The Fruits Of Our Labor

Our first cucumber! To some it may not look like too much but to us it has been a while coming. When we first came back to the island in July, Billy made some planter boxes and we filled them with potting soil and tiny seeds. After a good watering we were anxious to see the first plant peeking up out of the soil. We were not disappointed. Within a week we saw green. Meanwhile Billy worked on preparing a bigger garden spot so we could transplant them. He started in the old mule pen where the grass was at least 4 feet tall. After chopping the grass down and pulling it up by the roots, the soil had to be loosened. Rocks were cleared and finally there was a spot large enough to plant vegetables. Tomato plants were transplanted as well as cukes and melons. Although we watered them we were not sure they would survive. The sun is so hot here that several just dried up and became mulch!

But yesterday we were able to pick the first cucumber. There are tiny tomatoes growing also. We are not the only ones watching our veggies grow. Chickens and Iguanas make their way to our garden spot, and the other day two horses were walking on some of our plants. It would be nice to just sit back and watch things grow but there is still work to do.

We are also eagerly awaiting to see the fruits of our labor with the children here on St. Croix. For the last few months we have been praying, collecting teaching supplies, and preparing for Children's Church which began on September 11th. The first Sunday we had 15 children and our lesson was on Creation. Each week they hear a Bible story, work on memorizing verses of Scripture, and worship the Lord "children's style."

We know the "ground" is prepared, the seeds of God's Word are being planted and nurtured, and soon we will see a harvest. We have to be on guard for the enemy of our souls. This is still a time of keeping the soil in good condition, planting more seeds and constant nurturing. We know God will be glorified with the results!

"But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." Matthew 13:23