Lloyd's Story

Several months ago Chelsea and I met Lloyd. He is a homeless man who lives in one of the towns we pass through everyday. I don't normally give money to beggers, but there was something different about Lloyd. He wanted money, but he also liked having someone to chat with. So, slowly we started stopping to chat with him and usually before we left we would give him some spare change to buy dinner. He is about 65 and walks slightly bent over using a stick to balance himself. After a few months of seeing him he finally told me that he wanted to go into a home where he could get a bed and a shower. I was so excited to hear this because often homeless people become so comfortable on the street and they don't actually want to move into a shelter. As soon as I got home I got on the phone to find him a place. After a little while we got the number for the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP), another group of homes in Jamaica that helps the marginalized. They are similar to Mustard Seed, but run homes for more than just children. After calling several times and being told there was no room but to try again in a few days we realized there would not be space anytime soon. So, I got in contact with another person who might be able to help and he provided me with the name of another home that helps the homeless. It took a lot of work, but I finally found a phone number for the home. And they told us we could bring Lloyd the very next day! I was so excited that I searched all over for him that afternoon on my way home from work, but he was no where to be found. I learned the next morning that he was at the hopsital all day trying to get an X-ray. Luckily he was right in his normal spot the next morning and myself and three others drove him to the home. It wasn't quite what we expected. The home itself was really nice, but they were a little nervous about taking someone who didn't move around very well. He insisted he would be able to walk from the dorm area to the day area and that he could bathe himself no problem. However, we weren't able to just leave him there because he had never gotten his X-ray the day before and insisted we carry him to the hospital to get it that day. W told the people at the home that we would be back with him later that night. We brought him to the hospital and told him we would come look for him later that afternoon and to not wander too far. Later that afternoon we headed back to the hospital and again Lloyd was no where to be found. We asked around at the hospital, but no one could help us. We decided to take a ride through the area he usually is and as we rounded the corner where he normally sits I realized he was crossing the street right in front of us! We loaded him back in the car and dropped him back at the home. The past several days we've just been hoping and praying that he would remain at the home and I had yet to see him back in town so I was hopeful that he was happy where we had brought him. And then today I was in a taxi on my way home and I realized we drove by Lloyd. He was sitting on the walker we had brought to him when we dropped him at the home chatting with someone outside a store. He was a little ways away from the town where he used to sit. It happened so fast that it took a moment for me to realize I had just seen him and it was too late for me to stop and find out what happened. I can't say I am surprised. I look everyday to see if he had made his way back to his old spot, but I was also frustrated that he didn't take advantage of the opportunity to be off the street. Then, when I thought more about it I realized he looked much cleaner this afternoon and had on a new set of clothes. Maybe he really just wanted a bath and, like many homeless people, did not want to feel like he had to answer to the people at the home. So, that's my story about Lloyd. I haven't decided if I will continue to give him money if he does make his way back to the town I pass through every afternoon. I don't want to support his decision to live on the street especially since he was given the opportunity to have a bed and 2 meals a day all for free. Say a prayer for him if you think of it. Also, please keep the country of Honduras in your thoughts and prayers. For those of you who don't keep up with current events, they are presently experiencing a military led coup that sent their president into exile. Although I have come to love Jamaica, Hondus was the country that first captured my missionary heart. Peace!

"Cause every little thing gonna be all right..."

I visited the States for a short, but much needed break, at the end of April. Since my return to Jamaica have felt renewed and refreshed. I am so sorry for not writing for so long, especially with my last post being a bit of a downer. Since Tavoy's passing I have grown closer and closer to his brothers, especially Andrew :) I try and visit with him each day at the very least giving him a big hug and when I am able I will take him out of his chair for a "lift up." I will put him on his belly across my lap and he will flail his arms and legs around laughing the entire time. He is becoming quite spoiled and will pout and cry if I tell him I can't stay to feed him or I only have time for a quick hug.

Andrew and I hanging out at Sports Day! I tell everyone that time in Jamaica is on fast forward. A week goes by in the blink of an eye. I guess that explains how I have already passed the halfway point of my time here in Jamaica. Before I went home I wasn't sure if I would even be able to make it through my last six months, but now I wish time would slow down. There is so much more to do before I leave and even more importantly there are so many children that I know I will never come close to spending as much time as I would like with. Although many of them share similar diseases and diagnoses they are all so different. After spending 7 months with them you know exactly who wants to be rubbed on the head and who wants to be kissed on the nose and who just wants to just have someone sit next to them and hold their hand. We have some volunteers staying with us for a month and one of the things they have been really touched by and it's something I have always thought is so beautiful is that so many of our children-- even the ones who were left for dead-- miss and love their mothers. I walked up to Nyron last week and said "what's up?" And his simple response was "I want to go home." I said "Home to where?" And he said "Home with my mother." This is coming from a severely disabled young man who was left by his mom to care for his even more severely disabled brothers. I have had many more conversations like this one with other residents too. There is no doubt that my favorite part of being a nurse is the listening part. I am glad I have had this time to realize how important listening and talking with patients is. I am nervous that when I return to the States and get a "real job" I will no longer have the time and opportunity to just sit and be with patients. I have learned entire life stories from some of the elderly (Golden Agers) who visit me at the clinic for blood pressure checks and free medication. Just a couple weeks ago one of my regulars, Mr. Brown, told me he used to be a Rastafarian with dreadlocks reaching all the way past his bottom! Now, with his short hair and outgoing personality he encourages the people he lives near to stop smoking marijuana and become Christians! Many of the Golden Agers live all alone and are very lonely, so their weekly visit with me offers them a chance to spend time with other people their age as they wait to see me and then chat with me while I take their blood pressure and ask how they are feeling. Spending time with Kevon (top) and Jerome (bottom) during their break from school. Both boys LOVE hugs! Thank you to everyone who has continued to think about me and pray for me as I continue my journey here in Jamaica. Although there are difficult days, I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to learn so much and be emerged in such an exciting culture! I continue to learn more and more about myself as well and hopefully the lessons I learn will help me when I return home in October. I am attaching a link to a recent publication from the Catholic Medical Mission Board that one of my blogs was featured in! Take a look if you have some time! http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Newsroom/ViewAttachment.aspx?SiteName=CMMB&Entity=PRAsset&AttachmentType=F&EntityID=112451&AttachmentID=456f0d62-ad7d-4f77-878f-148349aa1748&NewWindow=True Peace and Love!