| February 23, 2007
Greetings from beautiful Jamaica!
I have just completed one week and two days of teaching art and
music to children age 3 to 12 at Iona Preparatory School. What
a range of age, knowledge, needs, and energy!
Many things have gone well since my arrival, but not everything.
For example, my flat wasn’t nearly ready for me when I arrived.
Thankfully, Joyce Williams, a PC(USA) missionary, took me under
her wing for a week, and on my eighth night in Jamaica, I spent
the night in my new home. It still needs some work—electrical
problems, leaky pipes, no hot water, the stove needs replacing.
Believe it or not, this is teaching me patience. Day by day,
I get more laid back. Jamaica moves at a slower and more relaxed
pace (except for the cab drivers). I am grateful for a home and
thank God for it, even with its quirks. I walk down the sidewalk
to my classroom and look at the sea from my veranda. So, all in
all, things are good.
Last week was an unusual one for someone from the United States.
Monday was “Sports Day” and track and field events
were scheduled all day. Cheerleading is one of the main events,
and it includes a great deal of dance and cheers about God.
At noon a cool front came in with some rain and the temperature
dropped so much that I actually put on a light sweater at school
for a few hours. The weather here is just it is in Houston—hot,
humid, and mosquitoes. But the lack of air conditioning makes
it hard on me. I bought a fan for my bedroom and plan on getting
another for the living area. A fan that sells in the United States
for about 30 dollars costs 50 dollars here.
Tuesday was a regular school day and was the last day of the
week. We are now mid-term. Our last school day is July 6.
Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, which is a national holiday in Jamaica.
The church service that was scheduled to begin at 9:00 actually
began at 10:03, which seems to be typical of laid-back Jamaica.
There was singing, preaching, lunch, more singing and a closing
at 5:00 p.m. What a day!
Updates
- When I was here before there was a girl who asked me if I
was coming back. Laura is her name. She is one of my students
and also took up the offering at church on Sunday.
- The boy who asked me to take his picture is named Numani,
and his mother is the Spanish teacher here at Iona.
I have 115 students without the benefit of supplies or materials.
The only instruments I have are the ones I brought with me. I
will send home requests for certain art supplies after we use
up what I have provided. I have faith that needs will be met.
The school’s copy machine needs replacing. The lowest price
for a new one suitable for school use is about $3,500. I have
no CD player to play music in my music room.
I see all of this need as a part of my mission. I am here to
teach art and music and to enhance the students’ knowledge
of Christ, his love, and the salvation that He offers. Also, I
truly believe I am here to see faith in action.
Iona’s motto is “With God all things are possible.”
We teach and live on that principle. This is my opportunity not
just to witness faith, but to be part of it. I am honored to be
a part of Iona—its struggles, hardships, and its triumphs.
I hope to have a phone and Internet access soon (I wrote this
letter by hand and sent it to the Mission Connections office in
Louisville) so I can send you photos.
Please continue to pray for me and for God’s mission here
in Iona. As much as I need your moral and financial support, so
does the school. We begin each day with 30 minutes of devotion
and singing praises to God. And God continues to bless us in many
ways.
In the belief that “With God all things are possible,”
Vicki Smith
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
246
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