Day 9 (Sat) (Montego Bay)

Woke up early today. Drove to Ocho Rios & went to Dunn River Falls.

You climb from bottom to top

So pretty, very refreshing water.

Lots of fun, swam a little too.

Finished driving to Montego Bay, did a little shopping.

Then tried to find our villa. Quite an adventure for sure.

took probably an hour to find it. It's nice though. 3 people maintain it while we're here.

Elijah did a great devo, sort of what i wanted to do. I was surprised with a birthday cake after, made me a little emotional haha

I didn't really like everyone serving me so i made Sarah let me do the dishes.

Then sat on the balcony and talked.

Bedtime now. Our last two performances are tomorrow, hmm

Day 8 Fri Kingston

Today is my 20th birthday.

I almost forgot until last night.

Sarah, Sara, Judy, Dillon, Pat, Brandon, Eli, and Lewis sang at midnight. Abby was gone i think. Maybe not, sorry Abby

Got to sleep in till noon today. Very much needed, such a blessing!

Went to eat at Chelsea Jerk place, tasty again.

Me, Patrick, Brandon, Ethan, Aaron, and Sarah went to Hillside CC to do youth night. We weren't really expecting to play; it was just kinda thrown on us.

i played guitar, Patrick drums, Ethan percussion, Aaron keys, and Sarah lead/played bass.

It sounded better than expected and even though Sarah was really stressed, she did swell. Everyone did, really

Did some awkward games then Brandon preached (great) then we did a little more music, and that was that. went back to guest house.

Judy did a good devo.

Spoiler alert-my prayer person was Lewis

He's sick, hope he gets better.

Montego bay tomorrow, see ya!

Day 7 (Thurs) May-Pen

May Pen was awesome. SO HOT

we set up (3 instruments--1 amp) and practiced a hair, then power shut off.

Service started acapella by candlelight as scheduled (relatively speaking)

really awesome. We all sang and played tambourines

preacher was a real flamethrower, entertaining for sure.

Power came on mid-way thru his sermon.

Kind of disappointing actually, power off was nice

We played our set and did skit, then gave out cds at the end. We gave away every one! People really wanted them.

Hopefully somebody is inspired by the music.

All in all a great day, went back to Kingston & crashed at guest house.

Day 6 (weds) Mandeville-Banana Ground-Falls

Today we left early for YS falls. Stopped at Juici patty for breakfast, good. They should have these in the states.

Got to YS falls at probably 1030 or so.

Took tractor ride to falls. Falls were very scenic. We hiked to top and back. Some went off rope swing. Then we swam for a while and left.

Got Carrie's souvenir here. Left and got supper at another jerk joint, very good. Went to a local supermarket in Mandeville and bought some hot sauces, spice, etc.

Oh and some sodas.

Left, got changed at hotel and headed to Banana Ground (grove?) It was on top of a mountain, super sketchy roads.

Played 2-3 songs acoustically then a van full of people & sound equipment pulled up and we finished setup & continued w/ business as usual [over]

Clyde preached again, also good.

As we were leaving, a man, Gregory, called Sarah "angel" and asked persistently for her email. She gave him a fake. So funny

Left and told stories about Jiggy Jay all the way down the mountain.

Got back to Golf View, ate doritos & had coke and am now here.

Mandeville is a neat little city. So was Banana (Place)

Tomorrow we check out and drive to May Pen, then perhaps kingston. Not sure.

Goodnight, praise the Lord (sleeping in tomorrow)!!!

Day 5 Kingston-Mandeville

Jomo update --124 dead, more storms headed that way

prayers.

Left Kingston (dropped off baggage at H. CC.) and drove to Mandeville.

Mandeville is in mtns and much less hot, very nice.

Busy city, many markets.

Friendly people. Had lunch at an old 16th century plantation.

Had barbeque chicken, tasty.

Fyi, rice & peas=red beans & rice

Rested at "Golf View Hotel" for 1 hr-ish. went to "Tastee Patty" for supper. Pretty much same as Juicy patty, tasty though.

Set up at park in Mandeville. Very hectic

Hard to hear, but a lot of fun

Clyde did a good sermon.

4 souls added to the kingdom, glory to God

Watching news/writing.

bedtime.

Day 4--Monday Kingston/Port Royal

Joplin update--80-90 dead

many missing. praying.

Today we went to Hillside CC and did a prayer walk for the church. Gilbert has an intern coming from LCU soon.

Some things Gilbert told us:

"The thieves run free while i am behind bars"

"who polices the police"

"If the fox cannot get the grape, he condemns the grape" [not really sure what this means, but it was memorable haha]

He says Kingston is rough but much of it is outsiders committing crimes within Kingston.

Crime rate "down" to 47%

He is optimistic though.

Finished here, loaded and went to Port Royal (part of Kington)

Think Pirates of the Caribbean.

Toured a fort, pretty neat.

Went to a seafood joint by the ocean in Port Royal. Had fried parrotfish--while thing

best fish ever. so good

back to house, bed.

Day 3--Kingston (Sun)

Today we lead worship at Hillside CC. Went well.

Gilbert is a good guy. Matt preached. Heard it before, but still good sermon.

Ate lunch at a local jerk joint in a sorta rough neighborhood.

Had jerk pork, delicious

Talked to gilbert about Kingston.

Went to beach, also sorta rough.

Smelled lots of weed. Weather was bad & crowded,which was weird.

We still liked it though. Swam for a couple hours, left beach & went to BK for supper. Went back to house in Kingston and slept

Learned of tornado in Joplin today.

30ish dead as of now. Rangeline trashed...don't know much yet. Praying.

Day 2--Montego Bay/Kingston

Hot again

Woke up an hour early (unintentional)

Ate mango, papaya, watermelon for breakfast. Had coffee &watermelon juice to drink. Packed up & left Chateau Margarita/Montego Bay.

It was a 5 hour drive to Kingston. Good drive although roads were pretty sketch.

Saw the following:

Haunted house (Annie Palmer)

Ocean

Goats

Fruit stands

Jungle

Lots of resorts/hotels/golf courses

Stopped at a "Juici Patty" 40 min outside of Kingston (Bog Walk) for lunch.

It is sorta like a calzone. Tasty.

Drove to Hillside Christian Ch. in Kingston & set up. SO HOT.

Hillside CC is in a really bad neighborhood. Pastor Gilbert said a few weeks ago someone got shot right across the street.

Service was swell. Long but fun.

3 people sang solos, a lady played violin, a guy played flute,& another played flute and sax.

After service i went outside to find 4 cops holding MP5s. Cool.

Bad neighborhood. Lewis & Jordan went to get a drink (2 blocks away) and our Jamaican driver was scared to walk w/ them, it's that bad. Still killer hot.

Bedtime.

Facts/Notes

"No man gonna know when he comin"--Wayne

Gas--$110 Jamaican/Litre=$1.30 USD/Liter=$4.92/Gallon

"Pants are good especially when you shake fast at the honeys to slaughter their honeycombs"

Day 1--Joplin, St. Louis, Montego Bay

Today we left. Here is what i know.

Woke up early.

Left on time (almost).

Drive was swell.

Got to airport with plenty of time to spare.

Checking bags was funny. No one takes initiative.

Flight was long and pretty boring.

Got to Jamaica & went thru customs

It's hot here

Our hotel, "Chateau Margarita" is pretty cool. So hot though.

Tonight was swell. Everyone is happy

Thank you for save travels (God)

Oh yeah Jordan joined us.

Breakfast--McDs Lunch-sandwiches

Dinner-Jerk Chicken @ "The Pelican"

Sarah did devos from Col. 3 & 4

Still really hot. Rooms are killer.

But all is well. I'm happy,

Guess i'm going to bed.

Thought--Isaiah 5:12 maybe, 5 something.

Writings from Jamaica

Aside from our Frontline blog, each day i wrote down some stuff about the day's happenings. I'm going to post them word for word, so here we go.