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BEQUIAlVIISSIONNEWSVOL. XIV

Purpose:ToadvanceandsupportChristianity,EducationandSocialServicein Bequiaandthe Windwa.rdIslands.

NO.1FEBRpARY, 1995

A SP~IAL GIFl'Dear Friends:

Thank you again for your prayers, carcjs andletters during the past three months. Theyhave helped us to cope during our grief atthe loss of Ron, David, and Mac.

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The Rev. John Davi~es of Saskatoon has beenwi th~ us since early January, and has "beenable to pickup a good portion of Ron'spriestly quties, and to do some of thethIngs David Busby had hoped to do.

News from up north tells of peculiar weather ~

all over North America. "You wouldn It Ron and John had been trying, for three yearsbelieve the weather back home" is one of the to put together all of the hierarchicalfirst things Canadians say when they land in administrat~ve problems that so often beset-~qui~theseqays-;t!' ,,-~~J.1t~tJ1?nL~Can~sLLal)s..,Cir'~'.~lbc;:~S~:t~!T9hJl-cou+d ~.rTOO cj~:..~nd.;wo~~~s~.=c-known for their preoccupation with weather!) a 'volunteer Priest in St. Vincent and fhe

Grenadines. It is perhaps GOd's timing thatbrought all the pieces together this year,when we so urgently needed someone to help a

S"grieving '"Archdeacon Charles Adams, and acongregation in desperate need of comfort.

Well, we are having peculiar patterns here,too, and the island is beginning to suffer.Rain was in short supply for a good part of1994, both at the time of the early rainsand also the latter. It means thate thecrops aren't good, animals are looking thin,and people were begging water in January, ""

when cisterns should be full to overflowing.Pretty well every hotel and r~staural1t isbuying water from the mainland ~ and this isearly February! The early rains aren't dueuntil May-June, so we are hoping for rain.

PROORAMS ALL UNDERWAY

The Bequia Mission program for 1995 got intofull swing with the arrival in J,anuary ofBob and Helen Weaver, and MargaretQnd JoeFoster. This was an enormous relief for

~June,..who pad ~l}E:en_,t~~~.:;--~tR,;c~~ ~ ,-:a.l,qn~e"'.after Ron's death in Noveri1ber. The . whole' .

island still misses Ron - as dothe~'" teammembers - but we are all committed tocarrying on.

LITERACY PROGRAMFLOURISHES IN SANDY BAY

Sandy Bay is a village far up the Windwardcoast of St. Vincent, and is remote. from therest of the island. Many of the villagersare illiterate, so in January the Weaversstarted a new venture in our literacyproject - teaching men and women in SandyBay reading skills.

"We were amazed at the enthusiasm and realdesire to learn among the Carib peoples effthe north/windward coast", says Bob. Itwill be an ongoing project. A~long trek upthe Windward coast, but well worth it.

We!f!have come to think of "Fr. John" as oneof Ron's special gifts to us.

YOUN:; PEOPLE AS. ACTIVE AS EVER'"

The youth work, of course, continues. TheFosters qomehowmanage the over lowing "DropIn", and the Weavers are busy night and day

"" wi tp music programs, videos, cOUn~el1ingsessions, and - new this year - twice weekly"Sabbath School" sessions at Holy Cross,Paget Farm, when the children come in ontheir way home from school to sing, hearstor'ies, watch puppets, use a!!, brand newfJ.fi!!£@1 ¥~!L~~":;E ?£ - _!!! ~.~;;;C~",-",:'-::;..~

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THE SUNSHINE SCHOOL is operating in largerpremises - not the much-Ionged-for newschool, but.a 3 bedroom house, better suitedfor the current school needs. Thanks to theMis~ion and the skilful work of Fr. John and ~

Joe Foster, 'the school has brand new shelvesfor books and supplies. June will attend aspecial meeting of the Sunshine School Boardof Directors in earry March, "when we hopenews will be forthcQming re building plansfor the promisea new building.

T-BALL IS BACK IN BEQUIA under theenthusiastic " leadership of Jim Swanboroughof Toronto, who will be with us for a while.The children are ecstatic, and the strainsof "take me put to the bal'l game" are oncemore ringing out in Paget Farm.

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UP AND IOffl" THE ISIANOO

This letter wouldn I t be complete without a report from Brenda Rogers about theJanuary "Journey of Discovery"

~er to Brenda...

January 7th found 13 eager Canadians meeting June in St. Lucia to fulfill plansmade by the Armstrongs to show several peple some of the places in the Caribbeanthey really enjoyed and wanted to share with others. As you know, it wasn'tcarried out as intended, but Ron would be proud of June - with her leadership andthe Lord with us all tb~way, a-marvelous experience was shared by all 14 of us.

The first 24 hours in St. Lucia was a real shake down, and even a couple ofwallets shook loose, but with the help of the local Archdeacon, and a friendlytaxi driver, we soon got ourselves organized.

Fourteen people will have had 14 different experiences, but there are lots ofcommon denominators, such as ~ sense of fuft and adventure, mosquitoes, beautifulbeaches, more mosquitos, and friendly people at every destination. Anexperienced guess would be that Bequia once more turned out to be the favouriteplace to be, although Nevis came a close second. One of the special moments cameat Holy Cross church, when a lovely banner made by Evelyn Dobbs of Richmond Hillwas dedicated in memory or Ron.

June had me driving the Bequia Mission vehicle places I never dreamt I could. Shesimply said, "of course you can, Brenda", and that was what I did. Do hope thatthe door on the driver's side has been fixed so that it will open! (it has. ed.)

During our three day stay in St. Vincent, and a quick morning trip from Bequia, Iwas able to meet with the Principal Nursing Officer, Mrs. Dougan, and set datesand a timetable for the course and workshops that she would like the BequiaMission to provide next January-March.

A GOOD SAMARITAN WITH A BIG HEART

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YOU WERE ASKIM;...

Anyone who has ever visited the LewisPunnett Home (known locally as "the poorhouse" ), will know that it is not an easyplace to visit. The condition of thepatients, the condition of the building, andthe general atmosphere of despair keeps manypeople away.

Not so Birgitta Anderson, a Canadian fromKingsville, Ontario, who spends a good partof each year at her home in Bequia. WithRon's encouragment, she began visiting thehome years ago, and continues to this day.Just a short while ago she organized a beachparty, hired a bus, had sandwiches made, andtook a whole group of patients off on a nicepicnic. On Valentine's day, each residentreceived a card from Birgitta, and regularvisi ts to the many men and women who don'tseem to have families, are part of herregular routine. Well done, Birgitta!!

We have had several requests for ingormationon how to get in touch with members of theteam here in Bequia.

June Armstronq is with her daughter, JudySimmons, and may be reached by telephone(809) 458 3393 or fax (809) 458 3417.

Bob and Helen Weaver may be reached at (809)458 3543, or by fax via June.

Marqaret and Joe Foster may be reached bycalling either June or the Weavers, and amessage will be passed on.

All mail goes to the central post office.The address for all team members is justFriendship, Bequia, St. Vincent, W.I.

THE BEQUIA MISSION ADDRESS IN CANADA

is Box 11, Warsaw, Ont. KOL 3AO