The Jamaican Journal-Day Four-June 16, 2008

Right now I am in our bus with twelve of the "older" kids traveling back from a day of concerts. The sun is beginning to set and it has been a beautiful day in so many ways. I will not comment any more on these roads in Jamaica. It continues to be interesting-there have been several collective gasps today as we have encountered eighteen wheelers plowing their way down the road and-again you would just have to be here.

The scenery along this coast road is more than majestic. The beauty of this paradise is far too glorious to put into words. We have seen the famous "Blue Lagoon" today and it is quite stunning. We have also passed thousands of acres that are owned by the widow of Errol Flynn. Errol Flynn is quite famous on the island. I, of course, have shown my age by being the only person on my bus (other than Winston, our driver) to know who Errol Flynn was. Winston and I both tried to give hints by explaining who he was but it was no use! The ocean views along this road are breathtaking. The sea itself is a miraculous blue/green/aqua color; it is too beautiful for my words to describe. I wish all of you could see the white caps and the rush of the waves as they beat against the cliffs. Stunning!

Tonight I will conduct our devotions for the group as we gather in the pavilion beside the pool at the Palace. The gazebo-like pavilion is a wonderful place to hold these devotionals. It is quite comfortable for the kids and has well arranged seating and tables as well. The night sounds of the creatures on our property adds to the ambiance of this location. At the devotional I plan to talk to the kids again about compassion-Jesus as He touched and healed the leper. That word compassion has plagued me today. Frederick Buechner said, "Compassion is that sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live in someone else's skin." We talked a few nights ago in our devotions about compassion as exhibited in the life of the Good Samaritan. I have the head knowledge to know what compassion means-kind of putting myself in the shoes of another person and knowing what they are going through as they live their lives. I have come to understand that it is more than feeling for another person; it is more like feeling with that person. As I have seen these people for these past few days, I can certainly feel for them, but am I really able to feel with them? I have seen poverty, pain, and squalor on every corner-yet I have also experienced the beauty of these people (especially their children) in ways that I simply cannot describe.

Our morning began as Alan, Larry, Linda Brubaker, and I traveled to make a visit to the Port Antonio Hospital. Reverend Grant, the Port Antonio pastor, took us on this short trip. Many of you will remember that several years ago, under the direction of Dr. Steve Paynter and Tommy Caldwell, our church, with the generous support of Hamilton Medical Center, sent a container of medical supplies, hospital beds, chairs, tables and other such equipment to this hospital. Today we were met graciously by the Matron of the hospital, who is actually the head nurse for the hospital. Again, my eyes were opened to how very blessed we are to have the medical community and services that are provided for us. I said many prayers over the next hour thanking God for the skill, wisdom, and expertise of my physicians. I thanked Him for our wonderful hospital and the many medical clinics that surround our community. I thanked Him for the technology that we have in our country that is so far advanced. I simply thanked Him for all of my blessings.

The Matron took us on a tour of the hospital, which is basically a series of wards. There is a general men's ward and women's ward, men's surgical ward, women's surgical ward, pediatric ward, and maternity ward. The maternity ward is actually suited for six beds, but there are twelve beds in the ward. They average nearly seventy births per month at this hospital. For uncomplicated deliveries, there are two tiny labor rooms that adjoin the ward. If a woman has to go to the operating room for delivery, she must walk both to the operating room for delivery and from the operating room following delivery. Amazing! Linda and Alan toured the operating area. The hospital is in such need of equipment. They only have one working operating table. They have another one, but it is broken (they raised it up and it will not lower-it will continue to go up, it just will not go down!). There is not a single computer in the hospital. Amazing! I want you to remember all the while that no section of the hospital, with the exception of the emergency area, which was built by a Nova Scotia Bank, is air conditioned. Fans and open windows are the only methods of air circulation. I also noticed once again two huge black containers (that I had seen around in other areas this week) sat outside the labor and delivery area. The Matron told me that this was extra water tanks in the event that water pressure dropped. I asked her if that ever happened and she told me that on Sunday the water stopped for some reason and they had to use the stored water. Amazing! We ended our tour in the emergency room meeting two of the staff doctors and the head nurse for emergency. The area and waiting area was packed. This hospital is totally dependent on contributions to meet their needs as far as equipment goes. We are bringing back a list of their most pressing needs in hopes of possibly sending another shipment to the hospital. We all sat somewhat stunned at what we witnessed at the hospital as we drove the short distance back to the church.

Following a fine lunch of hot dogs, chips, and cookies prepared by Chefs Ron and Elizabeth, we headed out for our next concert at the Rural Primary School where Sister Doilee of the Port Antonio Church serves as Principal. The drive is about one and a half hours-though beautiful, it is quite a rough trip. We arrived at the school and the first thing I noticed was that breathtaking view from the school over the cliffs to the ocean. Quite a picture perfect location! I went into the school and the 50-60 children were anxiously awaiting our arrival. The school is two large open rooms that form somewhat of an "L" shape. The children are seated in multi-person desks, the old wooden and metal type. All of the children were together in the same room, with the younger children sitting three people to a desk and the older boys and girls sometimes two to a desk-never one at a desk. Each of the children looked immaculate in their uniforms. Their smiles and enthusiasm was contagious. We set up our equipment as they watched with great interest. They were quite proud that we had prepared programs for each of them to have one. They held the programs and followed along with great interest. One thing that I really like about worship services and this program today is the welcome. At the start of worship, you will hear, "Good morning, Church," or "Good Evening, Church." Today, it was, "Good Afternoon Friends, Welcome to Rural Primary School." It is a collective greeting that is done with vigor and enthusiasm and in perfect unison. Our kids performed splendidly. I watched their children and many parents and other teachers who had come to the event and they had looks of delight on their faces as the program went on to its conclusion. The only thing that was missing was an encore!

Following the program, the staff led the children of the school in a time of evening prayers prior to their dismissal. Hearing them (and seeing them) say the Lord's Prayer and concluding benediction was a highlight of this trip. The kids were then dismissed for the day, but in reality it was "play time" with our kids. Seeing them get their pictures taken by and with our kids was delightful, especially as they got to see immediate photos with the digital cameras. These kids were great!

We then traveled another twenty to thirty minutes to the Muirton Boys School for another concert. Muirton is a home for "unfortunate" boys between the ages of eight and eighteen. "Unfortunate" means boys who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, or whose parents are not able to take care of them. Twenty-four boys are in residence at the facility. The view from the home to the ocean is wonderful, as the home sits high on a mountain. The room that we sang in was quite smaller than the Rural Primary Room and it was quite hot-still no complaints from our kids at all. One small floor fan attempted to stir the air in the room, but I must say it was quite sultry. The boys at the home enjoyed the excellent singing of our group; the program closed with a fine greeting and words of appreciation from one of the young men who lives in the home. We then had a time of "play" with the boys before we boarded the bus to return to the Port Antonio Church to enjoy dinner. Chefs Ron and Elizabeth had prepared hamburger steak, macaroni and cheese (a huge favorite), peas, and corn for the kids. It was delicious!

My observations from today…

1. The beauty here is astounding. People and scenery.

2. I am so thankful for our medical services and I hope that we can send another container of medical equipment to help these people who are in such desperate need.

3. The children of this area are so receptive; the looks on their faces when our kids play with them is priceless; their openness and love is so evident by their actions.

4. Compassion is hard to fully comprehend…but I must do better in living out that word.

5. We are blessed!!!