Jamaica Humanitarian Projects: 2009

Friday, September 25, 2009

What a Week!

The pilot iCare mission is over. We saw 1850 patients in 4 days, distributing over 3000 pairs of glasses. We referred approximately 120 patients for surgery at the public health clinic. It was truly epic!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A Great Two Days

The amazing iCare team treated over 750 patients in two days!!!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Spreading the word in Whitehouse & Bluefields

Peter Tosh's crypt in Bluefields

Local girls in Bluefields at coconut stand

Chopping my first coconut with a machette

My coconut opening teacher

Pointing to iCare sign at Whitehouse market front

Local man thrilled with his new sunglasses

The shores of Bluefields

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Conch Off in Montego Bay

We had a conch blowing competition. Joseph has a bigger one but I make use of mine better and win the day.

Joseph teaching Maddie his technique.

And the week goes on...

Joseph and me paying for shipping in Montego Bay

I waited at customs for half a day for the shipment to clear. Lots of boxes opened and checked, but it looks like it is all there.

Fruit peddler in Montego Bay off of the "Hip Strip"

Kate and Maddie Dread with "Coolio"

Sunday, September 13, 2009

2009 - Advance team getting ready in Jamaica

Joseph making it all happen or looking for his lost luggage? Whatever...

Ate at Scotchies. Awesome local food and I even tried jerk chicken for the first time in Jamaica. Amazingly good! The scotch bonnet salsa is off the chain!

From left Joseph, Maddy, and Kate at Scothies. Maddy's mouth is on fire.

On Giving

Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."

And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself?

Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.

These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving

And is there aught you would withhold?

All you have shall some day be given;

Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."

The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.

They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.

And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.

And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?

And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?

See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.

For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.

Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;

For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.

--Kahlil Gibran (The Prophet 1923)

Speech by King Haile Selassie at the U.N. paraphrased by Bob Marley

Until the philosophy which hold one race superior
And another
Inferior
Is finally
And permanently
Discredited
And abandoned -
Everywhere is war -
Me say war.

That until there no longer
First class and second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes -
Me say war.

That until the basic human rights
Are equally guaranteed to all,
Without regard to race -
Dis a war.

That until that day
The dream of lasting peace,
World citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued,
But never attained -
Now everywhere is war - war.

And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
that hold our brothers in Angola,
In Mozambique,
South Africa
Sub-human bondage
Have been toppled,
Utterly destroyed -
Well, everywhere is war -
Me say war.

War in the east,
War in the west,
War up north,
War down south -
War - war -
Rumours of war.
And until that day,
The African continent
Will not know peace,
We Africans will fight - we find it necessary -
And we know we shall win
As we are confident
In the victory

Of good over evil

Jamaica Humanitarian Projects