Montego Bay-Friday

Today so far we have been to two high schools. Their national exams run on a lot stricter of a schedule, so when we showed up late to the first high school, we couldn't do the show. Fortunately the other one was only 15 minutes away, so we got to go there first and come back. This other high school was called William Knibb Memorial High School, and its colors were purple and green. We got to be inside in a large room with a stage and a concrete floor. There were maybe two hundred students at this presentation, and as there were no chairs, it was a standing room only show. The funny thing about Jamaica is that puppets are popular for all ages, including adults. Although my head knows this, it never fails to amaze me when high schoolers and adults get into the puppets. In America older kids would either be offended for being treated like little kids or would be sarcastic, but there was legitimate cheering for the puppets when their part was done. Last night we did all the skits and songs the team had prepared-we always do at a night show-but at schools we only have usually a half hour. So instead of "The Champion" for our skit, as we did at the primary schools, we did "Everything," which is a very powerful skit and requires a somewhat older audience to get the weight of what's going on. Again, we didn't have much time to talk to students after the show, but they liked it and it was an introduction to what Youth for Christ is doing.

We went straight back to first high school after that, which is called Mushett High School. Its colors are red and white. It is set up a lot like Catherine Hall, with the building in a square around a courtyard. This school was very nice in appearance and the students seemed to be under good control. They too got into the show, and the teachers were dancing around also. Here we did "The Champion" for the students along with our other puppets and songs. The older kids like "Daddy-Oh" just as much as the younger. This time, one of the team members - Tim - gave the Gospel and he did a very good job. But we didn't get to talk to the students really because they had to hurry up and leave before the next class came for its exam.

We went to Pizza Hut for lunch.

We were going to go to Falmouth Infirmary this afternoon, but that didn't work out since we were so far behind after the high schools.

Tonight we will have a street show at the old Texaco gas station that we went to last year. It's right in the middle of the marketplace, and although there are many people who will come and watch, that also means that it's not quite as safe and some other places. Since we got to a late lunch, we'll be eating supper afterwards.