We ventured through the city of Negril to join The New Life Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church for a portion of their Sunday services (their services typically last up to eight hours). Dressed in our Sunday best, we joined them in prayer for about two hours. The building itself was worth taking note of as there was the main hall surrounded by unfinished construction of an expansion. A lot of construction around here moves in fits and starts depending on availability of funds I later learned. We were welcomed into their service with open arms to join them in a celebration of life and faith. You could really feel the power of a community in that room as they chanted and sang. The dissonance of everyone praying at their own pace and volume created a song in it of itself on top of the band (which the minister played bass in).
At one point a minister from Africa via Canada (she didn't specify which country in Africa to my knowledge) spoke in the room, as every one did at one point or another to express their gratitude to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. She spoke something along the lines that she loved how everyone in the church prayed and that she could feel the faith of the individuals in the room. Before she began speaking, it started to rain. It started as a drizzle and you could hear the rain drops amplified by the tin roof. As she began to speak, the rain came down harder and harder but you couldn't hear a thing as the chants and prayers of the church drowned out the storm. As someone who does not really shape my identity around faith, it was truly a humbling experience to be a part of.
From there we departed to get some lunch at Sweet Spice, a local eatery owned by one of the members of the church. I was delighted to discover that they served Ting, a grapefruit flavored Jamaican soda. I ordered the Conch steak. Conch, for those who do not know, is a mollusk that lives in a pretty/spiraly shell and is a traditional dish served in the Caribbean. It was delicious! Served in a yummy fry batter with some rice, pasta salad and even an appetizer of chicken soup it was definitely a nice introduction to the local cuisine.
Our day concluded with a glass bottom boat tour. We were taken along the coast to a cave. Not just any cave, a cave that used to be a bar known as Pirate's Cave. As we were taken along the coast, I started to notice the buildings along the coast, some either abandoned or incomplete, every structure had some man made rock path to the ocean cemented on top of the existing rock formations. It looked as if the buildings could fall into the sea. As we arrived at the cave via boat, it started rain again. Taking shelter in the cave, we all went for a swim in what felt like the climatic scene straight out of The Goonies. It was one of those "never in America" moments as you see the remnants of a bar and a staircase that tightly spiraled up to the surface.
After some dinner and group discussion to prepare us for our service work this week, we lit lanterns on the beach in pairs. I don't recall the name of the lantern so I'll just describe it and if you know what I am referring to then just skip this paragraph. They were tissue paper lanterns with kindling at the bottom that fill up like mini hot air balloons that you let float off into the sky.
Today was definitely the start of something great and I am so happy I am here to be a part of it.
Best,
Evan Forman
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