When planning a mission trip to Jamaica, understanding the country's cultural and religious background is essential to having any effective ministry.  
                        
Jamaica is one of the more popular foreign destinations for American churches. Most short term missions groups that travel to Jamaica use the approach of evangelistic programs on streets or in schools to reach people. Many of these groups tend to focus on the higher-populated cities near to the coast, utilizing what seems to Americans as an unusual openness into public schools, streets and beaches. The downside to this approach is that meaningful conversations are limited due to time constraints and lack of relationship. When groups do return to their accommodations they usually find themselves completely isolated from Jamaicans, the very people they came to reach.

Jamaica has a strong religous history, boasting more churches per population than most other countries in the world as well as hundreds of different denominations. Religious classes are even mandatory in all public schools from elementary to college. But many Jamaican churches tend to be legalistic. One typically is not welcomed within the Church body without first 'cleaning up' their life.  Salvation can often be seen as conditional and is connected to whether one is successful in sin management. Thus the large numbers of conversions that many missions groups come home promoting are most likely not accurate. If the numbers were authentic, every Jamaican would be a Christian many times over. This is not an indictment on the Jamaican understanding of the Gospel as it is the lack of understanding many American groups have of the Jamaican spiritual traditions and their so-called methods of evangelism.

Jamaica is a developing country with a government that  often struggles with meeting the basic needs of the population. With very high unemployment rates, high taxes, and high inflation, it is quite difficult for common people to improve themselves. The government spends a large percentage of its money on improving conditions that promote tourism leaving less for schools, roads and public services.

Harmons, Jamaica is a small, remote village situated in a mountain valley in the south central interior of the island. With approximately 2,500 people, Harmons can be described as a mostly forgotten village. Except for the teams that travel with Won By One To Jamaica, Harmons is rarely visited by outsiders. Harmons has a very high unemployment, and the valley lacks running water. Many families don't have the money to consistantly send their children to school past the 7th grade. Many homeowners struggle to keep their homes dry and safe.

Harmons also has some of the most content, thankful and giving people in the world.  Most non-Christians there are more thankful to God for their limited possessions than most Christians are in America. Rain is not seen as a nuisance like it is in the U.S., but rather "blessings from heaven." Rain is what makes the fruit trees grow and fills water tanks so they can drink, cook and wash. 

Ministry in Harmons is two-fold. First, the teams show the love of Christ by meeting the physical needs of the community.  This is done by building 12' x 15' concrete houses, digging pits for water collection, repairing homes, and delivering medicine and clothes that the team brings down.  Second, the team practices friendship evangelism throughout the week.

This evangelism approach can be effective because of the amount of close contact team members have with Jamaicans.  The conversations are natural and authentic because they evolve out of the friendships that quickly develop.  Only by living, working, eating and worshipping with Jamaicans is this type of ministry possible.

Teams stay in Harmony House right in the center of the community they are serving.