A vacation, a wedding and a funeral

My last week of 2019 was full of time spent with friends and family. It started off with a 2 day all-expenses paid trip to Tobago where all I had to do was show up. I certainly felt the love of God as His favour was evident every step of the way. We didn't have to worry about what we were going to eat or what we would do once we got there - everything was provided for us, and that in abundance!

Check out the breakfast spread for only 5 people

We arrived on Sunday evening and after arriving at our destination, settled in for an early night as we all had a busy day. In the morning we were treated to a lavish spread for breakfast, then set out for a drive around the island, which included a stop at Fort George, and a sumptuous lunch at the Treehouse Restaurant in Speyside. The weather was perfect - not too hot and very little rain. We ended our day with a beach bath at Mt. Irvin Bay as the sun was setting, and a time of games and worship when we got home. It was such a blessing and encouragement to my soul to spend time with these friends who are my family.

Photo session on Fort George

From Tobago I headed straight to Guyana for a wedding for a couple from my church. I arrived on Christmas Eve, so was able to spend my first Christmas in Guyana. My maternal grandmother was Guyanese, and at a family reunion 2 years ago I met my mother's cousin's children who still live in Guyana so I was able to stay at their home. It was wonderful getting to know them better, hearing their life stories, and getting a tour of historic sites in Georgetown. Even though I didn't meet them before 2017, they treated me as though we had known each other all our lives, like real family.

Hanging in Georgetown with my cousin

It was only after I left Guyana that I found out that the church my friend got married in was the same church my grandmother attended when she lived there! I was never the kind of person who cared much for history or "finding my roots" but there was something special about seeing a plaque in the oldest wooden cathedral in Guyana with the names of my grandmother's brother and his wife on it, and recognizing that the faith of my great grandparents was passed on through two generations to me, and my siblings will be passing it on to my niece and nephews.

Outside the historic St. George Cathedral in Georgetown

My friends' wedding was an epic end to a lovely time in Guyana. Although my cousins were gracious enough to take me around while I was there, I was not sure how transport for the wedding would work out, since they lived about half an hour away from the wedding venue, and I didn't want them to have to take me from the ceremony to the reception venue, and then have to take me back home after the reception. At a lime I attended 2 days before the wedding, I was able to reconnect with a friend who had studied in Trinidad, and I found out that she was living in the same development as my cousin, and also attending the wedding! My God is certainly a God of the details :D

So happy for the opportunity to

reconnect with Sherdell

The wedding ceremony was lovely, especially the part where the bride's father sang "I loved her first" to the couple, passing on his role as the man in his daughter's life to her new husband. At the reception, the contingent from our church ensured that we made full use of the dance floor and the DJ that was provided. It was great fun celebrating with my friends on their special day, and I can't wait to see what God will accomplish through their union.

The Patricks - so happy in love <3

The week before Christmas, I found out that someone who was instrumental to my growth in the ISCF camping ministry had passed away. I was grateful that I obeyed the voice of the Holy Spirit to make time to visit her when I heard how serious her illness was. "Spram", as we affectionately called her on ISCF Camp, was the face of camping when I started as a child. I still have clear memories of her waking us up on mornings in Toco with her song "Good morning, good morning, good morning! It's time to rise and shine!" She would sing it over and over until we got out of our beds. Reading the tributes to her on facebook from past campers and listening to the testimonial from her nieces at the funeral, it was clear that she played a crucial role of encouragement and support in the lives of countless of young people. Even though she will be missed, we have a sure hope of being reunited with her in heaven.

I returned to Trinidad just in time for her funeral

As we enter 2020, I have no idea what lies ahead. I know there will be joys, as well as sorrows; pleasure, as well as pain; weeping, as well as rejoicing. Through the highs and lows, one thing that I know for sure - God's goodness and faithfulness will not change, and it will be sufficient to carry me through.