General Information

Won By One To Jamaica would love to talk to you about taking your high school, college, or adult group on a life changing short term mission trip to Jamaica.  We will host your team in the heart of the community where they will be serving.  Harmons is an extremely poor community, desperate for the unconditional love and grace found only in the person of Jesus Christ.

We strive to make our experiences one of the easiest trips a group leader will ever lead.  We take care of every detail of your trip, including your airline reservations.

To schedule a trip or to get more information, email us at info@wonbyonetojamaica.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Won By One To Jamaica?
Won By One To Jamaica is a 501(c)3 missions organization that has been doing ministry in Harmons, Jamaica since 1989.  Won By One To Jamaica facilitates groups of high school students, college students, and adults for short-term mission trips throughout the year.

What is the trip price?
The 2009, 2010, and 2011 trip price is $1,400 per team member.

Deadlines:  
                       $100 per team member deposit due immediately
                       $700 per team member due 90 days before the trip departure
                       $600 per team member due 7 days before the trip departure

What does the trip price include?
Roundtrip airfare between home airport and Montego Bay, Jamaica; all transportation on the island; accommodations in the Harmony House; all meals at the Harmony House; all building materials in Harmons; side trip to the Clarendon Infirmary in Maypen; all wages paid to Jamaican laborers; accommodations at Silver Seas Hotel; final dinner in Ocho Rios; departure tax.

Price excludes passport fees, immunizations, snorkeling and shopping in Ocho Rios, entrance to Dunn’s River Falls, meals during travel days.

What documents do I need to travel to Jamaica?
Valid  U.S. Passport or Valid Passport from your country of birth and Jamaican Visa (if necessary from your country of birth). Won By One To Jamaica also requires that each team members completes and notarizes a Participation Form which is distributed through the group leader.

To apply for a passport you need to connect to the U.S. State Department Website.

Where do teams go?
Harmons is a remote mountain village of 3,000 people in south central Jamaica, three hours drive from Montego Bay and 45 minutes from Mandeville.  At the end of the week, the team spends one night in the popular north coast resort city Ocho Rios.

Harmons is an impoverished community with around 75% unemployment.  Because of expense and its remote location, education past the 8th grade is very difficult. Quality medical treatment is rare and money for basic needs (clothes, shoes, toiletries and home improvements) other than food is limited. One aim of Won By To Jamaica is to help alleviate some of the physical hardships the citizens of Harmons experience every day.

Where do teams stay?
When in Harmons the team stays in a Great House constructed in 2001 called the Harmony House.  The Harmony House has a large thatch-covered meeting room, kitchen, two team dorm rooms, staff rooms, covered courtyard, deck, running water, toilets, showers and electricity.

When the team travels to Ocho Rios they stay at the Silver Seas Hotel which is situated directly on the Caribbean Sea.  The Silver Seas has a pool, small beach, nearby snorkeling reef, and a pier for the final team meeting.

How do the teams get around?
Won By One To Jamaica owns and operates two 28-passenger coaster buses which serves to transport team members around the island.  A dump truck and pick-up truck with trailer are also used to help move building materials and luggage.

Are there any immunizations one needs before traveling to Jamaica?
Won By One To Jamaica requires that team members have up-to-date Tetanus. Hepatitis “A” vaccination is recommended.

Is it safe?
Safety is of the utmost importance to Won By One To Jamaica.  Team members will always work and travel in groups.  Rules of appropriate behavior are communicated to both Americans and Jamaicans.  The Harmony House is a secure facility.

What will the teams do during their trip?
Each day the team will split into work groups ranging from two to twenty people. Some of the projects you will work on are:

Construct houses
During the week one or two 12’ by 15’ houses will be constructed.  Jobs include carrying marl; framing the foundation; mixing and pouring concrete; assembling the wall panels; applying concrete to the walls; installing windows and doors; attaching the metal roof; painting inside and out; and dedicating it to the new family.

Carry marl
Marl, or crushed limestone rock, is the basic ingredient for making concrete and needs to be carried in bags to future home work sites … usually uphill.

Sort & deliver supplies
The hundreds of pounds of clothes, medicine, school supplies and toiletries that each team brings need to be sorted and then placed in a “store” in the Harmony House where local families can “shop” for basic needs.  Two grocery-size bags filled with supplies cost approximately 75 cents for the locals.

Dig tanks
Because Harmons has no water or sewer systems, residents must collect rainwater in tanks.  Tanks are first dug and then lined with concrete.  Some tanks are also needed to replace outhouses or allow for indoor bathrooms to be installed.

Repair homes
Most houses are in desperate need of repair.  Walls need reinforcement; rusted zinc roof panels need replacement.

Assist school teachers
Two primary schools (1st – 8th grades) and two basic schools (3 – 5 years old) are within close proximity to the Harmony House.  When school is in session, a couple of team members will have the opportunity to help the understaffed teachers with their classes or deliver school supplies.

What is the general spiritual background of Jamaica?
Jamaica has more churches in relation to its population than nearly all other countries in the world. Even in public schools, religious classes and devotions are required for all school students from 1st grade through college.  But the Jamaican Church in general is steeped in Legalism.  Works and outward appearances are emphasized and it is widely taught that one must get their life “cleaned up” in order to earn God’s acceptance.  God is seen by many as the mean school principal in the sky who is waiting for you to do something wrong so He can strip away His forgiveness and salvation.  Most Jamaicans know of God, but few fully understand Him.

How does evangelism play out in this culture?
Because Jamaicans love to talk, spiritual conversations are generally not uncommon.  During the work day, many new friends will be made and conversations will develop naturally.  During the evening, many people from the community come to the Harmony House courtyard and after our team meeting and worship time, the entire team will go outside to deepen relationships.

Because of the aforementioned spiritual “baggage” that most Jamaicans are saddled with, Won By One To Jamaica believes relationship evangelism is the most effective means to genuinely communicate God’s love to a Jamaican and for it to be genuinely received.  Because of the long-term commitment to the Harmons area, this style of evangelism is possible for people to begin to understand the true nature of God. 

What happens in Ocho Rios?
On the second to last day of the trip, the team will leave the Harmony House and drive to Ocho Rios on the northern coast of Jamaica.  The team will check-in at the Silver Seas hotel, situated directly on the Caribbean Ocean.  After some basic orientation, individuals will have the opportunity to go to Dunn’s River Falls and climb the mile-long, fresh-water waterfall that is a popular tourist attraction.  The afternoon is open for free-time activities such as shopping at the open-air craft market or snorkeling in the ocean.  That evening, a pizza party will be held poolside followed by a final team meeting and reflection time on the pier.  The next morning the team travels to Montego Bay to fly home.

Do team members need to be in good shape?
This trip will require a great deal more walking and lifting than most Americans are normally used to and will be very physically exhausting.  We encourage team members to do whatever they can to get in better cardiovascular condition (walking, running, aerobics, etc.) before the trip.

How much money should one bring?
We recommend team members bring $100-$200 spending money, depending on how much money they plan to spend on souvenirs, pop, ice cream and to give away. Money should be brought in small denominations.  In most places dollars are accepted.  A challenge will be given to each team to purchase some item for a local Jamaican family.

The exchange rate is currently 88 Jamaican dollars (known simply as J’s) to the US dollar; however, the exchange rate can change every day.

What should teams pack?
Items to pack fall into three categories: team items, personal items, and items to give away.

Team items
Some food/kitchen items are difficult to find in Jamaica and are of low quality and very expensive.  Because of this, we ask each team member to pack a couple of items from the States.  This standard list will be given to each group about a month before departure.  In addition, each team member should bring one box of their favorite breakfast cereal, one can of green beans, one can of corn, and one roll of toilet paper.

Personal items
These are items that each person should bring for their own use.  Many of these items can be left in Harmons after the team leaves.  Team members are given a list of what to pack and how to pack so each team member knows what to bring and what not to bring.

Give-away items
These items will make up the vast majority of the two checked bags.  Items can be collected throughout the year.  Collecting specific items is an excellent way to include others in the mission trip experience.  The following items are excellent ideas of what to pack to give away.

Additional items to pack - (each category is listed in order of need)

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Backpacks, hard black composition books, pencils, notebooks, pens, markers, construction paper, school glue, rulers, scissors, tape.

MEDICINES 
Tylenol, Ibuprofen, cough/cold meds (adult, child, infant),  anti-fungal cream, antibiotic creams(i.e. Neosporin), hydrocortisone cream, vitamins(adult, child, infant), Band-Aids, bandages, gauze, first aid kits, peroxide, rubbing alcohol, lotion, Selsun Blue shampoo. *Remember that generic brand medications are much cheaper and equally as effective as name brands. 
Please do not bring your personal prescriptions to donate. 

SHOES
Any shoes, black school shoes, work boots, adult soccer shoes, children’s shoes.

TOILETRIES
Diapers, baby powder, medicated shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, lotions.

TOOLS
Tape measures, masonry trowels, paint brushes, paint rollers, hammers, handsaws, heavy electrical cords, new power tools, drill bits, screw bits.

HOUSEWARES
Sewing machines in good working order, single and double sheets, towels and small washcloths, material, hard plastic plates & bowls, silverware, dish towels, sharp knives, any pots and pans.

CLOTHES
The number one needed item is children & infant clothes.
Children and infant clothes, any clean mended clothes, new underwear & socks, men’s pants, adult clothes (Jamaica is a tropical climate, so do not pack winter clothes or sweaters).

MISCELLANEOUS
D size batteries, AA & C size batteries, soccer balls, extra flashlights & batteries, padlocks, watches, radios of any kind, toys, hats, jewelry (necklaces, earrings, etc.).

Items not to pack (all are items that have come down over the years)
Bowling balls, electric blankets, humidifiers, one shoe, condoms, heavy winter jackets.