Neala, Elynn and Nicole - Two Sisters and a Tropical Depression

Arrival of the family

As tropical storms go, Nicole was a mild one, certainly not a hurricane but definitely more than a tropical depression.  (You know, I always thought a tropical depression was what happens when you realize your Caribbean vacation is over, but now I find there is a second meaning and it has a lot to do with rain - and a lot of it.) More about this later.

My two sisters arrived last Wednesday for a few days of following little brother around to see what a Humanitarian Mission is all about.  Apparently our blog isn't descriptive enough for them.  On Thursday we took them to a closing ceremony at Achievers School in May Pen.

Bro. Weir at Closing Cermony

A very expensive Mahi-Mahi

Shanna introduced Neala to President Weir who spoke to her for a few moments at which time I turned around an put my head over Neala's shoulder and said, "Brother Weir, She really didn't understand a thing you just said!"  Well, that started "the Neala laugh" and then we did some interpreting to help the conversation along.  The closing ceremony ended the project where we had donated lecture chairs, filing cabinets, copy machines, tables, chairs, 12 computer workstations and an air-conditioner.  The school is located above an electrical parts store and a furniture factory.  It's not much to look at but they are doing a great job - which is why we agreed to partner with them.

Norm doing his deep sea fishing.  It really was the big one that got away!!

On Friday, my brother-in-law Norm and I joined four of the senior Elders and the Mission President at 4:30 in the morning on a deep sea fishing adventure.  Long story short, Norm got the most action spending 1 hour and 45 minutes bringing a very large Marlin up to the boat only to have the line break just as they were about to gaff it!  Elder Russell managed to hook one poor Mahi Mahi and get it into the boat which figures out to be worth about $300 a pound (and we ended up giving it to the boat staff).

Norm's version of almost catch and release

We hadn't even heard about tropical storm #16 (Nicole) but it was already giving us problems - lets just say that three of our ship-mates were not having the best time at sea.  If anyone were to ask, "What's up?" the answer would have to be, "Everything they'd eaten."  After that trip I will no longer complain about the rough Jamaican roads.  The seas around the island are much rougher than the roads.  You know that feeling you get in your stomach when you drive fast over a rise in the road?  We used to call them "fun bumps".  Our boat was climbing up and over many waves that were giving the same sensation but not everyone thought they were fun.

Sunday was church - Neala played the keyboard - they sat through the meetings but I don't think they understood too much of the talks or lessons.

President Durrant delivering Hygiene and Newborn kits

Monday we traveled up in the mountains delivering Hygiene kits in High Gate, Glen Goff, and Guys Hill.  By now the rains had started.

Road to Negril - before the main storm arrived

Storm strewn beach in front of restaurant with drapes over openings

 Traveling to Negril before the main storm hit Tuesday we loaded up and headed to Negril on the West end of the island.  The storm was causing some flooding of the roads, but it is the rainy season so it wasn't too unusual.  We were going to stop in Sav-la-mar to install some more computers in a school but we found that the school was closed because of the storm and it  - and all the others on the island were closed the rest of the week.

We had to change hotel room several times to find the ones that weren't totally flooded.  The sand on much of the 7 mile beach had been washed away.  A catamaran had crashed into our beach and broken apart.  The rain was horizontal and hurt when it hit you. 

Two pieces of a catamaran relocated on our hotel beach

We looked like the on-the-scene weathermen in Florida talking about the severity of the hurricane only without the fancy rain gear. It was amazing to experience the power of a mild storm like Nicole and to realize what a real storm would be like.  We have quite a few trees and limbs down and a we saw a lot of new pot holes and washed out roads.  Kingston has lost several bridges and a dozen homes with a few deaths.  We're now back in our apartment and will be checking on what we can do to help those who have been flooded.