Like this:

On the culinary side of things BAM! I found something that BAM! I really did not  like not by sight, but by taste. BAM! (I heard that that is what one of the famous t.v. chefs says when cooking on the tube (funny how you know what I mean when I say “on the tube” or funny how we have no problem with “youtube” when there are actually no tubes involved in either case!) BAM!  Anyway, the culprit revolting my taste buds was eggplant. I do eat eggplant in the states, especially when fried and breaded. But this was, well, looking like something that came out of a baby……………. uh, a baby jar, yeah that is what I meant to write, a baby jar. It was dark and light green in color, crushed and boiled down like a sauce of some kind. I really did try, but two bites was as far as I got.  Put it in a baby jar, and some child will eat it because he/she is not old enough to know that there are better delights to be found on the end of a spoon or fork. But give it to a grown professional of consumptive delights (did I actually just write that last phrase?) and this egg plant is something that you would like to plant in the garbage right next to the hard boiled eggs and iguana leftovers! BAM!!!!

Now that all that is out of my system……

Yesterday we had shepherd’s pie. Not sure which shepherds they got it from, but it was a good cooking crew of shepherds! There was no meat, but it did have mashed potatoes and cheese and vegetables. I told them that it was real “rib-stickin’” food (a little Kentucky lingo never hurt anyone) and then they laughed! I guess the rib-stickin’ language was rib-ticklin’! Oh how I amuse myself. I am my worst critic, but my best audience. Figure that one out.

I never did tell you about the time we had boiled green bananas. Yep. America has fried green tomatoes, and the Caribbean has boiled green bananas. What did they taste like? Absolutely nothing. Seriously, no taste at all. If it had not felt solid in my mouth I would have thought that I was eating water. No taste. BAM! But tonight was a taste of home. Listen to this now. Hot dogs! Yep, boiled hot dogs, with all the condiments and cheese! No fries, but wonderful plantain (boiled) and a side of rice and beans (left over from lunch. You are going to eat it, so you may as well eat it now as much as later.)

On the non-culinary side of things, there are these little salamander-type, geccho-looking lizards that run around (I don’t know, they may be walking, I have no idea what running is to them) all over the walls and the railings and the floor. They don’t really run away when you (or I in this case) approach them, and they are beautiful. Almost transparent-looking with light green, light blue and a touch of pink. During my first worship service here I was kept occupied by one of the critters crawling across the wall behind the preacher while he spoke. It was more distracting than if there had been choir members back there. (unless the choir members had light and dark green hair with touches of light blue and a bit of pink) Amazing little creations of God. Wonder what they would taste like in a stew? BAM! Did you ever wonder who was the first person that looked at an iguana (or any animal for that matter) and said, “I think I will eat that!” And if it tasted really bad said, “Maybe if I bread it, or roast it, or sautee’ or marinade it.” Or maybe if I have a side order of fries with it. ” What makes people keep experimenting with nasty food till they like it!

There we are back at food. Speaking of which, I have a promise of chik-fil-a from the Taylor’s, ice cream from Ben, fries from Karen, and nut rolls and other assorted baked goods and meals from my love, Joy. If I keep talking about the food I miss, I could be good for a month after I get back!! I did get a package from Joy today, but I was nice and gave the 6 chocolate hearts to the six students. I also shared over half my bag of pretzels of which they wanted more. Had to cut them off or they would all be on the next boat to America for wheat and honey pretzels.  Not a good reason to abandon their studies. and I would have to leave since there would be no one to teach. No way am I going to risk that with the weather they are having back home!Thanks, Joy, from the students. I did keep the M & M’s.

This is getting long again…BAM!

The reason that I am here is to teach, and not vacation. Teaching I have been doing, as well as studying additional hours (5 today) in preparation for classes, on top of  the hours of prep. I did at home. I am also preparing and grading quizzes (which I give nearly every day). Not a whole lot of free time to speak of. Teaching is good in that it forces one to study; to be a student before being a teacher of students. I have profited in spiritual growth and knowledge from the Bible study I have done in preparation at home and here. Teaching also makes one formulate and organize one’s thoughts. Writing is always a great discipline because it makes you precise in the use of words and in communicating without ambiguity. (Look it up Roebin.) Teaching forces the same disicpline of communication; causing one to think logically  and precisely so that the communication is clear and understood. If it is not clear to you, it will not be clear to your students. That is one of the challenges/disciplines of preaching also. I feel that since I am preaching and teaching the Word of God, then I must be even more meticulous in communicating because I am communicating eternal Truth  from the heart of God. What an honor to “speak for God”, yet what a fearsome and humbling task.

So here I am on an island in the Atlantic speaking to young people from different countries and cultures. Three weeks may be the only amount of time for our lives to intersect in this life. (Lucky for them!) In these few days with these seven students, I have been gifted by God with the awesome task/opportunity of being used by the Holy Spirit to deliver eternal truth that can impact these  lives  from Guyana, Haiti, and Jamaica that God will in turn use to speak through them to others in their home countries;  people I will never see or speak to. When I look at this opportunity that way, I am humbled. And I am even more grateful to the elders at SCC who allowed me this opportunity. Praise God.

See, there is a deeply serious side to me. And in the quiet introspection and humbling of these thoughts, I bid you a good night.

Agape’ and Shalom, (Gentile and Jew)

Rob

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