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Sorry about the lack of postings... For more shorter trip quips check twitter. I use it to remember little things, follow me: mdavisgunter

Techno-frogs, country-crickets and snoring in stereo (and bar.)

Just so my fellow bloggers don't feel bad that we all seem to be slacking. . . I have been the worst. Matt posted a terrific narrative for the first part of the trip through the eyes of a first-timer. And Senimenal was just as promised with her report on a life-changing day in her fourth year here.

Well, I am in year-three and all I can be brought back to is year-one.

It starts with the initial trip to get to Jamaica in the first place at the hotel in Atlanta. I was in a hotel room with my dad and another team member who shall go unnamed, unless you ask nicely. Both men are snorers. I am not talking the sawing logs sort. . . no dear readers, I am talking the 'forgot I was at a hotel just next door to the world's busiest airport' sort. It was like a contest to see who could go the loudest. I did not sleep a wink. Rather I stayed up all night readling under the light of the bathroom sink and finally retiring to the lobby to continue contemplating how I would make it through the next days busy travel. I stayed up all night and slept on the plane: problem solved and I think I started a tradition. Even though I do not have the same roomies. . . staying up beats sleeping 2 hours any day.

Unfortunately the two snorers in question are once again in the same hotel room with me. At least this time I have suite doors and a swwet sound to help me catch some z's.

Enter now, what some have started to call the Jamaican Symphony Orchestra. (Okay maybe that's just me.) In a hotel room in Mandeville, Jamaica with little glass for windows, the "sounds of the night" can be a little overwhelming. I am not talking about screams, shrieks and police sirens. I am talking about all God's little creatures, frogs, toads, lizards, crickets and what ever else might make a sound after the sun sets in the west.

My first night here in 2007 I thought, "I cannot tolerate this, there's no way I can sleep." And I didn't that night very well. Night two: Same noise, but I slept like a baby. I have nothing scientific on this but I think it's how you catch the start of the repetitive symphony that you respond to it. If you say "1234, 1234, 1234, 1234, " it is orderly and pleases the ear. But now take, "2341 2341, 2341, 2341, 234," same order of the numbers but a different start point and it sounds a tick off. I think if I catch the sounds at the wrong time they sound like country got techno pregnant and they had a musical mutant. But if I start right, the almost electronic-orchestra from God. (No nothing to do with Jeff Lynn or E.L.O., sorry.)
The point being (about darn time there TinMan) a different perception on anything will indeed affect the way you sleep. May all your crickets/frogs/cats/toads sing happily. -tm

PS Sorry I haven't posted and photos. I am still a film guy. Check Matt for the photographic evidence. I will post mine when I et back from the Walgreen's one-hour.

And now we're off.

We have arrived, at least in Atlanta and are one step closer to Hanbury. The group had dinner at the same Ruby Tuesday, joined by special guest, Miss C. It was great to see her and I hope it was good for her to see an old friend in Rev. Mike Spivey. To the point, this (Tuesday) was unofficially the "first day" of the "Best Trip Ever!" After dinner we played some games and talked about the trip to come. Knowing we would have all day to sleep Wednesday, LMS and I stayed up all night. Using about 2 pots o' coffee from the "Affle House" across the street and the help of our waiter Rico. Thank you wild man with wild hair. We all made it through the night. -tm

And we're (almost) off.

It was a busy Sunday at SPUMC. Celebrating our country's birthday. A country that says we have the right to worship as we choose. (It's a 'right' folks. That means the government doesn't give it to us, nor can they take it away.) We also had Holy Communion today. But the topper was the Commissioning of our Jamaica Mission Team on the "Best Trip Ever!" The congregation agreed to think of us while we were gone and presented each of us with a small wooden cross, a cross I will hold dear. And it goes well with the yellow day-glo shirts we will wear on travel days. So bright it lights up the passenger cabin of an airliner is lit and my little LG Versa 2.0Mp camera just can't take. I think we are all psyched to go even though our "fearless leader" mentioned a "jumbo jet falling from the sky" not ten seconds into his sermon. Thanks Mike. This Tuesday we will be on the road to Atlanta then the next day aboard a jumbo jet (hopefully not falling from the sky) and to a bus driven by the ever-vigilant Fernando to the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville. It is now all about relationships. . . we got the cash thing figured out.

About this time next month several of us will be sitting in a small conference room at the Red Roof Inn near the JHIA. We will be talking about what the week to come involves. The most important thing will be "Reltionships!" I hope we all get this idea despite the need to, paint a dorm, build a fence, dig a ditch et al. One more month folks. And we need 60 more plates. If you see some. buy them. If you need to know what they look like I can send you a photo. - TM

The Ball Is Rolling. . . Fast!

Yes, the ball be rolling on the ol' St Paul UMC Jamaica Mission Trip. This is year three for me and at times I thought the huge ball from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" chasing Indy might hit us and ruin everything. First, people dropped out by the truckloads and we were down to a little more than a dozen. Next, no hotel in MoBay and no driver. All of those problems have since been resolved and we are running at full speed away from the ball. 5 weeks to the day and we will be on our way to blue oceans, white beaches and the ever loved smiling faces at Hanbury Home. Hotel - check, driver/guide - check. Suitcase packed - chec. . . I'll get back on that one.