Christmas 2013

It is hard to believe, but I think that there is more poverty here.  Everything here is gated if it's halfway decent.  We have a man who lives just outside the gate of the chapel.  He has a tarp that he uses to cover his "house" and a couple of buckets that he uses to get water somewhere.  We've seen him washing his legs and I'm not sure, but I think he was changing clothes there one day- I didn't look.  I don't know where he gets the water.  He picks his stuff up and stashes it in the afternoon everyday a little before we leave the church.  I don't know where he stashes it either.  He's always clean and when we talked to him one day, he was very polite.  This is the way a lot of people here in Kingston live.  About 45% or more of the branch is unemployed.  I don't know what they live on. Food is often more expensive here than in the states and yet $600 US is considered a good salary.  Life is tough for a lot of Jamaicans.

This is out of context, but something I wanted to send you.  My blog, is going to be kind of hodge-podge I'm afraid.  I'll send stuff when I can and as I think of it.  I usually remember to tell people something when they ask or when they say something that makes me think of something to tell someone.

It was so good to talk to you all yesterday.  I really miss you all. One of the elders got my computer working better yesterday and I feel like a new person today.  I think I may be able to access some of the information that I'm supposed to be learning.  I also have a project to work on that gives me something productive to do. 

We went to the beach today and picked up some shells. We'll see if I can get them back in one piece.  The sea anemones are pretty fragile. 

My companion's daughter is planning to come to Jamaica in February.  I may go with her to the other side of the island with them.  I'd love to go in some ways, but I'm not sure I want to follow them around and even bigger, I have a hard time justifying spending $250 a night at the resort when I see people here who can't pay that for a month's housing and are living on the street. 

Still, I think if it were you coming, I'd want to go in a minute.  We'll see how this all turns out.

Give everyone hugs.  I love you all so much and hope you are all doing well.