We just returned from an amazing week in Jamaica. Prior to that, Carol had spent a week with her 96 year old father as he underwent colon cancer surgery.
We're happy to report that he is now home, on his own, and recuperating nicely. He really is an amazing guy!
The week in Jamaica was primarily to support a 24 hour pastor's conference. There were 30 of us in the conference and the pastors and church leaders were from a variety of denominations in the St. Mary's province of Jamaica. It is located some 3 hours from the Montego Bay airport, way up in the hills, and at a lovely conference center run by CSI (Christian Service International). High Gate, the primary town of St. Mary's is a pretty rough place - - more on that in a minute.
The CSI facility is a secure, gated facility on a mountain top with guard dogs at night and some of the most beautiful views and flowers you can imagine.
The outside chapel overlooks the ocean to the east so the early morning sunrises are really inspiring!
The other side of the property overlooks a lovely, panoramic view of the Jamaican blue mountains.
The facility and property were given to the mission group years ago in hopes of making a difference in this community. The flowers here are really quite amazing.
Every morning and every evening, the team had devotions in the outside chapel. Jim had the privilege of leading the worship music.
We had an excellent local cook, Pinto and her helper, Devin, who provided great food for both the team and the conference.
Here are some pictures of the area in and around the High Gate and the Anotto Bay area to give you a sense of the area. Homes are tucked back in the jungle all over. Sometimes you have to look closely to even see them.
Our first full day in Jamaica, Jim and Norm Snyder, a pastor form the Kokomo area, went some 45 minutes into the hills to wire a home that CSI had built for a single mother and her son. Carol went with some of the other team members to paint a home for Devin and his family. He is the CSI facility assistant cook.
The 24 hour event was well received by the pastors and leaders. To a person, they really appreciated this special time away from the world. They bonded with their peers and, in some cases, had some life changing experiences and encounters.
This is a picture of Jim talking to some of the pastors in the chapel.
The pastors left on Saturday early afternoon. Sunday, the team had an opportunity to attend the church of one of the pastors who had attended the retreat.
After that, we drove about 45 minutes to the coast for lunch on a sea wall and then some sight seeing along the coast. The lunch was cooked over an open charcoal grill in the blue & yellow building.
Though it took us 2 full days to get from the boat to Jamaica, each way, we both agree that it was worth it to be able to minister to these men and women of God who give so sacrificially of themselves to try to make a difference in their community!
We will be in our marina for a couple of more days while we wait on the wind to lay down a little bit. It will give us some time to get laundry done and some groceries to prepare us for our next few weeks on the water.
We'll let you know when we are back on the water again!
