Guyana Adventure #14 Last day cont'd (The End!)

So you heard about my fall and boy what a fall it was!!!!! My finger still hurts...You know alot of my skin fell off...pray for healing saints and friends!!!! So I forgot to mention that Bishop Phillips is very popular in his home town so on the last day before my fall, he took us to see the Mayor. Well I think that Mayor requested our presence at his office or something like that (Bishop Martin sent us)....Anyway Bishop Phillips is well known and took us right to the Mayor office while they were in session...guess what - they allowed us to enter into their session!!!! How awesome...they stopped session and spoke to each one of us. So I will show you some pictures of the Mayors office.
We finally get back on the bus, get something to eat and head back to the hotel. Once at the hotel, we hang out on the terrace with the rest of the delegation. I go down to the restaurant and have them cut up another pinnapple for me...this time I told them not to put an salt on it!!!!! what?!? Yeah, I told them to cut up a pinnapple for me the night before and they loaded it with salt. I did not like it at all. So, this time they didn't put salt on it and it was so so so good! Delicious!!!!! I used the rest of the night chat with my roomy, talk with Ruth Ann who traveled with us. She is a riot!!!! Funny lady from down south....had me and my roomy cracking up laughing so hard!!!!! I also packed my things because we had to leave at 4am to catch a 8:30am flight. I got on the internet, listened to some music and never made it to bed....hmmm I stayed up all night reflecting on my experience! Before I knew it, it was time to leave for the airport. I get a knock on my door so I am thinking that it is Bishop Martin telling us to come on...NO, it is some of the young people bringing us a gift! They were wide awake and had stayed up making us some spices to go....WOW how special was that....totally unexpected!!!!! They actually made us a gift and brought it to us at the hotel. Then then went with us in a seperate car to the airport and stayed until we got on the plane! I was truly touched... So I go downstairs and get on the mini-bus for the last time!!!!! This time though we had luggage in addition to bodies and boy were we packed in...but you know what nothing changed...we still ended up picking up people!!!! Yes, we picked up 2 people at 4:30am!!!!!!! What!!!! So we stop and I am saying to myself...why are we stopping and who are we picking up at 4:30am- everyone should be asleep and we are not going to church! Plus, I am saying - no one else can fit in this mini-bus - we barely fit in this bus...and we are going home....but guess what ya'll - a mother and daughter had us pick them up so they see us off!!!!!! I could not believe that they actually got up at this time of morning to go with us to the airport! WOW How special...how sweet...how precious!!!!!!! The mother and daughter stayed along with the other two young ladies and the driver of the bus (mini-van) until we got on the plane!!!!!!! I was truly truly touched by the love!!!!!
So in reflecting on my experience...it was one in which I will never forget. I kept saying to myself, I am actually in Guyana, South America!I truly believe that it was God ordained and appointed. It was a desire of mine and God allowed it to come to pass. It is different to convey my feelings in totally, but what I have gained from this experience on a spiritual level is tremendous. While in church, I had moments where I just cried and cried...I was happy and grateful to be able to use the gifts that God has given me to be a blessing to others in a different part of the world! The purpose of our visit was to encourage the people/saints in Guyana and I believe that we accomplished that. We were able to display the love of God and our love for them because they are no different than we are. A soul came to the Lord and this was awesome and totally worth it all. One more person added to the Kingdom and snatched away from the enemy. Hip Hip Hooray...Guyana is a really poor place and it was sad to see some of the conditions, however, everyone that I met was happy in the state that they found themselves in. I did not hear one complaint...yes, they go "through" things like we do but they praise God anyhow! God is truly with them as He is with me in the states. This experience made me look at things a little differently and be grateful for that which I have. I realize how blessed I am!!!!! Although I shared some funny stories, know this that it was truly a life changing experience for me. I will never be the same since being in Guyana, South America!!!! The end.

Guyana Adventure #13 The Last day!!!!

Okay so it is the last day and we are walking the streets after purchasing things...we are sitting on the bus. We are in the middle of town in the heat of the day. The kids are out of school and the merchants are on the streets selling their fruits and veggies. So there was a specific restaurant that some of the delegates who had been to Guyana before wanted to take the new delegates to. We finally see the restaurant and the bus let us out in the middle of the street and in the middle of everything....kids walking, buses stuck in the middle of the street and people just walking and talking everywhere. It was like rush hour in Phila. or being in Time Square in New York City. People, People and more people!!!!! So I decide that I am gonna take some footage of what I am seeing...I get my little camera out and I start recording while still in the bus. I record myself opening the bus door to get out and I proceed out of the bus while the camera is running. I get a little stuck in the middle of the street because the buses are literally touching each other (that is how crowded it was). So I find a way to get around them and almost got ran over by a motorcyle...okay so he didn't see me???????? huh?!? I managed to move out the way....Now I am still trying to videotape and keep up with the group at the same time. So I finally make it out of the street and onto the pavement (out of the street). Bus drivers think I need to catch a bus so they are asking me to get in etc. Ummm, no I just out of a bus....anyway, I am totally not paying attention to where I am walking because I got my video camera rolling and I am just a talking into the camera and taking footage of everyone I see while trying to keep up with the group. How about I walk and walk and walk ----hmmmm, ahhhhh, oooouchhhh, I walk right into a POLE!!!!!!! LOLOLOL Yes, people, I walk into a POLE!!!!! Not only did I walk into this POLE, but I walk and hit the POlE and bounce off the pole onto the ground!!!!!! What? I am on the ground!!!!! Yes, I have never experienced anything like it. It was a metal pole and somehow I got off balance and just fell sideways to the ground. OOOUUUCCCCHHHH....okay so who does that??????How about my camera never fell out of my hand!!!!! It kept rolling until I hit the ground and all you see is a picture of a car that was turned sideways on my camera lense!!!!! What!!! funny stuff people. I am so serious...I totally was not paying attention to where I was walking and down I went!!!!!!! Okay so I am on the ground laughing and laughing because I am saying to myself...you are an nut! How do you manage to fall in the streets of Guyana!!!!!! So the group that I was with turned and saw me on the ground....they were cracking up as well. One of the deacons tried to help me, but by the time he got to me, I was already down! He did manage to help me up!!!!!!! So the Guyanese people just stopped and looked at me! Not one of them offered to help me up, they just stared at me as if to say...you are an idiot!!!!!!!! When I tell you they just looked at me, they really just looked at me....the stare was priceless!!!!! I wanted to say to them, I am sorry for falling....sorry that I fell on your streets- next time I will be more careful!!!!! LOL They were probably saying we have a "mad" American here in the middle of the road!!!!!!!Ha, ha, ha, ha, he, he, he,ha. So the hand I used to try to brake my fall got a little scratched up, but other than that, I am okay. yeah I am okay people, I will survive! Didn't brake any bones or anything.... Yes, it was quite embarassing, but HILARIOUS! I will never forget this experience....So, one of the other deacons was a little behind us and so I got up and got myself together and he hollers out....what happened and who fell and how did that happen????? So we all start laughing again and I had to relive that all over again....All that and the stupid restaurant was closed!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL LOL LOL We had to end up getting back on the bus and going to our favorite place KFC!!!!!!!!! Stay tuned for my travel back to the states and the overall feeling of the Guyana experience!

Guyana Adventure #12

Okay so it is Sunday evening and Janell and I lead praise and worship!!!! We do it Jersey and Philly style and they praised him along with us. To God be the glory...we did some old and some new. It was good and the saints began to praise and worship God in a huge way. The spirit of God fell and moved in a powerful, powerful way. It was a beautiful atmosphere...we were basking in His presence...I loved it! It seemed like each night got better and better. There were some youth and seasoned saints who had some issues and the delegation was able to minister to those needs. There were many of the delegates who had an opportunity to sit and talk with the people of Guyana and help them in some kind of way....for some it was financial and others it was spiritual. Some people just needed to vent and others needed encouragement. I beleive the delegation was a blessing to them. So, Bishop Martin raises an offering, Bishop Martin style!!!! smile Guyanese vs. U.S. It was interesting...that is Bishop Martin though...those of you who know Bishop Martin know what I am talking about! smile...The youth from various churches sang songs and perfomed some praise dances. Theu Then Bishop Martin preached and walked the floor. He spoke very well and the people were blessed. Bishop Coward got up and made the altar call for salvation and prayer. Many people came up for prayer and one young man came to the altar for salvation. The highlight of the evening was that a young man accepted the Lord as his personal savior!!!!!! HIP HIP HOORAY We went to help and truly make a difference and I know we did just that. The young man looked like he was no more than 25 it looked like and he wanted to change his life and I know that his life will never be the same. I am not sure if this happened in the morning service or evening, but I know that it happened! It is all running together....So Bishop Coward asked all the Ministers, Pastors, Elders and the like to come down off the pulpit and surround those that were at the altar for prayer and for salvation. As we were praying with the people, the spirit of God fell mightly. He also made the appeal for those who were sick in their body to be healed. I just want you to know that we were all blessed and praising God. The people were encouraged, healed, saved, uplifted, and praising God. Bishop Coward handed me the mic and I sang while he ministered....some awesome stuff. It was as if no one wanted to go home...I think everyone was just in awe of God. We sang, prayed, shouted/danced for a "minute"....So then it was time to dismiss service and go back to the hotel. We talked with everyone and got ready to hop back on the bus to take the neighborhood home!!! LOL Although I joke about the bus, they didn't mind being cramped up for Jesus. They didn't mind riding forever to get to the house of God. The musicians didn't mind working with limited equipment. I was encouraged just by watching....Okay so we stopped to get something to eat, then we headed back to the Regency!!!!! The delegates and I hung out a little bit, eating pinnapples....ummm yummy, yummy, yummy!!!!!! Okay so then next morning was the last day there. My roomy and I sleep in and finally wake up a little before noon. We decided to go to the bakery with some of the delegates to get a donut. I love sweets and I really didn't have any since I was there...this was NOT good!!! Simply a travesty.... :-)I need my dessert people!!!!!!! LOL The donut was good...a sugar donut...a little thicker than our donuts and far from a Krispy Creme!!!!!!! So some of the delegates and I decide to go into town for some souvenirs to take home. We are walking around, trying to talk the people down..doing our thing!!!!! We get on the bus, which was our private bus....we had the same driver each day. So after we pick up a few things we decide to get a bite to eat and that is when it happened...the fall...oh my goodness...what a mess!!!! But you are gonna have to stay tuned for this because I am so tired and need to sleep. Can you guess how I fell? What in the world could I have been doing to fall on the streets of Guyana? Did I get hurt? How did the Guyanese respond to me? Did they help or just stare? Stay tuned....until next time followers.

Guyana Adventure #11

Okay so it is now Sunday morning and it is time for church. Bishop Martin is up and ready to go on time...he even knocked on my door to make sure that my roomy and I would be on time! So, we skip breakfast as usual and sleep as long as we can (getting up at the 11th hour). We head downstairs for service and get in the mini-van, which they call bus. Oh yeah I gotta put a pic up of this bus (very small). Okay the ride, the ride, the ride...and since it is Sunday morning you know we picked up EVERYBODY! I kept saying: nobody else can fit in this mini-van!!!!! LOL Common man...Bishop Martin kept saying tell them to come on - they can fit. Bishop Phillips kept getting calls along the way for us to pick up more people!!! What!!!! Anyway, we pick up more people and finally get to church. The saints were waiting for us and singing the songs of Zion. Okay so one of the deacons was sitting in the chair on the front row and before I knew it was on the floor....yes, the chair broke and he found himself on the floor...funny stuff! He was okay though....We were sitting in lawn chairs and he leaned back to avoid being hit by "brotha man" who was all over the place - praising God. Before he knew it, he leaned back too far and found himself on the ground! I was like, OMG!!!!!! So why was the pulpit laughing too....I wasn't the only one laughing...I shouldn't have been laughing cause my day came!!!!! Tell you about that a little later. So the Praie & Worship team sings and the young people from various churches sing solos...there was this young guy who SANG...SANG...SANG....when I tell you that he sang. Oh my goodness he tore the church up!!!!!! I mean stood flat footed and sang from the depths of his soul like noboby's business...He really sang and God anointed him!!!!!! Thank God for him!!!!! Then there was a group of 3 young men who did a praise dance....they were cute, but when the one boy started break dancing on the pulpit, I was too through.....LOLOLOL I said, what, he is not "break dancing" Do people still break dance?????!!!!! Do they still pop and rock LOLOLOLOL. He was break dancing ya'll....huh!?! He was rolling on his back and got back up and continued his dance! Waving his hands in the air and swaying from side to side....well the church went up....they started hollering and clapping and dancing and singing and jumping...WOW what an experience. You had to be there. I was cracking up! So Bishop Phillip preached in the morning service and tore it up!!! Go Bishop Phillips, he really allowed the Lord to use him...Ya'll know he walked the floor(pulpit and down in the audience), then he got his shout in!!!!! He danced and danced and danced! Good stuff... Oh, but how about when the saints were praising God....brotha man started again. So while the praise team was singing, they broke out dancing etc. Brotha man decides that he wants to join them...he jumps on the pulpit area where they were singing and started doing his dance!!!!! what? huh? So I was like, there he goes again....man you need to sit down somewhere!!!!! LOL LOL LOL But not to fear, not to fear, the praise and worship leader told him to SIT DOWN and GET down off the pulpit LOLOLOL funny stuff...he kindly got off the pulpit area...who does that???!!!!!! This man was hilarious and so out of order....Anyway the saints praised God and jumped around and had so much energy...I had to jump around a little!!!!! Just a little SMILE.... Well I got to go to work now...stay tuned for Bishop Marin sermon and my fall!

Guyana Adventure #10

So I just realized that I never mentioned what I ate for dinner. On Saturday afternoon after church my roomy and I decided followed the crowd and eat KFC. Yes there was a KFC, Popeye’s, Pizza Hut and Church’s Chicken. The first three that I listed were all in the same vicinity. We basically ate at this establishment everyday!!!!! I got chicken from KFC and it taste really good – just like the states. From the time I got to the church (about 1 hr. drive), enjoyed service, talked to the saints and got a bite to eat, then went back to the hotel --- okay I only had a few minutes to rest, refresh and get ready for evening service. I sat on the terrace with the rest of the group to eat my lunch and that was a nice fellowship. So, I prepare myself for church and prepare my mind mentally for the drive to the church….I am not going to bore you by revisiting how I felt on the mini-van. So I will skip that and just say that when we got to church, the saints were praising God and waiting on us….ah we were a little late. I guess by the time we actually got everyone together to get in the van and after picking up everyone…. yeah we were late. So it was Youth Day and on Saturday evening the speaker was our own Minister Janell McIver (my roomy)….she did a tangible job! She really ministered and I believe the youth were blessed. She spoke on the theme “Rise Up and Praise Him” from Acts 3:1-10. Of course, Praise & Worship was really good and the youth in various churches at the convention rendered numerous selections. The musicians were on point as usual. I must say that although the musical equipment was not in the best shape, they played it like nobody’s business. It didn’t faze them that they only had a few cymbals and they had no carpet to put under the drum set for support. It didn’t faze them that they had to use a rope to tie the chair to the drums for support. You see they played so hard that as they played the chair was move backward…the drums and chair was on the hard wood floor! They had crazy energy and gave God their best. These young people were sincere and appeared to really love God. They were also very well versed in scripture too. One of the young ladies prayed and oh my goodness did she pray. What! What! I was said to myself…”WOW You better talk to the Lord, girl”!!!! (Smile) She basically prayed the word with power and authority!!!!! They were at church at the appointed time, ready for worship!!! I love it and they looked forward and was excited about the convention the entire time. They were participants in all the services from start to finish. Of course they were kids and kids will be kids, youth will be youth…but their sincerity for the gospel really impressed me. So, I gave greetings to the convention which was different, but oh well to God be the glory! I said what I had to say and sat down!!!!! Smile…. The youth and seasoned saints
danced and danced and danced! All the music had a calypso beat and I loved it!!! So the saints were really encouraged by our presence. Just seeing their smiling faces was well worth it! They were so happy that we made the trip and that we weren’t hindered by the snow. I believe that they really needed the encouragement and I was happy that I was able to be a blessing to my Guyanese brothers and sisters. Stay tuned for what happened on Sunday (coming soon). We had two AWESOME services…..You got to read the conclusion of the whole matter on Monday’s blog (the last day coming soon) and my fall in the middle of the streets of Guyana (Monday’s blog – he, he, ha, ha, LOL-too funny)…some God pleasing and funny stuff ahead…..until then followers!!!!!!

Guyana Adventure #9

So it is now Saturday morning and I wake up ready to start the day when I get a phone call.  Now I missed breakfast because I wanted to sleep more than eat!  Wish I would do that back in the states...miss meals!!!!!! LOL  God knows I can use to miss a few....Anyway, I get a phone call that I should prepare to speak for the morning session...huh!  It was okay because I came prepared to sing and speak!  Be ye also ready.....But to tell you the truth at that very moment when I received the call, I got a little nervous!  But it all worked out...I knew that I would be singing because I did that on Day Four!  Yeah I forgot to mention that....okay so here you go.  I sang a solo the first night of the convention (Because Of Who You Are by Martha Munizzi)!  So there were only a few people there, but God met us there and I was blessed.  Okay so there was this guy there who was like some of our "SPECIAL PEOPLE" back in the states. While in the service I said to myself, this kinda stuff doesn't just happen in the states....it happens all the way in Guyana, South America.  Are you kidding me??????  Okay so the praise and worship leader was singing from the depths of her soul to the Lord and brotha man decides that he is being "lead" to help her out!   Arrrggghhhh  Why did he just inch his way to the front and stand right next to her singing and throwing her off!!!!  Then as soon as she was able to catch her breathe, he gets his song in!!!!!!  Not just one song, but a couple of songs.  Ahhhh, uurrrgggh, arrrrrggghhhh a mess!  I had my eyes closed and quickly opened them when I heard alot of verbrato.  But not only was there alot of verbrato to that high pitched voice, but there was movement of the hands!!!!!  What, you gonna try to praise dance too!!!!!!! LOL LOL People I can't make this stuff up!  LOL  Okay so I was like WHAT! She was just looking at him and in her humble way stopped singing.  He then took over singing one song after the next...Don't you just love it when people want to sing the entire hymn to a song for Praise & Worship in solo fashion!!!!  God help us.  Okay so then P&W is over.  I don't remember how and when he got back up to the front of the church, but all I know is that he is singing again!  He sings and talks at this point...so the worship leader for the service proceeds to get up to tell him that he needs to sit down and he tells her....Are you ready for this??????  He tells her to wait a minute because he wasn't done yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Huh!!!!  What!!!!!  Brotha man, you are not even suppose to be singing and who are you anyway!!!!!  LOL  The boldness...I couldn't believe it.  You got one everywhere and probably at every church!!!!!!  Are you kidding me....I was saying to myself and you are who??? It was hilarious!!!!!  And guess what ya'll...I recorded all of it on my mini voice recorder so that I can have long lasting memories.  So after all that I had to speak....hmmmm, what, common'!  So I sang a little something then spoke.  If you want to know what Ispoke about - call me!!!!!!  LOL seriously though...So after service we went to eat and came back to the hotel to prepare for Saturday evening worship.  Stay tuned.....

Guyana Adventure #8

Okay so I prepare for church and meet the delegation in the lobby of the hotel.  I go outside to get on the mini van and find out that the ride to the church is about 1 hour....huh!  1 hour....huh!  about 1 hour....Remember I told you that they drive on the opposite side of the road.  So here I go hitting the imaginary breaks and turning my imaginary wheel...swirving cars!  At one point, I just closed my eyes and talked to Jesus!!!!  Yeah so imagine riding in a 12 passenger mini van with about 20 folk!  We didn't start out with 20 folk, but we picked people up along the way...I kept saying to myself, where are they gonna sit - we can't fit no one else in this van.  To my surprise, they all fit!  Amazing and a miracle all together....The folk wanted to go to church and the passengers in the van wanted them to be in church as well so they made room!!!!!  A lesson to be learned people!!!!!  I need not say any more about that....The ride was bumpy and long...when I tell you that my knees hurt....whew.  I felt like a person who is clastophobic - I just had to get out, out, and out!  I felt like if I didn't get out to stretch my leg, I was gonna pass out!  My knees were in so much pain and I didn't want to complain, but I was having a bit of an anxiety issue in the mini-van.  Thought I had to have them stop for a "paperbag".  I had to do some serious self talk!!!  SMILE...seriously!  Breathe in, breathe out...relax, relate and release.  Jesus, help me!  I really don't think that this mini-van had any shocks in it...oh my goodness!!! what! Anyway we got to church and the saints were so happy to see us!  The service was awesome, God truly blessed.  The saints of God praised Him like He deserves to be praised.  Things were a little slow getting started and I was concerned because my first thought was...these folk then got Americanized!!!!  Ya'll know how we do in church....sometimes we gotta be pumped up!!!!  hmmmmm, ya'll know it is the truth.  The praise and worship was great!  Most of the songs had a calipso beat and I loved it!!!!!!!  There were a group of young musicians who really really played like their wasn't gonna be church the next day-like that particular service was their last service!  These musicians with the exception of the keyboard player was about 11 years old.  They had drums that weren't in the best condition but they played them with pride!! They had congos and some triangle instrument that they were hitting.  Then there was the keyboard player who played very well.  I loved it!!!!!They sang alot of Hillsong songs which was cool.  The P&W team really gave it there all and worshipped God in the beauty of holiness.  The choir sang the them song: Rise, Shine and Give God the Glory - Guyana style.  The theme of the convention was "Rise Up and Praise Him" Acts 3:1-3.  Bishop Coward began to exhort the people to praise God and they did just that!  Hands went up in the air, feet hit the floor and the praises of God came out of their mouths.  It was a true experience.  There was a guest speaker who was long, but very good!   I was so ready for him to be finish so that I could rest. I think that I was just exhausted from the plane ride and the time difference.  Plus it was so hot in service.  We had church in a school.  It was like having church outside because there really weren't any walls.  Well there were walls, but we could see outside...hard to explain.  Anyway, it was hot.  I was really enjoying myself, but I was so so tired.  I am glad though that he took his time and preached....ummm, yeah I was glad.  LOL  I really enjoyed the message.  After church, I met and talked to alot of the young people.  It was great!  Hmmmmm, now my mind went to the journey back to the hotel....Lawd, Jesus!  Well I endured it...got back to the hotel and rested it up for the next day!  Stay tuned.....

Guyana Adventure #7

Okay so how about I just figured out that I am not staying at the Embassy Suites LOL LOL ....too funny! I am staying at the Regency Hotel...hello Tonya get with the program. So it wasn't until I was walking down the street filming my journey (videography skills were in full effect) that I took some footage of the hotel! I said to myself, hmmm I am not staying at the Embassy Suites! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha LOL ...Where did I get that from? LOL Why did I think that I was at the Embassy Suites! I just burst out laughing....like I am doing now! I am not making this stuff up!!!!!!


So after I get settled in my room, my roommate and I decide to hit the streets for water. I first had to exchange money....someone came right to the hotel (The Regency Hotel) to do this for me. I still don't understand how there whole money system works - all I know is that a $1000.00 is equivalent to $5.00 in US currency and their $500.00 is equivalent to $2.50 in US currency!!!!!! I got a $20.00 bill which is only .10 cents....WOW Okay so I know you are reading this and saying what is it that I don't understand....but when I went to the restaurant to purchase food, I still gave too much money!!!! I don't know, I don't know... pray for me! :-)

So I exchange money and started walking into town.  There were so many people in the streets doing what people do....buying and selling!  While walking, I passed a lottery place, a Citizens Bank and several people on the street selling items.  I went to the mall which had about 3 floors with nails salons, hair salons and the like.  After walking around for a bit, my roomy and I decided to get something to eat.  Stopped at a take out at a bakery...yes a take out bakery that sold curry chicken, baked chicken, rice & beans, fried rice roti and desserts of course...my roomy and I decided to play it safe and get baked chicken and white rice!  This was our first day in Guyana and we couldn't afford to get sick because we had missionary work to do!!!!  The baked chicken and white rice was really good.  For those of you who are thinking: What did we get to drink?  Bottled water, bottled water.  Remember how thirsting I said I was....definately had to get bottled water.  I was told not to drink the water and I am glad that I didn't because the water is ummm light brown.  It is all good though...I showered in it.  Hey, what is a girl to do...gotta shower.  So, we got our food and walked back to the Regency and ate on the terrace.  Eating on the terrance was nice because there was a nice breeze...After eating and chatting with the delegation/missionaries, it was time to get ready for church.  I will tell you all about the ride to the church and the opening service of Guyana mission in my next blog.

Cont. with Landing and Arrival in Guyana #6

Okay people so you saw Bishop Martin in the pic right??? Well he is not from Guyana, but traveled with the delegation to Guyana.  However, the man in the background of Bishop Martin was with the delegation from Guyana.  So, this all may seem confusing because of how the Titles are set up and to tell you the truth I am a little confused myself!!!!!  LOL   I traveled on Thursday night into Friday morning.  I left my house at 6pm on Thursday evening and caught the plane by 1am Friday morning from JFK!  Yeah and traveled on the plane for 6 hours, reaching Guyana at 8:15am on Friday morning (1 hr. difference).  So it was 7:15am in the states!!!!!!!  Okay so by the time we got to our hotel Embassy Suites, we had the entire day ahead of us!!!!!!  Now remember I was originally suppose to leave on Wednesday at midnight from the States, but didn't leave until Thursday-Friday morning from the states....I know confusing!!!!  Talk to Jesus about it....LOL

So we get on the mini van and although it is small all of us managed to get in it with luggage and all!!!!!  WOW  We traveled down streets, but there are no streets like on most streets and they drive on the opposite side of the road than we do in the states.  And I thought that we had some "SPECIAL" drivers in the states....boooyyyyyy you haven't seen anything until you come to Guyana!  WoW..my heart was making it own beat and we traveled down the small roads and fast speeds on the opposite side of the road!!!!!!!  Although I wasn't driving, I was hitting the brakes, weaving in and out of traffic!  I also saw cows and other animals along side the road walking...I could reach out and touch them!!!!!  I made it to our hotel (see pic) and was greeted by a very pleasant front desk staff person.  The hotel has about 5 or 6 floors I think, but I stayed on the 2nd floor, which we had to push the 3rd floor button for when getting on the elevator!!!!!  That was okay when I found out that the hotel had free wireless internet!!!!!  Hip Hip Hooray.....I was so excited.  Anyway, I got to my room and it was nice...1 small wooden desk, televsion, closet, bathroom, 2 beds and vanity.  My roommate and I (Janell) checked out our room and was ready to hit the streets for some BOTTLED WATER!!!!  If we didn't get anything else, bottled water was a necessity!!!!!!  Well I gotta go to church now....stay tuned for our walking experience, our food choice and the church!!!!!!!!  I will post pics of each soon.

Landing and Arrival in Guyana #5

Okay followers no one guessed what show I was talking about so I will tell you (what slackers)....it is "Clean House."  I can hear the theme song in my head, "Who wants a clean house! So I land and am one of the last ones off the plane.  So I got on snow boots, tights, and a sweater!!!!! Ummmm, hello, it is 80 degrees outside!!!!! LOL  Oh my goodness, when I stepped off the plane, I felt like I was at the desert!!!!! Hot, Hot, Hot....boy was it hot!  I couldn't take off any of those things so I had to suffer until I was able to get to my hotel room. When getting off the plane I couldn't help but notice that I wasn't being directed to the airport terminal for passengers....rather I was being directed down the plane steps to the place where baggage people were and where other planes were!!!! Then I there were men with orange reflecter jackets telling me to walk to the left of the cones!!!!  SMILE  This was truly different...I just smiled and said: Praise the Lord!  Okay, no I didn't say that but I was happy to be out the air and finally  in Guyana.  So, I went inside for my luggage and WOW...WOW....All I saw was folk, folk, folk!!!!!  People were pulling bags off the baggage belt even though it didn't belong to them.  So I am looking on the belt for my luggage and it is already on the floor mixed with a bunch of luggage that belonged to other folk!  huh...again WOW.  I literally had to walk the floor looking at tags on bags to locate my own bag.  Now you know that I got on winter stuff and did I mention that there were folk, folk and folk.  Here I am trying to find my luggage...hmmmm  I was ready to be done with it all!!!!! Even though I wanted to be done with it all....I also wanted to take a picture because it was truly an unbelievable experience, but I opted not to...didn't want to have to write that I had a "black eye"  LOL  Once that was over, we went outside and was greeted by the Guyana Church delegation (see picture of the airport and our Bishop).

Guyana Adventure #4

So, before I begin to tell you about the actual trip to Guyana let me start by saying that the pre-Guyana adventure was truly that - an adventure and I enjoyed every moment!
Now we went from Phila. to New Jersey without any harm...Thank God!  But when we tried to pull up in my driveway, hmmmm my driveway....wouldn't you know that we got stuck in the snow!!!! Yes, we got stuck.....now we went all the way to Philadelphia and never got stuck...not once.  Through the strong winds, extreme cold and snow...remember it was a blizzard outside.... but as soon as we tried to pull in the driveway we got stuck!!!!!  Yes, right in front of my house...the truck turned sideways and would not move backwards or forwards...what???? Yes, a mess....LOL okay not funny but we had to burst out with hearty laugher because we could not believe it.  In fact, we just let the truck stay in the crooked and sideways position for a few minutes while we laughed....this is fun stuff people.  I wouldn't be able to make this stuff up.  After all that we experienced that day....When we were in Phila. we drove down side streets (because we were confident troopers at this point) and kept it moving...kept it moving!  So, you know the song "The Lord will make a way somehow"  The Lord made a way for us to get "unstuck" (I know it is not a word) somehow!!!!!!!  I thank God for it because I did not want to have to call my husband to come help us!!!!  whew...Thank you Lord! 

Okay so it is now Thursday morning and I receive a call that we will be leaving for real this time at 6pm.  My husband takes me to the meeting spot in Philadelphia again and things seems to be going alot better.  I meet the missionary team and we are off to JFK airport.  We arrive at the airport on time, after stopping to get a bite to eat.  Airport security was such a pain, but so needed.  I thought our flight was at 12:15am, but to my surprise it was at 1am. Whew......The airport was packed, packed, packed...basically standing room only...huh?!?!?!!?  WOW... just folks everywhere.  My flight is filled to capacity...so you know what that means...my knees, back and head are suffering.  Knees because it is very tight!  Back because I am so uncomfortable that it is making my back hurt!  My head because I got nausea and a bunch of other symptoms that I won't speak of... LOL.   So, guess where I sat yall....the last seat, the last row.  All the way at the back of the plane...WOW, really....for real, common', man!!!!!!!!!  But we had little t.v. on the back of the headrest in front of us...this was cool..  we had the ability to change our own channels and watch t.v., movies, play games etc.  So I watched one of my favorite comedy sit coms...for those of you who know me well....you guessed it right...THE OFFICE...funny stuff!!!!!  And guess what, we got headphones for free and snacks for free and breakfast for free.  Well I guess it wasn't really free, but it was nice!  We had a breakfast burretto with egg, cheese and big chunks of lettuce ...oh and big peppers!  Okay that was different and I guess that is why I didn't eat it!  We also got OJ and a cranola bar.  I ate that.....We were also offered coffee or tea and I passed on both.  I know those of you who know that I love hot tea are surprised that I passed.  Oh well...so the flight was good and I slept most of the 6 hours flight.  I really could not wait to get off the plane though because I was so cramped and I needed to visit the little girls room.  So getting off the plane was interesting.  Can you stand to read more????? That question is from another one of my favorite shows...Can you guess which one?  If you guess it right, then I will continue...Awaiting your answer...stay tuned to read about my landing and arrival in Guyana! I also got pics to upload...until the next time.

Pre-Guyana Adventure Conclusion #3

Well followers this is how the story unfolded.  Kim and Tonya made the stop to the Art Museum to celebrate leaving Phila. after having been stuck there during the blizzard of 2010!  I was so stressed and needed to take my mind off of the days events.  So, we just couldn't resist....we parked the Land Rover and got out.  It was most "stress free" experience so far.  We just blended in with the crowd...hollering, yelling, running and smiling from ear to ear!!!!!!  People were using all types of things to slide down the Art Museum steps with....lids, skies, chairs and trashcan lids...speaking of trash can lids.  Kim was "siked' about trying it and I was her coach...so she nicely took a trashcan lid that belonged to someone (to date we still don't know who) and she made her way to the top of the steps.  I coached, hollered and followed her all the way up.  Well I didn't physically follower her....hmmmm too many steps for me.  he, he, ha, ha.  So, I followed with the camera and video.  She made her way up the steps with the heavy winds beating on her cheeks and the snow falling at record amounts.  She pressed and pressed, while I hollered - "go Kim, go Kim, go Kim, you can do it Kim, you can do it Kim!!!!!!  I could barely see her because the wind was blowing and the snow was falling so fast that my eyeglasses were full of water.  It was dark and I could barely see.  But Kim did it, she made it to the top!  I followed her with the camera and video as she made her way down the steps.  Her movement was calculated and steady....she "tidered and todered", "tidered and todered".  With each tider and toder was a fall!  Yes, she fell, she rolled, she tumbled, she was down!  But she was a trooper, she kept getting back up and trying all over again.  She finally made it down the Art Musuem steps...she was soak and wet and I laughed until I almost cried!!!!!!!  This was some fun stuff.  Then she asked a weird question: Tonya, are you going to try?????  HUH?!?!?  WHAT?!?!?!?  My answer was simple and direct - NO, ARE YOU CRAZY!!!!!!  Ha, ha, ha, LOL  LOL  Well it was fun watching her and the others!  After freezing out there (my hands and face), we decided to get back in the truck and head back to New Jersey.  We finally made it back home to New Jersey....we had an AWESOME TIME!!!!!!!!  I didn't make it to Guyana, South America that night, but making it to the Art Museum wasn't half bad!  Once back in New Jersey, I ate and took care of the headache that I acquired (hmmm I wonder why I almost got a migrane) and went to bed!  Ahhhh, there is no place like home.  Until the next blog followers.......

Pre-Guyana Adventure #2

So I guess you are wondering whether Kim made it back to Philadelphia to pick me up!!! hmmmm
Well YES, YES she did.  Did James join her....NO, NO and NO!  So, she got in the Land Rover and made her way to Phila. to pick up her mother!  She wasn't going to leave me stranded....My girl Kim Sue!!!!!!!!!  Yes, it was in the "height" of the Blizzard that she made her way out of New Jersey and over to Philadelphia.  Okay so I live near Clementon Park, plus their was a state of emergency in DE and the city of Phila. was virtually shut down but she made it!!!! She made it!!!!! She made it!!!!!  Boy was I happy, happy, happy.  However, it was getting dark and the wind was forceful.....she couldn't turn down the block that I was in so she had to stop in the middle of the street about 1 block away.  I then had to walk through the storm to her.  I got my gear on, told my sister-in-law that I loved her...but I had to go...go ....go!  My bed was calling.... My friend and neighbor of my sister-in-law (cousin) Yvette walked me to the corner where we found Kim outside the truck waiting for me.  Now isn't that a wonderful daughter!!!!!!!!!  Shall I add that this was the same corner that I was on when I made my snow angel.   Yeah I was in a blizzard, but could not resist the fresh snow and a time to relive my childhood....making snow angels!!!!!!  Yvette and I showed Kim where my snow angel was, we talked and then off we were- back to New Jersey!  Side bar: I will have to tell you about my snow angel experience later - thanks Janell for taking the video!!!!! Thanks Deacon for driving me to my sister-in-laws!  Okay so back to me and Kim.  Off we went...while driving we saw so many people on skies and sleds etc.  I was so happy to be going home, I felt like celebrating!!!! Okay so were in New Jersey yet, but as we passed the Art Museum - we decided to stop and celebrate!!!!! We saw about 30-40 people at the top of the steps at the Art Museum....they were riding sleds, trashcan lids, chairs from their homes, cardboard etc. down the steps!  Guess what we did????????  Yes, you guessed it right, we got out and joined them.  Well I gotta run now because I am going to try to fly out in a few minutes....So stay tuned for my Pre-Guyana journey.  Did Kim slide down the Art Museum steps? Did Tonya slide down the Art Museum steps? Did Kim and Tonya ever make it back to New Jersey or did they end up staying in Philadelphia?

Pre-Guyana Adventure #1

So Kim and James take me to Philadelphia...we had to drive really really slow. As we were travelling, we heard that Rt. 76 and Rt. 476 was closing...wow. I am thinking to myself, why am I going to Philadelphia because our flight is gonna be canceled. I am saying to myself....It is a BLIZZARD outside...what am I doing out here....wow. There were hardly any cars on the road....ummm, yeah because it was a BLIZZARD outside! Visibility was horrible......and the snow just kept coming down. Although the snow was beautiful, it was crazy to be in...We finally made it to Philadelphia and met up with the rest of the group. When we arrived they were trying to dig the van out that I was about to get on, so I stayed in my vehicle until they got it out. Finally I got on the van....about 1 hour later I found out that our flight was canceled. Well was I to do....I was in Philadelphia and my ride had already gone back to New Jersey....everyone that I was with lived in Philadelphia....hmmmm so now I was stuck!!!! Arrrgghhhh, urrrgghhhhh. My husband told the group to drop me off at my sister-in-laws, who lives in Phila. Who said I wanted to go there....it is okay....I love my sister-in-law and did not mind going...but I think that I should have made that decision!!!!!! What ya'll think??????? :-) So one of the members on the trip gave me a ride to my sister-in-laws. I hung out at my sister-in-laws for a while...one of the neighbors down the street came over - yay Yvette!!!!! Oh, before that I made an angel in the snow and video taped it, that was right after the car I was in got stuck in the snow and random people on the street pushed us. Meanwhile, I texted Kim and asked her to come get me because I wanted to sleep in my own bed. Stay tuned for the conclusion of the Pre-Guyana Journey. Was Kim able to get to Philadelphia again in the blizzard? Especially since the city had now shut down....Did James join her? Did I make it home and sleep in my own bed? Stay tuned.....