Jamaica, Fall 2008 SST unit

"Soon Come"

26 Nov 2008 19:02 EST

Maranatha School for the Deaf in Top Hill

13 Nov 2008 21:36 EST

Rachel and Brett are serving at Maranatha School for the Deaf at Top Hill, Jamaica. The school literally sits on top of the hill, providing gorgeous views of St. Elizabeth, Jamaicaâ€™s Garden Parish, in every direction. Administered by Jamaica Mennonite Church, the school has 22 students, some of whom live at the school and others who commute...

Service visits near Montego Bay

6 Nov 2008 15:19 EST

Pat and Felicia visited with Emily and Jessalyn as well as Anna P. and Deb on Tuesday of this week. Emily and Jessalyn are working at the Carribean Christian Centre for the Deaf in Montego Bay. Anna P. and Deb are serving at the Jamaican Christian School for the Deaf in Lethe. We ate together at The Pelican in Montego Bay, sharing experiences and highlights...

Service Assignments Begin

3 Nov 2008 08:53 EST

Students are now in their second week of service at schools that are spread through out the island. Tom Meyers (Director of International Education) has visited half of the students in the unit this week while Pat McFarlane has returned to Goshen to attend to some personal matters. The week started with a visit to the Deaf Village where Charity ...

Goodbye Mandeville

19 Oct 2008 01:33 EST

Tonight the students welcomed all of their respective host families along with the local coordinator and local taxi drivers to Mandeville Bible Chapel for a special good-bye presentation. Doug emcee’d the event and guests were treated to a host of performances: from Hilary and Deb explaining the many meanings of Jamaican horn honking, to the entire...

Goodbye Dinner at Bloomfield Great House

18 Oct 2008 11:25 EST

Today we said goodbye to our Jamaican Sign Language teachers with a special lunch at the Bloomfield Great House. Charity thanked Felicia Campbell for her excellent teaching and noted how easy it was to come to class because the teacher had a smile on her face and prayers in her heart for the students. Anna S. thanked Nicola Foster for coming from St...

Final SST Presentations

16 Oct 2008 19:44 EST

Jamaican weddings, Jamaican fruits, Bob Marley, Rastafarians, cricket â€“ these final presentation topics engaged our peers as we watched a brief reenactment of a Jamaican wedding, tasted Jamaican fruits, listened to Bob Marleyâ€™s lyrics, learned that Rastafarians worship Haile Selassie, and practiced our batting skills in cricket. These...

To Kingston Town

8 Oct 2008 21:00 EST

YS Falls

6 Oct 2008 20:50 EST

After spending the morning at Appleton Rum Factory, we spent the afternoon at YS Falls. We climbed the path alongside the falls, enjoying the beautiful pools of water and the different levels of the falls. Emily ziplined from the top of the falls to the bottom, an adventure she will always remember. Meanwhile, Angie decided to jump in the water below...

Appleton Estate

2 Oct 2008 18:13 EST

We visited the Appleton Rum Factory on Tuesday morning where we learned about the process of turning sugar cane into rum. Learning about the importance of sugar cane and its products to the British Empire helped us to understand why the fight for the abolition of slavery was so long and hard. We watched as the sugar cane was pressed to provide the ...

Sun Valley Plantation

28 Sep 2008 19:58 EST

WalkersWood

28 Sep 2008 17:34 EST

Thursday found the group embarking on yet another adventure. After meeting bright and early in downtown Mandeville we set out on a three hour trek to WalkersWood Jerk Seasoning Factory. Along the way the students got to experience the beauty of Jamaicaâ€™s mountains, though they also had to endure the winding mountain roads. Once they arrived...

Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf

18 Sep 2008 21:14 EST

Wednesdays at the Goshen House

18 Sep 2008 18:18 EST

Every Wednesday the students meet at the Goshen house for lunch and a needed time of devotion and to talk with one another. The students use this time to relax, and reflect on our experiences each week. The first lunch was stuffed bell peppers and for dessert, cupcakes! The first devotion was led by Brett, and songs with Charity. The students were ...

Mandeville Here We Are!

8 Sep 2008 22:26 EST

Doctor's Cave

8 Sep 2008 22:17 EST

The sun rose bright and clear for the studentsâ€™ first full day in Montego Bay, Jamaica! The students head down to their first orientation day with huge smiles on each and every face.(Maybe they remembered Doctors Cave Beach was todayâ€™s planned visit!)Antsy in their seats, waiting to be dismissed to put their sun block and swimsuits on...

Students Arrive!

8 Sep 2008 22:03 EST

August 31, 2008 Tragedy of Hurricane Gustav

3 Sep 2008 12:54 EST

Hurricane Gustav has come and gone in Jamaica, and unfortunately brought along sustained winds of 75mph ripping down power lines, and pounding down rain all throughout the island. Worst of all, Gustav has taken 11 lives in Jamaica and that would make the total Gustav death toll 72 throughout the Caribbean. Hurricane Gustav is now on its way to Louisiana...

August 28, 2008 Hurricane Gustav Warning

3 Sep 2008 12:46 EST

We wake up to a drizzly and grey morning, news is spreading that hurricane Gustav seems to be getting worse, so we've been advised to get to Mandeville as soon as possible. Our driver Gary was kind enough to test nature from Mandeville to pick us up. Though our minds were on the hurricane, we couldnâ€™t ignore the scenic beauty that Jamaica...

August 27, 2008 Dinner in Jamaica

3 Sep 2008 12:41 EST

Leaving the airport, we stepped out into a warm evening in Montego Bay, with sounds of Dancehall music blasting from car speakers, honking horns, and the patois from the locals, “Taxi, taxi yuh waan taxi?” We hopped in a cab for our first nights stay in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Arriving at Toby’s Inn, we enjoyed the cozy night by sitting in the...