Wednesday, June 1, 2011

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.