Day 6: Worship and Waterfalls - Izzie

Today we got to see Jamaica from the lens of a local and a tourist. We started at a church named, “The All Assembly of God,” in Falmouth. Our experience at church showed us how important religion and community is to the people of Jamaica. The church was filled with over 150 people singing, dancing, and praying. The loud, upbeat music set the tone for a very lively yet intense service. People were very passionate in their singing and dancing as a way to express their beliefs in their own individual ways. After we got back from the service we discussed how different church is in Jamaica versus America.

The percentage of people in Jamaica that are strongly religious is much higher than in the United States and that was very apparent in how the community came together in a place of worship. The passion and community that you could see within everyone in the church was beautiful. Some people expressed their emotions during the service in different ways and some seemed to struggle with how to cope with those emotions. It was apparent to all of us that the people in the church encouraged others to let all their emotions out. Only from letting go of their emotions and really expressing how they felt were the people able to be there for each other and lift each other up when they needed it most.

In the afternoon, we got to participate in activities through Chukka, which is an entertainment park located on the Good Hope Plantation where we are staying. Chukka repurposed old buildings from the sugar processing plant previously operated by slaves and turned it into a fun and exciting place for tourists to explore. We got to zip line over the plantation grounds, tube down the Martha Brae river, jump off a waterfall, and ride a water slide. The guides at Chukka were very engaged with all of us and even joined us in some of the activities. They were a very important part of the experience. Chukka was a great way to relax and refresh before our work days start again tomorrow for our final week.