Stories from Christmas

We started with the children's homes where we sang and tumbled and ate cake with the kids who gleefully gasped at their presents...and in the end were mostly enamoured by a box. The atmosphere was more solemn at the AIDS ward in Georgetown Public Hospital...Kay lie curled up on her side, bones jutting out from joint to joint, breathing laboured due to the fluid collecting in her lungs. She held the soft towel from her giftbag to her face, gently exclaiming, “It's too much, it's too much,” while her blind eyes stared into nothing. Smiling, she revealed a gold tooth, marked with a “K” as we belted out O Holy Night at her bedside. She probably won't live more than 3 days. I asked Jesus to take away the pain in her chest and minutes later she was no longer wimpering.

While we were singing to a man near the nurses' station, Daniel pointed out a tearful visitor – and the lifeless body 4 beds away. The nurses covered the dead man's body ¾ of the way with his sheet and pulled a curtain in front. I waited for an opportunity to approach his lone visitor. Tears falling, she told me she had planned see her brother this morning but wasn't feeling well. By the time she reached the hospital in the afternoon, he was dead. I prayed for her, then she left.

A light-hearted memory of the afternoon was when one of the patients – a young man – drummed his fingers on a dairy creamer container, keeping rhythm with Steve's rockin version of Silent Night.

And then there was the conversation with Mr. J- “I used to believe in God but now I don't see the use...He should've never created us without our consent...”

In the children's ward we gave out toys and balloons and apologized to the nurses for buying mini-trumpets and noise makers -but the kids were loving them! We listened to moms and one dad about the strain and difficulty of seeing their child suffer and I prayed with a weary single mom, offering affirmation of her devotion and care for her son.

I was delighted to feed and hold the teeniest 1-year old boy I have ever seen. Adorable -really just wanted to be cuddled. His mother abandoned him at the hospital a month ago. He was malnurished and is still very underweight but he's better than before and the nurse said there is a family that wants him. Thank God.

We stood in the center of the room and sang more carols while the kids played with their toys and 9 year-old Sasha looked on from behind her oxygen mask - her cheeks were tear-stained from the latest procedure and her enormously distended belly prevented her from lying comfortably.

And finally, there were the little old ladies at the seniors' home, repeating, "God bless you!" between songs while clutching their shiny gift bags.

The best blessing is to be a blessing.

Thank you, Dr. Kandola, for giving so that we could give in Jesus' name.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

"...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6b

Leadership & Lights

I've been reading the Psalms quite a bit lately and I noticed that David has been in some really uncomfortable situations, being pursued by enemies and feeling the weight of God's silence when he wanted to hear Him the most. And it made me think of the times (there are plenty) when I feel all squirmy and I just want to run from leadership and bake cookies forever. Starbucks is also on my default list.

But then I remembered the difference between Saul and David's responses to their appointed tasks. Saul hid himself among the baggage when he was supposed to step up and lead the nation. David came against his giant with zeal for God and confidence in His character.
And so I pray...Lord, help me to trust You and know You like David did – to look to You and believe in Your love for me. And help me to step up as You lead me.

Here are some recent photos and happenings...

They light up my life!

I am so delighted to be around kids all the time! I'm beginning to feel like a true auntie even though I make crummy paper airplanes out of church bulletins.

Monkeys!
The landscaping guys have started a vegetable and fruit garden behind the dormitory. With much of the bush cleared out back there, we have better access to a shady reading spot (watch out for snakes!) and to a path that leads through our land to a large canal. Karen and I were walking back there a couple weeks ago and heard a lot of rustling overhead. We looked up to see monkeys swinging from the trees! Steve with Basil and his crew.

The bridge in progress -completed November 29th -praise God for His provision!
Me and Beeno -she's my latest roomie.
Ladies Night
Staff and students from the base enjoyed an evening of glamour attending “Coming Before the King” in Georgetown – a banquet celebrating the value of women; highlighting topics like domestic violence, suicide and child abuse. I got to wear a beautiful Indian garment that Beeno bought me. The skirt was long and flowy and I felt very elegant -except when I stepped on the skirt and then got it caught in the taxi door. It was nice to get dolled-up and give the mom's a break for a night.

We're nearing the end of the lecture phase for the DTS and we'll begin outreach after Christmas. Our destinations are Suriname and Curacao (an island in the Netherland Antilles). Raising finances is not easy in third-world/developing nations but the students have been successful with a couple of fundraising events. I am impressed with their determination and trust in God. If anyone would like to give toward a student's tuition or outreach, please email me at: bluemountainsunrise@gmail.com or guyanayouthwithamission@yahoo.com

Thanks for staying up to date. I'm looking forward to writing about the Christmas parties we'll be hosting at a seniors' home, children's and AIDS ward at the hospital and at the orphanages we visit on Fridays.

Deck the halls! -em

September Happenings

You know you live in Guyana when...

-You read an article about piracy in the daily news and it's not about music, it's acutally about pirates – aparently there's been a surge of pirates on Guyana's waters and the government is cracking down on their activity.

-You sweat so much from moving grass that you end up inhaling sweat beads through your nostrils, mimicking the sensation that you've suddenly gone under water and didn't get a chance to hold your nose.

-The neighbour's cow just knocked over your garbage can again.

Last month we had a team from Jamaica help us put the columns up on our new building. They worked like mad for 10 long days in the hot sun and got so much accomplished. Meanwhile a youth group from Georgetown also came to our aid in construction. We had so many people carrying in sand and rocks from the road, every bucket we had was in use. I even carried sand in an old igloo cooler when there were no buckets available! We were grateful for the help and the good company and we praise God for another step toward getting the building completed. Plus, it was fun for me to catch up with my Jamaican friends. Here we are at St. George's Cathedral in Georgetown. It's either the world's tallest or oldest standing wooden structure, unless that's one of those made up facts.

The guys also helped with some electrical work on our house. Turns out our ground wires have current – so that's why Steve keeps getting zapped by the microwave!

Since the team left, construction has come to a halt due to lack of funds and our need to focus on DTS. We have 3 couples in the school and one Alaskan girl. All the couples have small children so there are a lot of little ones running around which I find delightful.

I'm continually amazed by how God comes through for us. Last week, a family came by with loads of vegetables and today, the ice factory down the road decided to give us water to fill 2 of our tanks (450 gallons each) for free!

And God is faithfully working in me, too (Phil. 1:6). Space is limited here and I find that being around people constantly -as wonderful as they are-with no place of escape -exposes selfishness that I wasn't even aware existed in me. I'm thankful for those instances when my need for God's grace and mercy smacks me in the face -it's His kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

I heard someone say that the way you treat people is the only real evidence that you've connected with God. I pray that His fire burns away the stuff in me that doesn't reflect Jesus so that my life would be evidence that He lives and loves us.

God is faithful to bring me to my knees to look for Him like a lost coin and faithful to show up in conversations with neighbours and others we meet in the day.

In your prayers:
-Thank God for the DTS and how well it's going!
-Thank God for all the help we received in construction!
-Thank God for His provision in everything.
-Please ask God to send rain to keep our water supply replenished.
-For direction and unity among the leadership team as we decide on outreach locations.
-For opportunities to serve our community.
-For funds to continue construction.

Thank you so much!

eM

The Northwest

Hi Everyone!

Two weeks ago I spent 6 days in places where most people in the world never have the opportunity to go. And I was blown away. There are too many words that are still not enough and even the pictures don't do justice to the journey.I wanted to post more photos but it takes eons to upload them so these will have to do for now...

Pastor Orpha (PO) planned the trip to visit communities her church is helping and new ones who need help building a church. PO and I connected quite comfortably. She reminded me of Gadgette from Rescue Rangers: spunky and sweet but when it comes to business (preaching), she's a tough cookie.

We left Charity 8 hours later than planned due to a no-show boat driver, a motor in disrepair and at last, no gasoline. Once on our way up the Pameroon River to the Atlantic we turned back briefly to try to recover Sister Helen's kerchief but it sank.

Night fell by 6:30 and we only got as far as Barsina by 10pm, shivering in the wind as Roly took turns at full throttle. He's pretty much my hero for not getting us lost. From broad stretches through low branches, hanging vines and fallen trees in narrow passages, the waters are Roly's race track (or obstacle course). And he knows the Northwest like the back of his hand. Even in the dark, he'd only put up a flashlight every once in a while to make sure we weren't headed for disaster. He said he can tell when we're coming up to a turn because the branches are lower. We only had a coulple of close calls when coconut husks got caught in the motor. I think I could navigate those rivers for a thousand years and still have no clue where I am.
At night, in the boat we'd bundle up for the wind chill factor. On the shore, it was because of the sand fly factor. Sweating while cooking dinner in 2 pairs of socks, 2 pants and longsleeves was better than losing my mind from the ever-repetitive bites and I-can't-believe-how-itchy-I-am dances.
PO said we traveled about 1400km all together . Sometimes we would see people in canoes disappear behind huge jungle leaves and ferns and there's no way you can tell there's a creek in that spot except that someone just disappeared in it. And people live there! I couldn't get enough pictures of beautiful people, and I didn't. They were joyful, hospitable, timid and generous. This particular gathering in Hooboo Creek worshipped and prayed without shame.

Most people need basics like a water tank to collect rain so they don't have to use creek water for cooking and bathing and going to the bathroom in.
Sturdier housing is also necessary. All homes are on stilts because of the tide and some places looked pretty hazardous for children, but they've been living this way since they were born of course. Most people seem to have access to fruits and vegetables if they have a place to grow them -but the majority can't afford a motor boat to get far enough to a place where they can sell them. There's some minor trading that happens with a cabbage factory at a particular junction (ie. 1 bag rice for some wild cabbage). Young boys catch parrots to sell as pets.We visited this pastor and his family in Venezuela and I got to translate for us at the “border.” -Which was a dock with a small house and a Guyanese border guard and a few metres away, another dock and border guards for Venezuela. Their uniforms were shorts and in some cases also a t-shirt. PO said the people want their communtities to develop – to have schools (some have none) and closer medical help. And church leaders are eager for teaching because their only resource (besides the Holy Spirit), are people who travel in to teach them. There was opportunity in every place to speak and pray.
And then, when I thought I couldn't be more amazed, we went “not far” to Almond Beach, a village on the northern coast, lined with coconut palms, where tiny crushed shells made for sand and the wind in the palms mimicked the sound of a gentle rainfall.

This was my introduction at the service that night, “We are happy to have Sister Shirley with us tonight -”
“It's Emese.”
“We are very thankful to have our sister here with us for the first time. Her name is --very difficult to say --but she has come from far away so she must have something important to tell us...”

Mr. France, the community leader/elder for Almond Beach told me to come back any time. He'll even build me a house if I want to move there and I'm pretty sure he meant it.

And Pastor Orpha said when ever I want to bring out a team, she'd be more than happy to take us. So let me know if you're up for it.

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea. Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:9-10

Thanks for your love and prayers.
eM

Row, Row, Row Your Boat...

Hi Everyone,

Here's a few more details about my upcoming trip: Leaving tomorrow (Tuesday the 21st)

You can follow a little on the map to your right but it doesn't show all the rivers.

Tomorrow morning I'll be crossing the Essequibo via boat, then taking an hour bus ride to Charity where I will meet pastor Orpha and her friend.

Early Wednesday morning, we plan to take a small boat down the Pameroon River to the Atlantic. In another boat we'll travel about 11 km in the ocean.

Then it's up more rivers, visiting villages and sleeping who knows where along the way.

Eventually we'll spend a couple days in Mabaruma.

We hope to cross over to Venezuela to visit another village that Pastor Orpha wants to help out before heading back the way we came.

The purpose of our journey is to visit the communities and their churches, to encourage them and see their needs. These are all Amerindian villages (different tribes native to the area).

I'm so thankful I get to do this even though the giant tarantulas make me uneasy. Aparently they can be dinner-plate sized there. Might as well be as big as a hippo.

Please pray for safe travels and that I will be an expression of Jesus to my traveling partners and people we meet.

I should be back in Parika on Wednesday the 28th with stories and pictures.

Thanks so much.

eM

Neighbours, Sand, and Rivers

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for your continued prayer. Exciting news this week is that we finished filling in the foundation for our new building - hooray!!! And it has rained enough to irrigate it which saves us a lot of work with buckets!

We've also had new opportunities to reach out to our neighbours, some have been going through difficult times and they've appreciated our care and concern.

We are excited about the vision God is giving us for this place -especially to build a community recreation centre at the front of our property. More on this later...

I have an opportunity to visit some communities in the Northwest interior region with a Guyanese pastor and a small group. I'm slightly nervous about the trip 'cause I've heard it can be crazy but I am way looking forward to the adventure and making connections for future ministry opportunities. We leave this Wednesday (traveling in a series of small boats up the Essequibo and its tributaries) and are due to return on the 28th. Please pray for a safe journey and no malaria!

Please also pray for Jamaica, in the path of Hurricane Dean.

God bless you,
eM

"...'and all you people of the land take courage', declares the Lord, 'and work; for I am with you,' declares the Lord of hosts." -Haggai 2:4b

Out of Egypt

Sometimes, when my foreign-ness smacks me in the face I think I'll never escape this perpetual pendulum of wanting to fit in and not wanting to to fit in because, so what?

Every once in a while I battle these thoughts that in some way or another, I'm just not cutting it. Yet the voice of God is not condemning. Every once in a while and sometimes more often than not, I get anxious about stuff that I'm supposed to enjoy and His Word says to be anxious for nothing, just let Him know what's on my mind and He'll lead me to peace.

I was swimming in all this especially after my journey to Hungary last spring and back to Jamaica in May. I wrote this then and it has become one of my reminders that Jesus is my deliverer and He is my friend. Today, I am remembering.

Out of Egypt
I've been a little apprehensive to cast my net from this boat
I've been stumbling in a pressing crowd
Afraid to reach out and touch your cloak.

But I'll keep missing every sunrise
If I don't face the dark before sweet dawn
And I cannot walk on water
When I'm busy building bricks out of straw.

Lead my mind out of Egypt
Pour your thoughts into my heart
Your hand stretched out, take it or leave it
Patience, walk me back from start.

No corners on the road to freedom
Shackles strewn along the side
In a thousand shapes and sizes
Mark milestones passed in time.

You cautiously unearth deep roots, lifting rocks with movements kind
Revealing underneath a soil that's tender
In these trapped pieces of my mind.

You're the warrior who clears the path before me
Pointing out that I carry too much
Wise to let me choose my footing
You're the gentle one who picks me up

And leads my mind out of Egypt
Pours truth into my heart
You liberate tied up emotions
Giving life and love fresh start.

Action & Suds

The action continues in Hyde Park while Kim leaps around the room trying to get rid of the persistent bat that's circling above my head...oh, she's got it. I guess that's the second reason we have a broom and dustpan upstairs... I spent last week at another youth camp about a half-hour from Hyde Park. This one was much smaller than the last, with 35 youth and just a couple churches attending. My responsibilities included counselor, nurse and lifeguard (we bathed in a trench and canal). The smallness of it made for an extra awkwardness initially with everyone knowing each other and bantering with their inside jokes in Creolese.

Guyanese Creole has about as many similarities to Jamaican Patois as differences but I'm getting used to the accent. This camp was a good immersion in Creolese. I even played a part in a skit one night and people laughed when they were supposed to. And by the end of the week I felt very much a part of this church/camp family. They drenched me with water and painted my face to show their acceptance.

This was the trench we bathed in until we sent the boys upstream and got to use the canal across the road, wich was deep enough to swim in. The water comes from tributaries of the Essequibo River so it was clean, depending on your definition of clean. They call it black water because it's the colour of rootbeer, due to minerals. It might've also had something to do with the floating suds and occasional wrapper, bottle, and film of oil. I tried to look on the positive side and convince myself that the oil was making up for my lack of conditioner. Once the girls complied with my no-pretending-you're-dead rule, I enjoyed dancing around in the water with them and jumping in the canal to rinse the shampoo out of our hair.

It was truly a blessing to be with these bright, fun young people and I even connected with some of the other counselors. I was encouraged by the passion I saw in the pastors who ran the camp and those who came to speak at the sessions. They have a tremendous desire to build into the lives of the youth here and since it's a relatively small community, they take the opportunity to know their congregation.

This week I'm looking forward to focusing more on DTS prep and spending some quality time in prayer and seeking God.

"Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4b

Bless you,
eM

Camp Hauraruni

I arrived at Camp Haururani in style with my pterodactyl sheet and hot pink mosquito net. I planned to use my sarong as a top sheet but it had to suffice as my towel, which I had forgotten. Thus, my Gambian skirt doubled as my night time cover. Being a missionary has definitely made me more innovative...
More than 300 youth attended this camp/conference in Hauraruni (a bushy, sandy region about half an hour from Georgetown). Steve and I got to be counselors for a few of them. I had 3 great girls in my dorm. And this was some serious camp! Devotions were from 5am to 5:30 and some of the guys got up for exercises even before that! The dorm lights were controlled from the kitchen so our lights also came on at 3am when the kitchen ladies began preparing our 6:30 breakfast (mostly bread). I searched for a switch in our building but the other counselors said there wasn't one. My next idea was to wear dark eyeshadow to bed, thinking that would perhaps dim the brightness that burned through my eyelids every morning, but I hadn't brought any. Needless to say, sleep was neither lengthy nor undisturbed. But I love being with youth so I didn't mind enduring it.

There was preaching and workshops in the mornings and more preaching in the evenings. The worship was quite a work out, everybody out of their seats jumping and dancing – so much perspiration and not just 'cause we're close to the equator! And if there's a limit to how many times you can sing “wet wet wet, soak soak soak” (in reference to the Holy Spirit), I'm sure we crossed it in the first 10 minutes of the chorus every night. It was a blast and sometimes I just had to laugh...My frist four years of praise and worship experience were in a church where substituting a piano for the humble organ was too risqué for our revered hymns. Last week I found myself under a tent in the sand, being yanked into conga lines and getting pulled up front to jump around and dance. What a life! The evening services were, well, pretty wild – and I'll leave it at that.
Steve and I had the opportunity to do a skit and speak about the upcoming DTS and encourage the youth to “guard what God has entrusted to (them)” that week (2 Tim.1:14). Several of them were very interested in learning about God and missions in a discipling community. Of course with every brochure I handed out, I thought, “Oh my gosh, HOUSING!” We are praying for finances and help to continue building. God contiues to be faithful in this week by week, it's pretty amazing. And some local youth leaders want to bring people from their church to help with the work.

In other news at the youth camp, I tried my hand at Cricket and other field games and chased down 13-year-old Deshawn who told me I couldn't run. Of course, I only caught up with him because he fell in the tall grass but there were no rules that said he had to be standing. Besides, I didn't bruise my pinky toe for nothing.

The photo above is of Beno and I in the kitchen hammock. She is from Guyana and on staff with us in Parika and she was the one who coordinated the camp. Beno makes the best dahl and rhoti on the planet. Check out the "Pictures" link on the right for more photos of the camp!

“Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you...” 2 Timothy 1:6a

Thank you for your prayers. I am doing well. -eM

Welcome to Hyde Park, Everyone!

I am becoming acquainted with our interesting community and I truly feel privileged to be in Guyana and in this town on the east bank of the Essequibo river. People are generous and hospitable; we’re always greeting others left and right as we walk down the road and pastors and neighbours stop by all the time to chat or have a meal or bring us fruit from their farms.

Historically and politically, Guyana is very much a part of the Caribbean so I don’t feel too far from Jamaica. I still hear reggae and occasionally off-key gospel on buses and street corners, plus covers of James Blunt, Chicago and their contemporaries. What’s new to my ears is the Hindi-reggae mix and Hindi back-up vocals for almost every genre of music. In Georgetown, I heard a vendor blaring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

There have been two deaths in Hyde Park since I arrived and this image will forever be seared in my memory:

A 7-year-old girl in her Sunday dress, sitting next to a coffin weeping and whispering, "I love you, Mommy," while holding on to her dead mother's hand. Her mother died of AIDS, her father died of the same syndrome 3 years ago. I wonder how many more children there are here in similar circumstances. The incidence of HIV/AIDS is high in Guyana and thankfully, there are initiatives to educate poeple about it.

I had my first tarantula encounter a few days ago in the bathroom - which is the same place where a little frog jumped on top of my head. I saw him on the wall, then looked in the mirror and there he was, peering back at me. Not quite the accessory I was going for, although I hear the "outdoor" look is in. The tarantula was perched on the shelf, dangerously close to my loofah scrubber. Tim caught it in a bag, which he then dangled in my face. I nearly decked him but restrained myself because I was afriad he'd drop the bag and the hairy monster would get away and I'd never be able to sleep again. Now I enter the bathroom as if it were a potential crime scene, scoping out corners for intruders.

The homesickness/what-am-i-doing-here feelings were really trying to kick my butt last week. One night I finally realized, God must’ve brought me here to show me that He has actually called me to Vancouver or some trendy European city with a big park. Yeah, right. I am more settled now, looking forward to each day andI find it easy to love Guyana. Nights are more challenging when I am alone with my thoughts -please pray about that.

We were thrilled to receive Steve from Washington on Saturday (I worked with him at YWAM Jamaica) and since he arrived the hilarity factor and the making-fun-of-Em factor have significantly increased. Granted, I did hang my wet clothes on the "clothes-line" which turned out to be an electrical cord running power from the house to the dorms.

This week I am looking forward to participating in a 3-day conference on Islam and how it’s affecting the nation and after that, we’ll be working with a youth camp in the bush for 5 days. Please pray for the success of these events and their leaders (Mr. M and Beno, respectively).

It's good to be here, friends. Thanks so much for your support!

“So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” Romans 14:19

PS. If someone would like to design a stylish mosquito-net outfit for me, that'd be wonderful. I look good in blues.

Prayers, Cows and Cement

Airports & Prayers

Danya dropped me and my way too much stuff off at the doors of Kingston’s international airport on Tuesday morning. I had been praying that my extra luggage surcharges wouldn’t be humungous and wouldn’t you know it, the supervisor at Caribbean Airlines that morning was Guyanese. We struck up a conversation as I waited in line and by the time we were finished talking, I was checked in and didn’t have to pay a penny extra for my stuff. God is so creative in the way He answers prayer!

I had a last minute flight change and ended up landing briefly in Antigua with a 3 hr stop over in Barbados. On the last leg I sat next to Shane, a young Guyanese cyclist and Collette, who is moving to Guyana from Maine at 66 years old to do missionary work with her husband. Our conversation covered everything from Chinese food to Jesus and an opportunity to pray for Shane. I think I made my first friend in Guyana without even stepping into the country.

Driving Home

Immigration and customs were a breeze and Kim was waiting for me on the other end with open arms along with Orlando (our friend and airport driver) and his wife Gina. Orlando’s sharp driving skills got us around potholes and wandering cows in the lat night. However, no measure of quick reflexes could avoid traveling through the thick scent of the Demerara Rum Distillery. Demerara is also the name of the river we crossed on what is boastfully known as the world’s longest floating bridge. I could see the midnight waters of the Atlantic illuminated by distant Georgetown lights as we zoomed across the estuary.
The houses are colourful and built close together with Hindu temples, mosques and churches in between. I was surprised at how many Hindu temples there are, one about every km and a half, marked with different coloured flags representing the pantheon that Hindus worship. Seeing those shrines really struck me with a sadness that there are so many people who do not know that there is a God who knows them and loves them so tenderly and that He is someone they can know and that this truth is so freeing.
It took about an hour and a half to get home to Hyde Park, a sort of district of Parika (the town centre is about 2km down the road). I finally dropped into bed around 3am.

Wet Cement

They say there are 2 seasons in Guyana: wet and dry. This one’s definitely wet. I awoke to a rainshower pounding our zinc roof and later got drenched by the hours of downpour helping our workers shovel cement with Kim and Beeno (ywam staff). It’s for the foundation of our desperately needed staff housing.
I am thankful for my little room with a burgundy floor, peptobismol pink walls that don’t reach the teletubbie-blue ceiling. My windows look onto Monic’s shop/bar across the road and the side of our property on the right and I even have a double bed, which I have never had before.

Being in a new place stirs up feelings of homesickness and loneliness but it awakens in me a desperation to have Jesus be more than enough. He is here.

I can’t wait to tell you more and there is already so much more to say!
Thank you for your prayers!

Em

Almost There...

I spent my last night in Jamaica turning my arms into rubber at a kick-boxing class with some friends in Kingston. Hopefully I can still manage to carry my too-much luggage today! It was about as difficult as I thought it would be to compact my life into a few check-in pieces and my carry-onables but here I am. People keep asking me if I like the food in Guyana but I don't know, I've never been there.

My flight leaves at 1:40 with a quick stop in Barbados and a change of planes in Trinidad.

Please pray for a safe journey to my new home.

em

Under Construction

Hi there, thanks for coming. Until July please go to www.eminjamaica.blogspot.com for updates.

Thanks!

Em