In May, the College for Officer Training led a two-week “Learn and Serve” trip to Jamaica, where cadets, auxiliary-captains and staff deepened their understanding of God’s mission as they served alongside local officers, Salvationists and cadets from the Caribbean Territory. The Shirley McInnes Endowment, which supports the training and development of cadets for ministry in an international setting, helped make this possible, covering the costs of nine cadets to be part of this unique experience. Cadet Melissa Crump shares some of her journal entries from the trip.

Before the Trip

When I visited Jamaica with the Ontario Division’s Living Sacrifice program in 2023, God changed my life. I know this trip will be different, but I’m excited to return to a place where I felt God’s presence so profoundly. I wonder what he has in store this time.

Friday, May 8

Today we held an open-air service in Jones Town, a neighbourhood in Kingston. It was my first open-air experience, and it was amazing. We set up on a street corner and had music, timbrels and testimonies. My fellow Canadian session-mate, Cadet Michelle Wade, brought a beautiful word on transformation. It was so powerful to see people come up for prayer. After the service, I hung out with the kids, and they played with my hair as we talked about Jesus and how what we learn at church affects our lives at school.

Sunday, May 10

Our first Sunday together was an “in-Sunday,” when all the cadets and auxiliary-captains came together for a weekend of worship. The morning worship was led by the Caribbean Territory’s training college, and the afternoon worship by the Canada and Bermuda Territory’s training college. We learned each other’s songs, preaching styles and creative expressions of worship. We prayed in pairs with a cadet from another territory, which was my favourite part. Then we all pitched in to decorate the dining hall for a banquet, and I learned a cool new way to fold napkins, a subtle and thoughtful act of hospitality that I will bring home. 

Monday, May 14

We split into two groups to work on projects around the training college. One group organized the basement, and another power washed the awnings (I think they had the most fun). 

Tuesday, May 12

Today, we broke into two groups again to serve in two different schools. At the school I visited, some of the cadets performed a short skit for about 1,000 children (wow!) at their morning chapel, demonstrating that what goes into your heart comes out through your actions.

The other group went to The Salvation Army’s School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which is on the same grounds as the training college and other Salvation Army ministries. They led some joyful songs and activities, gave a lesson and enjoyed what the children had prepared for nurse appreciation day.

Later that evening, we walked over toThe Nest, an orphanage run by the Army. What a beautiful ministry. We played games with the children, sang songs and had dinner together. This time, the group I was in led a short Bible lesson, with an object lesson on trust using a sealable bag full of water and sharp pencils. It looked like the pencils might puncture the bag and spill water everywhere, but they didn’t. We can trust God even when it might look like we can’t.

Sunday, May 17

On our final Sunday, we split into groups and attended three different corps around Kingston: Havendale, Kingston Central and Allman Town. I went to Kingston Central, where I had the privilege of sharing my testimony. Then Cadet Alberto Theola spoke powerfully about God’s nearness. 

Monday, May 18

The cadets and auxiliary-captains from the Canada and Bermuda Territory represent seven different countries. Combined with our colleagues from the Caribbean Territory, the number grows to 10. We learned so much from each other. During the farewell service, Major Vilece Thomas, training principal at the training college in Jamaica, remarked, “This is a taste of heaven,” as we joined hands to sing and pray the blessing. I wholeheartedly agree.

We hear the term “one Army,” and on this trip I saw that lived out. I love that every year, all cadets across the international Salvation Army are commissioned under the same sessional name. It was special to meet other Proclaimers of Transformation. In training, we are guided by the same requirements for ordination and commissioning, we memorize the same doctrines, and we will sign the same Officer Covenant. Following commissioning, we will probably also share similar nerves and excitement about what the future holds.

What’s awesome is that our connection will continue, even after we are commissioned. When we visited different places around Kingston, the officer staff were able to meet session-mates from different territories. It is cool that we are so connected, no matter the distance.

Final Thoughts

Throughout the trip, we were asked to reflect on the question: “What might God be teaching me?” The main thing I learned is that it’s the Holy Spirit who does the work of holiness. Of course, we let him in and work with him, but it’s less about striving than we usually think. We can do nothing without him. We pondered this idea during our holiness seminar on May 14-15. When we stay connected to the vine (see John 15), the Lord grows the fruit.

This is a concept the Lord has been working on with me for a while, and one that’s so important for those of us who are training to become officers, and who can so easily shift to doing things in our own strength—though I think this is a temptation for all Christians.

At the end of our holiness seminar, we made our own declaration of holiness and shared it in groups of three. I recommend this exercise to any Christian. Our denomination is a holiness movement, and to put how you will embody holiness in your own words, and share that with others, is so profound.