Cyndi, the world traveller is home at last.  At least for a while.  Returned from Jamaica Saturday evening.  The whole mission team made it back tired and happy and mostly well.  Pete has a sprained ankle and the adults (me included) are a bit tired, but it was all worth it.  This mission trip was the best vacation I’ve had in a very long time.  It was a chance to get totally outside of my normal life, and reinforced what is really important. 

I was one of four leaders and 10 youth who went on this mission trip.  It was arranged by a company called Wonder Voyage, as part of the Journey to Adulthood (J2A) program at our church.  We spent most of the week in Christiana, Jamaica at the New Vison children’s home.  Christiana sits on the ridge of the Moho Mountains. near the center of Jamaica.  So it was a bit cooler than at sea level in Montego Bay.  Our work projects included moving a large pile of large rocks down a hill to be used in the construction of a holding pit for a septic system, moving dirt (clay, really), to level the ground near the new building under construction, and general clean up.  We also spent a lot of time playing with the kids at New Vision.  Uno (the card game), dominos and four square are the games of choice.  You could also count the sideline game to 4 square – seeing who can cut  in line to be the next to play.

 

At the end of the trip we had a full day in Montego Bay to do some shopping and enjoy the beach.  It was a great way to end the week.  It’s a pretty stark contrast to Christiana, though.  I really enjoyed being back in the ocean.  It was wierd at first, and I couldn’t figure out why.  Then I realized there were no waves!  (Of course;  we were in a bay.)  Still a lot of fun, and beautiful.

 

I’ll post some more stories and pictures tomorrow.  For tonight, I’m just glad to be back, and thankful for all that I have here.