All we ever do is say Good~Bye

All we ever do is say good~bye is our John Mayer theme song tonight. For a week we have been dreading tonights farewell. Paul, Dulcie, Jaycee, Hannah, Alyssa,and Levi are leaving Jamaica tomorrow and we are not happy. When we arrived in Jamaica August 2008, we found ourselves sleeping in the Bushhorn kids beds for a couple weeks until our shipment caught up with us to settle into our own house. The Bushhorn's were having visa troubles so they were off the island. When we arrived at the children's home where they were the directors everybody kept asking, Renee are you and Hannah Bushhorn sisters?! We hadn't met this wonderful family yet so by the time they returned we were more than ready to meet Renee's twin!

We have had more than tons of fun with the Bushhorns. For our first year here almost to the day, we had a prayer meeting at our house every Saturday night. The Yoders and the Bushhorns and the Selers. We prayed through on many occassion our frustrations, our trials, our joys, everybody elses frustrations, trials and joys as well! Then came a very difficult day when the Yoders having fulfilled their MAPS term left to go home, and then the Bushhorns moved to Kingston to direct another children's home. We were the only missionaries in the middle of the island for awhile!

Sleepovers, get togethers, beach time, clown ministry and lots of laughs kept our families together and now they will be in ministry somewhere else.

This week Renee wrote in her journal a moving piece and even tonight as she read it to the Bushhorns to say goodbye, I was moved by her words.

From Renee's journal, January 18, 2010:

"Being an MK, saying good~bye kind of becomes part of you. Some MK's treat good~bye like "FORGET". As soon as you say good~bye to someone, they are forgotten-out of sight, out of mind.
Other MK's treat good~bye as a "see you later" I mean, they invented Face Book for a reason!
I don't know about you, but I want to say "see you later". If you become like the first group of MK's, eventually you are just going to stop making friends in the first place, just so you won't have to say good~bye.
So here's my question, Are you going to say "forgotten" or "see you later"?"


As difficult as tonight was for Renee, Den and me, we realize that God does have a plan, a purpose for all of our steps. We are so grateful for the time we have spent with our wonderful friends, the Bushhorns. We are placing their steps in to the Master Designer's hands. We know that HE does all things well. Although we are still not happy!

What a difference a day makes.....

One of the reasons I love being at the Jamaican Bible College is because I have a college student in the states. When I take our students brownies, in the back of my mind, I am praying that someone will show kindness to Ryan. When I teach my students, I see my sons reflection in their beautiful faces. When I have the students at my house here in Jamaica I am praying that someone will invite Ryan to their house.

On Tuesday, January 12, the thought occured to me, if something tragic happened in Jamaica, what would Ryan feel and sense if he were not able to reach us because of the phone and internet service being down? Every emotion that a mom could feel hit me all at once when we heard the tragic news of quite possibly the worst earthquake to hit our planet and it hit only 296 miles from me. They tell us that the tremors were felt in Kingston.

Tragically if an earthquake of such magnitude were to hit Jamaica we would be in the same position as the Haitians because of the lack of building codes and the infrastructure of the island is in many ways like that of Haiti.

When this tragedy was made aware to us we immediately thought of our Haitian students, Patrick Collins and Cherley Fabiola. Our last class at the college was December 4, most of our students went home, but 6 students remained. Patrick and Cherley were 2 of them. They were unable to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with their families. Most of our students are not able to do many things because of financial situations.

Immediately we made contact with Patrick and Cherley and of course went over to the college to be sure that they were okay. They were not. The day we arrived, they were both standing on the veranda gazing into the sky. I immediately asked why, they couldn't answer. My guess is that they were envisioning their homeland and yet hadn't heard anything from their families. I can't imagine the turmoil of just longing to hear dad or mom's voice. They waited a couple days. On Thursday Cherley's father was able to cross the DR border for cell service and made contact. He told Cherley to tell Patrick that his dad was fine. This is all Patrick knew until his aunt called on Friday.

Cherley's family survived, the home did not.

Patrick learned from his aunt that his dad made it out "narrowly" but his mom and 17 year old brother did not. Patrick's dad is a pastor and the Church on the Rock has a Bible college. School would have been over at 5:00. The earthquake hit before 5. All 30 students...dead beneath the rubble.




Collins Patrick Jean Jacques is a beautiful student. Here he is on the veranda at our college. His birthday is June 25 and that is a special date. It is my parent's anniversary so it is easy for me to remember Patrick's special day. Patrick came to Jamaica January 2009 with only French in his mouth! I will never forget his first semester. His eyes were like deer eyes in the headlights! He had to grasp English and Patois all at the same time as well as the disciplines of the college. Oh they were tough days for him, but he survived and today speaks beautifully in 3 languages!



Patrick at our house for a cookout. He is a true joy. A special student. A man of God. He and Cherley have become Renee's tutors in French! They have helped her grasp their language and excel in her French studies.




This photo is from Patrick's facebook with this caption. I quote so you can get the full impact of his words, heart and grief. Patrick is on the left with his mom, his cousin and his brother.

"Farewell my mama and my little brother! You play a big role in my life. Alas, an earthquake you leave me, but in my heart you will always be alive...the LORD has given, the Lord has taken. The name of Jehovah be blessed..you'll always be in my memory. Farewell...."





This caption is under this photo of his dad.

"My daddy and me in 2006 Church on the Rock, Haiti"
"Eben Ezer, the Lord help us. It has helped my father the Tuesday 12 janvier 2010 in this terrible earthquake. My soul bless the Lord that everything that is within me bless His holy name. Thanks for the blood of your son Jesus Christ who has been paying on Wood Calvary."

On another photo of his mom, Patrick writes:

"Mom, you were everything to me your angel face I cannot forget because it is engraved in me, my mom once again I love you, my little brother you cannot know how I'll miss you, When I go to bed watching you're not. God give me strength because I need the divine power that comes from you to get there."


On Friday at 5:28, 3 days after the quake, Patrick wrote on his facebook:

"The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, The Alpha and Omega. I say thanks because if you have saved my father narrowly, in this terrible earthquake Haiti, I wish to say thank you, whatever happens you'll always be my God. My soul bless the Lord that all that is within me bless His holy name."


He writes to us:

"Hi Miss, I thank your family and friends to the United States, praying for my country. Once again, thank you very much specially for your family. May God bless the USA and your family abundantly."


As I type this blog tonight my eyes are full of tears. We are spending our lives investing in Bible college students, not knowing that at any moment, their entire life can be turned upside down and forever impacted by a tragedy. Patrick I love so much, to see His faith in the moment of desperation has proven again that our up and coming pastors/ men of God truly know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is not some game they are playing, they will serve Him no matter what comes.

Patrick, I honor you. You have shown faith in the midst of incredible uncertainty. You are walking a life of faith in our God who holds every tomorrow. Your faith has spurred me on to complete the race because one never knows what a difference a day might make.

10 Ways to Survive 2010!

Okay usually I don't copy another person's writings, but I thought you would appreciate another cultures view on how to survive economically in the new year.
From the Jamaica Gleaner (newspaper) Janaury 11, 2010

1. Remember the days when eating out was a once-a-month (payday) treat? Return to them now. Instead go to the market and buy fresh fruits and vegetables to prepare healthy meals at home.

2. Roast the beef or chicken on Sundays, save the breast to make sandwiches for lunch on Monday. Use the bones and carcass to make stock for gravies.

3. Girls in their pre-teen years have no need to go to the hairdresser weekly. Mothers need to stop being so lazy and bond with their girls through shampooing and combing their hair themselves. Your mothers did it! Count up all that money saved, and use it to buy books or go out to dinner.

4. If you used to go to the movies every week, rent DVD's instead and treat yourselves to the cinema less frequently.

5. Do you really need a full-time helper? Get a day's worker once or twice weekly, and start getting the family to help with the chores at home; children can clean their rooms, wash dishes and care for the pets.

6. Invest in a washing machine, do your own laundry and get someone to do the ironing.

7. Stop buying new outfits for every wedding, ball or banquet; recycle the pieces in the wardrobe sensibly. So, if you wore a dress to a function in the city last year, this year wear it to an event out of town or overseas. Better yet, swap with close friends or siblings you trust.

8. Repair shoes, bags and clothes if they can be repaired rather than throwing them out and buying a new one.

9. Get even with the utility companies by consuming less. Turn off lights; get in touch with your romantic side by having candlelight dinners at home; iron all your work clothes and the children's uniforms once a week, watch only one television and unplug equipment that is not in use. Install motion sensitive lights outdoors, and remove features that are not in use on your land line phones.

10. Finally, start telling people who come and solicit for barbecue and every ticket under the sun, a big NO! Stop giving your hard-earned dough to every Tom, Dick and Harry who begs, save it for the next 350-odd days!

It is unusual for the people in our town to see a lot of white folk. We are easy targets for begging. I wonder if the next time they come to me I could just whip out my handy, dandy Gleaner 2010 ways to survive.............naw I think not. I guess I will just keep giving and giving till I have nothing left to give. Best way to live!

Destination: Florida, ETA: ?

Anything can happen on the East Coast in the winter months. Growing up in Pennsylvania you would be used to plans changing when the snow came! And how we would pray that the snow would come on school days! Hundreds of photos have been taken with the snow above my head. One of my favorite memories is skating on the town pond till dark, especially when school was cancelled! Ministry in Massachusetts would quickly change when a nor'easter would be predicted! Most of the time, if it was predicted it really did arrive. I don't remember too many false alarms!
When we booked our flights to Newark NJ a couple of months ago never did we realize that we would be traveling right in the middle of a great nor'easter. We arrived last night and oh what a night it has been!




We landed finally at 12:30 a.m. and the first thing Renee saw at the airport was a bubbler! A small USA treat!



Ry was there to meet us and take us to the hotel. One of the food groups that Renee misses the most is Taco Bell. Ry logs it into the GPS and the closest is only 4 miles away so he dropped us off at Howard Johnsons, Ry and Ney take off for TB. Her mouth watered all day for that dinner!
Boy did those tacos taste good at 2 this morning!

We then drove to Phoenixville to drop off luggage that won't fit in the car for Florida, pick up Ry's guitar and his luggage for the retreat and enjoy a Phillie cheese steak!


The trek to Florida begins! We left Phoenixville at 1:30 this afternoon and arrived in Manasas Virginia at 8:30 tonight. Den drove 35 mph for 7 hours only to go 200 miles! We laughed, we sang, we listened to christmas songs on the radio, we snoozed, we slid, we read, we played with the DS and we slid some more! We drove through PA, DE, MD, DC and settled in VA for the night! They say that maybe the plow trucks will be in operation in the morning! We will see! I think we will have church at Bedside Assembly!





This Christmas is going to be a different kind of holiday for us, spending it in hotels without all the wrappings of the holiday. I treasure the 4 of us being together most of all and am grateful that we are going to WARM country...that is unless this is the Christmas Florida sees snow!

It's Shoutin' Time in Heaven!

It seems surreal actually that this last week we walked through difficult times. It seems peculiar that I have a "grampies funeral" file folder for photos. It doesn't seem possible that for 2 weeks tomorrow Grampie Seler has a new home... heaven. It is indeed shoutin' time for him! He is with Nana, his bride of 64 years. My in laws loved to dance and I am delighted that Dad chose the song "Shoutin time in Heaven" to be played at the funeral. It is so appropriate. You see my father in law couldn't always dance for joy. He had a difficult life. For these past 32 years that I have been in the Seler clan, I have heard alot of history. He was born into a home nearly 90 years ago. It was, as we are aware today, a very dysfunctional home. This family had 3 boys. Edwin, Paul and Elmer. Elmer seemed to have been the black sheep of the family and was mistreated by his parents. When you hear people's stories it is very easy to understand why they make certain choices. Not to excuse them, but simply to understand. Dad Seler became an alcoholic and dealt with many issues in his own life. Just before I came into the family my father in law was born again! Born again to the point where he was delivered immediately from habits that were destructive. He has a beautiful testimony and was never afraid to share it.

Mom Seler passed away September 7, 2006, Dad passed away November 7. Mom was buried on September 11, Dad was almost buried on November 11, but actually was delayed till the 12th. It was so appropriate that Veteran's Day was celebrated on the 11th as Dad was a WWII vet. One of the photos above I love so much because it shows the American flag, the flowers and the cross. This is a picture of Dad Seler. He was so proud to be a vet. He reminded his pastor of the many times and ways our American freedom could be honored in church. He was patriotic. I love that about him.

The flowers that were sent to the church were to me absolutely stunning. Fall is a beautiful time to pass! The flowers were to me a picture of the beauty Christ brought into Dad's life when he was born again. He was a happy Christian. The cross is representation of the freedom Dad found in his salvation. Perfect no...striving to be Christlike...yes.

The wake and the service were beautiful. Death is not morbid for the beleiver. How Denny preached both his moms and dads funeral is past me. I don't beleive I could ever do that. He honored them to the max with how much care he gave their services. He is my hero. Both Ryan and Renee played violin solos for Grampie. Ryan had the opportunity to play for him while he was literally dying in the nursing home just days before the service. I thought it especially fitting that he combined 2 songs, a portion of the one he had played for his Nana 3 years ago. Holy Holy Holy and Adoration. Renee played Amazing Grace with Canon in D. Both were composed, sensitive and broken hearted all at the same time.

The graveside service was completely awesome. The color guard, the flag, the playing of Taps....oh my it was so emotional and so very beautiful. In the last 3 months Dad had 2 new homes. He loved the nursing home where he was placed when they found the cancer and now his second home...heaven...boy would I love a first hand report!

Denny and Ryan were able to see Dad in his new home when they went to his bedside to say goodbye. They remained until his passing of course and then when Renee and I finally arrived a day before the wake, Den took us to the home. They loved Dad there. We cried with those whom he left behind. Dad made a difference in the short time that he lived there. When Mom passed away, Dad didn't understand why he was left, but he told Jesus, "as long as I am here I will pray for anyone you bring to mind" and boy did he! I will miss his prayers, I will miss his words, I will miss the spirit in which he prayed. He pulled Ryan close to him when he was dying and prayed for him. Can you imagine the power of that prayer. Den said that when he was dying, it was as though he was living in 2 worlds. You could see that yes he was here on earth but it was as if his spirit was already in heaven. What a story, what a legacy he left. I love my in-laws. I miss them severely already.

My tribute to Dad is I will continue to pray like he prayed, for anyone, at anytime, anywhere. I wonder if he is singing and dancing with Nana tonight...
I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of Christ my Savior
Oh there are 10,000 charms
It's shoutin' time in Heaven
A sinner once lost is found
It's shoutin' time in Heaven
Salvation has been brought down
No wonder the angels rejoice to know
My sins have been covered by the crimson flow
And now I'm feeling fine
I'm walking on the highway with my Lord
My name is written down in the courts above
It's shoutin' time in heaven
OH YES IT'S SHOUTIN' TIME!!!

Calabash Carving

I love fall. I love cider. I love pumpkins and mums. I love the fireplace going. I love the leaves changing. I love trick or treat candy. I love the month of October! In Jamaica "October loves" take on new meaning!

There is a pumpkin patch in our yard. The pumpkins you will find there are green and small. They are used mainly for soup. Our house does have a fireplace but I doubt I will ever use it. Much too hot these days for a fire. In early 1900 when the house was built the climate was different in Mandeville, much cooler. Today they say the weather has changed because there is so much structure development and the buildings keep the heat close.

Something else that is in our yard is a calabash tree. It is beautiful. One of our American guests asked a Jamaican Bible College student if they could open the calabash and eat it. Othniel replied, you can if you want, but I don't! Subtle hint.....if a Jamaican doesn't eat it, you may not want to try!

In my natural desire to carve something in October I tried the calabash! Really hard to cut but I managed. I have enough drying right now to start my own little market! Calabash is only used for "stuff" not to eat! They are round gourds that grow in the tree and when they fall I hustle out there to collect them or you may see Den out there throwing another calabash up in the tree to get the really big one that is up there!! They lodge in between the branches and grow into really cool shapes. These really cool shapes make great purses and objects like bowls. The rastafarians make bowls, pipes, utensils out of the gourd.

Once it is open the inside would remind you of wet cotton, I scrape it out and when finished my thumb and first finger are black. I have opened so many this week that I am not sure if my fingers will ever be my normal color! Within this cotton like mush are seeds. I hope it is not poisinous because Mackee~poo has had her nose in the trash before I have gotten it tied off!

Another item that is made from the calabash are shakers, like maracas. I have a gourd drying now in hopes that it will be my first shaker! We will see. I hope it doesn't go the way of my first starfish drying episode.....really stinky!! But the end product is really neat! I know.... patience is a virtue that I need to work on!

When living in another country it is possible to fill the void that your memories crave, you just have to find a way....so today I made donuts and carved calabash! Happy October!

National Heroes Day is October 19.

There are 10 national holidays in Jamaica. 10 guaranteed days off from work!
January 1 - New Years Day
February 25 - Ash Wednesday
April 10 - Good Friday
April 13 - Easter Monday
May 25 - Labour Day
August 1 - Emancipation Day
August 6 - Independence Day
October 19 - National Heroes Day
December 25 - Christmas
December 26 - Boxing Day

It is always comical when someone visiting says "so... do you celebrate July 4th in Jamaica?" Den with quick wit always says "of course, we celebrate July 4 on August 6!"

Yes holidays are different in other countries! Renee goes to school and we teach on Thanksgiving day. Seems odd at first especially when you have to search real hard to find a turkey to have your own thanksgiving! Somehow it just doesn't seem like Thanksgiving eating spaghetti and meatballs!

You can get down about it or you can see humor in the situation which most times we try to do!

But tomorrow is a national holiday and the Jamaica A/G sets this day as the Women's Ministries conference. I will be able to go tomorrow into Kingston and check it out at New Life A/G. It is an all day affair, not quite what we do in the states for WM's! no retreat center, no 3 days away from the family, no high powered speaker or band, no bookstore to shop in, and the list goes on what it is not, but I will go find out what it IS! I'm sure it will be spirited, lively and fun!

Jamaica has 7 national heroes and the memory of them and the freedom Jamaica has is what we celebrate. These heroes represent the struggles for freedom, justice and equality.

Nanny of the Maroons is the first. She was a bold leader. She was born in the Ashanti tribe of Ghana, West Africa. She was captured and brought to Jamaica as a slave in early 1700. She led the slaves in a fight against the English use of slaves on their sugar plantations. The first Maroons were the slaves who ran away when the British captured Jamaica from the Spaniards.

In Africa the slaves had benefits and the land belonged to everyone. Not so in Jamaica, the slaves owned nothing, not even themselves. Husband and wives could be split up on different plantations, slaves were bred like animals. Women were raped to produce more slaves. Life was horrible, needless to say. Nanny and her brothers escaped from the plantation and headed to Portland where they set up a stronghold against the attack from the English. The town was actually named Nanny Town. The Maroons fought from 1728 to 1734.

Nanny was added to Jamaica's list of national heroes in 1975. Her image is on the
500 dollar bill and is actually called a "nanny".

The second national heroe is Samuel Sharpe. The fight against slavery continued for another hundred years. Samuel Sharpe was a slave and led the final battle in Jamaica in December 1831. He and his followers declared that they would work only if they were paid for their labour. He organized a strike that they would not work on Boxing Day. Instead of a strike, violence broke out in Trelawny, St. James, Westmoreland, Hanover and St. Elizabeth.

Samuel Sharpe was one of 550 slaves hanged. However, the message was clear to the slaveowners, the slaves were determined to be free. Samuel Sharpe was very intelligent and could read well. He was well liked and remained active in Christian work till he died. He used the Bible to declare that slavery was wrong and was a leader in the Baptist church. The community called him "Daddy Sharpe". Slavery was abolished in 1834. He never saw the day but he worked toward that end.

Another national heroe is George William Gordon. He was a church leader as well and as a businessman wanted to make life better for the poor. He was a Justice of the Peace and worked with peasant farmers who were once slaves. When slavery was abolished, some of the free people bought land and started their own villages. Others remained on the plantations and were paid for their labour. In 1860 people began to complain about low wages, irregular work, high taxes and unfair treatment in the courts. Gordon was one of the first to fight for justice for all. He also started a Baptist church.

One of Gordon's supporters and deacons in that church was Paul Bogle. He is the fourth national heroe. Paul Bogle, along with his brother and trusted friend formed their own court for the people that were struggling with hardship. The Governor of Jamaica didn't understand the problems in the country and had no sympathy for the people. He said they suffered because they were lazy. There was no justice in the courts for black people.

Through a series of events to help the poor and to reach the governor, Bogle led a rebellion. He and Gordon were both hanged in 1865.

The fifth national heroe is Marcus Mosiah Garvey. He has been called "the black Moses". He had a vision for the future of the black people. Garvey inspired civil rights and independence in the Americas and Africa. He was born in 1887. He along with his wife started the United Negro Improvement Association. He had branches in Jamaica, the Caribbean, North America, Central America, Europe and Africa. He also formed the People's Political Party. He called for low minimum wage, land reform, public housing, a department to assist the poor in legal matters and the setting up of a university. Not all of these things happened in his lifetime but today are established. His life is very fascinating and all he went through, even spent time in prison in the states.

The sixth national heroe is Norman Manley.He was even born on a special day! July 4, 1893. He believed in democracy and believed that each man should have a vote. He worked toward Jamaica's independence from Britain. He fought in WWI and lost a brother, together they fought in the British army. He returned to Jamaica after being away 8 years and became a lawyer. He set up Jamaica Welfare Limited. This was the first social development agency to be formed, all as a result of bananas! There were problems between United Fruit Company and Jamaica Banana Producers Association. The Jamaica team wanted more money for their bananas.

Manley also started, along with O.T.Fairclough, the People's National Party. Manley wanted Jamaica to prepare to become a nation.

The most recent national heroe is Sir Alexander Bustamante. Bustamante is the leader of the labor movement. He wanted improved working conditions for all. Manley and Bustamante led the country into independence in 1962. Jamaica became an equal member of the British Commonwealth and of the United Nations. Interesting Manley and Bustamante are cousins. Bustamante went through trials and ordeals all to better his country.

None of these national heroes had easy lives, but in spite of the hardships placed on them personally, they were successes and today are heroes that Jamaica celebrates.

ALl of this I have learned from Renee's reports at school along with a wonderful book, "Our National Heroes". Renee and I have learned alot since living here because of school projects! Thank you Belair School!

I will have a lovely Jamaica day off tomorrow while you my friends head back to the office on Monday morning!