From Drudgery to Jubilation

I spent the entire day playing catch up. The mountain of paperwork on my desk when I returned to the office after my break in Montego Bay was almost overwhelming. I managed to sift through the mess and prioritize things so that it was all completed by 2:00pm this afternoon. Then I was onto the port for my regular checks.

After satisfying myself that my two supervisors (bless their souls) are very much on the ball and handled everything nicely in my absence, I went back to my office and finished selecting new personnel that will be trained in the coming weeks to work in my program.

After 3 weeks of interviews and 2000 applications I managed to fill 12 positions with what appear to be quality applicants. There were times in the last few weeks that I thought it was much easier, when I was in the Army finding raw recruits to join up than it has been to find 12 qualified people for this program. In retrospect though, believe me when I say that, the job as an ARMY Recruiter is the toughest, most stressful job I have ever had. (Shudder)!!!!

After all this, I was on my way home this evening and at a stop light in the down town area, I passed a man who appeared to be homeless. He was dirty, and had the most disheartened look on his face that I think I have ever seen.

Now, after being here for 5 years, I think I have seen most every scam that the street people use to get money there is, and normally I just ignor them. This time, there was something different here, I turned around the block and pulled up to him again. Now remember this is a third world country, where people generally ignor traffic laws, so... (when in Rome.....) I stopped right next to him in traffic, and as traffic passed around me on the right, I spoke with him. I asked him if he was OK, and he said he was hungry and needed help. So I opened the door and let him in. He smelled really bad, but somehow I didn't seem to mind. We drove to the Burger King up the street, and miraculously there was a parking spot right in front. I thought, this is a good sign, and we parked.

He didn't say much but responded to my questions. Daniel, as I found out, has been without a home since one of the last hurricanes. He lost everything in the storm, including his family. He had a Wife and son, both of which were killed in the landslide as his house slid down a hill. The utter depression he was in was almost unbearable, I'm a grown man and I felt like crying.

As I took him into the BK, the security guard at the door stopped him and said he couldn't come in. I informed him that Daniel was my guest, and that I would be paying for his meal. I asked if he could use the rest room first to wash his face and hands. Begrudgingly the security guard allowed him to enter. While he was in the rest room, (with the security guard, who wouldn't let him go anywhere alone), I ordered his meal. we sat in a corner in the back so as not to disturb the other customers, who couldn't seem to take their eyes off of us.

Now trust me when I say, I Can Eat, but never in my whole life have I ever seen anyone demolish a bouble whopper so fast. I thought the man was going to choke. He finished every last french fry, and the piece of pie, then drank the fruit juice he asked for instead of soda. Between mouthfuls of fries, he openly shared his trials and tribulations. I just listened and nodded.

When he finished, we left the BK and in the parking lot, he told me he had been thinking that his life was over. He told me I had given him something he had not had in a long time. I asked what that was and he said Hope! I almost bawled. He asked me for my name, shook my hand, told me that he thinks that I'm an angel sent by God, and then without hesitation he hugged me. I was shocked and a little embarrassed, but I hugged him back and told him that I wasn't an angle but that God Does Love Him and was watching out for him. Now for a Jamaican Man to hug another man (especially a white man) in public is extremely rare, as this nation is VERY homophobic. Trust me when I say, it was absolutely spontaneous and from his heart.

He told me he felt better and I could see it was true. I did something I don't ever do, I offered him what little cash I had. He tried to turn it down but I told him that it would be OK and that he could use it to buy something to eat tomorrow. He put it in his pocket and waved at me as I left. I looked in the mirror as I left but I couldn't see where he had gone. I will look for him in the coming days and hopefully be able to keep him fed and get him to a church close by for some assistance.

I felt great. I still do. I feel like I was there at just the right time and place to help and listen to him. Today will go into the list of days to remember for the rest of my life.

Lickle More!! (This means... Later Mon!)