Mosquitos 58, Jennie 2

Make that 59 with the addition of the bump on my right elbow.

We have these sneaky little beasts of mosquitos that seem to thrive in our living/dining room area, attacking while you’re on the computer or eating. Bugspray or not they’ve been feasting on every part of my body –face, thumb and sole of my foot included—and so far I’ve only managed to dispose of two of them. My legs especially resemble a bad case of the chicken pox, no joke!! Yikes! It could be worse. So far I’m winning the battle with the cockroaches, ants, spiders (I’ve even killed my fair share!), and well, the lizards and I have come to a temporary agreement at co-habitation. Welcome to the rainy season.

That being said, it’s high time I gave you some picture insight into my new home!
This is it! Brooke and I live here with the two dogs, Rex and Ramble, our sassy cat, Skitzo, and hummingbird, who has yet to be named—oh, and the assortment of mosquitos and lizards of course!

The Bus provides our transportation for large equipment, groups, and once a week, a few of our patients. Yeah, mon, we roll under the blood. Don’t you?  (I have yet to have to drive the Bus or the Bullet --our normal vehicle-- but I know the crash course in Jamaican driving is coming . . . )

The view behind the house is much more green with all sorts of fruit, veggie, and flower life! The big tall tree is loaded with pears (avocados) which I'm patiently waiting to ripen fully!!

Tour of our humble abode which just so happens to take very little time to thoroughly clean as I discovered on Saturday! A-mazing as you all know how I feel about dirt, especially the red dirt we have here. . .

My room, where most things have been put away. Please note the extra bed and the fact that I’m perfectly willing to give up the entire room when you come to visit!

The living/dining/office room

The bathroom

The kitchen

Rex (who can never sit still!)

Ramble

Our road, aka “The Grand Canyon”. Every time it rains more of the road gets washed away. It’s pretty crazy to see some of these vehicles go over this! Nothing I’ve seen on either coast can compare. In the background you can see the basketball court and top unfinished level of the community center. Miss Anna's driveway is across from all of that.

Friday night we had the missionary family and their visitors down to Miss Anna’s for a true Jamaican meal. It was a feast of curried chicken, bread fruit, rice, and pumpkin soup, all topped off with cake, watermelon, and cantaloupe. Yum-yum.

This is a cake-slathered Moriah—Lindsay and Rodney’s youngest (the missionary family)—who is quickly stealing a piece of my Jamaican heart. Especially when she’s covered in frosting and pink cake.

I managed to get the high chair while Katie got the low one. . .accentuating our natural height differences even more. Fantastic.

My favorite time of day? Morning coffee and devos on the back step. This is my view—with the bonus of a sunrise and mountains when it’s not overcast or foggy (aka all that gray stuff turns into something surreal)! Pretty awesome, right?

It’s been a wonderful wet weekend. Relaxed enough for me to really start to feel like I’m settling in, but busy enough to keep things interesting.

Tomorrow brings my first day in the clinic with Brooke, Katie and Sarah. It’ll also be my first full day as an official PT ever (and bit of a clinical instructor)! The taste of PT I had on Friday with Miss Deir at the nursing home was a great reassurance that I’m where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’ve been gifted and love to do!! I look forward to this week and all it brings with a full schedule in the clinic. We’ll also be helping out the missionary family and their volunteers as they put on a week long evening community bible school.

Ah ha. Got it. There’s now one less mosquito to deal with. Point Jennie.Woohoo. I’m hoping to post some additional pages or links to info on mailing to Jamaica and a few other things. Have a blessed week!

Likkle mor (translation: little more or until later).