A Tale of Two Islands

Guadeloupe

Beach at Deshaies on north end of island

Saint Vincent

View from church (house) at Calliqua

If you are like me, you never heard of these two Eastern Caribbean islands before. Neither one is terribly popular with the cruise lines.  It has been our privilege, however, to be called to serve on them during our mission.  So here is more information than you would ever care about  knowing concerning these two tropical hide-aways:

   

Subject.                              Guadeloupe.                                     Saint Vincent                                                       

Size.                                   630 Sq. Miles.                                  133 Sq miles ( 11 by 18 miles )

Population.                        400,000.                                            100,000

Language.                          French ( sort of).                               English ( sort of)

Money.                               Euro                                                  Eastern Caribbean dollars (3 to 1 US)

Economy.                           Doing okay ( France helps out).       Not so good - rather poor

Greetings.                           Bises ( 1 kiss each cheek -ladies).    Hand shake or hug

Temperature.                      Hot and humid.                                 Hotter and more humid

Best Shopping.                   One very nice a/c Shopping Mall     No Shopping Mall- small stores

Favorite shop.                     Boulangeries                                    The pharmacy in the hardware
                                                                                                      Store
Groceries.                           Very European/ French.                    American and local
                                            Bring your  own bag.                        Plastic bags provided

Feel of the island.               Busy but spacious.                            Dirty town, beautiful nature

Driving.                              Insane and intense.                            More insane more intense
                                           Potholes but lots of good roads,       More potholes. Two bad roads and            
                                           And highways                                   Lots of small dangerous roads

Traffic lights.                      4 on the island but most don't work  3 that never work

Animals.                             Lots of random cows                         Lots of random goats                        

Pets                                     Cats and some dogs                           Mangey dogs

Church                                2 Branches/ 1 Group.                         2 Smaller  Branches / 1 Group

Missionaries.                      Fantastiques                                       Amazing

Greatest Fear.                     Car accident.                                      Worse car accident

Apartment.                         Pretty Nice.                                        Very nice - great view but often                                    
                                                                                                       No hot water
Creepy things                     Cockroaches and mosquitoes             Mosquitoes and cute geckos

We are still trying to find our footing here,  but have the goal of helping the Group at the north end of the island become a branch.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for us, the missionaries, and the people of these islands.  They really need the gospel - they just don't know it. ( photos of children from Saint Vincent and Guadeloupe - always the same where ever you go - sweet and silly)