My Trip to Jamaica

Here in this warm tropical country, I found the country beautiful with its red mountains and lush green valleys, but the heat was stifling in Jamaica.

I came to this country with my pastor, a woman I had known since I was eighteen years old. She was on the mission field, and had asked me to accompany her as a singer.

Upon arrival we were picked up at the airport by the pastors we were going to stay with. The minute I exited the airport doors, I noticed the air, stuffy and hot.

We greeted our hosts with hugs and handshakes and entered their house, in Spanish Town, Jamaica. This Chinese Jamaican Pastor and his wife were both ministers who also ran an orphanage for boys. They welcomed us to their home and showed us to the room we would be sharing; telling us dinner would be served shortly.

We ate a delicious chicken, rice and vegetable dinner and then lay down afterwards till the evening. I lay on the bed resting and looked at the mosquito coil sitting on the dresser, feeling the effects of the insects, but never once seeing any. I lay on the bed wandering how people there dealt with the oppressive and constant heat.

As I lay on the bed my attention drifted to the closet door, and I noticed this huge insect on the floor. I took one look at this huge bug, which resembled a giant beetle, the size of a small golf ball and screamed. I do not scare easy, but I had never seen any beetle that size.

My scream brought both the pastors and as they entered the room I pointed at the floor near the closet, trying hard to calm down, but failing miserably.

"What is that," I looked at both of the pastors, and felt goose bumps on my arms.

Pastor Lee looked over to where I was pointing at the bug, and simply replied, "Oh that is a roach".

"A roach", I screeched. "You got to be kidding, I have never seen one that huge before, it looks like a giant beetle."

Pastor Lee looked at his wife and laughed, "Yep, that is a roach, and they fly, too."

"They fly!" I looked at him in horror. He went over to the creature picked it up and left the room with it."

Needless to say, I slept with the light on that night.