Day 2

Sunday was a really calm day. We observed the Sabbath day, and rested after our long, long trip, so we were able to wake up a little later than what would become the norm for the the rest of the week. The orphanage that we worked at used to be a hotel, so we actually slept in an old motel on the top of a mountain overlooking the most amazing sight I had EVER seen.

So these are the motel rooms we stayed in, and the view out the front door when I woke up on Sunday morning looked exactly like this...

...and this.

This is the veranda on which we ate breakfast and did devotions every morning.

And this is the view from the veranda which is actually a newer addition to the lodge / dining area which is the highest point on the complex. I LOVED mornings there, because I'd perch upon the very picnic table from which this picture was taken, and sit at the very opposite edge overlooking the mountain range, all while reading my Bible. Every morning. I truly miss the peace that came with the mornings there.

This was a great place to do devotions as well (around the back of our motel rooms), although another guy on the trip claimed it as "his spot" from last year. I let him have it. ;) But I did get to hang out there on the first morning, and it is a simply incredible view. Very peaceful as well.

Sunday was extremely laid back. After breakfast and a good first dose of the amazing Blue Mountain coffee, we were able to walk around the complex a bit and look around until 10am which is when the kids worship service took place. Just being in the presence of these Godly little children who can pray and worship with more heart and fervency than most adults that I know, was an even greater blessing than I can begin to describe. It came to be a well-known fact, (and kind of a joke among my fellow travel-mates) that I am a cryer. So it was only natural that while in the midst of this service, feeling God, feeling the prayers of these small, yet, spiritually powerful children, I was in tears. So very many tears.

Afterward, we had an adult service and had our morning devotional, enjoyed an authentic Jamaican lunch, and had our afternoon free to do with it what we pleased.

We as a group decided to put our hiking shoes on and take a trek a little ways down the mountain to check out the retaining wall that our church's team worked so very hard on last year. The hike was just breathtaking, what with all the tropical flowers, native to that area, the landscape, etc. I really enjoyed getting out there and working up a sweat, being in the tropical sun, enjoying God's creation. It was incredible.

After our walk, we all headed back up to the west side of the lodge, each found a spot in the sun, and soaked it up for a couple of hours while talking and getting to know one another a bit better. Dinner came soon afterward, and then a prayer session with the staff and our missions team. As the evening wore on, some cool weather greeted us: I couldn't believe it, but as we played cards and drank some more world-famous Blue Mountain coffee after prayer time, I was in capris and a long-sleeved shirt! In Jamaica! But truly, in the mountains, it's hot during the day, and chilly at night. It was great sleeping weather though!

As the night drew to a close, we decided to continue our Phase 10 game the following evening, as we were all still a bit jet-lagged and ready for another good night's sleep. We all said our "goodnights", and headed off to our respective rooms. The walls were uncomfortably thin, and we could all hear each other as we settled in: but as we all quieted down, all that was left was the sound of dogs howling and crickets chirping through the un-screened windows.

Good night, Jamaica.