Jamaica...

...the long awaited account of my visit to Jamaica (the condensed journal version). I use the word yesterday throughout these entries. Each morning I wrote about the past day, so take whatever date is given and put the previous date to the events and you'll have it right.

April 26th

So today is to be my first full day in Jamaica. Yesterday felt full, as full as a half day in the country could be. Yesterday, we accomplished a nice two hour tour (drive) through-around the country. Then arrived at Maranatha School for the Deaf to meet Monika (Monica - not sure about the spelling) and Michelle.


We started our time at Maranatha with a nice hot sweaty game of volleyball (I was truly out of practice). The game itself was interesting with some of the deaf children there. I learned to work with non-verbal communication. These children are absolutely brilliant when it comes to relating non-verbally.

We spent our evening eating pizza and sweet pineapple, then it was time for even sweeter fellowship.

April 27th

Yesterday was quite an eventful day. It began early at Maranatha and ended up in Kingston. First off wee put in a visit with Michael and Pearl James. This visit became more of an adventure/errand run.

Michael and Pearl rented one of their homes to Willard and Melba Heatwole when they were here (Jamaica) in the 1990's. Brendan has kept in contact with them during his time in Jamaica, and is often referred to as Willard's grandson (not that he seems to mind).

During our adventure with Michael we were able to see Savanah la Mar and visit his Marl Quarry. What visit would be complete without some food - in this case it was patties (my first Jamaican flavor experience) which were pastries with beef filling (very spicy).

After our visit with the James' it was a three hour plus drive in to pick up Paul (Brendan's boss) from the airport at Kingston. The drive from the airport to Brendan's apartment turned out to be quite an adventure. We ended up almost driving through the Kingston open air market. What we did manage to get the through was quite crowded and eventually we had to reverse our way out.

It was here that a Jamaican man came up to our car with an offer. "Hey Jakies you want a skunk?" I was initially thrown off by the offer of a skunk. It was until Brendan explained that Jakie was another name for whitie and skunk was a name for the drug he was offering, that I got pass the visual of being sold an animal with a white strip.

Brendan's apartment offers an incredible view of Kingston. He's really lucky to be living up on the hill overlooking the city, being able to see the bay so well. We enjoyed the view for awhile before heading back into the heart of the city for biblestudy at a Mennonite Church.

This is when I met the female Salters (with MCC) living in Kingston (whom I'm now staying with). There is Katrine, Diana and Leah all of whom have been serving in Jamaica for the last eight months.

At biblestudy we talked of the proverbs, but what really stood out to me was the idea of "promises." What are God's promises, and how should we understand them? (just a question I'm left thinking).

April 28th

Yesterday we (Brendan, Ted, Leah and I) went over to Port Royal. There was a lot of great history there dating back to the 1600's. The fort there was closed but we still managed to see most of it plus a few other sites.

From there we stopped at some war relics from this past century. It was a great view of the coast and not a tourist attraction (I loved it).

Then along the same road we made a visit to the screwfly program center. Its at this place where the sterile flys are hatched and then pilots like Brendan are able to disperse them. I learned a great deal more about Brendan's job and the importance of it.

Next came a short (but windy) drive into the countryside to see some old aqueducts in a field. This was nearby the Holdeman Mission house so we placed a visit. There we met the newly established missionaries Vance and his wife Marrisant (I hope I have the right spelling for her name) and their three children.

From there it was the scenic drive back to Kingston and onward to an evening with Ron and Gussie Good, the MCC leaders for Jamaica.

April 29th

Yesterday was at a nice slow pace for a change. I slept in and took my time getting ready until about mid-morning. Then Sib (Paul's wife) came to pick me up for some shopping, lunch and a lot of visiting.

It was nice spending some time getting to know Sib and hearing about her life. It was also very relaxing time.

After our afternoon of visiting the boys came home from work and talked shop for the next hour or so. Having already heard from Sib earlier about the dynamics of some of the working relationships I had a better insight into what was going on.

After an interesting dinner of rice and ants at Brendan's apartment it was off to Waterloo Mennonite for youth night. This was a disorganized affair that didn't have much meaning for me. It was fun fellowship though.

April 30th

Yesterday was an early start to a long day. We (every Kingston Salter minus Katrine) drove two hours out to Portland. There we disembarked from the vehicle to beat it out on our own two legs. On foot we hiked along the Foxes River to the Rio Grande (Jamaica has its own Rio Grande).

It was a great hike. Wonderful scenery, nice weather (at first) and some spectacular views of waterfalls and caves.

The hike back was fine, but we were dealing with the rain. It was still raining when we arrived back at the car and this was where we had wanted to change into our dry clothes. Changing back an operation of taking turns in the car. Eventually we were all dry and on our way back to Kingston.

On the way back we stopped for some jerk in Buffs Bay and took it to a Salter's home for a meal. Nick was the Salter and we had a nice visit until it was time to continue along home.

Exhausted we climbed into our respective beds and fell right to sleep. Well, actually not before some of us girls walked to Devon House for ice cream and girl talk. My flavor was a delicious pineapple.

May 1st

Yesterday I went to Church at Waterloo Mennonite for their regular Sunday service. Much could be said to describe the experience, yet I could sum it up in three words, "It was different."

After Church Brendan came by to take Diana and I up to Blue Mountain to meet Ben and go hiking. We had a wonderful romp in the woods and then it was back down to Irish Town (where Ben lives and serves as a Salter). We ate dinner there and was able to spend some quality time climbing trees and visiting.

May 2nd

Yesterday was an early start. First meeting Ben and then traveling to the August Town primary school where he volunteers. There I saw what I consider the saddest, most depressing conditions (it just broke my heart).

First off I noticed the structure of the school. It was set up with several grades in one building the only thing separating the levels was chalkboards (the teachers though seem to have learned to teach around the noise level created by so many people in one open building). The noise could be absolutely deafening and made me wonder how these children ever were able to concentrate (again I think the children have adapted to concentrating in loud environments).

Next I was shocked to learn of the lack of reading comprehension in most children. I met a fourth grade (grade four) girl who certainly couldn't pronounce the words. In fact in some cases she couldn't spell the words. She simply wasn't comfortable with the alphabet. For awhile I sat there watching Ben work with her and tears just stung my eyes.

I was remembering all the wonderful chapter books I could read at her age. I use to come home from school and lie on the couch in our company room and just read. It was such a wonderful pleasure for me. New worlds and opportunities opened for me when I read. My heart longs for this little girl to experience the same joy from reading.

Next Brendan and I traveled over to the Jamaicans For Justice center where Diana works. We visited a boy's school with Diana to talk on human rights (Diana did the talking, Brendan and I just listened).

Shortly before visiting the boy's school with Diana, Brendan and I stopped for lunch at a Tastees. It was there that we met Elders Hansen and Redd, two missionaries with the LDS Church.

These missionaries gave me an insight into the LDS Church here in Jamaica. I learned that the LDS Church in Jamaica is quite small in numbers.

Both of these Elders were from Salt Lake City. At first they were pretty friendly towards me, but their attitude changed somewhat when they learned I was not LDS myself.

In the evening Brendan and I included ourselves in a MCC event over at Ron and Gussie Good's home. There we met a former missionary family that had served over a decade before in Jamaica.

After dinner it was back to Brendan's apartment complex to visit with Paul and Sib. Sib had recently bought their Moses Basket that they'll be using as the baby's crib (atleast for the first few months). We talked over some ideas for bedding the basket which will be quite a job.

Awhile later we traveled down to the Salt house where we had a spur of the moment "dance party". In all it was a very late night.

May 3rd

Yesterday was the nice long drive from Kingston up to Montego Bay. Brendan and I definitely took the scenic route and had a lot of fun along the way.

Once in Montego Bay we had some time to kill before Robert and Lois Wenger's plane arrived (they were coming back to Jamaica from a visit home stateside and we were picking them up at the airport).

First off we found a post office to mail a letter to Jewel. Then we went out looking for CUMI (a home for the mentally ill) where Sarah one of the Salters is serving. It was nice meeting Sarah, but it was a rather short visit.

With more time yet it was off to get some lunch and do some shopping. Taking Brendan shopping is quite an experience. I was a little surprised by how comfortable he was with the amount of shopping we did (he never took me as someone who would like spending that much time in stores). At one point I was even laughing on the inside because I deliberately got him to hold my purse for me...hehe (how cliche).

Finally it was time to pick up Robert and Lois and take them to the YWAM center for the night. In the end we all ended up staying at the center meeting Kenny and Stephanie Stoner (grounds leaders).

After a nice dinner at The Native we went back to YWAM center and had a visit with the Stoners. It was great to hear how the Lord's been using this ministry to bless Jamaicans and other nations as well.

May 4th

Yesterday was the day I left Jamaica. But before my plane left I still had the morning to spend with Brendan, Robert and Lois. It was nice spending time with my Christian brothers and sisters.

Then it was off to the airport and on my way back to Utah.