Jamaica travels-- reflection on my times in Jamaica

This is my 3rd time to Jamaica 🇯🇲.  I posted on social media that every time I have been here, it has been in March. The 1st trip was a short term mission trip with Bryan College and Covenant College, together on a spring break "Break for Change" trip in the 1990s. We were working with CCCD. We stayed in the mountains, on what is now the Jamaica Deaf Farm. We did construction work there and visited the school in Montego Bay. We cut bamboo for the septic system.

My 2nd trip to Jamaica was part of a cruise for our anniversary 6 years ago. We did a river rafting thing on bamboo rafts.

This 3rd trip is a family event with the kiddos, most of them. We are staying in Negril. There is bamboo all over the property. Every trip to Jamaica has been in March and has involved bamboo. Hmmm.

This trip has also involved Woodstock.  Who knew I would be in Woodstock a 2nd time, this time in Negril. 

I didn't attend the Woodstock festival in NY. It was a tad before my time. However, when I lived on Long Island, we did go tent camp there and explore the town. 

Woodstock Negril has a great vibe and was a great place to spend two of our beach days.

It has been a great trip. Maybe I will write more about this beautiful place. 

We'll see.

Now it's time for adventure. 

Deb

Beach and Bamboo

This get-away spot has the best of all the worlds-- there is beach, bamboo, breezes, sun, shade at times, good food, beautiful flowers, and a few cool birds and other creatures. 

Last night on the walk back from dinner, I saw a huge toad on the sidewalk. No photo.

I have only heard the woodpecker in the bamboo until today. It flew off and went to a tree. It was a red-headed one. Look closely and you might find it.

There have been some lizards.

I have listened to the wind blow through the bamboo.  I have heard the gentle waves on the shore. 

I have heard the gentle rain and the downpour. 

It has been a time to breathe in and breathe out.

Jamaican time. It is allowing my body to rest and my soul time to catch up. 

It has offered me time to walk, play in the water, rest (even taking naps), and time to simply be.

Good coffee has been a plus, as has good food. 

There have been some hearts seen. 

Grateful for this time away.

Here are some random pics of flowers.

My time here in Negril, Jamaica 🇯🇲 along the 7-mile Beach has been good for me.

Until next time,

Peace on the journey. 

Rev. Deb

Time Away at the Beach... though a working vacation, my soul found rest.

Cape San Blas, FL



view of the beach

view of the dunes and beach from the condo

I spent last week in Florida on Cape San Blas.  It was a quiet and beautiful get-away!  There weren't many people on the beach, the weather was perfect (until the last night), and there were opportunities to take a sunset cruise, a snorkeling trip, do some shopping, walk along the beach, collect some sea shells, get in one TaeKwonDo workout on the beach, sleep in, rest, visit with some friends, make some new friends, and how can I forget?!?!  Get my final paper written for the semester for one of my seminary courses!!!

Though this time was not designated as personal retreat time, there was some time for thinking (besides that for the paper!) as well as some time for silence and solitude (primarily on the beach or while snorkeling). 

It was good to not have to worry about any of the regular responsibilities of life (other than my school commitments) and to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the surf!

Breaking one's typical daily rhythm in order to slow down and minimize one's focus is an important part of the journey. 

For me, being able to wander along the shore watching the creatures attempt to burrow as quickly as they could was a joyous activity.

 

As was collecting some shells while snorkeling and taking pictures of sunsets, sandcastles, and shells.  Even with my paper, I was able to slow down and relax.  That is pretty major for me. :)



There was a wedding on the beach while we were there, so I was able to get some pictures from a safe distance of that too. 

 

 

Time away.  Time to just "be" without having to necessarily "do".    

Some of the "doing" involved shopping, Taekwondo, playing Mexican Train dominoes, walking along the beach shore, playing around in the waves, snorkeling, taking a sunset cruise.  Both the sunset cruise and the snorkeling trip were taken through Seahorse Water Safaris.

                           

 

  

 

There were some serendipity moments during the trip as well as some deep, inner peaceful moments through which God poked me and reminded me that He does care, He is paying attention, and that things are going to be okay. 

All I know is that it was an uphill battle for quite a while for me to even be able to go on this trip, but it was worth all the effort, trouble, and prayer that went into it. 

This was one of those trips that you tuck away in your memory for a lifetime.  This was a road trip taken with friends to get away.  No agendas (except for the paper this time). 

There is another trip like this one that I got to take many years ago (mid 80s) prior to marriage and child.  Though the responsibility list in life wasn't as high as now, it was still a wonderful get-away trip to a beach area with a special friend.  The trip?  Cancún, México.  The friend? My Spanish-speaking first cousin Michelle.  That was a great trip!  

Have you taken some time to get away recently?   Whether for relaxation or personal retreat, time away to a peaceful destination will calm your soul.

May there be some peace and calm in your journey,

~Debra

TaeKwonDo workout.  Stretching prior.  No--the truck did not run me over. :)

 

Punches to warm up arms before practicing form and doing E-CAS.