As I alluded to before, I have seen many families that live in unremarkable living conditions…very different than what I have seen in the States. Wood floors with holes in them, allowing you to view the ground, tin roofs with cement blocks on top to make sure everything stays in place, no bathrooms or running water, and entire houses as big as many of our living rooms. For many poor in Jamaica, this is the reality of their living situation. One particular family in Mt. Friendship who I love to visit consists of a mother and father and their 5 children. This family is blessed with a very loving mother, Nicki, who is a faithful member of the church and a good friend to the volunteers. She has very little to offer, yet offers me something each time I visit her home. We sit and talk, take trips to the river, help her kids with their homework, and play with my hair (which is currently full of braids-finally)!
Today, I rejoice in the fact that this family has a new home to live in! There is an organization in the Caribbean, Food for the Poor, which will donate small homes to families with severe living situations. Of course the process for this large donation to take place is no easy task I’m sure, but luckily this family was able to make it through and receive one of these sturdy homes. It’s amazing to see how happy Nicki has become and how excited she is about life. She feels her prayers have been answered and has a great amount of hope for the future.
Honestly, I can’t believe it is November already. My fellow volunteer and I are in the initial stages of starting an after school program at Mt. Friendship School. Our goal is to give the students an opportunity to play organized games, make things, read stories, get some exercise in, write, and secretly learn among the various activities. Hopefully, I will have more to update about this topic soon!
It is already the beginning of the Christmas season here! There is Christmas songs being played sporadically, and people are often commenting on the “Christmas breeze” that makes its appearance.
Along with my weekly visits to the clinic, I will soon start spending some quality time at the hospice center attached to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston. I have always felt that being with someone during his or her last days on Earth is a special time. As a nurse, I hope to be able to make their time a happy one, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Seems like a good time to try it out! I’m excited!
The 5 of us volunteers are having a book drive for the kids in our missions of Mt. Friendship, King Weston, Tom’s River, and Devon Pen. We hope for friends and family back home in the States to send a book(s) to us to be handed out during the week of Christmas. Anyone willing to send children’s books can send them to:
Today, I rejoice in the fact that this family has a new home to live in! There is an organization in the Caribbean, Food for the Poor, which will donate small homes to families with severe living situations. Of course the process for this large donation to take place is no easy task I’m sure, but luckily this family was able to make it through and receive one of these sturdy homes. It’s amazing to see how happy Nicki has become and how excited she is about life. She feels her prayers have been answered and has a great amount of hope for the future.
Honestly, I can’t believe it is November already. My fellow volunteer and I are in the initial stages of starting an after school program at Mt. Friendship School. Our goal is to give the students an opportunity to play organized games, make things, read stories, get some exercise in, write, and secretly learn among the various activities. Hopefully, I will have more to update about this topic soon!
It is already the beginning of the Christmas season here! There is Christmas songs being played sporadically, and people are often commenting on the “Christmas breeze” that makes its appearance.
Along with my weekly visits to the clinic, I will soon start spending some quality time at the hospice center attached to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kingston. I have always felt that being with someone during his or her last days on Earth is a special time. As a nurse, I hope to be able to make their time a happy one, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Seems like a good time to try it out! I’m excited!
The 5 of us volunteers are having a book drive for the kids in our missions of Mt. Friendship, King Weston, Tom’s River, and Devon Pen. We hope for friends and family back home in the States to send a book(s) to us to be handed out during the week of Christmas. Anyone willing to send children’s books can send them to:
Tracy Petersante
Constant Spring
P.O. Box 848
Kingston 8
Jamaica, West Indies
I want you to know how much I miss all my friends and family back home! I can’t wait for visitors in January (parents, Brenna and Lindsay)! Thinking of you all and wishing you the best during the start of the Holiday season!
Constant Spring
P.O. Box 848
Kingston 8
Jamaica, West Indies
I want you to know how much I miss all my friends and family back home! I can’t wait for visitors in January (parents, Brenna and Lindsay)! Thinking of you all and wishing you the best during the start of the Holiday season!
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