2009 Jamaica Vacation

We are just completing 10 days of a marvelous vacation in Jamaica. Usually, most of my vacation is spent touring the island with guests and family, But this time most of my time was spent at the Thompson’s homestead with my in-laws, or at Northern Caribbean University using their high-speed internet facilities and visiting with former colleagues and students. The President’s Office was kind enough to provide for me a space in the Presidential suite (the oldest and most historic building on campus) for the week.

We usually plan our annual trip to Jamaica to coincide with my wife’s (Violet) dad’s birthday. We celebrated his 101^st on the 22^nd of August. We also celebrated our 39^th wedding anniversary the following day. We took a trip to the capital, Kingston, and had a lovely meal on the beach of the famous old city of Port Royal. On that trip we were able to visit the gravesite of my mother, who passed on a year and a half ago. Also special was a visit to my first major music teacher, Mrs. Theodore. What a surprise to find out that she also was born in Panama like my mother; but more than that, she was born 2 days after my mother on March 22, 1918. It was a delight to play for her on the very piano that she taught me.

The more professional highlights of this trip were my courtesy visits to many former students, colleagues, and other faculty and staff of NCU. This is one of the largest Seventh-day Adventist Universities in the world. There are about 6000 students. The incoming freshman class has over 1000. Those of you who are from my era (I graduated in 1970, and was on the faculty from 1970-1985), and have not returned, will be happily surprised at the remarkable changes from those days. Dr. Herbert Thompson and his team have transformed this academic institution into a place that can compete with the best internationally.

Of the many significant visits, one that stands out was with the newly appointed VP for Spiritual Life here at NCU. Within the last couple months, the Boards of both of our Universities in Jamaica and Puerto Rico have appointed 2 of my former students in this position. I’m excited to see that our Universities are moving in that direction. I was one of the first Adventist VP in that position, and Walla Walla College/University was one of the first to recognize its importance. I was honored to have these 2 gentlemen (from the 2 Universities where I chaired the Schools of Religion and Theology and was heavily involved in leading their Spiritual Life) call and pick my brain for ideas. Here at NCU they have a marvelous wholistic program: Under the VP comes the following: 1) The University Church (it is not under the Conference. When I was the College pastor and religious life director here 25+ years ago, we had the church under the school as well); 2) Campus Ministries (and the Chaplain); 3) Student Missions; 4) Chapels; 5) All religious clubs (and there are many); 6) A close working relationship with the School of Religion and Theology (I’m not sure how this works administratively); 7) All community outreach. This last portfolio is most important. Included in his responsibilities is the overseeing of a Counseling Center in the city of Mandeville (they gave free service to over 1000 clients last year); a center for entrepreneurs (they trained and graduated 50 policemen recently in a software program developed by the University); a Center for Restorative Justice (with the crime and violence at a significant height in Jamaica, the University plays an important role in dealing structurally with the problem). Also all other outreach activities is overseen by Vice President, Dr. Terrance Milford. How wonderful to see faith and service and academics tightly intertwined in the Seventh-day Adventist educational enterprise. Today in a phone conversation with the university president, I was humbled by his appreciation to me for planting the seed in his mind, many years ago. I had forgotten. But I suppose I’m an evangelist at heart – I’ll spread good news wherever I go. Thus this blog!