Shopping, Saint style

One of the school teachers from Pillings school called at the manse, and dropped off a "Moses basket" and a bouncy chair that she used for her last baby, and no longer needed. Friends have been great in offering new and nearly new baby things to Danni.

Sunna had something else on, and did not come to our Saturday morning meeting. So Danni, Arthur and I went to the Salvation Army sale. Some clothing items are displayed on hangers, but most is left in big boxes that simply have to be rummaged through. The island does not have a shop where one can buy maternity clothes, so we were pleased to find some preggy jeans and 2 tops for Danni, as well as some lovely wooden toys. Here is a photo of the Moses basket with some wooden toys that we bought at the Salvation Army, and our cat, Calvin inspecting everything.

Stanley Bellord

We have all taken it in turns to get the flu. At the moment Graeme is on the recovery.
Stanley Bellord has been in hospital for a few days now. At first it was thought that the pain in his back was just that - a back problem - but we later learned that he was suffering from kidney failure.
At about 6.00pm we received a call from the hospital, telling us that Stanley had taken a bad turn. I was shocked to see how thin he had become. He was struggling to breathe, but seemed to be aware of who we were.
Over the next 2 hours, his sister, Patsy and I sang a hymn to him, Graeme read Scripture and prayed, various family and friends called. His breathing got more and more shallow, and by 8.00pm he had slipped from this world to be with his Lord.
He was one of those "salt of the earth" people who quietly and sincerely served the Lord. Here is a photo of him when he was still able to ring the Sandy Bay chapel bell for service

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Richard Wurmbrand

I have just finished rereading Richard Wurmbrand's book "Tortured for Christ". He was imprisoned for his faith for a total of 14 years in Rumania, while it was still under communist rule. Both Graeme and I met him when he visited South Africa in the 1970's. He left a big impression on me.
Although imprisonment and torture for their faith is not as severe in communistic countries as it was towards the end of the 1900's, it is still being practised in other lands. I don't think that we western Christians, with our love for ease and comfort, can come close to appreciating Christ like the "suffering church" does.

More time

Business is very slow at The Consulate, and it was agreed that I could cut back on my working hours. I now have Tuesday and Thursday mornings free, and only work 8 hours on Mon, Wed and Friday. This is a most welcome change. I am able to be home by 4.20 pm and cook supper calmly before going out to take the Bible studies on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. I was also able to resume the Thursday coffee morning ritual with Elza, Maureen and Bev today. Elza was delighted to receive a gift of beautiful scrapping paper from Lynn, via a parcel sent to the manse. Bev's little girl, Kate, has grown into such a little cutie. She wrinkles her nose when she laughs, and so "squeezable". Here she is being held by Elza.

du Toits

Today was a public holiday and we had the new Dr Deon du Toit and his 2 children, Rene (10 yrs) and Celliers (7 years) over for supper. It was good to have fellow South Africans to chat to. We even had SA lamb chops - kindly brought back to St Helena by the SA dentist and his wife.

Bolders and Rockies

Only one young girl, Sunna, showed any interest in attending the Saturday morning meetings that used to be the Good News Club - now called Bolders. So we agreed that I would meet with her and her cousin - who just happens to be Danni - and have a "one-on-one" type study through the very small epistle to Jude. We had our first study today, and it was encouraging to have a bit of interaction from the 2 "young ladies".

On Sunday morning we found out that Sunna and Danni's Uncle Haven was dying in the hospital. Although Danni was at the hospital for a good part of Saturday night, she still managed to come to help me with the Sunday school children's hand work at 10.00 am. Muchly appreciated.

Ascension postponed

Graeme was told today that the only accommodation that could be found for him in Ascension - the empty Anglican vicarage - will no longer be available. A new vicar is arriving, and they need to have it ready for him. Graeme and Vincent had to reschedule their visit for Jan/Feb next year. If all goes according to plan, Graeme will return from Ascension on 7th Feb 2012, and Arthur and I will leave for SA the following day. Not ideal timing, but when one is dependent on only one means of escape from the island - the RMS - then one just has to accept whatever dates and schedules are available.