Strike a Pose

Once family pictures were done yesterday everyone started jumping
in to take impromptu pictures.
In Jamaica there are certain poses I have come to recognize.
I don't know why they feel like everyone who takes a picture
has to pose in these ways but they are very common

for example this is a common pose for guys...acting like
they are pointing a gun at the camera.

Then Duane wanted a picture with Blake and as
he started to pose Blake just wasn't understanding the
pose and what he was supposed to do with
his foot.
These just make me laugh:)

Blake just not getting it

Duane trying to explain

Blake is signing clueless becuase he had no idea
what was going on.

After all that this pose was settled upon:)

hahahaha!
Good Times Had By All!

The Church Family

This past weekend I was able to capture pictures for my church family

at New Life Church for the Deaf

Pastor Damian, Felicia, Phoebe, Danae, & Caleb Campell

Wayne, Cheryl, & Andrea Johnson

Everton, Janet, Tiffany, & Jodene Scafe

Nigel, Bianca, Doreen, Roseanne, & Rhonda Johnson

Sheldon, Simone & Ashley Mckenzie

Kereen Brown

Ionda & Kadene Campbell

Geneva Richards

Charmane & Mickey

Denver Allen

Diana Williams

Cressmore, Erica, Brianna, & Lance Fletcher.

National Deaf Jamaican Sports Day

Saturday was the first ever National Deaf Jamaican Sports Day.
We were able to attend (before our Thanksgiving meal together)
since it was held in Mandeville. Deaf came from all over the
island to participate and any one ages 9 & up were able to compete.

Much to Blake and Kirks disappointment the rules were
very strict in allowing only the deaf to participate. They
had hoped to be a part of a basketball team, but had to
settle for playing referees for the games instead:)

The JDV guys playing in a basketball game

Jordan playing in the KP vs LMG game

Jordan and Romaine against Kemoy

The girls played net ball
This was my first time watching netball and it was interesting.
Its like basketball except there is no dribbling just passing
and the uniforms consist of little skirts not basketball shorts:)

The yellow team was made up of JAD and Kingston girls
I don't know who the green team was.

Then there was running!

Lorenzo competing from KP
Micheal from Kingston
and Mario from MoBay
(I don't know the other competitors)

Yashira from KP
Chrystal from Mobay
and (I think) Renice from Kingston

Once all the students raced the adults started racing
and those races finished out the day.

Days like these are so fun to attend. Days that everyone is
encouraged and reminded that the deaf can do anything anyone
else can do if they are willing to try!

Thanksgiving Meal

Finally tonight it worked out that everyone (including my
dear friend Tashi) could get together for a Thanksgiving meal.
It was a LONG day as we spent all day in Mandeville at the
National Deaf Sports Day (another post soon come), but it had
the perfect ending as I was able to gather with those I love,
my brothers and sisters in Christ, and not only enjoy great food but
we were able to share in great fellowship as we talked about what
we are thankful for and how God has been working and blessing
our lives.

Thank You Jesus for blessing me with these people!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Love You Lord, and I Thank You and Praise You For
All the Amazing People You Have Placed In My Life
And Blessed Me With.

Psalm 95:2

I Love You All!
Happy Thanksgiving!
19 Days and I'm Back in the States!

Feet

Saturday I took pictures for Pastor Damian and his family.
Once the pictures were taken they asked me to watch the kids
while they met with some of the staff here.
My house is not made for kids, I don't have a lot of room for them
to play and no toys. Once left with the kids I started making supper.
I was working in the kitchen working when Caleb (pictured above)
comes up and says to me "I want to play with your feet".
I smiled at him and said No:) you can not play with my feet.
He then looks up at me with his big brown eyes and said
" Can I PLEASE play with your feet?"( and I am thinking whats
wrong with you kid...no you can't play with my feet.) I told him I will
find you toys before I let you play with my feet. He then proceeded to sit
on my foot and wrap himself around my leg and remained like that for
the remainder of the time it took to make their supper.
Thankfully he unwound himself to eat his supper and during that time
I ran over to the neighbors to borrow toys so after supper he was
content to play with the trucks and forgot about wanting to play
with my feet:)

Look JBun!

Look what I finally got around to doing today!

(I know you read this blog:)

I didn't have a drill bit to use and that would have made it go
a lot easier. Instead I improvised with a hammer, pliers,
drill with a phillips head bit in it, a screw, and a nail:)

After finding a chair (to stand on) and getting the anchors in
(using the "tools" I listed above) I was able
to hang my hammock. First try it held my weight woohoo! I was
honestly a little nervous trying it out since I did improvise
and didn't know how well the anchors where in.
That and its setup really high
(I didn't have many options for places to hang it).
I have to jump to get in it:) and I figured if it didn't
hold me I was going to bruise myself good in the fall.

Its up now so you can come visit:)

Off On Another Sea Conatiner Delivery.

On a beautiful Thursday morning Blake, Ionda, Gary, and I
loaded into the bus and drove up the north coast road to
collect the sea container from the port.

This was my first time driving up the north coast road (that
I can remember) and the views were AMAZING!

Once at the port it was the same old routine...
Unload the sea container

Put the donations in the the box truck

Take the donations to their designated areas.

Everything ran so smoothly we were able to get all
our deliveries in the MoBay area done and a driver hired
to bring in the rest of the container to Mandeville for us.
in one day! WooHoo!

Right outside of Ramble (our last stop distributing to

Bro. Bob at New Beginnings) is Boarder Jerk. After finding
this place with the evaluation team we wanted to stop and get
supper to enjoy on the way home.
Jerk Chicken and Festival =YUM!

on the way home we took the south coast road getting in on
a beautiful sunset as we drove.

The driver met us at the Village (JDV) to unload the last part of
the sea container about 9 last night.

There is always a point in the distribution of donations that
I get to HATE the white buckets. This point came at 9:36
last night (yes I looked at my watch when the "hate" thought
came into my mind:)

Thankfully Kirk brought over a car full of boys from KP
to help so things were quickly
unloaded once the container arrived.

Thank You Jesus for another container unloaded!

Thought for the Day

"It is one thing to go through a crisis grandly, but another

thing to go through every day glorifying God when there is

no witness, no limelight, no one paying the remotest
attention to us. "

-Oswald Chambers-

1 Cor. 10:31

Budding Photographers

The kids have made it a daily routine to borrow my camera
to capture the happenings around campus.

Richard Playing in the "sand box"

Anna-Kay hanging out with me on the bench
(doesn't it look like I am about ready to back hand one of
the kids? I think I was just asking them "What?"

Shoes that are taken off their feet to be used as sand toys.

Treasures that are found and kept in old plastic bottles.

Waiting patiently for his turn on the swing.

Daymar

Patricia

Anna-Kay, Renford, and I

They all LOVE the swings

The play ground monitors/spectators

My Sweet Paris:)

Good Job Kids!
Some great moments were captured!