Barren soil

The soil in Jamestown is dead.  Even weeds struggle to grow.

BUT a bug has bitten Graeme, and he has decided to try and start a vegetable garden at the back of the manse.  He is going about it in the very thorough way that he usually tackles new projects.  He started with preparing the soil, and has already done a great job of moving the heavy rocks from the rockfall, and sifting out the heavier stones in one of the beds.

Every Thursday, on his way to the Sandy Bay Bible study, he stops at the Baptist property at Knollcombes and collects 2 buckets of top soil, that even has earth worms in it.  This is placed in a zinc bath and watered and fertilized.  We have a friend that keeps chickens and others that have goats and sheep and the odd cow.  We hope to get manure from them, and to bring new life to the desert like sand.

After that, Graeme hopes to be able to actually grow veggies for the kitchen.

It will take a lot of effort, and water and soil and plant feeding, and insect killing etc, but who knows - we might end up having the best kitchen garden in Main Street.

Our one cat, Clawd, loves to supervise while Graeme works in the garden.

Hannah enjoys playing in the dirt 

Funeral

Graeme preached a good gospel message at Charles' funeral.  I was impressed that the only thing that everyone spoke of, was Charles' commitment to Christ - a life well spent.

I felt rather silly about fussing to make our 3 wreaths

- there were so many flowers from various folk.

Charles had obviously left an impression on a good number of people.

Wreaths

Because Charles had no family left to mourn him, I asked Edyta to help me make a wreath or 2 from the church.  We went looking for flowers on the roadside after work, and came home with (literally) a bucket full of arum lilies, as well as other lilies.  We also raided the bougainvillea at the front of the manse.

Edyta did an amazing job with the flowers.

A few days later, Hannah had fun playing in the bucket that was used to carry the flowers.

Charles Thomas

Tonight, at about 9 pm, our dear brother, Charles Thomas died in hospital.  He had been becoming gradually more frail over the past few months, and had been spending more frequent bouts in hospital.  He will be sorely missed.

This is the 2nd death inside of a month of an active member in the Head O'Wain congregation - first Enid Bowers, and now Charles.

.  Considering that the congregation is made up of only 10 members, and a few adherents, it is a great loss to the church, as well as to the families concerned.

HALLELUJAH! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!

Today was Remembrance Sunday.  It started off with the usual St Helenian enthusiasm with which they celebrate the day.

Bishop Richard Fenwick, who led the remembrance service

BUT

This afternoon was the highlight of my 4 years on St Helena!  Graeme gave a simple but powerful message on what it means to be saved. Then it was the baptism of the Mary, Mildred and Vida.  Their testimonies (mother and 2 sisters) reminded me of the Scripture that says "not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord". Quiet, unassuming people; but who spoke openly and clearly of God's working in their lives.
                                                                                 

                                         91 yr old Mildred                                              

                                                                                   

        Mary

      Vida

        The 3 happy ladies

      Tea and chatting

Hannah enjoying the baptistry while the grown ups had tea 

Arthur and Danny

Guy Fawkes, and 

Arthur and Danny's 2nd wedding anniversary

Christ the King

Gareth Drabble and his friends have been practicing every Friday evening for some time now, in preparation for the first "Music Event" in our Jamestown chapel.  The main purpose of the event was to present the gospel through song, in music that younger people can relate to.

I was very impressed.  The lyrics of the songs that they chose were excellent, and the singing and music were of a high standard.  Unfortunately, not many young people attended.  But I enjoyed it.  They played my kind of music.

                                                   The drum kit and drummer were on loan

                                           The "sound desk operator" working from the gallery

Hannah

Almost every week I get to spend a few hours with my favourite grandchild.  I cannot help it if I think that she is just the cutest little girl on the whole island.  Here are some photos that captured some of her latest activities while at the manse.

                                                                               Watching a DVD  

When told to "smile for the camera", she knew she had to do something with her face... this was the result

 We heard Hannah chatting to someone, and found her sitting on one of the dogs' beds, showing Abi her little yellow plastic harmonica that she had just learnt to blow on.

  

                                                                     She then proceeded to "play music" for the dog.