Confirmation

This morning I awoke with a potpourri of emotions. Today I am leaving Barbados and returning home. 

I am down because I have fallen in love with these precious people here and cannot imagine not seeing them now regularly. These brothers and sisters of mine have a dear place in my heart and I will deeply miss them. 

I am confused...I came here thinking I would be returning in January for an extended stay but through these last few days Father has shown me it is not His timing. I was so certain and had begun planning my life accordingly. It's funny isn't how we hear one thing from Father and then take off running with it. 

I am excited... I have not a clue what to expect in this next phase of my life but I am certain it will be glorious because Christ is guiding me. 

I am at peace... While I may not be coming back as I had expected, I am certain I will be back in some way. I have met a dear sister Emily and have struck up quite a lovely relationship with her. This morning we went to grab a coffee and I was so encouraged by her. 

These last two weeks have been filled with an abundance of blessings and things I will never be able to describe, but I will step onto the plane today at peace and rejoicing for the journey and dialogue I have had with Father. My hope in His perfect will and unobtainable mystery has been strengthened and I rejoice in the knowledge I cannot comprehend Him.

Pictures

Here are a few pictures of the ocean I have promised! 

A beautiful view of the south tip of the island

A cove on the east coast

The Crane

Every morning I wake up around 6:45am. I do what little can be done to ones self in such humidity and I make my way down the stairs. I can here chatter and laughter coming from the living room. I fill a bowl with Raison Brain, grab a spoon and head in there to join them. Our conversations usually consist of 

a) the different things we are noticing about the Bajan culture

b) poking fun at one another (in a loving and Christ like way of course!)

c) last but not least.... Jesus. 

Yesterday we made our way to a store called "Price Smart" which is much like a Cosco to pick up staples items for slightly cheaper. Everything in Barbados is almost twice the price of things in the States. Because they import almost everything onto the island the cost of living is much more expensive. 

As happens most evenings after dinner, we sit around and talk about Jesus, community, what it means to be free, etc... i find it fascinating. You will most likely find me curled up in a chair, taking it all in. I usually process what is going on and then three days later after I have processed what has happened am ready to talk about it and give my opinion. 

Last night we went to the beach for the first time in over a week. It is the rainy season here on the island so the sunshine is a treat! Every time I'm in the ocean I get this crazy feeling. I always think "it is wierd i am floating in the middle of the ocean and right now I am not on any continent I am just floating atop the earth.... strange." I had that feeling again last night as I swam in the Caribbean Sea looking up at the beautiful clouds. 

For those of you who tease me about finding a husband here. Well if all that mattered to me was finding a cute, black man with an accent I would have been married yesterday....twice. I guess it's a good thing I would also like my husband to love the Lord! :)

Today we have our first class. I am very excited to see the ladies today! I love these women and am looking forward to getting to know my dear sisters better. 

Tomorrow is a day of exploration! I cannot wait! I will become very trigger happy I am sure and will have lots of pictures to share!

Until next time!

Community

Today was the last day of the second Wave Retreat. There were six participants in this one and it was a mixed group. Every group is different and every time I go through one of these and hear people's stories I am refreshed and encouraged. 

Every story is so unique. Some are tails of great tragedy, some are tails of joy, but all are tails of hope and restoration. 

This past retreat's theme was "Free to Receive". I am amazed how God puts people in each others lives at the perfect moment. I love watching God do a work in their lives through getting to know one another in a matter of hours. Only God can put six people together in such a way, He loves them to revelation through community. 

Here's a picture of The Wave #1 

Thank you all for your prayers!

Through My Lens

I awoke this morning to birds singing and sunshine for the first time since I have arrived. It has been raining pretty much non stop this week. Not just showers here and there, but severals hours of good down pouring; so this morning was a welcome sight to behold. 

Here are a few of the sights I have seen along my journey here. 

These two ravens were perched on a a wire carrying on a conversation with each other. They were very animated. It was quite a sight to behold. 

A lighthouse near our house. It was quite small but very beautiful.

The closest I have been to the ocean since my first day on the island. 

The Wave # 2 Retreat

The Wave Retreat Number 1

Starting Tuesday evening the first of our three retreats began. It was our first all women's group and it was glorious. These women are amazing! Over the last three days I have heard ten stories of how Father will NOT stop His pursuit of us! The stories were incredible. I was overwhelmed as I listened to these women share their hearts and what the Lord had brought them through. I was struck this weekend by how God found these women and met them in such unique ways! 

It is still hard to put into words what I experienced this week as I am still processing, but there will be more to come! 

A Tale of Three Cities

These are a few of the adventures I have already experienced since arriving yesterday. If the next two weeks are like this, I will be able to write a book! 

Yesterday morning I kissed my mom good bye and ran to the check in counter. I was running a little behind because of a slight detour on the way so I didn't get there until 5:40AM.

The line at the AA counter was VERY long and unorganized which led to delay # 1(6:25AM)

The bag Laurie and Retha gave me was .9 lbs over the limit and so they detained me and told me i had to take something out.After 20 minutes of waiting for someone to take the newly shifted bag I finally headed toward security. delay #2 (6:45AM)

At the security check point I remembered RIGHT before I went through I had an old pocket knife in my bag (so glad i remembered otherwise who knew what would have happened). I turned it into the guard and because I even had one, they searched EVERYTHING. After a few minutes of questioning they let me go -one tube of organic toothpaste short- (apparently good for making bombs. Delay # 3 (7:05AM)

I ran to my gate rolling two 50lb duffels behind me. ( I am sure I was a sight to see). I arrived at the gate as the desk attendant spoke "last call for flight 1089 to Miami, FL service to Barbados." That was close. I laughed to myself and thought, "So the adventure begins." 

In Miami I had an hour layover... just enough time to use a rest room that wasn't 36,000 feet in the air, and make it to the other side of the airport in time to board my other flight. I met a facinating woman on the plane. She had just gotten a job as a lawyer and was taking her last vacation for a few years. Her name was Caroline, and she was from Baltimore. She ask me why I was going to Barbados. I tried to explain it to her, but as you all know... i'm not even sure! We had an interesting conversation about the Lord and about different cultures. She asked me why I was drawn to work with counseling and that lead to a conversation on foster kids which was very cool.

I arrived in Bridgetown Barbados around 1:45pm. At the customs check-point I was once again detained because I wasn't given an address for where I would be residing, just the Parish( a small town). so, I sat in a room with a security guard and talked about bananas and bombs (another story) for about 20 minutes while they tried to find out who I was and where I was going. They finally went outside to where the passenger pick-up was and started yelling "is there a Laurie Troublfield here" (Laurie is the Director of Grace Connections the ministry I'm working with). Laurie gave them the address and confirmed I wasn't a bomb threat. a few minutes later, they let me go. As I walked out the door the security guard call out, "Have a nice trip Banana girl!" 

They drive on the left side of the road (so I will probably get a Bajan drivers license so I can learn!) There are tons of round-abouts, and instead of "yield" it says "give way". They listen to a lot of Reggae music, and the street signs are wooden posts.These are the things so far i have noticed that I love... and the abundance of black men with dread locks! lol (just kidding dad!)

I will post some pictures in the next day or so!

Until next time!

In The Beginning

Outside the window of my second story room is a field so green, and beautiful trees. The birds and crickets are chirping and singing in a glorious symphony. The sea breeze blows through the house to cool you off just enough, it is perfect. 

I have only been here four hours and already I am beigging to fall in love with this culture and the people. They are so laid back. Their focus is not on the American definition of "success" but on peace. 

Tomorrow I will meet the local church we will be working with. I cannot tell you how excited I am to meet my brothers and sisters! I feel as if I am meeting distant cousins. I have yet to meet them but I already love them.

I look forward to sharing my journey with you and the adventures I will experience along the way.