Sunday February 13, 2011

As is my custom I woke up before the crack of dawn. Made a fresh pot of coffee and watched the sun rise. Once the sum was up, I pulled the generator out of the storage locker and checked the gas. The gas tank was full. I pulled the starter cord and the generator came to life. After the generator ran for about 5 minutes, It made a funny shuddering sound and stopped. I check the gas again. The gas tank was full. I then did what the directions say to do and checked the oil. It was low. I remember reading that some generators automatically shut off if the oil is low. I filled up the oil pan. Pulled the started cord and the generator once again came to life. When the generator is running it is very noisy on the boat. So what I have been doing is start the generator, check that it is working properly and then head for shore in the dingy.

This morning I headed to the Moorings since I have a key to the shower. Once I was showered, I returned the wet towel to the boat with my shave kit and dressed for church. I then jumped into the dingy and headed to the dingy dock.

Once on land, I made a sign that said MASS and started walking toward St Francis de Sales churck. When a car would drive by I would flash the MASS sign at them. As I was walking down the street, I met and old lady named Jaunita. She told me that she was born in Nassau and has lived here in Marsh Harbor for 40 years.

After a brief conversation she invited me to visit her family this afternoon.

I ten continued walking down the main drag toward the church flashing the MASS sign at every car that drove by. The third or fourth car stopped it was an old Buick. There was an older gentleman driving and a younger gentleman in the passenger seat. They asked me where I was headed. I told them St Francis. They said in unison jump in they would be happy to give me a ride. I introduced myself. The drivers name was Vernon. The passengers name was Harold. Harold told me that Vernon was the Methodist minister and that they were on their way to Cherokee for a congragration gathering. Vernon it turns out is also the owner of Vernon’s Grocery in Hope Town. He asked me if I was planning on visiting Hope Town? I told them that I would be there next weekend. Vernon said to visit his store for supplies.

I didn’t expect to get a ride so quickly. Needless to say I was 30 minutes early for the liturgy at 9am. I wandered around the church grounds and took photos of the rock gardens and the cross commemorating the death of Jesus on Calvary. About twenty minutes to nine, the congregation started to arrive. I think that there were over 250 people at this liturgy. The absolute highlights of the liturgy were the wonderful rhythms and the Caribbean sound that came from the choir. There were twenty-five women and girls and one lone male tenor who sang like Pavarotti.

After Mass, I asked Fr Roger if I could take a photo of him vested. He said yes. Fr. Roger was the priest that said Mass last Sunday in the playground at Hope Town. I told him that I planned on seeing him in Hope Town next Sunday.

Fr Roger has both a car and a boat. He uses the car to travel from Treasure Cay to Marsh Harbor to say Mass on Sunday. He uses a boat to get from Marsh Harbor to Hope Town to say Mass.

After Mass I asked an American boating couple how they were getting back to the harbor. They told me they were in a church van. I was told that the van was full and I need to take the church bus back to the harbor. I climbed on the yellow bus. It was full of kids from the Haitian community. I pulled out my camera and started taking pictures of the kids. They asked me if they could take a picture of me. I now have about twenty five photos of me on the school bus with the kids. Each child had to take my photo. I gladly obliged them.

The bus stopped first at the Haitian community and most of the kids got off the bus. The bus driver then drove me to the harbor and dropped me off.

I jumped into the dingy and headed back to the boat to get my computer. My next stop was Mango’s to Skype Sandy.

I was able to contact Sandy on here cell phone. She was having lunch with cousin Suzy. The connection was good but there was a lot of background noise and it was difficult to hear. After two minutes we told one another that we loved each other and hung up.

I ordered a cheeseburger in paradise and started updating the blog.