.
Love and blessings,
Taja Clancy
Email: taja.clancy@gmail.com, wwww.tajasnews.blogspot.com. Field Address: C/O SOPA Youth With A Mission PO Box 198 Reading, St James, Jamaica. Tel: +876-605-5427. Financial Support: C/O Sheila Clancy PO Box 1621 Hanalei, HI 96714 For this address please make checks payable to me. Tax Deductable: YWAM Tyler Accounting Dept. PO Box 3000 Garden Valley, TX 75771-3000. For this address please make checks payable to YWAM and be sure not to put my name anywhere on the check. Enclose a separate note stating that it is for my ministry.
