Part 2: A Life Remembered

 Early this morning the senior class and chaperones left to head back home. And all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. The emotional stress of the past days hit me full force.  Going through something like this creates an emotional bond between all involved, and the goodbyes were hard. But there was also a part of me, like never before, that breathed a sigh of relief when I knew they were safely at  the airport.
 How I wanted to assure those worried mothers back home, that "there is nothing to worry about. We'll take good care of your child!"
 Words, that so glibly rolled off my tongue before, stuck in my throat, and I couldn't bring myself to say them, because, how do we know nothing else will happen?
 Today was my day to work at the hospital. I thought about calling them and telling them I won't be in but decided it might be just as good to get my mind on something else. I was glad I did. More than ever, I am realizing how Jared's death impacted people far and wide.
 Almost everyone I talked to, knew about the tragedy. People from this island of Grenada. People from England, Germany and Trinidad. The one man from Germany, knew about it because he had read the article online from the reporter in Jared's home area. He squirmed uncomfortably and looked away when I mentioned how Jared was ready to go and his parents have peace that he's in a better place.
The people on this island are so kind and sympathetic. Dr. Amichi, the doctor at the hospital where I work, said,"We are just so sorry to hear about the tragedy. That is so sad. So tragic. But it was his time to go and the good Lord needed him above." He shared how the guard at the Dive Shack was a friend of  his. He said the first thing the guard noticed was a group of young men gathered together praying, and he knew something was wrong. I wonder how many other people noticed this group in prayer? This man performed CPR on Jared and also rode along to the hospital with Jared.
 Another patient shared how he plays basketball with "the Mennonites." He knew about the drowning and he expressed his sympathy. 
 To many students, a senior trip is the time to live it up, party and be merry. Through the eyes and words of the people I met today, I could tell many of them were amazed and astounded that someone would actually spend their senior trip serving others. It is a concept totally foreign to many people.
May this class keep on being a light and testimony for Christ as they adjust to a new normal back home again.

 I'll share some more pictures from yesterday.

                               Singing at the poor house, a place for handicapped adults

                                                      Bringing cheer to the residents

A Life Remembered

Tears are a language God understands. Many tears fell tonight. Healing tears. Angry tears. Tears of letting go and recognizing God's sovereignty. As the waves softly lapped at the ocean's edge, intermittent sounds of metal hitting wood were carried in the soft evening breeze. As each student took a turn to pound the cross into the sand, there were many emotions filtering through everyone's mind. The pain was intense. Of wrestling with God. Of wondering why. Of remembering that day. That afternoon. Feelings of sheer panic as some struggled to get Jared to shore. For some, feelings of helplessness after futile revival efforts. Of remembering hearing the final news. He's gone. No, God! Not Jared! He's so young! Why here? Why his senior trip? Why this class?
 The bright full moon illuminated sad faces later tonight as the students sat in a circle and shared their heart. Jared had a passion to help people; to make a difference in people's lives. If he could see all the people he has impacted through his death, he would know his desire is being fulfilled. Students shared on letting go and letting God have full control of their lives. Of a stronger desire to serve the Lord. Of realizing the seriousness of life. He impacted his fellow classmates.
 He impacted many people in Grenada. As the class continued to share in song at various places around the island, people knew this was the class that had deep sorrow in their heart. And yet, still they sang.
 Through his parent's testimony and peace of knowing he is with God, he is impacting many people in his home area. His death was not in vain.

                                                            Grand Anse Beach

                                                 Making a cross for the beach

                                                    Chris painting the cross for Jared

                        Headed to the location where Jared drowned to place the cross in his memory

                           To the left of the concrete pier is where Jesus came to claim Jared

                                                                The senior guys

                                                           Chris & James, two of the rescuers

                                                              Bryson & Matt

                                                   You will never be forgotten, Jared

                               The beach in the distance is where God met Jared

                      The sunset tonight....pales in comparison to what Jared is experiencing!

Terre Hill Senior Trip

 Another day is almost history.
I believe the class could all say, in spite of all the grief and pain they endured in Grenada, they also made some good memories, too. I am so thankful for that. We are really enjoying having them with us. They are a great bunch!

I had to make rotis for around 80 people for supper, so I stole some of the girls to help me cut up vegetables. It was so nice to have their help and I enjoyed getting to know them better. Was also very nice to have some familiar faces with me in the kitchen!

Chris took the guys from our group to pour a concrete floor for Carmel John. She lives up a very steep hill. Because of the steep incline his load shifted, and the truck that was bringing the gravel up for the project overturned. No one was hurt, thankfully. A friend of Carmel's was driving the truck. With lots of muscle power they got it right side up again. Limes group was also there to help.

                                       Many buckets of concrete and lots of hard work!

Singing at Mt. Gay, a psychiatric hospital, this afternoon

Terre Hill Senior girls

Part of a Heavenly Plan

As the murky twilight stole the deep shades of pink and blue from the colorful sky, salty tears fell as praises were lifted to God. Death has a way of conquering cultural divides. It is a pain all colors, cultures and countries understand. A pain that draws people closer, dissolving petty differences.
"When a tragedy like this happens in Grenada, all of Grenada grieves with you," Thaddeus shared at the LaBorie Mennonite church. "We are so saddened," he continued. "I couldn't wait to meet the group and thank them for the work they did on my steps and then I heard that one of them was killed. My heart was so heavy. But then, I heard he was ready to meet God, and I felt better."
 "Even though I didn't know him, when I heard a young man drowned, I immediately burst into tears," another young man shared at our church this morning. "We are so sorry this had to happen."
 As we sang tonight at a joint song service for all 3 of the mission's churches, the words of "Thomas's Song" jumped off the page..."your death was part of a heavenly plan..."
 Jared's death was not in vain. It is part of a heavenly plan.

This class is being such a testimony in Grenada!
 Through all their pain and tears, they continue to praise God!
(I apologize for the shaky video)

The LaBorie group

                                                      Skyping Josh Martin

                                                   Big smiles across the miles!

                                     James & Josh "meeting" each other:)

                               Josh being showed the beautiful country of Grenada

                                                     Unloading the cattle:)

                      Playing basketball before the song service started tonight

                                                   Heavens really gonna shine!

                         This group of seniors are touching many lives!

Life goes on...

And so, life continues to move on in the tiny, little island of Grenada. Moment by moment, day by day, till the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months. The first week we were here, it seemed like a year should have passed, with all the new sights, smells & experiences. New faces, new roads, new grocery stores, new school, new church, new food, different temperatures, new house & new neighbors. Each new day that passed brought so many new things that, sometimes I could hardly fathom it was only a few days since we had left home. As we adjusted to life in Grenada though, it seemed like time picked up speed. Now I look back and think, has it really been 4 months already? Of course, winter is a busier time down here, with more visitors and 2 high school groups coming down. Maybe time will slow down when the hot summer months hit. We shall see. Temperatures are climbing and I've accepted the fact that I will be sweating more hours out of the day than I'm not. So far evenings have cooled down somewhat but it remains muggy most nights. We are in the middle of dry season so that means there are times they turn the water off for a few hours at a time. It also means that the water we do get is from the bottom of the reservoir, consequently it is cloudy and sometimes brown. After some stomach issues we started boiling our drinking water, as many people on the island are doing as well.

 How are we adjusting? Depends when you ask:) I don't think the longing for home will ever completely go away but most times it's bearable. Of course, there are the exceptions when you just really wish you could see everyone again! Last night I dreamed I was on a plane headed home and I was so excited that I forgot to take any luggage with me:) Hopefully that never happens! It definitely helps if I keep myself busy. Chris has not a chance to be bored yet and he usually always has something on his agenda. It doesn't help that everything that needs done takes twice as long. He'd much rather have it that way though than not have enough to do! Between fixing houses, vehicles & appliances and endless paper work, he has plenty to do.
  I am kept busy with normal housewife duties...washing, cooking, cleaning, ironing and then starting all over again.:) Really, not much different than what my life used to be. Wednesdays find me at the hospital and after meeting a lovely, elderly couple there, if all goes as planned, I will be helping the lady take care of her husband 1 morning a week. They would come into the hospital every Wednesday morning for medical care and I always so admired the cheerful, selfless way she took care of him! They are such a sweet couple! He recently broke his leg, so after he's discharged I plan to go help with his care. 

 Kaylah has made tremendous strides in adjusting! So thankful for that! She still really misses her friends though. Of course, it helped that she had her grandparents visit to look forward to! Also, her constant shadow, Diamond has brightened many of her days! That mutt is well worth the $25 she cost. 

 Collin & Christi have adjusted well and enjoy school for the most part. Their teacher Ryan Horst, has an excellent way of captivating their attention and making learning sound like the most fun thing in the world! 

 Collin's arm still is crooked and after endless phone calls, countless messages left & emailing x-rays, we have finally reached a decision. We got differing opinions from 2 different doctors, so for awhile, we weren't sure what we were gonna do. The one doctor, that thought we shouldn't wait till November to get it fixed, emailed the x rays to a pediatric surgeon at Hershey for his opinion. That doctor said if it would have been right after we discovered it had healed wrong he would say to get it fixed immediately, but now that it's considered an "old" injury, waiting 6 months won't make any difference. So on our visit home in November we will get it evaluated, so we know what to do about it. Most likely rebreaking & resetting.

Carter took to Grenada like a fish to water and he even sounds like one! (A Grenadian, not a fish:)) It is definitely true that the younger they are, the easier they adjust. He usually always has a smile on his face and makes friends wherever he goes. Ok, he can be a world class whiner sometimes too!

   Alright, now for a picture update of our lives:) 

Below is a set of steps that has been filling Chris's spare moments. They belong to Thaddeus, a member at our church, who plans to get married in June. His bride-to-be is in her 50's, so for her sake he decided to put in a flight of steps down to his house instead of making her use the steep, turny path he previously used. Very thoughtful of him, but they will still both be building lots of leg muscles going up & down all those steps!

Chris, Collin & Carter shoveling off sand to be used for the steps. They 

(not just Chris, others have been helping, too) have been framing the steps one

 section at a  time and many, many buckets of cement were carried down that hill!