We're headed to Jamaica again very soon, and with the continuing cold weather and almost daily snow, the warm temperatures are welcomed.

This March 2008 trip to Jamaica will be different from the others, and we find it amusing that I (Liz) have said almost that exact same phrase at the start of every trip. There are two major changes which make this trip significantly different from those of the past.

1) We won't be leading a team of volunteers at the Infirmary each day. In the past we have always had 4-6, sometimes even 8 other Infirmary volunteers with us. These volunteers ranged from medical professionals, students, non-profit gurus, to the manager of an acoustic folk duo.

And while it will seem a little strange that we won't have lunch with our handful of friends each day (when we commiserate, cry, or laugh.) I'm hopeful that my belief that there is always something new to learn in the quiet ways of life will prove true. This will be a "quiet" week at the Infirmary on many levels, but I hold onto the hope that this will pay out in the end.

2) Our work at the Infirmary will also feel quiet because our dear friend Pearl, who had lived at the Infirmary for the last 12 years, passed away in early August 2007. During each of our visits we treasured spending time with her, visiting with her about her life, her concerns, and hearing about how she reached out to support others at the Infirmary. We anticipate a gaping hole in our hearts as the reality of her death sets in during our visit. (Especially me - Liz.)

So what exactly are we going to do without a slew of Infirmary volunteers? We plan to spend our time conducting an informal "needs assessment" on behalf of the Infirmary staff. Our general goal is to carefully plan each successive step of this adventure of serving the Infirmary, to ensure that our service is truly beneficial to the Infirmary as a whole, and that each new implementation is sustainable into the future.

We don't want momentum to build up only to dwindle off after a few years' time and have begun to examine the ways in which we can better maintain consistent communication and relationships with those at the Infirmary when we are back home in the U.S.

In prior visits we raised funds (thanks to all of you!) to purchase a new commercial stove for the Infirmary. The one they had been using for the last 35+ years had finally quit and they were left with only stovetop cooking until the new appliance arrived.

In March 2007 more funds were raised to purchase replacement washing machines and hope to see that these are still working well given the amount of laundry that must be cleaned each day.

Part of the laundering process they undertake each day involves
1) soaking clothing in bleach water
2) transferring the clothing into a pot of boiling water for further sterilization
3) wet laundry gathering in piles waiting to be transferred to the one washing machine that worked.

(Dirty laundry is in the large pile on the left)

We hope that the addition of 2 new washing machines (resulting in 3 machines at the infirmary total) purchased in March 2007 with your funds will have sped up this laundering process. With roughly 136 residents at any given time, more washing machines would be very useful. But we also know from our last visit that the boiler which heats water for the Infirmary is in need of significant repair. Future project perhaps?

During the last visit (Mar 2007) our volunteer medical staff offered a class to Infirmary employees on common medical conditions (heart disease, diabetes, etc) and we discovered that while this type of professional information is helpful, there are other avenues where needs are still unmet. We want to understand these needs, document them, and look for ways to help staff and the surrounding community meet these needs. Hence, a needs assessment is the next step to better understand the organization as a whole.

In addition to spending time at the Infirmary, we will also spend time at a local school where I volunteered last year. The computer lab at the school is anticipated to open on March 10th so we hope to be of service to the staff in making this a reality.


And perhaps the largest difference anticipate during this trip is the flexibility to relax, enjoy visiting with our Jamaican friends, and spending time together. While our previous trips have been truly rewarding, they have also been very tiring! As always, a lot of preparation beforehand is needed, and even more coordination on the ground has made our volunteering possible. This time we're satisfied to look out for just the two of us!

If there were a beach nearby and possibly someone to make me a daiquiri at the end of each day, it might almost pass for vacation. Okay, so that's definitely stretching it, but we are excited for a slower pace of service this time.

We'll post new updates to this blog as often as possible and we thank you in advance for your prayers, encouragement and support for our work in Jamaica!

"Tonks Mon!"
Liz & Ryan

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A few photos from prior trips.
Photos from the Infirmary:

Our friend Peter, coloring with some supplies donated by supporters (like you!) for use during recreational activities.

Liz & our friend Patricia who lives at the Infirmary.


One of our medical volunteers, Elaine, works with a staff member to clean a pressure ulcer and change a bandage.

Friends, old and new.

Photos from the School:

A student at the school creates a document using a laptop I was lent to use in my time at the up and coming computer lab.

Students begging to get into the computer lab.