The Unexpected Journey

My uncle's son and I visiting him in the hospital

As promised from my ezine, here is the info on my uncle. I am showing a few pictures that show his journey for the last 19 months.

A brief synopsis, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2005 and was confined to the wheelchair due to damage it did to his spine. Long story short. After over one year and a half, he is recovering quite nicely, to the amazement and dismay of the doctor. Well, the doctor said he would be a little more than a vegetable and stuck on a whole bunch of medications for the rest of his life and be confined to the wheelchair. Well, the doctor didn't check with the greatest physician of all times, Jesus.

My uncle has not taken any of the poison (medication) for several months now and he is on the recovery. Did I mention that he started to walk. So he will be walking normal very soon. Throughout the whole time he maintained a positive outlook and told everyone that he would walk again. Okay, he is no saint, he had his moments, however, his overall temperance was one of believing that he would be healed. So said, so done. So let's look at his pictures.

Initial stages of diagnosis




Physical therapy

Learning to drive all over




Pool Therapy

More pool therapy

Vacation in Jamaica where the miracle started

Taking steps in therapy

Taking more steps

Standing freestyle, yeeh

Jamaica - The Land of My Birth

This is the scenery from my aunt's house on top of the hill.

It was great to go back to Jamaica after not being there for 5 years. I spent 3 glorious weeks in December 2006 there. I got a chance to see family and friends that I did not see in a long time. I did not want to come back home when it was time to leave. I knew that I was going to stay there to live and then reality set in.

My uncle and I went together and we stayed at the Point Village Resort in Negril, an all inclusive resort along the 7 mile beach. My brother, Dwight is the Entertainment Manager. He is a triple threat; he sings, dances and acts and writes and produces stage plays. So you know I had fun and more fun. I stayed at the hotel instead of staying at someone's home because I wanted to see how the tourists experience Jamaica. I like the tourist life better because I like to live in luxury.

The greatest thing about that trip was the healing of my uncle. God used a humble unassuming woman with no formal training to massage all the bloodcloths from my uncle's legs. Plus we got a herbalist who gave him all kinds of natural herbs to drink. He started to stand up for brief moments and even walk a little. That was the beginning of his recovery. In another post I will update you on his progess today. Very exciting stuff.

Extended family with my uncle

My childhood friend and her kids

Me enjoying a beautiful sunset by the rock pool

My brother chilling with my uncle

Having fun on Christmas day

Hanging with my auntie

My two aunts (my mom sisters)

My uncle lifting up his legs for the first time since his injury

My aunty helping my uncle to exercise his legs (his sister)

Jamaica is a beautiful place and the people are extremely friendly. The food is great too. I was really overdoing it on the food. The sunset is out of this world.

Missionary Trip to China

One of the many temples in China in Inner Mongolia

I have always wanted to go to China and my dream came true in September 2006. I went as part of a missionary group, which was quite interesting. We went to Beijin, Inner Mongolia and Shanghai. I realized how privileged I was to live in America. I mean, I had to be very conscious of not using words referring to God and Jesus. It was really weird. Anyway, the people were really friendly. I was really surprised because of the stories that I heard about China. I could live China but it snows there, so that rules it out.

I liked Shanghai the least of the places we visited in China because it was too westernized. I loved Beijin the best. The best part was, I was like a celebrity. The Chinese people were really excited to see people of African Descent. We were such a rare specimen in their eyes. They were taking pictures of us and just all over us. You know I loved that right. Now, I know how the celebrities feel. That was my practice.

I feel in love with the Chinese language, it sounds so melodic there. Somehow, it sounds more harsher in America, must be the change of air. Did I mention the holes in the ground that were the toilets. Yup, needless to say, I was constipated when I got back home. That was too much to handle. Let me say, the hotels had proper toilets in the room. However, we spent most of our time on the road, so go figure.

Well, I would love to go there again and probably spend a month or more. You will enjoy it when you go. Maybe for the Olympics in 2008. China is making major preparation for that event. Who knows, maybe I will be back for that.

A day at the Great Wall


One of the many humongous meals we had

I finally learned how to use the chop sticks after all my years of trying. I realized after the first evening, that I better learn or I was going to starve.

Mickey D's had pineapple pies, the best

Bicycle is the main mode of transportation and cabs

Emperor's throne in the Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Inner Mongolia

Marketplace

Elder sharpening knives

European Cruise

In September 2006, I decided that I wanted to take a cruise for my birthday. I should say that I wanted to go on a European cruise for quite some time, so I figure, just do it. Well, what better way to celebrate my bday, right. Here I am again going on a cruise solo. I had a balcony room, that was fabulous. I got be outside without going on deck. It was wonderful to wake up in the mornings and stand outside and see the beauty of the horizon and to meditate on the majesty of God. It was also great to see the ship pull into the harbor.

My dining table companions, coincidentally, the girl in the blue was traveling solo as well.

A fruit sculpture done by the chef for a midnight exhibition. I stayed up just to see displays and to eat of course.

I boarded the ship in Barcelona and cruised to Villefranche, Civitevecchia, Naples, Valleta, and Palma de Mallorca. They were all fun places. You know I had to take a tour of every place that we went , right. Big mistake. Why? First, all the tours were all day, I mean all day. Then, Europe is nothing but cobblestones and hills. I was in pain and tired, okay. Guess what I did the day that the ship was at sea. That's right, I went to spa and got a massage and a facial to relax my blues away. It did wonders.

I took a train around Villefranche, more like a tram car

The countryside is so beautiful, look at all the house in the mountain

I was surprised to see the clothes hanging on lines outside the apartments. I guess we are all alike.

The Vatican, the first window on the second floor is where the Pope speak to the people on certain days.

It is amazing to see the line just to get inside the cathedral. You know, I was not going to stand in that line. So, I did my little tour of Rome and then came back to shorter line. Inside is amazing. In Italy I got bamboozled, if that is a word. I wanted to taste pizza in Italy, right. Well, I went to this litte spot and got a slice and something to drink. The owner asked me if I was eating in or taking it, I said eating there. Would you know that the price was double to sit there and eat, I was in shock. I will know better next time.

Palma de Mallorca, according to the tour guide, is where St. Paul got shipped wrecked. It was interesting to see all the cathedrals and the intricate designs.

I would definitely do Europe again, but not the all day tours.

Ruins of the City of Pompei

Cruise to Mexico

In May 2006, I decided that I wanted to take a trip to relax. I decided to do a 4-day cruise to Mexico. Trust me, that was not relaxing. Cruise ships are very noisy, at least the common areas. We stopped at Catalina Island, which is in California on the way and then we ended up in Ensenada. Why was there a man wearing the bathrobe from the ship walking around
Catalina Island. Everyone was looking at him really weird. It takes all kinds to make the world go round. I ended up buying a few books on Catalina Island. Yes, reading is my hobby and I can't pass a bookstore without stopping. So, if you want to give me a gift, a gift certificate to a bookstore would be quite alright :)

Me and two of the ladies that sat at the same dining table

Catalina Island or the City of Avalon is a small island about 1 hour from Long Beach Pier in California. People actually live on it. They rely on cruise ships and visitors for the majority of their income. Oh, it is so small the cruise ship has to stay in the middle of the ocean and then we have to take small boats from the ship to the pier.

In Ensenda I took a tour around the city on a tour bus of course. It was quite interesting. However, I found the place a bit depressing because of all the women with children that I saw begging on the streets. It seems like everyone was oblivious to them. I got a chance to go to a craft area where they sell to tourists. My goodness, they were all over us. They sold everything, I mean everything. Whatever you are thinkinging, that too. I did get a chance to practice my Spanish, that was fun.

Me on the tour bus

By the way, I was travelling by myself which seems to be an anomoly for everyone. Why, I don't know. People could not understand that I wanted to do this by myself. I guess if you are single you can't go no where. Well, I travel single in style. More single people need to try it and see how wonderful it is. You actually meet quite interesting people. Well, I am not sure I want to go back to Ensenada. I definitely don't like Carnival Cruise Line.

Australia

I went to Sydney, Australia for the first time in October 2005 on a business trip. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. I heard so much stories about "Down Under" and did not know what to really expect. The flight was 14 hours, can you imagine. The airline, Quantas was great, very comfortable. I got to the airport in Australia and there was my first challenge. The big sign said no food allowed outside of the airport. Of course, I had food and I was not about to throw out my food. Well, I set my intention on which customs guy I wanted to deal with me so that I would walk through without a search. Well, I got exactly what I imagined. Yes, having an intention and being focused on it really works.

Aboriginals performing

Yes, Woolworths still exist in Australia

Interesting mail boxes

Me galavanting with my two buddies

Remember I was there on business, so I did not have much time to really visit the place. However, one day I decided to walk the streets. The funny thing is, I felt really at home. I actually surprised myself. I could not believe I felt so comfortable. There you have, Australia makes you feel comfortable. The people were really friendly. You want to hear something funny? They actually asked me, where in Australia I was from. I thought that was quite interesting.

The second time around was in October 2006, on another business trip. Yes, now I am loving Australia. A funny coincident happen, I stayed in China town. It is interesting because I had just visited China in September of the same year. More about China later. Of course, I had to get a spa treatment or two. Alright, I got a facial and a massage.

Oh, I had a connecting flight through Fiji un the way to Australia this time around. I was not thrilled when I found out that it would be 4 hours layover. But, trust me, it was worth it. Fiji is simply gorgeous. The view of the mountains and the whole terrain was breathtaking to say the least. You know, Fiji is on my list of places to be on a vacation. The people are quite interesting. The men wear skirts, not all of them. They were playing Reggae music in one of the cafe in the airport. I felt right at home.

Airport in Fiji

Aerial view of Fiji from the plane

Raquel Smith, CMRC, CPC

Values Alignment Coach (TM)

http://www.goldenlifecoaching.com/

raquel@goldenlifecoaching.com