Ten Days In……

It was probably Jay’s and my third or forth date when I decided to cook dinner for him.  It was a Sunday evening with the television on and Star Trek music began to play.  Teasing him, I said, “Oh my, It’s Star Trek!!!  My favorite show! He looked at me pretty bewildered, and so I continued, “don’t you like Star Trek?”  Being the kind person Jay is, he said, “Of course, I do.”  I then had to confess, I never watch it, I was just teasing.

I thought of this as I sat down to write because I think there was a famous phrase Captain Kirk would say as he journaled the days events…”Captain’s log, Stardate….

So here we go, Jay and Kelly’s log, Stardate March 19, 2019.  Our destination Curacao by way of Fort Lauderdale.  Oh, by the way, Jay would like for this to really be Captain Jay and First-mate Kelly’s log.

The travel was long and almost uneventful.  When landing (or I should say, trying to land) in Fort Lauderdale, it appeared our captain had a missed approach.  All of a sudden we aren’t landing any longer.  Instead, climbing and circling back around for one more try.  After getting settled back into final, the captain announced during the first attempt we were too close to another airplane landing, so we had to pull up and go around.  Ahh, the mystery of the steps in the dance.  All is well.

The next day was our travels to our new home for the next couple months, Piscadera, Curacao in the Royal Palm Resort.  Sounds heavenly.  We were greeted by our contact person, Maggie, a very sweet Curacaoan woman, She gave us a tour and the keys.  After she left we had dinner down by the dive shop, then to bed.  We were so tired from two days of travel we couldn’t think or see anything.

Jay and Kelly’s Log Stardate, March 21, 2019.  The mystery of the steps in the dance….

A little history lesson of the Island before I get started with our story.  The island of Curacao sits about 35 miles off the coast of Venzuela.  It was discovered in 1499 by a Spanish lieutenant of Christopher Columbus.  In 1634 the Dutch took possession and founded a settlement. There are six forts built on this island and twelve original Landhuis’ (Dutch plantations).

Due to the location, it was a great trading harbor. Several different countries have tried to take this, but the Dutch defended it well.  The USS Erie was torpedoed just in front of our condo during WWII by the Germans.  Quite a bit of history for such a small island. 

The island is 40 miles long and 5 miles wide.  The language is called Papiamento, which is a creole based on Portugese, Spanish, English, and Dutch, and was influenced by Arawak Indian and a few African dialectics.  (this will be a fun one to learn for this southern speaking girl) I have the 122 Papiamento word list up on my phone as my resource. One of the most popular words is Dushi, which has five meanings….. tasty, babe, sweet, sexy, and nice.

On with our story….before we left Sacramento, I was having a conversation with a wise man, Ron Mitchell, regarding the fake lives on Facebook.  Everybody’s lives look so rosy on Facebook.  He asked me how I would be sharing this journey and if we would be telling “Real” stories on Facebook.  So, Ron, here’s our first real story…..

When we finally awakened on March 20, 2019, the place we were going to call home for two months was filthy! I won’t share the pictures, but to be “real”  we cleaned and did gardening for two full days (minus dive time)  Between the two of us we put in 30+ hours cleaning.  It’s beautifully clean now, and am happy to be barefoot.  

So many thoughts running through my head during the cleaning time. One, Jarvio was right, I don’t know how to slow down. Another, my Lenton study – 40 days of decrease I just got through the fasting of “fixing it” several days ago.  Here we are in someone’s home who doesn’t care at all.  So, I don’t think I need to tell you I blew that fast, big time. 

Jay and I found what has become one of our favorite stores on the island “Kooyman Megastore”.  It is the Home Depot of Curacao.  It’s tagline is “There is always something to do”  Yes, that is now, our phrase.

Of course, I had to know what Kooyman means.  It is an Arabic word mostly used in the Netherlands.  It means, “EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality.  You are very versatile, idealistic, and intuitive. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.  Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded.  You are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of…..

When we come home and have to get jobs to pay for this adventure we think we need to start a business named “Kooyman”  I love this word!

Two days later, my fast was, are you ready….. “Avoidance”.  That was a pretty easy one for me.  May I say, we have not avoided letting the owners know the shape of their home.  We are either an owner’s worst nightmare by sending pictures of their filth; or their dream come true by putting their home back in shape. For their future guests….. Di nada (your welcome).

Jay and Kelly’s log Starship, March 24, 2019   House clean….Kelly’s OCD, calm.  Our view from the deck is amazing.  In the mornings, cruise ships come by… throughout the day the coast guard passes by….dive boats back and forth….the evening, well, amazing sunsets, while sipping a beautiful glass of wine and dinner.  I could be happy right here sitting on this deck taking in the God’s beauty.

This morning we decided to go to church.  We found one on the internet that spoke English as well as Papiamento.  WOW,  We had church!!!  We arrived early (I know, so unlike us, right?) They were having prayer time that was already on fire.  These men were on fire for the Lord. Their welcoming was warm and friendly to say the least.  We were obviously guests, the only white people in the church.  The service began with a keyboard player, drums, and arriving later a bass player.  There were five women backup singers, and one worship leader that, WOW, RMCC, come and hire her!!!!  We sang worship songs in English and Papiamento.  Oh, the unity in worship.  Psalms 133, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when we dwell in unity.”  I felt like I was having worship time at a women’s conference.  Next thing you know, it’s two hours later and then the preaching began.  Jay whispered to me “we should have packed a lunch”. We left after three hours, starved and exhausted; however the healing service was just beginning, I think.  They didn’t let us go until they could serve us some cake.  I love this island!!  In the middle of the worship time, we did have a few minutes to greet one another.  Their greetings were high-fives with some very lively music playing in the background.  The song that was sung during the tithe and offering was called, “Double, Double”.  They all loved singing that song along with hand motions to go with it. If you have some time, you can you-tube the song “Double Double (Blessings).   Bjorn, a native-born Curacaoan, walked out with us asking if we are coming back and exchanging what’s app numbers with Jay.  This young gentlemen was the one praying when we walked in earlier that morning.  I don’t know what all he was saying, but I guarantee you, Satan was not going to have any hold on that place that morning.  I could definitely pick out  “Hallelujah” many many times. The Holy Spirit was certainly in this place.

We were planning to go diving later that day, but we were exhausted.  I fell asleep on the deck for 1 – 1/2 hours.  When I got up I found Jay in bed sleeping for that much time as well.  When we both woke up, we just looked at each other and said, what in the world just happened today?  There was some energy used up in that service today!!!!

Are we going back?  I think we are this Sunday for another round.  We might need to get their a bit late to sit in the back, if they even let us sit there, so we can leave a little bit earlier.  Or we need to eat a really big breakfast before.  If you are hypoglycemic, bring a snack.

Jay and Kelly’s log Starship, March 22 – 27, 2019  As Jay would say, the fun pieces of the trip so far, Diving and Hunting Lionfish.  Yes, we have worked in several dives since we have been here.  Diving is just off the beaches, shore diving instead of boat diving.  It’s about as easy as this….pull your car over to the side of the road, get your gear out and on, swim about 50 feet out to the reef wall, regulator in your mouth, let the air out of your BCD, and down you go to whatever desired depth.  My sweet spot is 45 – 60 feet.  Jay likes to go a bit deeper to “lionfish country”.  Although, the ones he has speared have been in what I like to call, “the sweet zone”.  I like to dive first thing in the morning.  Jay likes to dive, well, all times of the day.  However, he does prefer evening dives, since that is when, wait for it…..the lionfish come out to feed. So, needless to say, we are diving morning and evenings.

Our second dive was an early morning, before breakfast outing.  The highlight….spearing a lionfish for breakfast ceviche.  Who does that? Oh, yea, we do on this wonderful thing we call “Jay and Kelly’s Year Away”

Thank you for bearing with me on this large amount of writing,which is reading for you.  I can’t tell you how much I love each one of you and appreciate your encouragement to figure out this thing called blogging.  We have so much more to share, but will next time.

I will end with this, “He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.'”  Mark 6:31  In today’s culture “Rest” is becoming a lost art to which I thought, and many others of you thought I lost that piece of art.  Jarvio, as of this week, I am resting and loving it!!!  I’m learning it is a wise investment for the diligent.  Piscadera, Curacao in the Royal Palm Resort – Clean and Heavenly, yes it is!

Ban goza te siguiente tempo, Un braza grande, Jay and Kelly  (Let’s enjoy until next time,  Big hug, Jay and Kelly)

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