Antigua

Our visit was initiated by an invitation from Sisters Claudette White and Daphne Solomon to Sis. Elaine Williams and myself to join them in Antigua for the purpose of contacting several interested friends. The friends were receiving correspondence courses and were at different states of interest, we were to give them a “shot in the arm” with our visit.

Arriving in Antigua

In Antigua, Sis. Elaine and I were met by Sis. Daphne and a Mr. Patrick Briggs who kindly took us up Cashew Hill where the imposing Moravian Church Headquarters was located. It was to be our home for seven days, from August 15 to August 22. Our reception committee included Patrick’s wife, Karen, Sis. Claudette and Mrs. Maureen Lewis (our landlady). We had a lovely view of the valleys below where several of the people we were to meet lived. We prayed that our work would be blessed by our Heavenly Father.

Patrick and Karen allowed us to settle down a bit in our large, airy bedroom. There were two rooms but our kindhearted landlady consented to all four of us sharing the one room with four beds at a greatly reduced rate.

Since the arrangements were that we should prepare our own meals, we had traveled with whatever we could bring. When Patrick and Karen told us to leave everything and took us to their lovely home for dinner, we knew we were off to a good start. The cook-up and fried turkey were just right for four hungry and tired souls. They turned out to be real friends as after that they visited us every night to check on our welfare and to lend support where necessary. Best of all, they showed interest in the Truth by joining in our Bible discussions and readings. There is hope of their accepting the Gospel. Already Patrick is presenting the biblical view against traditional Christendom.

The work begins

After a good night’s rest, we felt invigorated and ready to go. Our first visit was to Juliana Joseph Bowen who had been in correspondence with the Christadelphians from the beginning of the Antigua effort in 1992. Juliana was definitely interested in the Truth and wanted to be baptized. Her husband, Wendell, was at first rather suspicious, having had an unfortunate experience with a religious group. He brought his wife to our meeting declaring he could only stay five minutes but ended up spending from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. discussing the scriptures. He acknowledged that we were the only group who could find all our answers to his many questions in the Bible.

Our second visit with Wendell and Juliana proved equally rewarding. They treated us to a lovely outing at Hawks Bill Beach on the Saturday afternoon. They brought their youngsters along and even Wendell’ s mother, so we had a chance to become better friends. Juliana asked when she was baptized where could she go to church?

We also visited the home of course correspondent Nalda Nicholas. She was so convinced that baptism was necessary for salvation that she had been baptized at the Wesleyan Church during the absence of Christadelphians from the island.

While visiting with Nalda, Joyce­lyn Scholar, who lived close by, walked in. Joycelyn was a candidate for baptism with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. We introduced to her the king­dom of God. She had not heard anything like it before and wanted to know more. She showed us where she lived but her job as supervisor at a leading restaurant prevented us from meeting her again until the Tuesday we were leaving Antigua. She shared an hour or more with us, confessed her interest in the Truth and promised to attend the October Campaign when some 20 brothers and sisters from the U.S.A., Canada and the U.K. are expected to visit the island. Joycelyn wanted to know where our church was! The biggest church in Antigua is the J.W. Kingdom Hall but she agreed the relationship with God was more important than a building. So there is hope.

The morning after arriving, we went to see Bro. Clovell Harley. He came to the Moravian Headquarters every night to do the readings with us. The discussions which followed were good. Bro. Clovell knows his Bible well.

Excitement and temporary disappointment

Armed with literature, on Thursday morning we went to the market where we had an easy time giving it out. People would not let us pass without asking for something to read. Most of them stopped to read it right there and asked us about our “church.” Indeed, we left little groups talking about our literature and arguing scripture.

We had a mission, however, and it was Sonya. She had been receiving the correspondence course but was not one for writing so had passed the course on to her son. We agreed to meet next day near the market with Bibles in hand.

On Friday, we arrived to find her waiting. She was joined by Veronica, cleaner at the public market where Sonya is the sweeper. Their joy in discovering God’s Truth thrilled us. We talked for two hours and they didn’t want us to leave. When would we come again? They copied the passages on the promises to Abraham and to David and promised to read them again before we met on the Monday.

On Monday, we were disappointed to find only Veronica waiting for us. We reviewed our lesson with Veronica for two hours when a very sad Sonya turned up at 2 p.m. She had been delayed at a lawyer’s office on business. Could we come tomorrow? That was our day for leaving Antigua but we just had to visit — and how worthwhile it was! Both Sonya and Veronica were ready with Bibles in hand and a few others gathered around. As we spoke of God’s desire for sons to follow His son Jesus and how we can become sons and daughters, we saw joy coming into their faces as understanding dawned. Is there ever a more glorious sight? The two ladies are eagerly looking forward to the forthcoming October campaign, as are some of the bystanders. An elderly man, whose eyes were bothering him, said he would like to hear more and Sonya promised to take him when our campaigners arrived. We were quite touched. Preaching in Antigua seems so easy, with the people being good listeners, but sustained effort is needed.

A lengthy search

On Friday, Daphne and I spent two hours searching for Dorett Anderson and Maxime Robertson. They both lived some distance away at Piggots. We went by a bus which played loud music — were we glad to disembark at the foot of a hill!

We went up and down streets asking for the two names. Nobody knew the names, but when they heard that one was a Guyanese, they started giving directions. We stopped at several Guyanese homes — all wrong. At last one lady said Dorett’s mail was always coming to her house so she would show us the way. After another lengthy walk uphill, we finally located Dorett just from work, tired and hot. She was pleased to see us nonetheless and quickly joined us as she told us the last bus in the area left at 6 p.m. It was the 5:45. We were so disappointed but she promised to come see us. Maxime had moved but Dorett would get a message to her.

Down the hill the same bus driver of the loud music came to drive us back. A pleasant surprise, however. When he knew we were “missionaries,” he turned off the music and discussed scripture instead, so we had a lively trip back to the bus terminus. We became friends, told him about the October campaign and left some literature with Ben. It turned out Ben knew Dorett and could have saved us the two-hour search up the hills.

At the bus terminus we met Dave Garth Ferguson, a young brother who is not now in fellowship. He told us his mother, Sis. Emilie Tingle from Jamaica, was in Antigua. He told her about us and that evening we had Sis. Emilie for a visit. She remained for the readings with Patrick and Karen joining us.

Beginnings of a hall

After memorial service — attended by the four of us and Bro. Clovell, Sis. Emilie, Dave Ferguson and his wife, Bernadine — Patrick and Karen took us on a mini-tour of the island. We saw the land purchased by Bro. Clive & Sis. Daphne Solomon at Gray Hill.

Already the foundation of a Christadelphian Hall has been laid and is proceeding to the end of phase one. Sis. Daphne said they were building by faith as they did not have the money to go on to phase two as yet, but were confident God would provide.

The need for such a building is obvious. We had spoken to several people who asked where they could meet for worship with us. As the building will take quite awhile to complete, we are seeking a place to rent. At the same time, appeals are being made to the brotherhood. May hearts be moved to give the water of life to the thirsty in Antigua.

The last two days

On Monday we met Lucille Reid, who came to visit us along with a friend, Valerie. During our class with them, Bro. Cloven came in and Max­ime so we did the readings with Bro. Clovell leading the discussion. Both Lucille and Maxime are very interested in the Truth and are looking forward to the October campaign.

Tuesday came and with it our time to leave. Dorett and Maxime came to see us off, while Bro. Clovell drove us to the airport. Sis. Daphne and Sis. Claudette were to spend three more days looking up contacts before returning to the States.

We left many looking forward to the October campaign but after that, what? The question is, “Where is your church?” or, “We must have somewhere to meet and worship.” May our Heavenly Father further bless the work to His glory.