A walk on the wild side

The Tuesday before last (5th July) I finally got around to my walk from Grenville across to St George. I think it is only about 15 miles but it took me 5 hours and 10 minutes of walking up the highest hill in Grenada and I wondered if it would ever end! I had been saying to Jack - the guy who owned the bar at the top of the road and who I chatted to most days as I came past - that I planned to walk it, but the time was not just right. Jack sadly died on Monday 4th July and so I walked in honour of him.

Walking gives chance to reflect and I was able to do that, experiencing the up’s and downs, twist and turns. Life is a journey, emotionally, spiritually and physically. My time here is a journey and some of the hills are steep and tiring with little encouragement, but some great surprises on the way. We should be challenged to keep going forward and experiencing the new things on our Christian Journey.

We had the Parliamentary Elections on 23rd June and it wasn’t too much of a surprise that the party who had been in power for the past 10 years are now in opposition. We have a new Prime Minister in Deacon Mitchell with the National Democratic Conference getting 9 seats and the New National Party getting 6 - before they had all 15 seats! We will see how they do as they plan to move forward with change.

Our Harvest took place on 16th June (this was a fund raising event) and we have the evaluation meeting on Sunday. I do think there are some improvements that could be had.

Youth group has been a bit up and down with numbers, but I think those who have come have benefited. We will restart in September. Family time has been excellent with some good interaction and inspired conversation from the children attending. Our numbers, however, have not picked up and people to help are limited. I had hoped to run a Bible holiday Club, which has happened in the past, but again I could not get enough adult support.

On Monday for 4 weeks we are doing games on the Pasture (field) from 4-6pm four night s a week in two locations. I think I will be shattered! The start has been OK but it is raining today so let’s see if anyone comes.

This is the Graduation season and I have attended two primary school and one preschool graduations. I have the Mac Donald College one today. These are big occasions with so much practice of songs and marches, a chance for the Principal to talk about all the school achievements. There is usually a motivational speech by someone. Parents come very smartly dressed and it is a highlight of the year for many people. I like the way the students take a thank you pendant to their parents - an emotional time.

We had a great final assembly at the Primary School and I had a brief chance to do a reflection at Mac Donald’s College in their final assembly. I have just been asked to bless two children who had not been christened, further discussion is needed, but we will see.

I have put some proposals to the Secondary school of what I could do in this next term and await a response. Not wanting to be inactive I visited a school that have children with additional needs and it is maybe that a project with parents could be a possibility. This week I met with the National Council for the Disabled and I think this will be a good link.

My meeting with Belair Church a few weeks ago did not really have much result. Their numbers are small and mostly from one family (a big family!). I offered to do a few things, but this has not been taken up at present and numbers are down to 4 or 5 on a Sunday. We plan to discuss at the next Presbytery meeting.

If anyone would like to come out you are welcome and I know I can find something for you to do. It will be great to hear your news, I am still up for Zoom or What App chats. I have enjoyed that over this past month.

pastornigel19@yahoo.co.uk What App +1 473 458 1932

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God bless, Nigel