I landed on the Island on Monday, and have been blessed with the Jamaican people’s warm welcome and my 4 roommates love and kindness. Each day brings something new and exciting into my world. My primary mission for the year will be in Mt. Friendship, which is a small rural community about 20 minutes from Stony Hill where I live. Unfortunately, Mt. Friendship is poverty struck and many of the families there are struggling to survive in today’s world.
Walking through this beautiful place for the first time today, I was lucky to meet a few people who live in Mt. Friendship. A boy yelled hello to me from atop a tall tree, as he cut individual mangos from the sky. I was offered the reddest apple I have ever seen from a group of children on my walk, and greetings from families outside their homes enjoying the sunny day.
After a long walk up the hills, I made it to Miss Doris and her granddaughter Kimberly. I picked up a rock as the 3 guard dogs growled, but made it through without having to do any harm. I met Kimberly for the first time with open arms and a gorgeous, 5-year old smile. She immediately went into my bag to look for any goodies I might have brought her. She found a camera and continued to take pictures for the entire visit. Miss Doris came out to greet me, Sr. Maureen and Charity and invite us to sit outside her house. I was once again struck with breath-taking views of the Jamaican landscape. Kimberly eagerly showed us the new puppies that a stray had next to their house. As Miss Doris and the others talked, Kimberly took me inside her house to show me around. We sang songs, played games, watched ET on a fuzzy screen, swung on a rope underneath a palm tree and she gave me a piece of bread and mango juice with two straws. Each time I took a drink, she would jump up to grab the other straw and take a drink with me. It may have been one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Among our playing, I couldn’t help but notice the conditions in which this family lives. The house is small and concrete, which they are lucky to have, as others in their area have nothing but tiny shacks.
Walking through this beautiful place for the first time today, I was lucky to meet a few people who live in Mt. Friendship. A boy yelled hello to me from atop a tall tree, as he cut individual mangos from the sky. I was offered the reddest apple I have ever seen from a group of children on my walk, and greetings from families outside their homes enjoying the sunny day.
After a long walk up the hills, I made it to Miss Doris and her granddaughter Kimberly. I picked up a rock as the 3 guard dogs growled, but made it through without having to do any harm. I met Kimberly for the first time with open arms and a gorgeous, 5-year old smile. She immediately went into my bag to look for any goodies I might have brought her. She found a camera and continued to take pictures for the entire visit. Miss Doris came out to greet me, Sr. Maureen and Charity and invite us to sit outside her house. I was once again struck with breath-taking views of the Jamaican landscape. Kimberly eagerly showed us the new puppies that a stray had next to their house. As Miss Doris and the others talked, Kimberly took me inside her house to show me around. We sang songs, played games, watched ET on a fuzzy screen, swung on a rope underneath a palm tree and she gave me a piece of bread and mango juice with two straws. Each time I took a drink, she would jump up to grab the other straw and take a drink with me. It may have been one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Among our playing, I couldn’t help but notice the conditions in which this family lives. The house is small and concrete, which they are lucky to have, as others in their area have nothing but tiny shacks.
It is easy to want to give everything you have to these families, but I must remember that I am here to give myself instead. Accompaniment means to walk with the people. I will learn to walk with the people of Mt. Friendship.
what an incredible opportunity........you are so wise to have chosen this path. It will make the rest of your life so much richer........ellen
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of the woman you've become...this experience will not only open your eyes to a whole new world but it will enrich your life forever. Love you...Kim
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