Back in the saddle

We're headed to Jamaica again very soon, and with the continuing cold weather and almost daily snow, the warm temperatures are welcomed. This time last year we were visiting Notre Dame and in hindsight I am not at all surprised that we experienced a major snowstorm during our visit. The winter hasn't been as bleak as I'd expected it to be based on that visit, but even so, I am glad to be flying into sunshine this coming Sunday. (Visitors and new friends have helped w/the bleak factor. Thank you!!)

This next trip to Jamaica will be different from the others, and I find it amusing that I've said almost that exact same phrase at the start of the last few trips. There are two major changes which make this trip significantly different from those of the past.

1) Just Ryan and I will be traveling to the Infirmary each day. We won't be accompanied by a team of volunteers. In the past we have always had 4-6, sometimes even 8 other Infirmary volunteers with us. It will seem a little strange to not have lunch with our handful of friends each day, but there is always something new to learn in the quiet ways of life. This will be a "quiet" week at the Infirmary.

2) Our dear friend Pearl, who had lived at the Infirmary for the last 12 years, passed away in early August 2007. At each of our visits we treasured spending time with her, visiting with her about her life, her concerns, and hearing about how she reached out to support other residents at the Infirmary. We anticipate a gaping hole in our hearts as the reality of her death sets in during our visit. (Especially me - Liz.)

We plan to spend our time in Jamaica conducting an informal "needs assessment" on behalf of the Infirmary staff. Our general goal is to carefully plan each successive step of this adventure of serving the Infirmary, to ensure that our service is truly beneficial to the Infirmary as a whole, and that each new implementation is sustainable into the future.

We don't want momentum to build up only to dwindle off after a few years' time and have begun to examine the ways in which we can better maintain consistent communication and relationships with those at the Infirmary when we are back home in the U.S.

During the last visit volunteer medical staff offered a class to Infirmary employees on common medical conditions (heart disease, diabetes, etc) and we discovered that while this type of professional information is helpful, there are other avenues where needs are still unmet. We want to understand these needs, document them, and look for ways to help staff and the surrounding community meet these needs.

In addition to spending time at the Infirmary, we will also spend time at a local school where I volunteered last year. The computer lab at the school is anticipated to open on March 10th so we hope to be of service to the staff in making this a reality.

And perhaps the largest difference anticipate during this trip is the flexibility to relax, enjoy visiting with our Jamaican friends, and spending time together. While our previous trips have been truly rewarding, they have also been very tiring! A lot of preparation beforehand, and coordination on the ground has made our volunteering possible, and we're glad to just "look out" for the two of us this time around! If there were a beach nearby and possibly someone to make me a daiquiri at the end of each day, it might almost pass for vacation. Okay, so that's definitely stretching it, but we are excited for a slower pace of service this time.

We'll post new updates to this blog as often as possible next week and we thank you in advance for your prayers, encouragement and support for our work in Jamaica! The blog you're reading now will get "the basics" but if you want a more detailed report and photos, please check our Jamaica Now blog.

We may also have some guest posts on the Jamaica Now blog if our "old" team members feel inspired. Keep your eyes open.

"Tonks Mon!"
Liz & Ryan