Monday in MoBay

I don't feel like I have much to write this week, even though our lives are full of activity. Early in the week we met at a local "park" for a play date. There really are no parks with playgrounds, so we found a nursery/greenhouse/bar/restaurant/ice cream stand/events facility with a playground. Side note: There are quite a few combination business that have caught my attention. One common one is a car wash/bar. I have not seen a car wash without a bar.

On Thursday we said goodbye to Janice Kornelson. She had served at JRM for 19 months and we already miss her! She has impacted many little lives during her time here.

The girls joined me on Friday while I ran errands in town.

Friday evening Carrie & I had a date night. It was one of the most relaxing dinners we have ever had. We went to Houseboat Grill, which literally is a houseboat turned restaurant. We had a corner table by the railing, so we had water on two sides of us. Later in the evening there were fish swimming around and we also saw a jellyfish.

We had a day off on Saturday and spent most of the day at the beach.

There is an addition being added to one of the buildings here at JRM. It will accommodate a second staff couple. The way it is being built is unlike anything I have seen in the states. There is rebar in every block, there are poured concrete pillars throughout, each block is filled with concrete, and floor and walls are tied together with rebar as well. It will be the safest building on the property!

I have never really written about the weather here. So far it has typically been in the upper 80's with the humidity between 70-90%. I have only seen the humidity under 70% a few times. Often we get a thunderstorm in the afternoon, but the rain can be very spotty. Often you can see the sun shining somewhere while it is raining.

The girls have been wishing they could be home for the first day of school, but they are still enjoying their summer vacation while it lasts. We won't start school for a couple of weeks yet.

Sign of the week:

Thanks for your interest and your prayers!
Kevin

One month in...

It's hard to believe that a month has passed since we moved to Jamaica!
On Tuesday we went to the airport to welcome Rosetta Stoltzfus from Mifflinburg, PA. She will be serving as an Auntie at JRM.

I spent lots of time on the road on Wednesday and Thursday. We went to the Immigration office, so now we are officially aliens. We have the cards to prove it. :)

We had a staff day on Friday. We all piled into the bus (we would call it a van in the states), and went to visit Ramford White. He is a farmer that lives in the country about a 45 minute drive away. He is very knowledgeable about plants, fruit and anything related to agriculture. He is 76 years old, but is still very active and works hard. Oh, and he has no legs.

He remembered Heidi from when her family served at JRM, and he was happy to see her again.

 He showed us how pineapple (he called it sugar pine) grows.

 He harvested several coconuts for us. We sampled the coconut water as well as coconut jelly and meat.

 The coconut water got mixed reviews.

He cut several sugar cane and we all got to sample that as well.

 It was fun and informative, and we all enjoyed it!

Heidi Miller went back to South Carolina on Saturday after spending 4 weeks helping at JRM. She was a great help and we will miss her!
On Sunday we took a group picture of the JRM staff and children.

I will leave you with the sign of the week:

Have a great week!
Kevin

Goodbye again

Last week we had a goodbye that was an answer to prayer. Not that we are typically praying for people to leave...

The answer to prayer was that an adoption was finalized. We are excited that a little girl can have a forever family and be re-united with her brother. The transition and goodbye was sad and heart-wrenching, but ultimately this is what we are hoping and praying for each of the children in our care. We had ice cream cones (and tears) for our little farewell celebration.

This picture sums up how we all felt, smiling when we felt like crying.

One of the JRM children had a birthday last week, so of course, we had a birthday party. (Due to CDA regulations, I may not post names, ages, or birth dates of the children, sorry!)

On Tuesday, we had another goodbye. Audrey and Allison traveled back to the US. Audrey had come with us when we moved and had been here for 3 weeks. Allison Shenk had come for the final week and traveled back with her. They have been severely missed, although we are adjusting to life without a built-in babysitter. The last evening they were here, we spent some time up on the roof enjoying the view of the bay.

Last evening for staff night, we had a picnic on an abandoned road by the airport. The runway is on one side, and the ocean is on the other.

Guineps (g-in-up) are in season.

They are a little larger than a grape and are sweet/tart. You break the skin (typically with your teeth) and suck on the fleshy fruit inside.

It has a large seed on the inside, so you don't get much fruit, but they are delicious. There are 3 guinep trees on the property (that I know of).

This week we will welcome another Auntie, as the changes at JRM continue. Pray for the children through all these changes. They can't express themselves the way we can, and these changes bring out some behavior issues. Also pray for the Aunties as they deal with the children, as well as all the changes. Thanks for your interest and support. Without you doing what you do, we couldn't do what we do!
Have a blessed week!

More goodbyes...and some welcomes

We had another goodbye this past Monday. Katy Eash finished her term here at JRM and moved back to Jesup, GA. We will miss her, but want to bless her as she serves Jesus there. Thank you Katy for pouring your heart into your work here!

A youth group from Greensboro, NC was here and did a day camp at the church we attend. The kids went several days and enjoyed it immensely.

On Tuesday we welcomed Allison Shenk from northern Virginia. She is here to visit for a week, then she will be accompanying Audrey back home this coming week. The girls have been soaking up every minute with them, and we are all dreading their departure.

On Thursday we welcomed Sheri Peachey from Belleville, PA. She will be serving at JRM as an auntie. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of her to add.

On Friday evening we took advantage of our babysitters, and Carrie and I had a date night.

We got to have some family time on Saturday, and we spent some time at the beach.

I will leave you with the sign of the week. This was outside the restaurant where we ate on Friday evening.

Keep us in your prayers, as each day brings a new set of challenges. Today, the power was out for 7 hours. We never know what the next day will bring, and this next week looks like it could bring some changes with it as well. Thanks for taking an interest in the work here.
The Stutzmans