Wednesday morning we were back at the worksite cementing! Anyone who's been here at all this summer would be amazed at the amount of work that's been accomplished. At some point in the morning, Dusty called me over to have a meeting in his office. His office being the cinder block located conveniently beneath a coconut tree. :o) Turns out, after making a few calls we have Jim and Betty's church coming in this weekend with funds to build 3 houses. They agreed that one of the houses could be the first room of the new school. That means we break ground on MONDAY!!!!! I am so excited that I've been able to be a part of God's plan for this- it's unbelievable to see the love behind everything that's being done. Workey's already been at the site getting the foundation ready and we'll be digging the pit for the septic tank asap. Along with that news, we've had many individuals from teams who have fallen in love with the children here and want to get involved with the sponsorship program (yes, its now a program) which we've named IsleGRO. :-D More information will be up on IsleGo's website but we're setting up with our partners here in order to have pictures, a brief biography and regular updates which will keep you updated on their progress throughout the year. I can't wait to see where He takes this...
Wednesday afternoon I went back to the infirmary and it was another heart warming experience. I can't even explain the joy I'm filled with when I leave that place. To see the growth God's given me over the past few weeks and to go from being terrified of the infirmary to being ecstatic when it's my day to go. Even the processing we do with the group is amazing. We prepare them for the things they'll see, pray for the power to handle it and then reflect afterwards. When we walked in, I always go straight for the mens ward where I'm greeted with HUGE smiles and hugs. Donovan, Dolores & Lauren are always in the same spot against the wall and are excited for visitors. After saying hi and having my intake of love for the century, I went off to look for Ryan. He wasn't in his bed, wasn't in the back rooms and wasn't in the community room. I went back to see Roland and there Ryan was laughing at me cause he heard I was circling the infirmary looking for him while he was circling looking for me! We went back to his bed and as usual talked and talked and talked. He asked if I could figure out the dictionary function on his computer and without internet there's no dictionary. After 20 minutes of searching, he finally pulled out a notebook from under his chair and said "maybe you could help me." He had written down 20-30 words that he'd heard or read and wanted to know the meaning of. He told me part of his story and talked about how badly he wants to go to college. My heart broke a little more with each part of the story he told. It absolutely kills me to know he's in there doing everything he can to learn when many of us take education for granted. I asked him what they feed them in there and he went on to say the food isn't very good but if he can "beg money" he can get a "box lunch" which is a little better. They're around $200 Jamaican dollars (or around $3US dollars) for some rice & jerk chicken. He had some hidden under his pillow and when he took it out to show me there were ants all over the box. He didn't think anything of it and wiped them off before putting it back under the pillow. I don't know what I can do but I'd do anything to get him out of that infirmary. He needs a hope that he doesn't have right now. Please pray for him.
Thursday morning I went up to Steer Town to help paint the windows at the church. Most of the team worked inside the church so I went out back and used the ladder to reach the higher windows. I can't think of a more peaceful place besides the picnic tables at the falls! I had the most beautiful breeze, music & painting is SO therapeutic. We finished early so we were able t spend time with Uncle, Pastor Edwards & Daphnie. I've mentioned it before but there's nothing better than really getting to know somebody that you've "known" for years. Daphnie and I sat and talked for over an hour and she is truly amazing! She sat and listened to me explain the sponsorship program and immediately ran up to show us the uniforms she's been working on sewing at the center. She suggested we just buy fabric to have her sew for us. How awesome!
Thursday afternoon was another food basket day. We went shopping in St. Ann's again and delivered baskets in Seville Heights. It's great having so much time in the community because now we can walk down the street and know everybody by name. The two houses we went to were the parents of the children we've been playing with at the worksite. I would love to start a food basket ministry in the states.... hmmmm...
Thursday night was CHWC's "Four Corners" night which is usually a really emotional time for all of the kids. It's full of prayer and I've never heard of anyone walking away without seeing God somewhere. I laid on the couch and listened to the praise and worship all night. I absolutely love praise & worship and could have laid, sang and prayed there forever. It's even more spiritual knowing you're on an island working with a group of people who have molded together over the week while listening to the tree frogs and looking at stars that look like they could be touched they're so bright.
Today was the free day and it was the first day where it rained alllll day. Corinne, Chelle and I had our nail appointment this morning. $11 for a pedicure isn't beatable and it is the best pedicure in the world! After pedis, we went for limeades and to the Ruins for lunch with Ralph. The Ruins is a restaurant that's directly behind Dunns River Falls so you're eating surrounded by waterfalls. It's a buffet style restaurant and it is phenomenal. We spent hours laughing and talking endlessly. Being in Jamaica alone makes me happy but to be here with such good friends (and meeting new friends every day) makes it even more amazing. I am truly, truly blessed.
I took the afternoon off today and spent it cuddled up in bed. I left the room only to get tea and talk to the team after their evening service. We talked about the post missions depression, the work they've done, the people they've touched, the people who have touched them and the "what's next" for their lives. This team has been wonderful beyond words. They all came from different parts of the country- some alone, others in small groups, others with their youth groups and even a mother/daughter group. Throughout the week I don't know that I've ever seen a team mend together and really become "one." Not only that but I can't tell you one negative thing I heard all week. Everybody was enthusiastic, positive, loving and open to anything they were doing. I have heard the words "my life has changed forever" more out of a group in all of the years I've been here. The group bought a photo album and they each wrote a "thank you" note on the pages. There were some pretty powerful testimonies of the week and it made me feel even more blessed to be a part of it. This is yet another group that will be really hard to say bye to in the morning.
Bed time for this girl. I can't believe it's my last week here... :*(
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