Linda Rowe's 2011 St. Kitts Mission

From Jan. 29,2011-Feb. 12, 2011 I went on a UMVIM trip to St. Kitts. It is one of the islands in the Caribbean. Yes, an island mission is quite different from Africa. The team of 14 went there mostly for painting in some churches and a manse (parsonage). Along with the painting we did a few small repairs and also did VBS for the kids, a sewing group and a Bible Study group.

We got more painting done than they had planned for us but they kept coming up with more projects. We stayed in a private house overlooking the ocean and had wonderful scenic views and could watch the cruise ships coming and going. We also got tours of the island of St. Kitts and also of Nevis and got to go to several beaches. We attended church there two Sundays and also attended a couple of special events. The people were wonderful and our meals were great, done by a woman who caters for a living and some of the other church ladies. Next year there may be a possible trip to Dominica, another of the islands about the same time of year. It’s great to get away from Iowa then!

The last of Feb. and most of March I went back to Nigeria for my sixth time. I was going during the dry season this time to see about getting some wells drilled. My biggest disappointment was that “money talks” there as well as here. Most of the good rigs for drilling were working for the government at that time and the government pays them over twice what the Church can pay. So they were either working for the government or broken down. However, things are ready and I believe we will get the work done soon.

I did get to visit many places and people that we have established programs with over there. Some of my highlights were: visiting Panya, the community we have adopted as a sister community with Davis County; seeing the progress of the EmpowHer program of giving women micro-loans and seeing that they are doing wonderful (100% repayment); seeing Naomi, a woman we gave a PET machine to last summer, now happily married and with a 2 month old boy-what a life changing piece of equipment for her; visiting remote villages by motorcycle; attending two Revivals of the UMC; seeing the many friends I’ve made there; and much more. Every time I go there I have many wonderful and rewarding experiences and come back with many stories to tell.