I spent all day today travelling to Kingston, Jamaica for my first overseas missions trip! The travel was great, and I had alot of fun getting to know the rest of the team (12 of which I've never met before!). There was only a little turbulence on the flight over from Miami, but flying with two people who have never flown before, and another who isn't a big fan, is definitely entertaining!!! Even without the turbulence!
I am struck by how beautiful the country is. I guess when I think about a third world country I automatically mentally flash through pictures I've seen on those Sally Struthers "Feed the Children" type of commercials. I image a rather desolate place where everyone is miserable and wanting to share that misery. A place where nothing surrounds you but dingy shanty-type housing and arrid ground. But I was very wrong. The people here are very happy, even though they have little to nothing. And the landscape is breath-taking. Both from flying over the island on the way in, and from the drive here from the airport, I was amazed by the incredible ocean views and the mountains that tower over the landscape. God is truly amazing, and His creation never ceases to boggle my mind! Mountains and ocean, two of my FAVORTIE things! And both in the same place!!!
The people here seem to be striving for the same things we strive for in America...even dressing very similar and seeming to have the same vices that we do. It is only the first day, and I know that I have ALOT more to learn this week, but I am stoked for a great week of excitement, learning, teaching, sharing, exploring, and taking in the beauty the God has put around me! I'll be teaching, and possibly preaching, this week, and helping with the Jamaican VBS here at the mission. I just thought I'd share a few thoughts on this first day. My body is tired, but my mind isn't, so it's not like I was going to go to sleep anyway! haha!
I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for this week...
It was a fun experience to get to go through Customs for the first time. Several people were "worried" that I might open my mouth and say the wrong thing, and get myself detained or overly questioned. Not that I would ever do such a thing! But I was my regular self, and NO ONE STOPPED ME! haha. Hopefully that holds true on the way home to the States too! But the Customs people were all very nice, and genuinely helpful. Although, they did get a little bent out of shape when we were taking pictures in the airport. APPARENTLY, in Jamaica that is a big no-no! I was unaware! It seems that I am often taking pictures in places that I'm not supposed to be! hahaha. But this time I had to delete the picture. Oh well, there really wasn't much to take pictures of, it was more of something to do while we waited to be checked through.
On the way in to the Mission from the airport today, we saw the factory where they filmed the opening scene in the newer James Bond movie, "Casino Royale." That was pretty cool. We were also treated to the experience of Jamaican driving! For starters...they drive on the WRONG SIDE of the road! And the steering wheel is on the opposite side than we Americans are used to. But that was the least of the differences. It was like driving through New York City only more hectic! The roads are in pretty rough shape, and often there are no middle divider lines for the lanes. People do not wait or even look before they pull into traffic, and all the drivers play "Chicken" regularly because they are too impatient to wait behind a slower car. Not that I would have much room to talk! I wasn't bothered by the driving because I was a passenger, but if I were the one driving.....I would NOT have been happy! haha, there would have been alot of shouting and horn blowing. Which is something they consider part of the Jamaican driving experience....they do not use blinkers really, they simply honk to let you know they are there. When they go around a car to pass, they honk to let the car know...kind of like a track runner would let the runner ahead of him know as he comes around the outside lane to pass.
All in all it was a great day and a great start to what should be an awesome week!
Disclaimer: The thoughts in this blog are meant in no way to represent the thoughts, feelings, or opinions of anyone but myself. If you have a desire to have every thought completed or every blog make sense, the blogs contained on this site may drive you crazy. There will be no order or flow to the blogs, but simply whatever comes out of my mind is what I will write about next.
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- Me...
- I am a non-traditional student at Johnson Bible College. I'm currently in my last semester there and will miss it when I graduate in May, but until that point I am loving it! Before coming to JBC I spent 6 years in the Army National Guard in Florida as a Chaplain's Assistant. I had the great opportunity to meet people from all over the country, and around the world, during my time in service, but the "Army way" just wasn't for me, so we parted ways when my contract was up. I also completed my Associates of Arts degree before going to JBC. I have been a volunteer youth worker since shortly after coming back to the Church in 2002; after a few "Prodigal" years. I feel blessed to have been able to work with and get to know the students who have allowed me to be a part of their lives. I have also had the opportunity to do internships at North Madison Christian Church (Madison, In), and Shirley Christian Church (Shirley, In). And I am currently a youth sponsor at Harvest Christian Church here in Knoxville, Tn.