St. Bess - The Return

**Diplomat** · 07-31-2008, 11:09 AM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jamaica Miss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I got tears in my eyes about the people you administered to. God bless you.

The food pics are driving me crazy. I have to wait almost 2 months before I return to taste the Jamaican goodness. I will have to try the beetroot juice. When I first bought beets at the store and brought them home, Ted asked me what I was going to do with them. As in my family tradition I was going to cook them and eat them as a vegetable. He thought that was funny since Jamaicans only use the juice. </div></div>
Reliving the ministry experiences has been a tad emotional for me as well, but as I look back I have to admit that the week in Lititz was one of the most fulfilling in my life so far. I struggle in my attempts to put it into words.

I'm familiar with beetroots in carrot juice, but have never had it cooked or drank the juice by itself. You definitely should give the latter a try, without milk of course

**Shezuk** · 07-31-2008, 02:14 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

Cew
I haven't started reading your report yet. I've just glanced over some of the pictures and I am loving them.

Let me get started on reading your report.

**Sinco01** · 07-31-2008, 02:14 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SweetSsop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CEW loving the report
but kayful mi mite hafi sue you fe a laff afta mi parish people dem enno

at lease u never hera dis testimony
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">wen i memba what I are and wat I use to was it makes me weep a bitter wept </div></div> </div></div>

there is an ending to this ..

anyone remember ..

**Sinco01** · 07-31-2008, 02:40 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

These pictures are breathtaking ..

i was about to say something about my mouth open involuntarily ..

when i remember the good ole jamaican ..

<span style="font-weight: bold">mek mi jaw drop .. </span>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

It was spacious and conducive to socializing.

From the main floor balcony

A wall of blue. As far as the eyes could see, we could not make out the horizon.

Alpart shipping port (bauxite) to the right

Loved the velcro touch; maybe only in Jamaica
</div></div>

**Kayce72** · 07-31-2008, 02:59 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

Cew, thanks for a spectacular report. The pictures are breath taking and colorful. Reminds me of the wonders of the home parish. Its also great to note that Tyrone is doing well, i remember him from you previous report.

God is all together lovely...always has an "expected end" in mind to our setbacks.

**Diplomat** · 07-31-2008, 03:06 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shezuk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cew
I haven't started reading your report yet. I've just glanced over some of the pictures and I am loving them.

Let me get started on reading your report. </div></div>
Thanks for dropping by. I hope you have as much fun reading as I'm having remembering.

**Diplomat** · 07-31-2008, 03:15 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kayce72</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cew, thanks for a spectacular report. The pictures are breath taking and colorful. Reminds me of the wonders of the home parish. Its also great to note that Tyrone is doing well, i remember him from you previous report.

God is all together lovely...always has an "expected end" in mind to our setbacks. </div></div>
Good to see you and thanks for dropping in. I'm glad you're enjoying this report as well. Isn't it great to know that what we perceive as setbacks are often His ways of working out His purpose?

**Diplomat** · 07-31-2008, 03:18 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sinco01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">These pictures are breathtaking ..

i was about to say something about my mouth open involuntarily ..

when i remember the good ole jamaican ..

<span style="font-weight: bold">mek mi jaw drop .. </span></div></div>
Thanks much; I had a lot of fun taking them.

**Diplomat** · 07-31-2008, 03:31 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

As I only post pictures from home, I have time during the work-day for some more reflections. The mission trip was the primary reason for being in JA, and it feels right that I share different aspects of that side as well. Again, feel free to skip over them if you're so inclined.

On the 30-minute drive back to the hotel after services, there were times we were lost in our own thoughts. Years ago I dropped out of the rat race and asked God to slow me down so I wouldn't miss the simple things in life, or the things He was doing around me. I relish quiet times, and so for me these moments were priceless as they allowed me lots of opportunities to reflect.

As mentioned before, some of the testimonies we heard were tremendous. In publicly reliving those moments, I'm not making fun of the individuals because I have the utmost respect for them, their passion, and sincerity. I wish we had that same passion in some of our churches. For me it was going back to my roots; being able to share in the experiences and be reminded of what I was accustomed to, and to a large degree, what I was missing. In North America we talk about faith, but here they lived it. Here we get wrapped up in theologies and denominationalism, but there they boasted about their relationship with 'fi dem Jeezas', and the experiences they have had with Him in their journeys. As one lady said, "If mi did kno' seh a suh Jezzas sweet, mi wudn't stay in di wurl suh long!" How does one top that? IMO, that is why despite all the challenges, Jamaica will always remain a "christian country"; belief in God is an integral part of our people's experiences, and one deeply embedded in our collective psyche.

Some of what they shared during the services would lose its dynamism, its color, its flair, if someone tried to repeat it in standard English, because dynamism, color, and flair are all part of the Jamaican worship experience. Things doesn't have to be perfect, and whether a person was leading the service, or taking up the offering, it didn't matter if one could read and write, or had any formal education. I'm reminded of being in a service some years ago and sat behind an elderly lady who was singing 'her heart' out, but when I looked over at her, she had her hymnal turned upsided down. I smiled, but it really didn't matter. I don't think God cared which direction her hymn book was turned, I had to believe He was admiring what was in her heart.

For our non-Jamaican team members, especially one visiting for the first time, the flair and dynamism were quite the challenge because while we howled in laughter at times, they smiled or laughed politely, but someone had to "translate" for them. How do you put "Pastor, God damn good to hell yu nuh" in the Queen's English and retain the emotions of the speaker? It is impossible! But mix and mingle they did, picking up patois words here and there. In a community of believers, there is much we have in common, not the least of which was that despite differences in things like skin color, culture, and language, we were brothers and sisters first and foremost. Christ had joined us together in Him, and as such, those other things didn't really matter

We had come to help/serve them, but from somewhere deep inside I felt they were helping/serving us. There was much we could learn from them.

**nattydreadgirl** · 07-31-2008, 03:54 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

(((CEW))) I absolutely love your reflections, they take me to a quiet place in my own spirit!

**Stormmey** · 07-31-2008, 04:54 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

CEW!! your reflections carry quite a whallop

**Stormmey** · 07-31-2008, 05:13 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

....and that oxtail wid the likkle flat bean is driving me crazy

**Laurel** · 07-31-2008, 05:30 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">AMEN!!! </span>

**evanovitch** · 07-31-2008, 09:00 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

CEW absolutely loving ur journey n u sharing of said....nuff respeck star...nuffff respeck

**Q3210** · 07-31-2008, 09:07 PM

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stormmey1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">....and that oxtail wid the likkle flat bean is driving me crazy </div></div>

Actually its called broad beans.

St. Bess - The Return

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