Sweet Sweet Sugar Cane!

When we brought a youth missions team to Jamaica in the early eighties we took the team to a sugar plantation on their day off. It was really neat seeing the process and hearing the sounds AND tasting the product. I don't think I will ever forget that day. Now that we live here I see people chew on sugar cane all day long. You would wonder about the condition of their teeth.

This gentleman brings cane on his truck every day and parks at the same gas station here in Mandeville.



Since sugar cane is cultivated in Jamaica it is a huge part of the culture. Not only does the country depend on it for sugar but also for rum.

Sugarcane has a large percentage of water, and fiber. One pound of raw sugar cane can give 1.6 ounces of sugar. Once ounce is only 2 tablespoons. So it would balance out I guess. When you see the Jamaicans chewing on a piece of sugar cane, it is only like 6 inches long. So maybe the sugar intake isn't as great as it would appear.

Sugar cane is chewy and sweet. I really like the experience although I couldn't handle a piece everyday!

you can tell it's Easter time in Jamaica!

In the states you may see chocolate bunnies and eggs fill the store shelves to indicate that Easter season is near. In Jamaica you see something much more filling and I would have to guess, healthier! But when you put the cheese on it, cheddar or cream, you probably have to eliminate some health benefits!

Easter Bun is wonderful! We have spice bun on the shelves all year, but the difference in the Easter bun is more fruit. Raisins and cherries.



Here are the ingredients. flour, sugar, stout, butter, cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg and vanilla, baking powder, egg, marmalade, honey, molasses, raisins and cherries. Yum!

Typing out the ingredients makes me wonder....maybe there isn't much difference between an Easter bun and a chocolate bunny...just a different kind of sweet!

I can't find Easter candy here so a bun will have to do!

Election Day..

Today is Jamaica's local elections day. The prime minister was elected on December 29, but today was the day for local elections. The island closed the schools, the banks closed at noon. The point is to make it easier for people to be able to vote.

Renee's school had a half day so when we went to pick her up we came upon a polling place. There were 2 tables along side the road and lots of people in orange shirts! When the rain came, the two that were in charge sat in a car. But the sun came out and I was able to get some pictures.

There are two major political parties. The People's National Party wears orange. The Jamaican Labor Party wears green. When the candidates are stumping, they and their followers wear these colors.

During the prime minister elections we were advised against wearing the two colors out and about. It could be dangerous.

From my pictures you can tell we live in "orange country" and I can imagine that if your are a "laborite" you may want to not brag about it. This is one of the reasons schools are closed. They are not used for polling stations but rather prefer that the students are off the streets during these political times.





Here are some newspaper articles about today.

Streets of Mandeville uneventful for Local Government Election

BY ALICIA SUTHERLAND Observer staff reporter Sutherlanda@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, March 26, 2012

MANDEVILLE, Manchester- Up to midday the atmosphere on the streets of Mandeville was that of a regular business day.

Party colours were few and far between and none of the fanfare that was seen in the December 29 General Election.

A representative from the Electoral Office in Manchester said that voter turnout has been “extremely slow” for the Local Government Election.

Save for concerns that voters that turned out early to vote at polling station #31 at Grove Road in Mandeville had to cast their ballot in darkness, there were no reports of any challenges from Election Day workers.

The Presiding Officer at the polling station told the Observer that was not the case.

She said whereas in the last General Election a battery lamp was necessary for the voters to cast their ballots there was no need for it this time around. She said that due to the time of year the sun was up early and they had the benefit of sunlight.

“We have electricity to count the ballots after five” she said, looking in the direction of the extension cord stretching from the HEART/Trust facility on the compound into the previous Jamal Centre which served as the polling station.

Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP) Derrick Cochrane for the Area Three Police Division, which consists of the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth said that the police and the army are on alert.

“Voting has been going steadily through the Electoral Divisions. The police is out there and the army. We all are creating that enabling environment for the people to express their democratic will” said ACP Cochrane.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Streets-of-Mandeville-Uneventful-for-Local-Government-Election#ixzz1qGevAs7p

Darkness at Mandeville polling station
Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer

Voters casting their ballots in the Local Government election at Polling Station # 31 on Grove Road in Mandeville are doing so under dim light from kerosene lamps.

In the 2011 General Election, the authorities had used candles to provide light inside the dark building which once served as the JAMAL centre.

For several years, the building has not been in use for day to day activities.

Meanwhile, there has been low voter turn-out for the first hour and a half at polling stations across Manchester, however, voting started on time at 7 a.m.

The Member of Parliament for Central Manchester, the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Peter Bunting cast his vote at the Grove Road Polling Station at 7:14 a.m.

The Jamaica Labour Party’s Simon Sangster is running against the PNP’s Jones Oliphant for the Mandeville Division.

The seat was left vacant late last year when the JLP’s Sally Porteous resigned as councillor and as a member of the Jamaica Labour Party to take up the post of Custos of Manchester.

Manchester Polling Station in darkness

People’s National Party candidate, Peter Bunting shows his index finger after voting. (Dave Lindo/Photo)
Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer

People’s National Party candidate for Central Manchester, Peter Bunting at 7.10 a.m. became the first voter at Polling Station 32, located at Grove Road in Mandeville.

Speaking with the media after casting his vote, Bunting said his team was ready for the day. “We have well oiled machinery, we had our final workers meeting yesterday and everybody is motivated, and enthusiastic, barring any negative report during the course of the day I expect things to go smoothly.”

Bunting is going up against the Jamaica Labour Party’s candidate Danville Walker.

There was a major hiccup at the polling station, as the building was without electricity. Polling station 32 was in darkness and workers had to be using candles, while carrying out their duties.

Voting for the most part has been going smoothly throughout the constituency with the other polling stations opening on time and people turning out in their numbers to cast their vote.

oh McDonalds...how we miss you...

When the VFCC team came to Jamaica on March 9th, they arrived at 5:50 in the morning! When they came through customs and got to us Pastor Phil Baker said that he had a presentation to make. I was wondering what that could be. He called Renee to him and presented her with a McDonald's cheeseburger!! And it was just the way she likes them, ketchup and mustard only! It was such a precious moment! She was so surprised as was I!

Funny thing people have told us that McDonald's did come to the island a few years ago, but it didn't survive. I have heard people say that the burgers were too small. I don't know if that is the reason it left but man! I wish they were still here! It is quite comical what you get a craving for when you can't have it!

Well that burger didn't last long...daddy and I almost tackled her for it!
Thanks to a great professor for accommodating a missionary kid when he got to the island! I bet that is something she won't soon forget!

every kid needs a youth group...

Renee has been attending a youth group since last September. For our first three years I didn't feel comfortable to send her. The A/G youth group ages are ages 13-35 and I just didn't feel safe in letting her go on Friday nights with that huge age span. I know, I am an overprotective mom!

Last September though she was invited by friends from school to go to The Generations Church youth group. It is held on Wednesday nights and the ages are 13-18. The church is a Youth With a Mission church. The pastor and his wife adore Renee and have mentioned to me that Renee brought new life to the group and has been such an asset. She has been such a blessing as a student who loves Jesus so much and is able to pour into others at the same time.

Since January they have been doing a book study by Frances Chan. It is called Crazy Love. Such a great study for this age and I am so grateful that she was invited to the youth group.

When we are able we attend the church on Sunday's so that Renee has some sort of belonging and continuity in her church life. Yesterday was one of those days! The worship leader asked her to play her violin and what a blessing! It was incredible.

All I can say is in every situation as a parent I must do what is best to lead my children to love Jesus and begin ministry when they are young. If I do it will carry on when they are on their own.

student leadership

It is really cool when Renee has an experience on her own that when she came home all excited about, Denny and I smiled because it is something that we have done for a long time in developing team leaders and now someone is doing for her what we have done for others.

Her school has a head boy and a head girl, a deputy head boy and a deputy head girl, prefects and sub prefects.

The head boy/girl are the top student leaders in the school. They are in the thirteenth grade and can step in for teachers, are in charge of detention duty, they can give demerits/merits, and detentions. The deputies can do the same but they are not as important as the head boy and head girl when it comes to structure. These four people give a speech to the teachers at the beginning of the year and from that speech the head boy/girl is chosen.

The prefects are those chosen from the twelfth and thirteenth grades that show leadership qualities. They do not step in for teachers but they along with the head and deputy leaders are in charge of homerooms along with the homeroom teacher. They can give detentions and demerits.

The sub prefects of which Renee is one, are chosen from the eleventh grade. They are in a preparatory stage for when they can be prefects and head boy and girl. They give demerits, detentions, and merits. They are responsible for late duty (reporting those who come to school late) and also break duty. Making sure that everyone is behaving and acting mature. We tell Renee to go be a good police!

The administration of the school planned a day retreat for all of these student leaders. They were taken by bus to a camp for the day. The theme of the retreat was TEAMWORK:Ever try building something with just one block?

They experienced "trust" games, and mental exercises that built on teamwork and reliance on others. They enjoyed being mentored even for a day. Ms. King (the VP of the school) and Mr. Jones, (the head teacher) coordinated everything to flow together to build on what these student leaders are already learning and experiencing at school.

At the end of the night they had a bonfire and s'mores which was a great way to end the day. Since Renee is almost finished and will be leaving Belair she had her friends sign her shirt. Kind of neat that they were given one.

a glimpse of Mandeville....

Majestic Shrimp from Brian Lewis on Vimeo.

This video gives a glimpse of our town and then at the end a bonfire that the kids had last month. I thought you would appreciate the sights of our town!

Since last fall Renee has finally found a youth group where she fits. They are some kids from her school, kids from town, and kids from the church. She loves it. Since January they have been studying from a book written by Frances Chan. The title of the book is Crazy Love. So appropriate for her age and for the culture today.

Enjoy the video!

93 days...the countdown has begun!

Today Renee begins her series of finals which are called CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) mock exams. They are the exams that take place before the actual CSEC exams in May. CSEC exams determine where the eleventh graders will go to school for twelfth and thirteen grades. The exams are island wide and play a major part of your year end grade. Although the exams that start today are called "mock exams" there is nothing "mock" about them, the grades count for your report card.

Renee falls into a different category for CSEC exams. If she were staying in Jamaica they would be very important but since we leave the end of June and she will be going straight into college, the CSEC exams won't determine her future and where she is eligible to go to school.

Along with the exams are labs. 24 labs were due for Physics, I.T. and Chemistry. These lab books were started in grade 10 and my oh my are they stressful! But she got them done and submitted! Thank you Jesus!





Even Mackee~poo meditated on the subject!



She will have a CSEC exam in Art as well. So her labs for that subject are actual pieces. So far she has completed 3 and one is in process....a long way to go to get to 24. She will make it!




and one landscape in process....



and 93 days till graduation! Yeahoo!

..a chocolate break....

Milo is Jamaica's hot chocolate. Renee and I love it. It is a special treat and quite tasty.

The key to a really yummy milo drink though is adding sweetened condensed milk which is called BETTY here on the island. Renee and I like BETTY in any hot drink!



When the team left on Friday I gave them a milo to take home.



To a cup of hot water you add 4 teaspoons of milo powder and sweetened condensed milk (BETTY) to taste! Easy as that!

If you find some, have a cup on me!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

My mom loves holidays! She made every holiday, large and small ones a big deal! Every St. Patty's Day she made green food and then for dinner we had corned beef and cabbage. She is a great cook and always makes the meal fun!

I have tried to carry on that tradition of green food, green pizza dough, green eggs, green applesauce, green cupcakes. Whatever I can put food coloring in, I do!

This morning I made green pancakes and green lemonade to wake my little girl! She said they were the best pancakes ever and then she pinched me! In all my preparation, I forgot to put on the green shirt!

...teams are so terrific!

It is really cool when a group of people decide that Jamaica is a place they want to invest. Whenever teams have contacted Denny, he has told them of his passion for Bath, Jamaica. A poor community with dear, dear people. A church that has not had a full time pastor for many years. A place where the living conditions will not be resort-like, but very special, none the less. A place, that if we were to live closer, you would have seen us hang our hat.

This week our last team came to Bath. It is so bittersweet. So grateful for the work that has been accomplished during our term here, and so sad that we will be off the island and won't be able to visit them as often as we can while living here.

The Valley Forge Christian College team consisted of one professor, one senior, one junior, 9 freshman, and one missionary kid! Renee loved the weekend we were able to spend with them! She definitely didn't want to come home to go back to school, then yesterday I pulled her out of school to go pick up daddy at the airport and say good-bye to the team. So long actually, see ya later really. We will be at Valley Forge in three months!

We have already planned a team reunion over some Jamaican Jerk Chicken when we get there!

The team presented programs in schools, painted parts of the church, had community movie nights (and then left the DVD's with the church) They did park ministry in the Botanical Gardens, laid concrete in one of the rooms in the church, they loved on people, conducted Sunday services, did dramas, and music. Everything they did was top-notch and served the church and the community anyway they could. Even the hotel gave them gifts when they left. How precious is that! They handed out hundreds of wordless book bead bracelets and sculpted lots of balloons. They served the Lord gladly! We are so grateful to them and every team that has invested energy, prayer, finances and love into Bath, Jamaica. God knows all the eternity results!




How precious of them to leave shirts for us! We will remember this team for a long time!

Confidence Ave.

This is one of the roads we drive everyday to take Renee to school. Many times when I pass the sign thoughts come into my mind like, What is my confidence level today? Who do I place my confidence in? Why is it even important to be confident?

I have found that missionaries have to be pretty confident, it is impossible to convince churches and pastors to support you if you come across without some confidence, confidence in your "calling", confidence in what you will be doing, they must feel confident that their finances are going to a worthy cause.

I remember the first time I had to speak publicly in Spanish. Tough to do, because of this "confidence" thing. Although I had learned and studied hard, when I actually had to do it, all confidence went out the window! The voices in our head can really mess us up sometimes.

This is something I else I saw on the way to school this morning.....beautiful, isn't it?

..the journey of champions

Really cool things go "on tour" across the island. This week The Journey of Champions came to Mandeville. It is an exhibition gearing up for the Olympics. It is a story of Jamaicans athletes, especially the runners. There was one screen with the winter Olympics showcased, so the famous bobsledders weren't ignored. It is in our town library which is pretty cool, makes it accessible for everyone to take a look. It leaves town in the morning so I just made it!

By the way it is 138 days till the Olympics begin. Keep your eyes on the Jamaicans! It should be fun to watch.





These colors will always mean something to me...








Lots of hard work, lots of effort, and lots of medals....reminds me of running strong to my finish line. The start of the race, the middle of the race, and the end of the race have great rewards.

Present day Bath

If you read the last post you noticed that at one time socialites and prominent people made their way to the healing springs of Bath.Today not so. It is a very underdeveloped community that we love so much. The poor, the destitute, the lonely get our attention. Over the last four years we have invested into this community in many way. Gateway Assembly has struggled to be strong. We love these people. Every time we take a team to Bath we meet more people that need Jesus. It is an ongoing desire of ours to see a revival in Bath, Jamaica.

The last post talked about the Botanical Gardens, that is where the teams minister. Like a park setting. The photos that I am attaching here are from that park.

Thanks to Valley Forge Christian College, more work is being done this week to lift up the downtrodden, beautify the actual church building, showing wholesome movies at night, ministry to the children through dramas, songs, balloon sculpting and relational stuff. Funny how many people need a hug!

Renee was able to be part of the college team Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I had to drag her home (4 hours away) Sunday after the morning ministry time so she could be back in her Jamaican school this morning! We would both rather be in Bath, our favorite people.

Here they are making bead bracelets for the children. The beads represent the story of Jesus.


2 of the VFCC students, Brittney and Sam, let Renee room with them for the nights we were there.


Loaded in the van to go to the park!


I love this photo, notice the people high up in the building under construction listening to the program!


One of the dramas.


Ben,one of the VFCC students ministering to the kids sitting high on the rock.


Den is speaking to Raul. Raul was baptized in the river behind the church with the previous team that came to Bath.


My little balloon sculptor in the middle of the pack!


Beauty everywhere!


Love them!


The student leader, the VFCC professor, and the missionary.

....a little history of Bath Jamaica

Thanks to the internet I can give you a little history of Bath.


Tradition widely held by local residents ascribes the actual discovery of the springs to a runaway slave, Jacob, who had been suffering from bed ulcers on his legs. The story goes that while hiding from his master in the wilderness of the Sulphur River gorge, Jacob accidentally came across hot water gushing from a rock and collecting in a pool below. Finding the water much to his liking, he frequently returned to the pool to soak his entire body in it. After doing this for some time, he noticed that, much to his astonishment and delight, his long-standing ulcers were healed, Having been cured, the slave braved the wrath of his master, Colonel Stanton, and returned to him and reported the discovery of the magical healing properties of the water.

In 1699, Colonel Stanton sold the spring and the adjoining 1,130 acres of land to the Government got the sum of four hundred pounds (₤400). By the early 1720's, the springs were already in public use and were attracting an increasing number of visitors from all parts of the island who came to make use of the curative properties of the water. People of wealth began establishing residences in and around Bath of St. Thomas the Apostle and the town of Bath sprang up at a site about half mile south of the springs. The therapeutic value and healing properties of these waters are well known and have been referred to by a number of authors in the past.

Since the establishment of the baths, thousands of people suffering from gout, rheumatism, disorder of the stomach, fever and various kinds of skin diseases have derived tremendous benefits from the waters. Research has shown that for maximum benefits, the water should be ingested and the body infused (soaked) in the water for a period of approximately 20 minutes.

Bath village is built on the banks of the Plantain Garden River, the only stream in Jamaica which flows from west to east. The village is located in the interior of St. Thomas. Bath owes its origin in the early 18th century to the discovery and development of the spring. Hot water baths became very fashionable and the village of Bath began to expand rapidly and soon became a notable and exclusive retreat for ailing whites that journeyed to Jamaica from the United Kingdom and other European Countries. Many persons of fortune bought lots and began to erect townhouses.

The square was soon adorned with a hospital, a public lodging house and a billiard room. It became the fashion every year for a crowd of company (socialites) to assemble there from all quarters of the island and abroad. At nights gaiety was in abundance, the powers of music were ever-present and the card tables were not idle. In short, from a destitute and desolate rural area, Bath grew into a rendezvous for the polite and social amusements for the most privileged. Bath also became a Buccaneer weekend playground for the likes of Captain Sir Henry Morgan and his gambling cohorts who, in amorous indulgence, visited bath often whenever in Jamaica. Many writers of this time claimed that within the Jamaican plantocracy, Bath was a necessity where both ladies and gentlemen of the wealthy and elite got the opportunity to partake in the splendour as well as the general over-indulgence in food and drinks.

Bath Botanical Garden

Bath Botanical Garden, the second oldest botanical garden in the Western Hemisphere, was established in 1779. Many of the plants introduced to Jamaica were first planted in this garden - among them are cinnamon, mango, jackfruit, croton, jacaranda and bougainvillea. The most important plant ever introduced in this garden was the breadfruit. The garden is much smaller today than when it was first established in 1779 and bears little trace of its former glory. There is, however, a fine stand of royal palms and a most splendid tree called the "Barrington Speciosa". There is also the screw pine with stilt roots, which were among the plants on board a French ship that was captured by the Flora in 1782, a ship in Lord Rodney's squadron at the battle of the Saintes, St. Lucia, the final Anglo-French battle in the Caribbean.

The Move is On!

Living in exciting times! I know some don't like to move as much as we do but it invigorates us I think! Love cleaning out. Love selling old things. Love starting over. Love a new environment. Some think we're crazy. As a matter of fact, I am beginning to believe them. Maybe I am growing up and want to settle down and get some roots......nah....not yet! Too many places to go teach!

Last week the Barned company came to our house to take a look and see how big a container we need to ship things to PA. Actually the ship will take our belongings to Baltimore and we will truck the boxes to Phoenixville. Sounds like a fun road trip to me! Now we have the packing and shipping date in June. Our application was approved last week for our apartment there and things just keep selling and going out the door!

A great story from yesterday. Denny sent our March prayer request list to supporters and friends yesterday morning. In the afternoon a lovely couple came by and through conversation we learned that they are Christians. They proceeded to say that they never travel this road. They decided to just take our road en route to get to their house. They bought the 2 end tables and the 2 filing cabinets. They were so grateful for the items and the price. As they were thanking us I reminded them of the prayer request going out in the morning and Jesus sending them to our house in the afternoon. God takes care of even our stuff to be sold!

When we shipped our belongings to Jamaica in 2008 we brought things that we knew we would not be taking home so this sale was all part of the plan! The wicker set left this morning! Chaotic times for sure!



Someone bought our guillotine this morning! yup...didn't know I had one! It is the paper cutter!! Learn something new every day!

Prince Harry is in Jamrock!

Royalty arrived yesterday! Prince Harry is on a Caribbean Tour representing his grandmother. I hope he doesn't do anything to embarrass her! He arrived yesterday and will be here for 4 days. I wish he were coming to Mandeville. I love things like that! I wish William and Kate would come before I leave!

Jamaica celebrates its 50th anniversary as an independent nation this year. Prince Harry is here for that reason. He is going to race with Usain Bolt sometime today. Now wouldn't that be something to see! I wonder how badly he will lose. Of course racing against a prince, Usain might have to lose! Prince Harry is here on official business and having some fun on the side.

It is Jamaica's desire to replace the Queen as Jamaica's head of state. It would appear that the prime minister is on a mission to have that accomplished under her tenure so it is possible that a new day is coming in regard to Britain and Jamaica's relationship. We shall see.

The Motherboard Saga

I never really thought about motherboards until February 10th! One moment I was using my computer and the next......the computer was gone. Just blank. While living in a third world country something like this puts me in a panic. It is hard to find car and computer parts here in country. I had this gut feeling that this was going to be a frustration and indeed it turned out to be. And to make matters worse, Renee's computer died on the 13th. She sent a scholarship application and the next moment the computer was dead. It was really quite strange how they both died the same week.

I am actually quite surprised to be on the computer today though, as I had resigned myself to the fact that the computer was a goner and when we get back to the states in July my problem would be solved!

When we moved to Jamaica 4 years ago, I brought Ryan's old computer for Renee and me to use. Two years ago it died. When Den went back to AGTS for a class he was able to get it repaired for Renee to use and then he purchased a new one for me. Toshiba's are better for humidity and seem to do better in island climates.

When the computer died on the 10th Den was able to find a little computer shop here in our town to confirm that it was the motherboard. The computer man wasn't able to get a motherboard but we were excited about being able to bring one in with the evangelist that was coming to our house on February 22. Den knew it would be tight to get one shipped to Kevin in North Carolina but worked real hard to get it done.
While searching for the motherboard he learned that my computer was no longer being made and this made the search even more difficult. Ryan and my father joined in on the search. Then all of a sudden the Toshiba company promised they had one and so Den got it shipped to the evangelist.

He brought it in through customs and all went well in that regard. Den gets it over to the computer man and lo and behold it was not the right one. Kevin will return it when he leaves the island on March 8. All was not lost because the VFCC team arrives on March 9 so the three guys continue the search! Den finds one and the company guaranteed the delivery to VFCC only to email 2 days later and say that is was not available. This happened 4 times with 4 different companies. Talk about frustration.

That is when I resigned myself to the fact that I had written my last Jamaican blog and facebook was a thing of the past!!

More importantly than facebook was the question, How is Renee going to do her homeschooling course and finish by May? I told the homeschool advisor that 2 computers had died and one is in the critical care unit! Den's computer is not long for this earth so it has to be handled very gingerly and 3 people using it may cause it to die before we get home in July!

I have helped Renee with her Information Technology class, so I know that without a motherboard, you simply have a black box to stare at. I know that the only thing a motherboard doesn't do is the power supply. I know that the motherboard is the brain of the machine, that is why it is called a MOTHERboard, hehe!
I know that without a computer in today's age work doesn't get done, homework gets slowed down, I mean even Renee's library only has encyclopedias from the fifties, friends lose contact, business emails don't get answered and the list goes on and on.

Yesterday we were prepared to take the information from the 2 computers that died to Den's computer for Renee to continue her studies, she is really behind and today.....a different story!

The computer man asked if he could try something and that he did! He went to that motherboard and showed who was in charge! He re-soldered contact points in the motherboard and re-worked the circuit board and today it works!!! I am hoping that tomorrow it does too! He took a look at Renee's computer and said that there is no hope for that one! We thought there was no hope for that one 2 years ago so we got extra mileage out of that one!



Looks like a little city to me. Sure is amazing when you look at a motherboard from this point of view. I wonder if any little people live in there! When I was little I used to think that there were little people in the television set.

One thing that amazes me about the Jamaican workmen is that he can take a huge problem (with a car or the computer) and break the repair down to a soldering gun and some wire that would be a throw away in the states. It has amazed me since the time we arrived and now getting close to the time we leave. Amazing people for sure!