| July 4, 2007
Greetings from hot, gorgeous Jamaica!
This is the countdown to the end of school—kids are out on July 3 and teachers on the 5th. Therefore, Iona is a very busy place as we prepare for end-of-year tests and graduation for the sixth-graders. Yesterday the sixth-graders received their test scores for high school placement—it was exciting for all. (Remember: high school here begins in seventh grade.) I am getting a crash course in the workings of high school placement and college education here. The teachers have a teaching certificate and many begin teaching at 19 or 20. Only in the last year has the Ministry of Education required teachers to get a bachelor’s degree in education. I believe this will greatly enhance education here. As it is, most students graduate and qualify for jobs worldwide; the changes in the works now will only improve the situation.
It is hot and rains a lot, which is typical of Jamaica’s coast in June. I have two fans in the house and now have one in my classroom due to the generosity of some concerned folks in Texas.
Several times I have had Saturday plans for the beach only to have it just pour down 15 minutes before time to meet my friend Yvonne to enjoy the afternoon. Today we are going to try Mahogany beach on the outskirts of Ocho Rios if it doesn’t rain. But, the dry hotter days of July are ahead so I am sure I can make up for lost time.
School and church activities abound. This past week I missed school to attend a meeting with the moderator of United Church in Port Maria. What a breathtaking sight. I sat on a pew on the second row and looked out over the Caribbean. In that view were gorgeous homes and metal shacks—the good, the bad, and the ugly. The meeting was meaningful and informative as we went over important parts of the synod’s decisions and actions in May. Probably 70 percent of the people in attendance had not attended any or much of synod meeting and seemed truly pleased to receive the update and information.
Yesterday evening at Immanuel we had a rally, which is a fundraiser for the church. Each guest church presents an item and then the guests pay for it so to speak. It is fun. This was to raise money for Immanuel to build a church hall. The amount raised in two hours or so was 1,150,000.00 Jamaican dollars (about $17,293). It is a nice sum to pay for whatever whenever. This rally event takes place throughout the island in most Christian churches.
After an interesting five months of making plans that never came to fruition, I am now going to be split between Immanuel and Boscobel (our sister church). It looks as though I will be teaching Sunday school and working with children’s choir. The needs are greater at Boscobel due to many more children in attendance. This will be interesting to try to be a part of both congregations, but I am sure it will be a blessing. Both churches are active and loving and, of course, share the same pastor, the Rev. Dr. Henroy Samuels. I am excited about this because after five months I have done only a few things at Immanuel and feel led to do more as my time clicks by.
Yesterday was graduation. I wish all of you could have been in attendance. Graduation from sixth grade here is as big as it is from twelfth grade in the United States. We spent part of last Friday and Monday in practice at Immanuel United Church. It was chaotic at times. With the entire school involved it gets rather loud at times, but we managed to be ready for the big day.
Graduation was scheduled Tuesday, July 3, at 2:00 p.m.. In true Jamaican fashion it began at 2:37. The audience was standing room only and talkative, to say the least. The graduates marched in with steps unlike our typical graduation march. Recorders and keyboard played the theme from “Chariots of Fire.” This was led by the third-grade teacher (the former music teacher). I led three songs. The combined kindergarten, first grade, and second grade sang a song to the graduates, as did grades three, four, and five. I also led the recorder group in “Ode to Joy.” The performances were well received and well done, thankfully.
It was a lovely ceremony lasting three hours. Besides graduation, many awards and prizes were received by the students. Prefects and Head Boy and Head Girl were announced for the coming year. It was exciting and quite an event.
Today is July 4. Happy Independence Day to all of you. I miss the celebrations, especially the fireworks! Today was game day at school. Many kids were absent, but I suspect they will attend the short day tomorrow for class parties. Friday is an island teacher trip and I will share that with you in my next letter.
So ends my first two terms (five months) at Iona Prep School. It has certainly had its ups and downs. The children are as children everywhere. On the worst days and the best I remember my call to teach and my call to mission. Sharing God’s love is a basic part of teaching in any situation and as important here as anywhere. There are several things on my agenda for the seven weeks we have off. My son will be visiting me for a week, I will lead the music in camp and vacation Bible school for Castleton United Church, go to the United States for two weeks, and then return to Jamaica for some rest and to get ready for a full year at Iona.
There are many unknowns for the new year for Iona. Money is always a problem, as is replacing the teachers who leave, replenishing supplies, etc. But after 56 years, the school and staff live by our motto, “With God, all things are possible.”
Vicki |
