Day 8 – Westmoreland (Savanah la Mar)
You aren’t at a hotel set on the cliffs of Negril every day, and free from the mission rules precluding us from doing it, we got up at sunrise and jumped off the cliffs into the ocean. It was unbelievably fun and refreshing. The water was warm, and our cuts and scrapes only burned a little from the salt water.
There was also breakfast included with our stay, but the restaurant didn’t open until 8 am, and we needed to go. So we told them what we were doing there and begged our way into a to-go breakfast we could take on the road. The chef and staff were so willing to aid us in our efforts, and we were truly grateful.
As a team, we drove to the Hi Lo in Negril to once again load the van with groceries and household items to distribute. Sister Medley gave us a list of things, and we divided it up and, with the help of Hi Lo staff, filled our shopping carts. They even helped us box it up and load the van.
It was then that we had to say our first goodbyes since coming together. Bulkley and the Svensons had flights out of Montego Bay that afternoon. Chandan Vasnani, a wonderful member from White House, has a shop in Negril. Shawn and I met him on our first trip, and he arranged for them to be taken to the airport in Mobay. We also met Chandan’s parents, who work with him at the store, and they were lovely. Parting truly was such sweet sorrow.
Johnson, Anderson, and I set off for Sav in a van packed with relief and love. The three of us still sat together in the front seat, as we had done for much of the week, because brotherhood, that’s why. We rolled up to the chapel in Sav and waited for the Medleys, Smiths, and the young full-time Elders.
To the best of my recollection, we did not have a group of “old” missionaries come to the island while we were serving as full-time missionaries. We got to know the young elders a little bit and shared stories of the old days. The supplies were unloaded and arranged on a table to assemble the care packages. Elder Medley had to run to the store to get the bags we failed to bring, so there was a little delay there.
In the meantime, I got a call from my relatively new friend, Tray. Tray works for my friend Traci, who is also a member of my stake back home. Tray lives in Sav, and I met her on my first trip back to the island in November. She asked for a care package for her neighbor up the road. We quickly loaded two care packages in the van and drove to meet Tray. She took us to the humble dwelling of this 84-year-old woman named Indiana. Side note, it was remarkable how many Jamaican women in their 80s we met and served. From the moment she stepped off her porch to meet us at the gate, Indiana was praising God and evoking a blessing on us for our service. It was a sweet experience. We dropped Tray off back at her place and joined the group back at the chapel.
It was a short drive to our first stop, where we were clearing out a damaged house, salvaging what we could, burning the rest, and tearing down the unstable structure. The task was a lot, but we had many hands now with the addition of these young elders and President Smith and Elder Medley. Anderson even recruited two young men, who stood by watching us. We later learned that it was one of the new recruits’ birthdays and gave him some money because he wanted to buy himself a birthday cake.
An elderly man on the property really had a hard time letting go of things, even things that weren’t usable anymore. He kept taking things off the fire or protesting when we would put something in the fire. I felt bad for him, and we let him keep some things that there is no chance he’ll ever use. While we were working, I noticed a dog that looked like our old family dog, Teddy, so I sent pics to the family.
Besides the extra-large fire that burned so hot we couldn’t escape the heat except for one corner of the yard, the day was also really hot on its own, so there was a lot of sweating. Combining that sweat with the mud and mess on all the things we were carrying and we were all feeling pretty gross. That’s not even mentioning me getting stabbed in the chest with a rusty rod from a dilapidated mattress or wood shavings getting all over us (and down our shirts and shorts) from holding up the side walls while Anderson took a chainsaw to the building. It was less than desirable. Oh, and Elder Medley also knocked down a piece of the roof, and a cinder block fell from the sky and splashed mud all over him, so that was nasty.
Sweaty, dirty, and a little tired, we drove back to the chapel where Sisters Smith and Medley had made a wonderful meal. Chicken, rice & peas with mixed vegetables. Yes, please. It also highlighted how few vegetables we’d eaten on our trip. Yeah, your body needs vegetables…and fruit other than just the fruit you’ve had in liquid form.
President Smith took us around to check on several members who might need a care package or some help. After a while, we ended up way back in this community that we discovered hadn’t really been served. So we opened up the van, and many people came for what we could give: food, water, lanterns, filters, rope, tarps, and even sweeties. It was heartbreaking to run out and having people still wanting.
A woman called to me through a distant wood slat window, saying she couldn’t come out because she had hurt her leg and needed help. I grabbed a couple of water bottles and hiked around the back to meet her. She had her leg bandaged from a deep gash she received when a piece of her house blew off in the storm. I didn’t need to see the picture of the wound she showed me, but that happened. Anderson and Johnson joined me, and we had the thought to give her a blessing. I went back to the van to get my oil and thought we should have the full-time elders with us. I looked around and found they were sitting in their van up the road. I signaled for them to come, but they didn’t seem to understand the request, so Anderson, Johnson, and I administered a priesthood blessing of healing.
Anderson continued to minister to the woman, and Johnson came back to the van with me. I saw the elders still in the van and flew into dad mode. I marched over and tapped on the glass. They opened the door, and I told them to get the freak out of the van and be among these amazing people whom they were called to serve. They scamper out of the van and quickly began meeting and ministering. I gave out the last of the candy that my children picked out to send down with me to the kids in the neighborhood, and we loaded up and rolled back to the chapel to say our goodbyes to the amazing local leaders who had been such a support and strength to us, and we hoped they felt our love and support for them.
The sun had settled just above the horizon, and we thought our day was done, until we pulled into the parking lot and saw twenty or thirty young men gathered in a grassy field at the back of the church lot playing football. Johnson smiled, and we tried to forget for a moment we were no longer 19. We asked if we could get in on the next game and recruited a couple of the young elders to join us. My hope is that the impression we made on these young people was that of love, unity, and belonging, because it was certainly not that our football skills were noteworthy. The game ended with smiles and high fives; we won’t talk about the score.
One final group picture, and we bid farewell to the devoted servants of God, who have consecrated themselves in His service. It was a privilege to associate and serve with them. And Sister Medley would not have to drive with me anymore. Though I think she’ll secretly miss it.