Whewwww finally some time to write...

Well I'm pleased to say I have not been writing on my blog because of lack of laziness more like lack of time and energy!  We've been going non stop sense summer started down here in sunny Jamaica.  One group leaves saturday the next gets in on Sunday!  And I'll tell you the time between Saturday and Sunday is filled with cleaning, shopping, and preparations for the next group!

God is doing amazing things here in Jamaica!  We have accomplished so much already and I can't even imagine what we will accomplish by the time summer is over!  In the span of under a month so much has happened.  Let me try and summarize everything...

• We adopted a puppy we found at one of the sites (surprisingly it was not my idea).  Found out he had worms and the boys "released" the puppy back in to the wild shortly after.
• We have had our water shut off at least once a week since we have been here (makes cooking and showering really fun)! 
• We have had two water pipes broken less than 48 hrs apart. 
• Everyone has been sunburnt at least once (even David our Jamaican intern)!  And if you know me, you know I've been sunburnt a few more times...opps! (promise I'm wearing sunscreen)
• Only one serious injury involving a hammer and eye brow.  However, everyone involved left with only a scrape that will probably leave an awesome scare!
• Several staff have gotten the flu however I have been lucky to escape it so far (knock on wood)!
• Climbed up a water fall several times! 
• Grocery shopped for over 40 people at one time in a Jamaican supermarket (not an easy task).
• Learned how to lay concrete block!  And not to brag or anything but I'm especially good and laying mortar turds! 
• Discovered that Jamaicans work on what we call Jamaican time... which could be crazy fast or really, really, really slow (usually the case)!
• Worshiped under the stars
• Tried real sugar cane (soooo yummy)!
• Ate more jerk chicken and jerk pork in one month than I have my whole life
• I will never get old of fresh fruit all the time!

I'm learning how to be a Jamaican.  Which I'll tell you is no easy task!  Even though they speak "english" here most Jamaicans speak a broken language called Patois which is like a mixture of every language and they don't really have a sentence structure.  They also combine words in one big word and mumble a lot.  Lately I've been working on trying to pick up on common phrases and stuf like that.  We've formed a wonderful with our bus driver Gayle or as we like to call him "G" or "Mr. G"!  He is basically our Jamaican Dad and takes great care of us!  He has been incredibly helpful and I know the relationship I've formed with him is one that will last a long time!  He watches out for us like we are his own kids!  Which I'll tell you is whole different world.  He helps us navigate the streets of downtown Montego Bay (Mo Bay as the locals call it).   Downtown is always busy and the streets are small and crowded.  Also being a white girl from the states means we get a lot of looks and calls from the local men but we've learned how to deal with them.  We've found that it really helps to have Gayle or David with us when we walk around.  As the summer goes on and our team is becoming more confident navigating Jamaican culture! Our increased confidence does not go unnoticed either.  Jamaicans can tell we aren't just tourists anymore!

God has really been testing me this summer in a lot of ways.  Being a site director there are many instances where my patience has been tested.  Both with the groups that come to visit and with my team.  It's also been a challenge not thinking only about me.  In college you really only are focused on you and what you need to be doing.  However, here I have so much to think about and so many people to be in contact with all the time it can be overwhelming at times.  But God has helped me learn how to manage all of this and for the most part I haven't been too stressed this summer.  I must say that I think a huge reason why is because I have the worlds best staff!  Everyone on my team is incredibly giving and hard working!  We work so well together and I can tell I've formed relationships that will last a long time!  We have definitely become a family while here!  That's also helped reduce being homesick!  While I do miss people at home I haven't been aching to get back!  The only thing I really miss is some conveniences of the States!  Especially having the luxury of a car.  A lot of Jamaicans don't have a car and we can only go places when our bus driver is available.  That can be quite frustrating sometimes.  But it makes us be very organized and great planners...haha!

We've become really close with the two residents houses we are working on, Miss Carren and Miss Juilett!  They are both wonderful ladies that deserve the work Next Step is doing so much.  Both of them live in two bedroom houses that probably are about 300 sq ft total.  For four people!  There is also a small bathroom and the kitchen is also incredibly small.  The additions that we are putting on are going to make a huge difference in their lives!!  We've come to know their families as well.  Miss Carren and her husband Rohan (who we call Big Rohan...for a reason) have two boys Dijan (11 months) and Romiee (5).  Dijan is our favorite little Jamaican baby!  Miss Juilett has three kids Glenoi (19), Paula Gaye (17) and Taj (10).  Paula Gaye and Taj hang out with us a lot and they are really awesome kids!  We've also gotten to know G's two kids Dashown (10) and Ackeem (14).  Dashown and I get a long real well and we've been bonding the last few weeks!  He is such a wonderful kid!

Well I think that's all I have for now!  I'm going to try and be more proactive in posting on here!

I'm still raising support for the summer so if you feel led to support me this summer please go to the Next Step Donation page.  After you donate it's crucial you email Nick Cocalis (Next Step Ministries Director) at nick.cocalis@nextstepministries.com and tell him the amount you donated and that you are donating to me!


God Bless!