Week's report

Instead of daily entries, I will be giving a summary of the week's events.

I am trying to get into a new routine – working during the day, and fitting my other activities around it. It is amazing how much can be fitted into a day that feels like it is already full. God gives the strength – I have to discipline myself to use that strength/energy wisely.

Because of the drilling that is being done by CAN France on the hills surrounding Jamestown, there is a lot more dust and grit in the air than usual. When I drew back the curtains to let more light into the lounge, I was amazed to see the state of the window sill that had been dusted a few days before. It looked as if someone had sprinkled a hand full of sand on it.

Due to the fact that the RMS has been in dry dock for over 5 weeks now, and we have not received our usual supplies every 3 weeks, there are a number of shortages (besides popcorn) at the moment. What is, however, in abundant supply is the odiforous, gas forming vegetable, cabbage. In SA it was a vegetable that seldom used up space in our fridge – except when I specifically wanted to make cole slaw. Well, we were been given locally grown cabbages by 3 different people, and our fridge needed clearing. Sooo... Graeme made sauerkraut and I cooked a cabbage stew. To my amazement, it tasted good. Graeme even asked for seconds. I sauted diced potato in oil and a few spices and herbs, then added a little minced pork (a common item on St Helena). Once these were nicely done, I added a good amount of chopped cabbage, and carefully stirred and watched that it did not overcook and turn brown.

At the Sandy Bay BWA, we are attempting to cut up, and turn unused men’s shorts into handbags, using the pockets that are already there, as pouches. We are doing this by trial and error. It will be interesting to see what the end results will be – maybe we will start a new trend on the Island.

On Thursday morning I went to visit Bev Kilner and baby in hospital. What a gorgeous little girl! She does not have the usual, almost blank, baby face, but already has clear features of her own. 8 lbs 6oz she was at birth, and that at 2 weeks early! I have been crocheting her a little baby blanket, but sadly have only got it 2/3rds finished. I will just have to give it to her for Christmas.

Good News club was a total “no show” this week. The boys are involved in football, which takes place at the same time, and a number of the girls are in guides and were required to help at a coffee morning at the Community Centre. I have to guard against discouragement.
Sunday School was attended by 6 out of the 10 regulars. As I was writing the memory verse (John 3:36) on the white board, one child shook her head and said, “No – God does not get angry!”.... It is easy to accept a loving, totally forgiving God, but not so easy to accept that He will not tolerate rejection of His Son.
Since Sunday School started at the beginning of May of this year, the children have collected 45 pounds (about R500) that they want to send to a group of AIDS orphans that live in a squatter camp in Welkom, South Africa. Here are some of them proudly displaying the money that they collected. Graeme is preaching through a series on "the sermon on the mount". This Sunday, he came to the section on adultery - a very sensitive subject on an Island where very few couples bother getting married. I thought that he handled it very well. Instead of finger pointing, he simply kept referring to "what the Bible says".

This morning, (Monday) a nasty cat from somewhere around here, came in through the back door while I was getting my breakfast, and "marked his territory" next to the dogs' feeding bowls. Both dogs AND Clawd chased him out. I tried wiping up the mess with vinegar water, but it did not help, and we now have a passage that smells of unwelcome cat. Grrrhh!!