Negril or bust!

Hey everyone, this is Garrett once again here to update you on our day. A few announcements before I update you all on our amazing last day of official service in Jamaica. 1. We will be leaving for Negril tomorrow morning and will be staying there for the rest of our trip. Sadly we will have no internet while staying there so this seems to most likely the last blog from Team Jamaica (I am sure someone will do a wrap up blog so breathe easy readers). 2. We arrive in LAX at 8:05 on the 2nd so please remember to pick us all up. Please. (GG the team is on countdown mode until we all get to meet the woman behind the amazing blogs).

Now for the blog, as I stated earlier today was our last day and all of us were in disbelief that this amazing trip is coming to an end. We continued our routine of going to schools in the morning and singing some songs as well as performing skits for the little tykes. The two skits we performed were a nerd version of David and Goliath as well as an orange skit that represents the world’s painful toll on a person’s heart and the healing that Jesus and only Jesus brings. Both of these skits were performed to perfection due to the amount of times we have practiced and performed them and it was nice to leave it all up on stage for one last time. After the morning devotions to the school kids we headed back to our home away from home and while some chose to recharge with a nap, others elected to take advantage of the few precious moments of sunshine and head to the beach. After our afternoon break had expired we headed to the after school program we have been helping at and enjoyed exploring our artistic side through crafts, as well as play a few games (the kids favorite being heads up seven up). When the clock expired we were done and we left the after school program knowing that we had done some good in the name of someone who had done more good for us then we can ever comprehend (you know that guy, sweet beard, walked on water, and let’s not forget He died on a cross for us). Luckily for us just because our official ministry had ended that did not mean our adventure had. While driving back to Fair Haven we were forced to find an alternate route home due to the rapid rainfall that had caused former streets to become raging rivers. Luckily for us all our driver Chris is extremely talented and maneuvered through the streets/ rivers with ease and we even had some entertainment on the drive back thanks to some visiting tourists. Day turned to night and soon we found ourselves enjoying our last supper at Fair Haven that the amazing cooks had treated us to. After dinner most of us walked downtown to do some last minute shopping for ourselves as well as those we have been separated from for three weeks. Once we arrived safe and sound back at Fair Haven from our shopping spree, our leaders sat us down for a particularly unique team meeting. Instead of recapping the day like we usually do, we each shared our favorite memories of one another throughout the trip. This lasted for quite some time as we all have many great memories from these three weeks and when it finally ended each of us felt greatly appreciated by our fellow team members. So this is the end, from here our trip moves to Negril as we relax and hopefully enjoy the sun (yes it is still pouring here….for the third straight week). I think it is fair to say that we all have had an amazing time over here and will leave this country better than when we entered it. To the families and friends out there who cannot wait to see us, I assure you the feeling is mutual and we all cannot wait to enjoy your company again. As I wrap up this blog I would like to thank each of you who read and posted on this blog whether it was once or daily. To know that we are loved and supported while we are far away from both family and friends has kept us going throughout these three weeks. I ask that as always you keep us in your prayers as we enjoy our final days in Jamaica and travel home, also please continue to pray for the people of Jamaica who we have been able to get to know through this trip.
One Love,
Garrett

P.S. The beard growing has sadly ended due to Tyler and Sam electing to shave their masterpieces. Final results have been posted for your viewing pleasure.

Madre, Padre and Brookes: I cannot wait to see you all and catch up with everyone. Dad I am hoping that you will be able to drive back with me and I will call you once I am at Phin’s to see if that worked out. Love you all.
Sarah: For starters, happy belated birthday and like I said we will celebrate it when I am back. It has been great to read all of your comments and like always you never fail to make me laugh. Hope all is well and I look foreword to seeing you and catching up.
Joe: It is great to hear from you and I cannot wait until I get to see your beautiful face this summer when you visit.
Jillian: I can’t tell you what a pleasant surprise it was to get your comment and I can’t wait to see you when I am home. Hope you had a blast at Ball and that you are doing well.
Mel: Sorry I did not get the blog address to you before I left and it was great to see you managed to find it anyway. Hope you are doing well as I am sure you are and it will be great to see you when I am back.
Mrs. Tag: We were travel buddies until you forgot to take me to Hawaii…twice. But no worries they have these huge fist-sized spiders here and I made sure to capture one for you so you would have a piece of Jamaica. It was great to hear from you and I can’t wait to see you when I am back so we can continue to harass each other. Hope you are not worrying about JD too much.