St. Bess - The Return

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return



I do not have a "green thumb", but I have tremendous appreciation for floral beauty.






I always wondered if I could drive one of these things on the very narrow "roadways" leading to and from the Falls
It seems fairly easy, but things are not always as easy as they seem.


We could have stayed longer, but the clock was ticking and we had to get some rest before service that night. Coming back to YS Falls had been great, and once again it reminded me of how blessed we were as a country with all this natural beauty. If only the politicians could get their act together, and along with the people, find ways to effectively tackle some of the more pressing social/national concerns, this piece of rock, Jamrock, would definitely be the jewel of the West Indies.

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

As we headed out, with the newbies raving about their Falls experience, I became acutely aware that it was time to eat ! Some of you may recall that hunger and I do not exist together very well, so Mark agreed to take us to a spot he knew. On the way there...

Going through Middle Quarters, peppered shrimp! At J$250 per bag, they were great


A farmer's bicycle?


The guy who owned this shop had to give his permission for the pic to be taken.


We stopped here, but food prices were a bit higher than they were in Black River. We quickly figured we would rather keep any extra money for the people we met that needed it, so we would go to Black River. My stomach rebelled, but I agreed.


Right across from the Bridge House


I really liked this, and the color was perfect!


Once we got into Black River, and back to the restaurant we had eaten after the Safari experience, we hustled back to the hotel, with only 90 minutes to spare before we had to leave for the tent. I figured we would be running a bit late, but was rather impressed that when I got downstairs, the ladies were all ready to go. They said they can get ready fast if/when they wanted to. I believed it was pretty close to a being a 'miracle'

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<span style="font-style: italic">More ministry reflections...</span>

I saw her as soon as I entered the church. We had arrived early, and she was one of two persons already there. I was pleasantly surprised that this young girl would be there so early, when some adults tend to walk into churches long after the first song was sung. We exchanged greetings. They were still working on the church building, and some of the windows were still not in. I watched her as she got a dust rag and went about dusting the benches and the podium. Cultured to my North American way of life, and our church having a contract with a company for it's cleaning, I had forgotten all about this side of worship. She wasn't going to wait for someone else to do it, and I'm sure as the members came in later to the now clean benches, they wouldn't have known she had dusted them. To her, it didn't matter. Finally, as the service started, and progressed through the preliminaries, I watched her participation. For whatever reasons, she stood out like a black spot on a white sheet.

At the end of the service, she came over and handed me a drink, and we chatted. She was 15 years old and her birthday was one day after mine. I told her, and she giggled. I asked if her mother was in the service. &quot;No sir&quot;, she replied, &quot;ma mother backslide and ma father him don't come to church.&quot; I thought she resembled one of the ladies in the front, and asked if they were related. It was her aunt. As there was a youth camp starting the following week, I asked if she was going. &quot;No sir&quot;, she replied. <span style="font-style: italic">I thought if it was a case of lack of finances, I would talk to the Pastor and make sure her camp fee was taken care of. I believe every kid should get a chance to attend church camp!</span> When I asked why, she smiled and said rather shyly, &quot;Is only pure boys from here that is going, and a don't know them too well.&quot; I reminded her that girls her age would be there as well as it was all the churches coming together. &quot;A know sir, but a still don't feel comfortable. But a plan to go next year.&quot; Such a sweet soul.

We were in Fort Charles, and she attended school in Black River. We talked about school, and some of the challenges she was experiencing. My heart went out to her, as upon reflection, I could relate to some of her struggles. I told her I wanted to help her but needed to speak with an adult to make sure it was OK, so I asked to speak with her aunt. Once that conversation started, and I mentioned what I had in mind, the aunt smiled. I was perplexed. Taking my hand in hers she said, &quot;Knowing w'at's going awn in our family right now, it must be God who tell you to do w'at you're doing.&quot; We arranged for her neice to get me the contact information, and I intend to follow through on my promise.

To be 15, now 16, and living with parents who are not christians is not the easiest thing in the world. I would think it's even harder for a girl. But here she was, baptized at age 14, and still standing tall for what she believed in.

This kid was special, and I'll stay in touch with her and her aunt. One way or another, I would do my part to make sure she was taken care of. God had showed her to me; it was the least that I could do.

[Shezuk]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

CEW
I finally caught up and I love your report and pictures.

Black River is my uncle's favorite place in Jamaica. That is where he got married.

[Laurel]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

bless your heart CEW .... &amp; nuff

[CurtisD]

Re: St. Bess - The Return


Hello CEW,

Once again I have to thank you for sharing all these lovely photographs.

Your writing ability can be compared with the best of them.
Even Ernest Hemmingway would be proud of you.

Hemmingway wrote about the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain
and brought the attention of this major event to the rest of the world.

The number of visitors grew from a few dozen brave runners
To the now millions of brave visitors who have ventured
into Pamplona at sometime in their lives.

I am sure that it will not be long before thousands of visitors to our
island shores will want to get out of their A/I resorts and get out
into the Jamaica that we know and that you so kindly share with us.

At the same time these visitors will want to become involved in the Church
and charity organizations that help out so many rural areas and their people.

The detail in your words helps to demonstrate the good person that you are.

<span style="font-weight: bold">“This kid was special, and I'll stay in touch with her and her aunt.
One way or another, I would do my part
to make sure she was taken care of.
God had showed her to me;
it was the least that I could do.”</span>

Congratulations mi fren, C “Ernest” W.

[CurtisD]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

These sentences all have a deep and special significance.

<span style="font-weight: bold">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.

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, &quot;If mi did kno' seh a suh Jezzas sweet,
mi wudn't stay in di wurl suh long!&quot;

But what was initially seen as a disappointment
turned out to have a much greater purpose.

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.

Yeah, this was Jamaica.
Having lived away for almost 20 years,
it's funny how much we forget
until we have reasons to remember.</span>

[ColeS]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

CEW,


Even without the photos I am there with you.
Your writing alone has the ability to take you not just in the story but in the lives of the characters.
I know the mission was a blessing to JA, but I know you must feel how blessed you are with what you have taken away in your heart and your soul.

Thank you for sharing.

PS - the pictures ARE beautiful though

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shezuk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CEW
I finally caught up and I love your report and pictures.

Black River is my uncle's favorite place in Jamaica. That is where he got married. </div></div>
Thanks much. I sure hope you can stay around for the rest of it.

As for Black River, I liked what I saw of it, especially the fact that for the first time in years, I managed to find me some grapenut icecream (my favorite) in a restaurant there

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Laurel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">bless your heart CEW .... &amp; nuff </div></div>
Awwww...thank you

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<span style="font-weight: bold">CurtisD:</span> How are you doing, my friend? Good to see you, and thanks as always for your kind words. Jamaica has its issues, but instead of cursing the darkness, if those of us who are able to, were to take the time to light a candle in whatever corner we find ourselves, we would be surprised at how much of a blessing we can be to others. In our own way, every single one of us can make a difference in the life of at least one person.

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

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


Even without the photos I am there with you.
Your writing alone has the ability to take you not just in the story but in the lives of the characters.
I know the mission was a blessing to JA, but I know you must feel how blessed you are with what you have taken away in your heart and your soul.

Thank you for sharing.

PS - the pictures ARE beautiful though </div></div>
Thank you for taking the time to keep my company on this journey. That you're enjoying the report, and living in the shared moments, is the highest compliment. In some ways I've started to think that this time around, I didn't choose the mission but that the mission chose me. What I came away with was far more than I could have imagined, and I'm very blessed - and privileged - to have been a part of the experience.

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

Friday Morning! Time flies when you're having fun. Last night under the tent, and none of us was looking forward to it. As a matter of fact, we didn't talk about it as if by not doing so, we could prevent the inevitable.

First things first though. Mark's wife was not well, and we had previously agreed to visit with her by their home in Top Hill this morning. He had to go to Montego Bay, so he arranged for one of his neighbours to drive us. It was a beautiful day, and we had a wonderful time of prayer and fellowship with her. Standing in the open yard, a couple of things caught my eye:



One of the new houses in the area


What was once a hillside with trees was now dotted with houses

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

On the drive back to the hotel, the newbies again 'stole' the moment. They wanted to stop at <span style="font-style: italic">Lovers' Leap</span>, and I decided that while they did their thing, I would check out the restaurant. What would one expect to find in a restaurant at a place like this? And oh yeah, unlike in '07 when it was free, they were now charging J$100 to go check out the view. The inside pics were taken with the permission of the person in charge that day.

Walking from the parking lot




From the plantation days




Weddings receptions are inevitable at Lovers' Leap

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

Another view...


I would want to sit here...