Greetings From Jamaica! Pt. 2

So I know I haven't written in what possibly could be AGES, but I'm sure (at least I'm hoping) that you all have forgiven me, considering what I've been up to lately. And for those of you who are on my mailing list, you have recieved your weekly updates, and have been kept abreast of my adventures since I arrived here - so you shouldn't be TOO mad at me!

For those of you who aren't on my mailing list, please feel free to email me your address, and I'll add you, OR, you can wait for the day to day journal entries that will begin once I return home.

For now, I thought I'd give you a bit of a visual in terms of what I've been experiencing here in Jamaica:

The view from my front porch.

My roommate. She's sweet.

A cool cloud formation after a storm: also a view from my front porch.

Port Royal: home of "Pirates of the Caribbean" - the real thing. These are the original cannons from the 1700's, still pointing out to sea, when the pirates were basically running the Caribbean Sea.

The girls had a little Christian/Reggae dance party at the missionaries house (which is only a flight of stairs down the complex from where they live.)

One of our boys was in the hospital last week: a few of us went to go see him. As you can see, his pneumonia was subsiding by this point. :)

Doesn't he just have the cutest smile in the world?

...Or maybe this one does. This little guy just asked me yesterday to "be his mommy for forever". Can you even stand it?! He is SO sweet...

A sunset from the property. Overlooking the not-so-glamorous Kingston.

So there you have it! So much has been going on lately, but it's waaaay too much to tell all in one post. But please remember that I greatly appreciate your prayers, and I hope to hear from you in comments and emails! I miss you all!!

In Him,

~Stephanie

Hello From The Caribbean!!!

Hey everyone!

Thank you, first and foremost to all of you for your prayers and support!
It's wonderful knowing that all the hard work, prayers, encouragement, and
support (on everyone's behalf) finally paid off!

Things here are wonderful - it's almost surreal, in a way... I just can't believe I'm finally here!! It's been a fairly easy transition thus far,although our first workday (yesterday) with the kids in school was simply
EXHAUSTING!! I was actually in bed - IN BED - by 8:45pm! The kids are
wonderful though, full of joy, excitement for a new school year (and new
teachers :), and are a joy to be around and work with! What I've really
enjoyed is seeing how God is infused in EVERYTHING they do here: from
prayers before every meal, to prayers and devotions before class, and before
bed - God is everywhere here, and it's SO amazing!

The weather has been quite soggy - it's still beautiful and sunny part of
the day, but we've had storms roll through both days now (pretty typical of
the Caribbean this time of year from what I hear). The creeping critters
has been my biggest adjustment: we've already had a couple of visitors in
our little apartment - a three in long grasshopper, and a lizard which found
his way into my bedroom. (Eeek!)

But overall, I'm loving getting to know the people and the kids, and the
missionaries as well (who are both just wonderful!). Once I'm a bit more
settled in, I'll write more. But for now, I have to head down to help the
kids with homework.

I hope all is well!!

in Him,

~Stephanie