Jamaica – Thursday, December 11, 2025

December 13, 2025 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 1 Comment

After a wonderful night’s sleep, I awoke early to meet the team (Jeff Lockhart, Chuck Smith, Alisa Lockhart and Jamie Schreiber) for breakfast… but I got lost trying to find the lobby. By the time I got there, there wasn’t much time for breakfast, so I stopped in the 24-hour cafe and got two croissants to go. I’m glad I grabbed a second one as we had a busy day with no time for stops to eat.

This is my first time visiting Jamaica, I wish it were for better reasons, but I’m grateful to be here, to see the beauty and the resilience of this place and the people. Jeff was on island within two weeks of the hurricane, when he was first here, all of the mountains were brown because so many trees had fallen, and the ones that hadn’t were stripped bare. Just a month later, and the remaining trees are recovering, green leaves could be seen everywhere. My only other Caribbean experience is the Bahamas (also a very beautiful country) that is very, very flat. Jamaica is very mountainous (80% of the island is elevated, according to Google, while almost 50% sits 1,000 feet above sea level). The house construction, the little shops, and some of the food reminds me very much of Malawi.

Our first stop today was visit the family of Gylene Carr. Gylene is a lovely woman, in her 80’s and the primary caretaker for her daughter, Danic, and her brother Bobby Davis (an amputee). 80% of their roof was blown off. They survived the storm huddled in one room. They assumed, with few resources and physical limitations, that they would spend the rest of their lives living in 20% of their home, the rest being open to the elements. It was heartbreaking to listen to their story of weathering the storm and their concerns for the future in the aftermath. The contrast to that heartbreak was to hear of the hope they now feel with a fully replaced and completed roof over their head. Our small construction crew was able to install a new roof and a new ceiling in just a few days, giving them comfort and security.

Our next stop was to visit with a long-time Church member, Claude Wilson. Claude is a character. Funny, animated, smart, and full of energy. He lives right near the airport and loves to watch the planes take off, he told me very seriously that one of the positive outcomes of the storm was that the fallen trees had given him a better view of the runway… he was only disappointed that one rather large tree was still obstructing his view. Claude is a proofreader and a writer, working for a national newspaper here in Jamaica. When you come here, Claude will energetically tell you all about his writing endeavors, his eagerness to share God’s truths, and the humorous ways that God helped him through the storm. Taking his photos was a challenge because I couldn’t get him to sit still long enough to catch him.

Our next stop was to visit the childhood home of Clive Thompson. Work has not yet begun on this house, and it is in desperate need of repairs. Clive seemed quiet and reserved, but was a tremendous help to us, guiding us to each house on our visit. He also drives like he’s in a racecar. At one point, a few cars got between ours and Clives, but we got a red light and we were able to catch up to his white CR-V. At the next intersection, Jeff was sure we were supposed to turn, but Clive was going straight, so he pulled in behind him and followed him for several more intersections before we finally turned, and after a mile or so he turned into a business Jeff was unfamiliar with. We had joked that we had followed the wrong person. Jeff got out of the truck to start to walk over to Clive’s car, but came right back. Yup, we followed the wrong vehicle! We had started following the wrong white CR-V. Thankfully Jeff knew the way back to where he was supposed to turn, and Clive had realized we weren’t behind him and had come back to try and find us. All was right with the world, but I can’t help but think about that poor CR-V driver that had some random car follow him to work that day. This stop was just a drive through really, since the homeowner couldn’t be there to meet us. But we could ascertain that her roof had a tarp, and hopefully we’ll be able to get her taken care of soon.

Our last stop was to the home of Denton and Marjorie Lewis. Denton and Marjorie live more in the interior of the island and took us about an hour and half to get to their home. After the storm hit, Jeff (the pastor for Jamaica) was desperately searching for all of our members to make sure they were safe. By the end of the week after the storm he had heard from everyone except Denton and his wife. No one could reach them. And getting to his home those first few weeks was challenging because of gas shortages, and debris on the roads. When Jeff was able to make it to the island he drove to Denton’s home and arrived to see Denton on the roof of a neighbor’s home helping make repairs. It was a joy and relief to find he and his wife safe. Water flooded into their home from the rains, but the flood waters never reached inside their home (he’s showing me how high the waters came in one of the photos below).

“Did You Ever Have a Family” by Bill Clegg

September 23, 2022 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Following the lives of a whole cast of characters touched by a singular tragedy, this book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The night before/morning of Lolly Reid’s wedding the unthinkable happens, a gas leak causes an explosion killing the bride, groom, bride’s father, and the boyfriend of the bride’s mother. The only survivor in the family is June Reid, the mother of the bride. Who is to blame for this explosion is up for speculation, and everyone in the small town has their own theories, the favorite being June’s much younger boyfriend, Luke.

The “whodunnit” is almost a non-aspect of the story. Someone is to blame, but it doesn’t really matter, because everyone and no one is to blame.

This is a beautiful novel that explores the idea of responsibility, family, and belonging. Despite the short narrative of each character, the author was able to develop almost all of the characters into three-dimensional beings that are both flawed and relatable.

4.5/5 stars

“Ask Again, Yes” by Mary Beth Keane (audiobook)

January 26, 2021 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 2 Comments

This book is a sweeping tale of two generations of two families deeply intertwined. Kind and steady Francis Gleeson (an Irish immigrant) joins the NYPD and marries Lena (a New Yorker born and bred) and moves to the suburbs. Brian Stanhope, another NYPD cop moves in next door with his beautiful and troubled wife, Anne (also an Irish immigrant). These two couples start their families side by side, but their lives become inextricably combined, while simultaneously blowing apart.

Okay, when I say sweeping, I mean sweeping; and not just because it takes place over a 30-year span, this novel explores so many themes I’m still processing what I heard several days later. It tackles themes of family, abuse, mental illness, addiction, resilience, home, forgiveness, love, and redemption.

And even though the themes are heavy, it was written with such deftness that you don’t feel weighed down by the weight. Because, at the heart of it all, there is hope.

The characters are complicated, and flawed, and even in their brokenness, you love them. I grieved with them, I rejoiced with them, and I hoped with them.

Clearly I loved this book… I was late for work twice last week (Okay, I make my own schedule, but I was late for when I wanted to start work) because I got lost in the narration of this book, I didn’t want to stop listening.

5/5 stars

https://smile.amazon.com/Ask-Again-Yes-Mary-Beth-Keane-audiobook/dp/B07M7L7XTB/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1611710741&sr=8-1

“The House on Fripp Island” by Rebecca Kauffman

January 20, 2021January 17, 2021 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

*I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway

I liked this story. I liked the characters. The story follows two families: the mothers grew up together, but ended up leading drastically different lives. One of unhappy wealth and privilege, the other stressful, but overall happy in the grips of poverty… not living on the streets poverty, but working hard but still being on the brink poverty.

These two drastically different families come together to share a vacation for one week, when tragedy strikes, and someone dies. The description of the book would have you believe that the novel is about the aftermath of this tragedy and how each member copes, but that’s not really true. 85% of the book is spent on the vacation; the remaining 15% deals with the aftermath. And it doesn’t do it justice.

This novel had such promise. I wanted to know more about the killer. I wanted more on how the families coped after the murder. I wanted to hear their inner dialogue. I wanted to know how they processed through everything, but the author just glides through it so quickly.

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07T4KS1D7&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_cBlbGbBYATTMY

“The Deal of a Lifetime” by Fredrik Backman

January 19, 2021 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Oh my heart.

I love modern Swedish literature, and I love Fredrik Backman. And he did not disappoint with this novella. This story is heartbreaking and beautiful. It gets to the essence of family, and disappointment, and love, and sacrifice, and legacy.

There’s a simplicity in Backman’s writing; a compactness in conveying emotion without an excess of words. And there is a lot of emotion packed into this short story.

I haven’t returned it to the library, because I think I will read it again before I do.

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B075RLXL3T&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_f6lbGbYQ7KFBB

“The Cousins” By Karen M. McManus

January 18, 2021 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a deep and artful look at family, trauma, and the power of redemption? This is not the book for you. If you’re looking to be entertained for a few hours over a little mystery, then you’ve come to the right place.

There’s something not quite right on Gull Cove Island, and three estranged cousins are going to figure it out. If you’re like me you’ll have it mostly figured out within a few pages of the cousins’ arrival on the island, and you’ll spend most of the book shaking your head at them not figuring it out. There was one surprise that I didn’t actually see coming, but it happens early on in the story, so you don’t have to stick around forever for it.

The writing is adequate, the characters are only mostly one dimensional, and the “mystery” is not that mysterious. But I wasn’t bored reading it.

Is this my new bar? I wasn’t bored? Where’s a good meme to describe how I’m feeling when I need it?

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B085BVXRT7&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_TAlbGbGTVCFKX

“The Heir Affair” by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

January 10, 2021 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

When I checked this book out at the library, I did not realize that it was a sequel. It can, more or less, stand alone, but there is definite character development that you miss out on by skipping that first installment. All that said, I liked it enough to want to go back and read the first one.

Highbrow literature this is not, but if you like a good melodrama/soap opera-y romp; this is definitely the book for you.

The story is engaging. The writing is sufficient; the dialogue flows well; the characters are lively. There is romance, but thankfully it stops short of being salacious.

So, about the story. The novel follows the story of Rebecca “Bex” and her prince of England husband, “Nick.” The novel starts with Nick and Bex hiding out in Scotland shortly after their wedding. Why are they hiding out? If you had read the first novel you likely would have known why, but you find out later in this novel that they are hiding out from a scandal that broke during their wedding. It follows them through several years as they navigate their roles as royals and as husband and wife.

I’m a sucker for melodrama, so I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading the first installment… and if there are ever any more installments, I look forward to those as well.

4/5 stars because I enjoyed it, and I would read additional installments.

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07YSNBRV7&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_mp4-FbNSQERQD

“The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” by Stuart Turton

December 31, 2020 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

What… what did I just read?

I just finished this book like five minutes ago, and I’m still processing. Seriously… what did I just read?

First, I really liked this book. It was well written; the story is compelling, the characters are interesting, and it’s faced-paced.

I love a good mystery. And I was interested in reading this because it had an art-deco feel. Nothing in the description mentions the early 1900’s, but that’s the feeling I got from the cover and the description. And I’m not an aficionado of murder mystery novels, but in my mind the early 1900’s (up until the 1930’s) is the golden-age of mysteries.

And this is a good mystery. Be forewarned that this book is surprisingly bloody. The author doesn’t dwell on it; and he’s not terribly descriptive of the gore, but body count is shockingly high. If you’re particularly sensitive to suspense (I’m not), maybe don’t read this just before bed.

This book follows Aiden Bishop as he seeks to find the killer of Evelyn Hardcastle. The mechanics of why and how he is doing this is part of the mystery, all you know at the outset is that Aiden is stuck in a loop of a single day from the perspective different people witnessing the same events unfold.

The amount of detail the author is able to weave into this story from so many different perspectives is truly impressive; I can’t imagine the amount of outlining he had to do to keep all the storylines straight.

One of the things I love about a good mystery novel is trying to figure out the answer, and usually figuring it out before the end; it makes me feel smart. This one made me feel like an idiot. I had no idea where any of this was going and where it finally wound up. That’s partly because there are really three mysteries in this story: who killed Evelyn? Who killed her brother all those years ago? Why is Aiden stuck in this loop?

And I never figured out any of them. Not a one.

The only thing I would change about this book is I would have liked a bit more explanation regarding what happens if Aiden ever escapes this loop. Where does he go? Who is he? What does he do? Unfortunately you never find that out.

My rating? 4.5 stars (out of 5).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/149267012X/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_o9F7FbY5KP2AA

“The Little Shop of Found Things” by Paula Brackston

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 by Lena VanAusdle ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Finally! As I mentioned in my last blog I was currently reading three books, so I finally finished one. When I read the jacket of this book, I thought, ooh, fun, a time travel book. I haven’t read many time travel books, but it sounded intriguing and I was looking to step outside my reading niche.

I was a little disappointed that it had ghosts; I’m not a fan of ghost stories, but (thankfully) that was a pretty small part of the story. I also didn’t realize that this was just one in a series of books; while I enjoyed this book, I’m not sure I liked it enough to invest more time in the series.

The rundown is this: a young woman (Xanthe) has the ability to “hear” objects, specifically she can hear objects that have a story to tell about their previous owners. She doesn’t hear words, but they sing to her or vibrate, or something like that. It is this ability that draws her to a particular piece (a chatelaine) — I had never in my life heard of a chatelaine, so of course I looked it up. It was a basically a decorative tool belt for women used during and prior to the Victorian era (I’ll post a photo below).

So anyway, this chatelaine calls to her… turns out it’s somehow connected to a ghost that threatens her if she doesn’t help her daughter… in 1605. So Xanthe takes up the ghost’s daughter’s cause (because that’s not confusing) and travels back in time. Shenanigans ensue. I won’t spoil the book any further by detailing said shenanigans, you’ll have to read it yourself to find out exactly what they are and how they play out.

I liked this book. It was generally lighthearted, somewhat of a mystery (though I didn’t find some of the resolutions totally satisfying), with just a hint of romance for good measure. The writing itself was good; although I find that to be so subjective (for example, I, very typically, love Jane Austen. However, my extraordinarily well-read friend, Katherine, cannot stand Jane Austen). So when I say a book is well written, what I mean is that the story makes sense; there aren’t a ton of overtly glaring plot holes; the grammar is fine; it’s written well regardless of how I feel about the story… wowee, I am off on some tangents today.

Back to the subject at hand… For a book that switches back and forth between modern times and 1605, I think the continuity of the storyline was pretty good. I understand the concept of time travel, but I was a little perplexed by some of the logistics of it as it plays out in this book’s universe. For example, if she (Xanthe) is able to travel through time, why is she limited to a linear progression in the 1605 timeline that she enters? Why does she always return later in the timeline rather than just return right when she left? And why is there such urgency from this dang ghost when all of this has already happened?

Anyway, I don’t think the characters are as well developed as they could be, but, since this is a series, it’s possible (hopeful??) that the author would flesh them out more in the following books.

Overall I would recommend this book for an escape from reality with some lighthearted fare. And who can’t use a little bit of an escape from the dumpster fire that is 2020, am I right?

L & L Shenanigans

The (mis) adventures of Lena and Lewis

Tag: fiction