Friday on the cruise:
Sitting on the pool deck enjoying the late afternoon sun. Shortly it will be time to get ready for our formal dinner. As much as I enjoy the dining with our friends from church I truly dislike having to cut the afternoon relaxation short to have time to prepare for early dining at 5:45 – this time of year, that’s the sunset hour…However this has been the only regrets on this most relaxing of all the cruises I've been blessed to sail.
We left Galveston Sunday in a rush. True to my habit I was still packing just hours before we were to leave. Fortunately the only item I forgot was sunscreen - actually I didn't forget it - we just ran out of time to make that last minute shopping trip on the way south . No worries, sunscreen is readily available in all the cruise shops for a simple swipe your "sea pass" to purchase ANYTHING on board! (Day of reckoning comes later!)
Sunday was the discovery day - discover your cabin, discover the location of the main dining, and most importantly the where’bouts of the free frozen yogurt machine as well as the free pizza. Yes, some things in life are truly free (or at least included with the price of admission!)
Monday morning we joined our fellow Calvary Chapel couples for a time of worship and morning devotions. Then it was on to continue exploring the ship and spending a little time on the deck poolside enjoying the Reggie band. Again, the afternoon was cut short as we donned our best clothes for the formal fine dining followed by evening entertainment. With the exception of dinner and show times we were on "island time."
Tuesday we
docked in Cozumel. We always enjoy returning here as its sorta our roots. April
1980 we honeymooned in Cozumel and each cruise year we like to scan the horizon
to search for "our" hotel. (It’s the small one in the center with the tiki huts – maybe that’s
what began my love for a tiki hut)
A lot has changed in 33 years - hurricanes as well as tourist industry growth. Yet the
downtown shops still have the same allure.
I love the colors of Mexico. In
years past I've come home with a collection of bags/purses or items to decorate
our tiki hut. This year I had no theme, no quest, no agenda for my shopping. I
reminded myself that I'd just bought a bike therefore forfeited my shopping
budget for something more lasting than bags or trinkets. I was doing pretty
good too until I saw it....the colors spoke to me, the price was right, But
just to be sure I passed it up not once but twice. If it was still there at the
end of the day it was "meant to be."
Yes. I'm going home with a sink! Not a kitchen sink, but one that I plan to have in my bathroom. Someday. The challenge is transporting it home! Pottery is fragile - and heavy!
Wednesday our port of call was Georgetown Grand Cayman.
Again, no agenda - just enjoy the island.
While walking down the city streets I spied a sign that said "artist here today - second story". We were at Guy Harvey's studio! I've always admired his work, but have not been privileged to own any, not even a T-shirt with his art. And there he was in his studio surrounded by his legacy of fabulous nature paintings graciously signing autographs. I quickly found a small 5x7 print for him to sign. My plans are to frame this to hang in the bathroom.
As exciting as this was I believe the highlight
of the day was finding a small cove where we could actually see the water and
stand on the shoreline. To say that the water is breathtaking would be an
understatement. We observed with wonder a local fisherman skillfully preparing
his catch – then throwing the discarded parts in the ocean where a school of
sharks were feasting. I'm not an expert on sharks but they reminded me of the
small nurse shark variety. Obviously they were more interested in being feed
fish parts than to be concerned with the snorkelers who happened upon them. I
was content to be on dry land!
The evenings on board are a blur of fine dining, fabulous shows and evenings visiting the various nooks and crannies with wonderful live bands, sometimes joined by new friends . Oh the joys of not setting an alarm in the mornings!
Thursday's
destination
was Jamaica. I have to admit I didn't have a lot of expectations for Jamaica.
In fact we were a little late in leaving the ship (as previously mentioned, no
alarms). However, Jamaica stole my heart.
Upon deporting at each of the destinations we are herded through what I call the "tourist trap" – the cruise line sponsored shops. This is a good thing as it allows those going on excursions to still shop some of the local fair. This was the plan for the day, just shop the tourist trap and perhaps go back to the ship and hang around the uncrowded pool deck. Well, through the years I've learned the word "flexible" ... Upon impulse we decided to take a trolley ride to tour the city.
Upon deporting at each of the destinations we are herded through what I call the "tourist trap" – the cruise line sponsored shops. This is a good thing as it allows those going on excursions to still shop some of the local fair. This was the plan for the day, just shop the tourist trap and perhaps go back to the ship and hang around the uncrowded pool deck. Well, through the years I've learned the word "flexible" ... Upon impulse we decided to take a trolley ride to tour the city.
This was the real Jamaica . We drove through
streets that would definitely be considered third world as well very colorful
homes with wrap around verandas, windows open with flowing curtains dancing in
the wind. Our tour guide enlightened us about local sayings such as explaining
"here in Jamaica we have no problems - only situations". She also
shared history of the island's plantations growing sugar cane for export and
the import of slaves to work the plantations. One such plantation owner was known
for treating his slaves with dignity and respect so much so that after the
emancipation his slaves chose to remain with him and to continue to work the
plantation. In my thoughts I concurred that this man must have been a Christian
and followed the teachings of Christ in treating your slaves well and even more
so if they were a brother in Christ. True of this man or not it was interesting
to learn that Jamaica has more churches per square mile than anywhere else in
the world. Of course the term “church”, I think, was used rather loosely
because she also mentioned that there were all faiths represented on the island
... And not all Christian.
Part of the tour included a stop at one of the historical churches where we were allowed to disembark to go inside as we did our best to shuffle past the street vendors. It's difficult sometimes to be in a strange country and discern if you are being taken for a con, especially when you see poverty around you.
We went inside and
learned several interesting facts about the church - viewing different
relics such as a hand carved lectern from beautiful mahogany . Our guide also
pointed out a painting on the side wall - from a distance it appeared to be a
painting of Christ but upon closer examination the picture was made up of
multicultural faces representing, perhaps, that no matter our nationality or
our status in life we are one in Christ.
I have to admit
viewing this was an emotional moment for me and I felt led to put a small
contribution in the offering box. A middle aged woman was standing at the
collection box and smiled as she nodded her thanks and "God bless" to
which I whispered "I will see you again in heaven" and she said
"Yes!"
Again I was a tad emotional and wanted to wipe my tears before joining my fellow tourists on the trolley. Prior to entering the church I has noticed a graveyard on the right side so I ducked that way to regain my composure. On my path to the graveyard I saw an old woman begging. As I quickly walked past her she pleaded "look at me, look at me” in a voice that reflected don’t ignore that you are walking past a person who needs help. I rushed past her. I wasn't being rude I just couldn't speak at the moment…
I went around the side of the church and took a picture of the goats on the grave markers as I discreetly opened my wallet for my return trip past the old woman.
She saw me coming back and pleaded once again holding out her hands. I took her hands in mine and that's when she felt the bill that I was passing into hers. Her pleads quickly turned to praise as she said "God bless you" and I replied "He already has". She continued to speak blessings over me and thanking Jesus. I began speaking to her and then offering prayers up to Jesus to bless her as the tears were steaming, now freely, down my cheeks .
Again I was a tad emotional and wanted to wipe my tears before joining my fellow tourists on the trolley. Prior to entering the church I has noticed a graveyard on the right side so I ducked that way to regain my composure. On my path to the graveyard I saw an old woman begging. As I quickly walked past her she pleaded "look at me, look at me” in a voice that reflected don’t ignore that you are walking past a person who needs help. I rushed past her. I wasn't being rude I just couldn't speak at the moment…
I went around the side of the church and took a picture of the goats on the grave markers as I discreetly opened my wallet for my return trip past the old woman.
She saw me coming back and pleaded once again holding out her hands. I took her hands in mine and that's when she felt the bill that I was passing into hers. Her pleads quickly turned to praise as she said "God bless you" and I replied "He already has". She continued to speak blessings over me and thanking Jesus. I began speaking to her and then offering prayers up to Jesus to bless her as the tears were steaming, now freely, down my cheeks .
Then I said "I
will see you in heaven one day."
Her reply, "I
am working to be there, I go to church all the time."
"No, it's not
working that get you there, it is a gift from God. Do you understand that? It's
a gift, you just need to reach out your hand and take Jesus."
“Yes, Jesus is
free".
My concern was did
she really understand? Was she misinformed that her salvation was
determined by what she did in this life (works) or had she really accepted the free gift of
salvation that only comes through Jesus. I will never know for sure this side of
eternity - but I am hopeful that I will see her again and somehow I feel that
we indeed were sisters in Christ. Just like that painting - different nationalities,
different situations in life, but one in Jesus.
At that point we
were both crying and hugging and I knew I had to go before the trolley left me.
I looked into her sweet face with those missing teeth and thought she was the
most beautiful woman.
Somehow I managed to regain my composure once again (sunglasses are wonderful things) and find my way to the trolley. As we drove off I searched for her near the building where I had left her, behind the street vendors. I saw her and saw that she was trying to move to a position to search the trolley for me too. Simultaneously we saw each other and waved the biggest farewell wave that continued until we were no longer in each other’s sight.
It was
then that I was reminded of my sweet Ma-Ma, who has been with Jesus since 2009.
Whenever we left her and my grandfather’s house after a visit we would wave out
the car window until we were out of sight while she would stand at the carport
and wave just as big and as long. It always brought tears to my eyes, as it
does now.
I think I could have just been satisfied with my morning encounter with my Jamaican Ma-Ma, but The Lord continued to bless our day. A crafts market, island music and dancers, and THE BEST souvenir ever - parrots for my own tropical paradise back home. I found the small one first and am pictured with the artist who carved it. My larger one was found later as I wandered the rows of the crafts market
Friday
was a day at sea, and as mentioned, formal night:
It is now Saturday afternoon as I have attempted
to continue my thoughts - it's not easy typing on the iPhone as I'm listening
to the poolside Jamaican band. The past two days at sea are a blur - a time to
recoup from the three days of ports of call as well as a time to reflect and be
relaxed and refreshed. Throughout the week we've shared times of worship, prayer, teaching, and
wonderful fellowship with our fellow Calvary Chapel couples and we've had some much
needed time to ourselves. The weather has been beautiful - but the further
north we are going to more I realize it’s still winter on the mainland.
I am thankful for the time away, and I am looking forward to coming back to "real life" hopefully a better person for having had this Caribbean adventure. I’ll leave you with the song now playing poolside …Don’t worry, be happy
Epilogue:
For those wondering
how I got my parrot home (grin)
