'Do as the Jamaican's do' from Fr Joe

While in Jamaica, ‘Do as the Jamaican’s do’. I think that statement actually comes from some other place but, it works! In another culture – that is exactly what you must learn – do as they do, learn the culture, learn the people and adapt! Once you do that, then you can bring Jesus to the people!

In order to excel here in Jamaica, there are obstacles that present themselves on a regular basis and you have to adapt. One big one is the heat from the sun! So what do you do? Do as the Jamaican’s do - ignore it, stand in the shade, go about your business and cool off when you can!

How about this one? Doing as the Jamaicans do means that you eat hot, spicy foods! What do you do with the slow, intense burn from eating jerk chicken, made from Scotch Bonnet pepper's? You can't ignore that, you better just adapt and enjoy it! Scotch Bonnet’s are on the top of the chart as being the hottest pepper known to man. People eat them here in their food all the time, imagine that? Kids and adults alike! Scotch Bonnet peppers are so plentiful here that we have to pickle them! That is when the fun begins. At dinner, anyone who is brave enough to eat a whole spoonful of our pickled Scotch Bonnet peppers can earn $100 JD (Jamaica Dollars – that is equivalent to $1.00 US). A large sum! Don't be fooled, these kids line up for the chance to test the heat! (Most evenings, we have between 10-15 kids and adults at the dinner table)

So, what's happening here is this - mission work, receiving whomsoever comes to the door!
This last Sunday, we conducted ‘Sunday Service’ with about 15 people, all crammed into our little Chapel. After mass, we made a picnic lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and made the long walk to the seaside where we snorkeled and swam, Some of the older boys bring spear guns and try to spear fish for dinner! It is a good sport for the young men to satisfy their inquisitiveness, and gain confidence in a safe environment.

Aside from cooling off, our excursions with the kids really gives us the opportunity to teach these kids to go beyond what they have learned all their lives. Instead of just doing what the Jamaicans do, we teach them how to swim (most Jamaicans can’t swim!). Instead of just doing what the Jamaicans do when they have disagreements with one another, we teach them the Word of God and how to communicate and be respectful of each other.

And what I think is the most important of all, is to tell them that God is their friend. He is interested in them and wants to part of them and their lives. A relationship with God is not some ‘Glory, Hallelujah on Sunday, and do what you want come Monday’ type relationship but is a full life, a new spirit, breathing with new hope and opportunity. This is the Lord and Savior that these kids are meeting every time they come. They come, and they keep on coming, because our God is taking them beyond doing ‘Just what the Jamaicans do’!