St. Bess - The Return

[Sugar Shug]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"><span style="font-size: 11pt">I love your sister's house. She has a wonderful eye for color and style

Peace and Blessings </span></span>

[Laurel]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

nuff nice for sure!!!

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

Wednesday. My AA flight was scheduled to leave at 3:30 p.m., and with a changeover in Miami, I was scheduled to be in Toronto sometime after 11:00 p.m. A few phone calls to make, goodbyes to say, and before I knew it, the morning had gone like &quot;Sammy's mouth&quot; as my Mom would say. I have no idea who Sammy was, or why his mouth came into play with regards to time, but hey, this was Jamaica and our people had all kinds of sayings that would cause many bright minds to scratch their heads.

We left out at about 12:30, and thank God, got to the airport without incident. Sis had called earlier to say I was to checkin at the business counter, giving me the name of an AA manager if anyone had a problem with my doing so. The lady didn't, and checkin went smoothly.

At the airport at that time were the Reggae Boyz, and what caught my attention was that though they were clearly going to represent their country, no special checkin privileges were extended to them The coaches were obviously flying business class, but there were the other guys, pulling their own luggages, and standing in economy lines, vieing for the next available agent, just like everybody else. IMO, something is wrong with that For sure there could have been an agent or two 'dedicated' to processing our Boyz. I'm not sure why the coaches would be flying business class either. Why not fly together as a team - all in business or all in economy? Anyways, let get off my soapbox on that issue .

Sis had a board meeting that morning but caught up with me in the lounge. We killed time talking about all and sundry, and we had lots of time; the flight from Miami was an hour late coming in. When all was said and done, total delay was closer to two hours. I was quite impressed with the airport improvements; still some way to go, but finally looking like an international airport . And the prices in the Food Court also &quot;improved&quot;! One Juici Patty was J$65 on the outside, inside it was J$125. I guess rental, etc., must be high...

Finally, time to board. As we got to the gate, I noticed a security lady just past the ticket/boarding pass counter arbitrarily taking individuals out of the line and checking hand luggages. Does anyone have any idea why they do this? Didn't those things go through security (xray) inspection when we checked in? We were already a couple hours behind, now less than 10 meters from going into the aircraft, and they're checking hand luggages? Anyways, Sis and I said our goodbyes, and the security lady and I eyes 'made four'. She looked me over, but apparently decided I wasn't worth stopping A step or two later, the dreaded tap on the shoulder! I looked at her and she said, &quot;Di gentleman at di desk call you.&quot; I thought, &quot;What now? Lord, I just want to go home.&quot; He asked me for my ticket, checked his computer, crossed out my assigned seat number, and smiling handed it back to me, pointing to what he had written. I looked at it, smiled and thanked him.

Got on the plane, and as I was about to put my hand luggage in the overhead bin, the male attendant graciously said, &quot;I'll do that for you, sir.&quot; Sweet. In my polo shirt, walking shorts, and Nike slippers, I settled into the upgraded seat - &quot;3B&quot;, business class. God was good.

<span style="font-style: italic">I'm starving, so final reflections later...</span>

[Nylah]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<span style="font-weight: bold">weet. In my polo shirt, walking shorts, and Nike slippers, I settled into the upgraded seat - &quot;3B&quot;, business class. God was good.</span>

this made me buss out laughing

Business class is the bomb

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">weet. In my polo shirt, walking shorts, and Nike slippers, I settled into the upgraded seat - &quot;3B&quot;, business class. God was good.</span>

this made me buss out laughing

Business class is the bomb </div></div>
Sure is. I've done it before, but for sure it was sweet obtaining God's favor

[QK13]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

Your sister's children are gorgeous!!

Thanks for a great report and beautiful photos!!

[Sharleen]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

CEW, I don't come on-line too much except for the really COLD months in upstate NY, I forwarded your report to Jamaican friends in my area from the St. Bess region, knowing they would love to read it.
You have a great writing style.. straight from the heart. I travel to your country often and spend as little as I possibly can on accomodations and meals so that I can pass some money onto some of the good.. good.. good.. hearted people who need some extra dollars, whether Christian or Rastafari, but always in the more elderly category of persons.
I first traveled to your blessed country in 1972 and have loved it ever since my first trip. Back in those times, the safest place for a young lady to live was in a ministers house (my first place of residence in year one of living in Jamaica). I remember one time, way back in those times, when a Jamaican funeral/grieving process was taking place next door. Lots of rum drinking and banging on pots really loud to &quot;chase the duppies away&quot; and in conversation with my minister landlord, and telling him what we do in the US/Can when a loved one died... he thought it was as unbelievably strange as I thought the all night... two night... chase the duppies away service was.
Bless up to you and your fellow church people. I haven't looked on this site for months, but checked in today because I wanted to check out a report of this nice lady &quot;Sister Love&quot; being hit by an automobile&quot;...
And for any other readers/posters on this site... sometimes if you can just spend <span style="font-weight: bold">less on your meals and accomodations</span>.. during your trip to Jamaica, and give away some of your $$$'s to people who, even $25.00 US/CAN or less would help them immensely.... HUGELY... even things like school supplies, pencils, pens, flashlights and batteries.. or to give the person in charge of cleaning your room $$$ for his/her childs mandated school uniform for the year.

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sugar Shug</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"><span style="font-size: 11pt">I love your sister's house. She has a wonderful eye for color and style

Peace and Blessings </span></span> </div></div>
Thanks, Sugar. Her abilities in transforming a home is all natural, and I've told her many times that she should consider a side job as an Interior Decorator or as a 'Consultant'. You would not believe when we were kids, she avoided anything to do with the house, including the domestics!

Blessings to you and yours as well.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Laurel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">nuff nice for sure!!! </div></div>
Thanks much

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q.K</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Your sister's children are gorgeous!!

Thanks for a great report and beautiful photos!! </div></div>
Thanks much, and the pleasure is mine. I appreciate your tagging along

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sharleen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CEW, I don't come on-line too much except for the really COLD months in upstate NY, I forwarded your report to Jamaican friends in my area from the St. Bess region, knowing they would love to read it.
You have a great writing style.. straight from the heart. I travel to your country often and spend as little as I possibly can on accomodations and meals so that I can pass some money onto some of the good.. good.. good.. hearted people who need some extra dollars, whether Christian or Rastafari, but always in the more elderly category of persons.
I first traveled to your blessed country in 1972 and have loved it ever since my first trip. Back in those times, the safest place for a young lady to live was in a ministers house (my first place of residence in year one of living in Jamaica). I remember one time, way back in those times, when a Jamaican funeral/grieving process was taking place next door. Lots of rum drinking and banging on pots really loud to &quot;chase the duppies away&quot; and in conversation with my minister landlord, and telling him what we do in the US/Can when a loved one died... he thought it was as unbelievably strange as I thought the all night... two night... chase the duppies away service was.
Bless up to you and your fellow church people. I haven't looked on this site for months, but checked in today because I wanted to check out a report of this nice lady &quot;Sister Love&quot; being hit by an automobile&quot;...
And for any other readers/posters on this site... sometimes if you can just spend <span style="font-weight: bold">less on your meals and accomodations</span>.. during your trip to Jamaica, and give away some of your $$$'s to people who, even $25.00 US/CAN or less would help them immensely.... HUGELY... even things like school supplies, pencils, pens, flashlights and batteries.. or to give the person in charge of cleaning your room $$$ for his/her childs mandated school uniform for the year. </div></div>
Thanks, Sharleen. Good to have you sharing in my reflections, and I'm flattered you have taken the time to pass it along to some of your friends. Regarding visitors helping the locals, your sentiments are well expressed and I agree with them wholeheartedly. There is a sense of satisfaction that comes from the experience of making a difference in a person's life that cannot be compared with anything else, and I think God made it that way to remind us that we are indeed our brother's keeper. Bless you for your efforts in that regard, and may the seeds you sow in the lives of others return to you in ways that are immeasurable.

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<span style="font-style: italic">Final Reflections...</span>

Another year had passed, another mission trip had ended. As we flew to Miami, and in the quietness of my own thoughts, I thought of what a week it was. There was never a dull moment. How could there be when one was engaged in the things of God? I smiled at memories of the testimonies heard, and the passion with which some of them were shared. I thought of the people's passion for worship, and how much I yearned for the simpleness with which they approached it. The steadfastness of their faith, in the face of the various challenging circumstances they faced every day, was a thing to be admired.

Different people stood out in my mind for different reasons. Roy, who passed away four days after we met him but who was able to experience the love, grace, and forgiveness of God before he did. Tyrone, still standing strong and as committed to God and family as anyone could be. The 16-year old young lady I met, the only Christian in her family, and so determined to stay the course. Mark, our driver, who probably barely broke even with all he did and the rate he charged us, but who was convinced it didn't matter because God has never failed him and so his blessings would continue. There were many others, some whose names I did not know but whose faces were etched in my mind for one reason or another.

Earlier in the week I had felt that while we came to serve/help them, they were the ones who had served/helped us. In a lot of ways I/we had seen God through their eyes, and that only complemented my own ways of seeing Him. Without doubt, it had been a very fulfilling week, and it reaffirmed in my mind the conviction that this kind of involvement was not just an integral part of who I am, but it was who I am. I reaffirmed that in as much as I loved my secular job and the satisfaction experienced from doing it well, it could never come close to what I felt being a small part of what God was doing in people's lives.

And so as we prepared to land, in my heart I &quot;signed&quot; up for whatever and wherever the next mission experience might be. Sure there are other personal things to be accomplished in '09 that I was most definitely looking forward to, but missions was a part of my purpose. God willing, all the other things would fall into place around it.

Blessings...

[Schuttzie]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

CEW, May God bless you for your wonderful kind, generous nature! Thank you so much for you beautiful thoughts in writing and wonderful pictures. We hope to make a difference, too, someday when we retire and can devote full attention to what God has in store for us to do.

God Bless!

[churchgirl]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

CEW, excellent, excellent, excellent! You toyed with my every emotions. Your words and pictures held me captive and took me on the journey with you. I felt your emotions, from laughter at the way the testimonies were conveyed to your disappointment upon reaching Coyaba Gardens and learning of its closure.

It's just simply amazing and quite funny at times how God just does His thing. You go with the intention of being a blessing, which you were, BUT, were blessed even the more by the same whom you intended on blessing. God is truly God.

J's girls are just beautiful and I love what P did with the new house.

Thank you sir for taking the time to bring us along on your journey. I'm looking forward to '09

[Nylah]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<span style="font-weight: bold"> The 16-year old young lady I met, the only Christian in her family</span>


it would be nice to hear about how this young lady is doing from time to time

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schuttzie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CEW, May God bless you for your wonderful kind, generous nature! Thank you so much for you beautiful thoughts in writing and wonderful pictures. We hope to make a difference, too, someday when we retire and can devote full attention to what God has in store for us to do.

God Bless! </div></div>
Thanks, Schuttzie. Sharing the journey was great, but having you and all the others tagging along was one better. And please, no need to wait until retirement to start making a difference; every time you &quot;light a candle&quot; to brighten somebody's life, you are making that difference.