November 2007

Greetings from the lovely rain-soaked island of Jamaica.

As I write to you I am recovering from dengue fever. I followed all missionary training advice to use insect repellent with Deet, sprayed myself, my house, and my classroom daily, but I got dengue anyway. For the most part, dengue is usually found nearer to Kingston, but since Hurricane Dean and the excessive rainfall of the past two weeks, cases are being found all over the island. It is miserable, to say the least, but I have survived.

The last few weeks have been exciting for my students and me. It has been a privilege to open a door for them into a world of which they knew little or nothing. That world is NASA and space exploration. Not long after I arrived in Jamaica I began to communicate with a friend of mine at our home church of Webster Presbyterian in Webster, Texas. That friend is astronaut Clayton Anderson, who just recently returned from 152 days in space, including a lengthy assignment on the International Space Station.

One day in class I mentioned how large God’s creation is and included all of space, mentioning I had a friend going up on the shuttle to the ISS in the summer. This was when I realized the complete lack of knowledge of space and space exploration. This became a part of my mission. We discussed planets, NASA, space exploration and the International Space Station’s significance. This was a golden opportunity to teach the importance of research into all God has given us, how countries work together and even live side by side in space to make life better, using the knowledge we are so blessed to have.

From here we decided to sing a song on tape and send it to Clay on the ISS. This was not an easy task, as we have nothing at school with which to do this. I spent days trying to get the local radio station to record us. I called all over the island and was nearing the end of ideas when I just casually mentioned to the high school principal what I needed. She had a small CD player, but it will record—the Lord works in mysterious ways for sure.

I taped a greeting to Clay, the kids sang a favorite Jamaican song, “Jesus’ Love is A’bubblin’ Over” and even included a special verse to Clay personally. A second grade student then prayed for Clay, his mission, and his family. I ended with a farewell and it was done. Off to Ocho Rios and DHL sent it on to Houston. The kids and I could not wait until the day we received a message from Clay on what it had meant to him. This was such a wonderful experience from “singing in space,” to learning about space and its exploration, to seeing children develop a love for a man they refer to as “Mr.Clayton.” But most important, it was a time to have children learn and discuss Earth, its people and how mankind should work together and “truly love one another.”

Jamaica is a bit cooler now, with Christmas trees showing up in storefronts and sales beginning. We will have a huge Christmas program for Iona at Immanuel United Church. I am busy now preparing each class with songs and other activities. Just like in the United States, it is a busy time and season here.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving, I will teach school in a warm climate and think of you with traditional dinners and family gatherings. I am thankful for so many things, and this year I add being here, its ups and downs, its lessons and the people. I wish for each of you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

God bless you.

In the belief that “with God all things are possible,”