St. Bess - The Return

[DC]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'll have to post pics from home, but in the interim, I'm taking a detour from our day activities to share a bit of the church side of things. As some of you know, for me there's nothing quite like a worship service in Jamaica. The North American experience in its air-conditioned buildings, soft padded chairs, overhead projectors, professional sound boards, expensive musical instruments, and everything else, seem to often pale in comparison to the sounds of tambourines, guitars, drums, hand clapping, foot stomping, and the occasional off-key singing coming from the worship leaders. There is a richness in the worship that not only fills the soul, but is very hard to explain.

Regardless of their station in life, these people loved to worship. <span style="font-weight: bold">Choruses had them moving in ways that rivalled any of the 'clean' moves seen at a reggae concert. </span> They knew the hymns by heart so the voices rose with hardly anyone looking in a hymnal. The mode of dressing intrigued me. Yes, there were the broad hats and some of the ladies were dressed to the hilt but then there were those who came in what they had. Simple dresses or blouse and skirts, flip flops, tied heads, all kinds of T-shirts, and I loved it. In some of our NA churches, they would be out of place and probably wouldn't feel comfortable, but here they were in their element, all coming together to praise and worship. Then it struck me - regardless of what they were wearing, the females were all modestly attired; nothing hanging out, nothing too revealing. It was refreshing to see

Then of course, there were the testimonies, perhaps the most &quot;dramatic&quot; part of any service. The first person up didn't disappoint me: &quot;Praise di Lawd, saints&quot;, &quot;Praise di Lawd&quot;; &quot;Let's praise Him again&quot;; &quot;Praise di Lawd&quot;. It was priceless Nothing like a heartfelt, emotional testimony delivered in patois How about the man who could swear like a sailor, but had given his life to Christ? He stood, mike in hand, searching for the right words before finally saying, <span style="font-weight: bold">&quot;Pastor, God damn good to hell yu nuh.&quot;</span> <span style="color: #CC0000"> Have Mercy!! ROTFL* </span> Laughing spoil, as that one simply cracked me up , but I had to give him a lot of respect I'll remember that one for as long as I live.

Ah, Jamaica. More on the service side of things later in the report.

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Awright, mi haffi stop right here soh!!


Now this is classic!!!! Dear Lord!!!! I love this scene...

Ohh the memories of my people..Lord help us!!

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return



Looking up at the roof


The DJ's corner...I would hope they hide those wires when there's an event.


Really loved this painting on the wall






It's strange how the story behind the name &quot;Lovers' Leap&quot; changes depending on who's telling it. As it was told this day, the two people involved were not both plantation slaves, but the female was the daughter of the slave owner \o/ I've never heard that version before, and felt like we should have gotten our money back! Anyways, with that out of the way, we headed back to the hotel. We had nothing planned for the next few hours, but on a trip like this, we had learned to expect the unexpected.

More later...

[applepie]

Re: St. Bess - The Return





this is such a gorgeous, calming painting

[Laurel2]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

excellent!!

[StarGirl]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

look at the third picture up from this post..

someone wrote &quot;I AM AT LOVERS LEAP&quot;

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<span style="font-weight: bold">applepie, LulaBell2, StarGirl:</span> Thanks for keeping my company. Much appreciated

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

One of the things we had noticed was that as the week progressed, the community of Lititz took 'ownership' of the tent. In the absence of any established places of worship, it had become their place. They came from everywhere, and in whatever mode of transportation that would get them there. They walked, rode in pickup trucks, groups from sister-churches came in 'chartered' vans/buses, and they packed together in private vehicles. The ushers from Top Hill AOG stood out in their burgundy blazers - the men in black pants and the women in black skirts. I quite liked that they maintained that measure of 'formality' as it made it easier for people to know who to talk to if they needed assistance.

After services, it wasn't unusual to see a group of young men who had sat on the wall on the other side of the road listening, come over to straighten the chairs, and as we later found out, they guarded it at nights. Roy's wife (Roy was the gentleman I mentioned earlier and who had passed away the Thursday evening) had previously offered to keep all the musical instruments. Everybody doing their bit, just the way it should be.

As a child growing up in Kingston, I recall we would address adults as &quot;Sir&quot; and &quot;M'am. In this part of the island they - young and old - still did. For whatever reasons, I found it extremely refreshing that despite the evolution of societal norms and values, and not always for the better, there was still this part of who we were as a people. I found however that while using that form of address was easy and comfortable for me, I wasn't as comfortable receiving it. Maybe because it made me feel a tad old? Upon reflection of my own usage, I was aware it was a sign of respect, but still...

It being Friday night, the organizers had told us the night before that it was likely that the crowd would be the smallest as most of the people would be getting ready for market and so on. They were wrong. Not only was the tent about 90% full, it was the longest service of the week! God sure has a sense of humor, and it wasn't until a couple days later, we found out why Friday night was the way it was.

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

From quite a number of pictures, a peek under the tent...

We really enjoyed this P&amp;W group from the Junction AOG. The lead in the blue top was simply awesome. To the extreme right, Tyrone on the keyboards.


A couple of pastors getting their groove on. Beenie Man has nothing on the one on the left.


These guys could play for anybody or group, and they can all play all the instruments.


The greatest miracle - a surrendered life

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

From our point of view, Friday night had come way too soon. We had become a part of these people, and they had become a part of us. They were pleasant, wonderful, wonderful people who were rich where it mattered most; in the spirit. In Scripture we read that a man's life consist not in the abundance of things he possesses. I also read recently that &quot;wealth is not just about money. It is about people, relationships, values, and certainly about family.&quot; They were living testimonies of both truths.

All week long, at different times after service, someone would come to us with a plastic bag or a basket filled with fruits, along with that inimitable Jamaican smile. That night their representatives, the pastors, gave us gift tokens of appreciation on their behalf, but it really wasn't necessary because we wanted to do this. Every one of us searched for the right words that summed up our thoughts/feelings, but we couldn't find them. Instead of them thanking us, it was we who should be thanking them. They had reminded of us what it meant to worship despite one's circumstances, of what abundant living was really about, and more importantly, the simplicity of faith. Despite life's challenges, there was no need to worry, no need to fret, for as long as we had God on our side, everything would be alright.

It seemed all of them came up to us for one last chat, but seemingly all asking the same question - when would we be coming back. To them it wasn't a matter of 'if', but 'when'.

As we drove back to the hotel that night, we shared some of our stories and experiences. It had been a long week, and we were tired, but for the seven of us this was priceless. We all felt that in our different ways we had done what we came to do, and then some, but we were also taking back far more than we could have ever imagined or hoped for. Hollywood couldn't have written a better script, and that was quite fine with us. It was great to be a part of what God was doing in people's lives, and that couldn't be scripted.

More later...

[Hush Darlin]

Re: St. Bess - The Return



Pastor Kincaid

[BlueAngel]

Re: St. Bess - The Return



[/quote]

<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Is that you CEW?</span></span>

[Compry]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The greatest miracle - a surrendered life

</div></div>

What a beautiful sight.

[Diplomat]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SweetSsop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pastor Kincaid </div></div>
Very wonderful man, whom I previously met in '07.

[Hush Darlin]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Compray</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The greatest miracle - a surrendered life

</div></div>

What a beautiful sight.
</div></div>
the awesomeness of God

[Hush Darlin]

Re: St. Bess - The Return

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SweetSsop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pastor Kincaid </div></div>
Very wonderful man, whom I previously met in '07. </div></div>
very true