At about 7:42am on Sunday, Dominicans were awaken to earthquakes which later resulted in many persons losing their homes as a result and devastation all over the island.Although Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit urged Dominicans to remain calm, its very hard to do so since this was the first time that the small island was shaken up by an earthquake with such magnitude. Reports indicates that the French neighboring islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe also felt the earthquake and a three year old child in Guadeloupe was even reported dead. Antigua and St Kitts felt it too. Floods and heavy rains continued even hours after the incident occurred as landslides continued all over the islands, especially in the northern part of Dominica. Reports also indicates that two church in Portsmouth collapsed. The Methodist and Roman Catholic Church just could not withstand what the act of God brought about. Luckily there were no reported deaths in Dominica but the patients at the Portsmouth Hospital were being transported to a Doctors home nearby. As late as 1:33 pm reports of floods continued and persons from Layou, Fond Cole, Bellvue Chopin and others are now homeless. Reports further states that animals were seen flowing downstream the Layou River.

Well this wasnt written by me but by a friend name terri henry who is a member of an organization that i am involved with. She is a very good writer and recently placed fourth in a ACP writing contest which was run by CTA. She wrote a really good descriptive piece about a recent lunar eclipse that occured in Dominica and i would just like to share it with you guys. So here it is:

Full Moon Miracles


On Wednesday night (27th October) I went with some friends camping - it's become a monthly ritual for us to meet up and go somewhere on the full moon night and this time we chose a beach in the north of the island. We arrived soon after dark and swam in the warm and gentle water, which was illuminated by the moons radiant glow. Whilst floating I noticed the eclipse starting and excitedly told the others. We gazed in wonder at the night sky, full of sparkling stars, as the moon was completely covered in darkness, became glowing red and then slowly emerged as bright and beautiful as ever – truly a miracle in action. I slept right there on the beach, which was a joy – the sand as my mattress and the sound of the waves to lull me into sleep – mmmm talk about sweet dreams!!

I awoke to the new day to embrace the first rays of sunlight, collected some shells along the beach and created a nature shrine with them, some seaweed, rocks and driftwood – it looked so simple yet beautiful. I took some time there to meditate on miracles and pray for the healing of Mother Earth and her people. In order to play an active part in that healing I cleaned the beach by collecting the rubbish that had been left there by nature disconnected people.

I then took to the waters to wash off and swam to the furthest edge of the beach to meet my friends who had walked over there. We were delighted to discover a huge amount of red clay under the sand, which had been washed down from the rocks above by the high tide. It was amazing because whilst on the Jamaica retreat we did a day of fasting on coconut water and then a clay detox on the beach the following day and now here I was emerging from the same fast and stumbling upon fresh clay to complete the process - wow talk about history repeating itself!! Divine providence. I covered my entire body in the cool red mixture and sat on a rock in the sun to bake like a piece of pottery and cleanse! Whilst covered in my new tribal attire I climbed up the rock cliff and explored a wonderful minature garden of Eden that existed just above them – trees blowing in the breeze, birds singing, flowers in bloom and a serene peacefulness all around. After climbing down and allowing the clay to dry further I scrubbed it off with the sand and went to collect some more for future use. I took the time to stop by a small natural water pool on the beach to watch little stripy fish swimming around in their little underwater home. I walked across rocks covered with a soft green carpet of moss to take another long swim myself in the clear and calm seawater.

The time to leave finally arrived so we packed up and went to rinse off the salty seawater in one of Dominica’s 365 rivers. It was so cold and refreshing - a crystal clear flowing river with a deep pool to bathe in, rocks to sit on and surrounded by lush green mountains. Renewed and revitalised we got back in the pick-up and headed forward through the winding roads to continue the next phase of our lives with elevated and uplifted vibrations. There is really no price that can be put on experiences such as these and I feel truly blessed to be enjoying life in this way. I have 'found' myself in many ways amongst such naturalness and beauty and I continue to explore the divinity in nature and within myself and do what I can to preserve and protect both. I give thanks and praises to the Most High Creator for Dominica, Nature and the joys of this lifetime. I wish you all the joy in yours and look forward to co-creating miracles under a full moon with you soon.


onelove

Terri

A day in Dominica wouldn't start right without some morning showers that makes you second guess the activities that you plan for your day. This morning was no different, and with the normal everyday forecast being fair to partly cloudy with scattered showers, no one plans were actually cast in stone.
I got up to the sounds of the rain drops on the roof of the house and i was pleased to smell creole food coming from the kitchen. Nothing energizes you for the rest of your day like avocado pear shakes with fried ripe plantains and some titiri ackras to go along with some nice bouyon music.
This was the day of my first real meeting as a potential member of the Dominica Youth Environment Organization but it seems the rain had other plans for my day. I was given the post of Chairman of the potential members group so there was no way i could miss this meeting. I couldnt let my peers down,nor could i give this poor first impression although alot of the members already knew what i am capable off.
It was now nearing 3:00pm and the rain just didnt want to give up. I had dressed, prepared my notes and walking out the door. I was just about 20 minutes in walking distance from the meeting place and i wasnt about to be denied by the weather pattern. I had now made it to the center of town, Roseau, and while attempting to cross the street, this driver just plashed all the water from a nearby pothole unto my clothes. I was drenched, i couldnt believe it. However she realized she was at fault, gave me a ride back home to change but left before i could have persuaded her to drop me off at my meeting. So its now 3:15, and i'm no longer walking but running through the town. I hate being late, i would rather be the one waiting on people that to be waited on.
I arrived at my meeting at 3:35, there were only 5 other members present but none drenched in the rain or in a similar situation that i had found myself in that day.
The meeting went on smoothly, we were there to develop project ideas, so we could develop them and upon the success of these projects we would be called up to be part of the elite organization that the DYEO has gained the reputation throughout its years in existence. We developed 3 out of the 14 project ideas that we had come up with but not before we took a break for an hour to go to Brizee's Mart to grab a much needed snack.
It was now almost 8 in the night, what a day it was, the task was completed, the rain didnt spoil my plans, though it had made me adapt it a little bit but all in a days work and play.
There are not many days in Dominica where the rain doesnt show its face, its something we live with everyday we spend on this beautiful island.
God Blessed this land, because Apres Bondie c'est la Ter, our creole dialect meaning After God, the Earth (Dominica, land of my birth, my life, and my death).
Thank You for the opportunity to share