Where has this week gone?! I feel like I'm finally caught up on sleep, learning names, smiling and back to myself...just in time for CHWC's free day tomorrow! The past two days of work have been filled with sweat & tears as the team's been building eternal relationships with the Jamaican people. Yesterday I started the day with two teams in St. Ann's market buying groceries for families in SeVille Heights. There's nothing more entertaining than watching 18 Americans go in to a foreign grocery store to find "medium spice bun, salt fish, bag of red beans with twistie tie" and various other Jamaican food items. They actually did really well and stayed under budget! When we got to SeVille, I went to find somebody to tell us which families needed food. I haven't been at that worksite at all yet this summer, which made for an exciting hello with Richard and Marcus. There's no way to explain the love that I have for these people but when you work side by side for weeks, spending endless hours getting to know each other, there's a magnetic bond that exists no matter how long it's been since I've seen them. The first family we visited only had one family member home but we were able to deliver the groceries and pray with her. At the second house we met a sweet sweet sweet mommy named Opal. She's really young and struggling to raise a family on her own. She stood on the porch holding her baby, who's smile revealed the most adorable two teeth I've ever seen! Both ladies were clearly grateful and sent us off with abundant thanks!
Yesterday afternoon I went to the infirmary. I've certainly become more comfortable going there, especially as my friendships have grown but regardless of how many times I go or how many relationships I have, I still have a hard time being there. Before we went in the groups were prepared for what they'd be seeing. I've learned that it doesn't matter how many people say they've worked in hospitals or trauma units and can handle anything, the infirmary is the most sickening place I've ever been. The living conditions, the care and the lack of compassion that's seen there is nearly nonexistent. I went and said hello to everybody while aiming towards Ryan. There's no smile in the world better than Donovan's and I saw it from across the room. It always amazes me that he has such a fantastic memory and can tell me exactly when I was there last. He said he'd been waiting for me to come back since January and I, naturally, told him I'd have to stop visiting if he didn't just lock Dolores down and marry her! After catching up, a nurse came over and told me to have a talk with him because he'd been saying he didn't have a reason to live. My heart immediately sank. I've spend a lot of time in that place over the past couple of years and my biggest fear is hearing one of my friends say something implying a desire to die. I asked Donovan what on earth he was talking about and he explained that he doesn't see the point. He spends every day in the infirmary with terrible food, no hope of ever leaving or having a "normal" life, he can't even go to the road and just wants to go home. In all of the hours I've spent talking and laughing with Donovan, this was the first time I've seen his face drop before tears filled his eyes. He was being real, sharing his innermost thoughts about not wanting to live. I was able to talk to him and explain how much he's changed my life but didn't seem to be getting anywhere. Uncle came over and talked to him about how much he has to live for. I don't have very many people that have been able to change my life with a smile but I'd do anything to make him understand how much he means to me.
Last night, the ladies cooked a delicious rump-roast with pumpkin rice, vegetables, baked potatoes and a sweet potato pie for dessert. It's become common knowledge around Miramar that sweet potato pie is my absolute favorite and Dorrett makes sure to hook it up! Uncle and Auntie came to speak to the team about what it's like to raise a family in Jamaica. I've had a chance to really form a close friendship with Auntie over the past year with the sponsorship program and learning what a giving person she is. I talked to the two of them after they spoke and learned that they're sending their daughter to college to study law. It's hard to find married couples on this island but to find a married couple that has dedicated their life together to giving and then not only send their kids to school but to give their daughter a chance to really make it is unheard of. I wish there were more people in the world like them!
Today I spent the day at SeVille overlooking the cementing, bucket lines and cinder block tossing. I FINALLY had an opportunity to catch up with Melanie in the morning while our teams were working together. She was on her last week and, as with any of us, wasn't quite ready to leave. I love knowing I've been blessed with these friends in my life that feel the same kind of calling to missions. It's comforting to have such a solid group of support when going home and need to talk to people that understand.
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