MORE BOATS TO EXPAND THE WITNESS

In 1954 two other boats were used to cover the islands of the Bahamas. The Kirkwood II went to Andros, Berry Islands, Grand Bahama and Eleuthera. The Faith went south to the Exumas, Long Island and Cat Island. On board Kirkwood II was its owner, Arthur Hill, Sr., also Jack and Nettie Copple, the Porters, Bill Prince, Dick Ryde and Kay Fairweather. No small number of hardships were encountered in preaching to the people living on the islands, but the joyful response of many humble persons more than compensated.

For example, Nancy Porter describes their method of covering Eleuthera: “They put Kay Fairweather, my husband and me off at Hatchet Bay close to the north end, and then the boat went to the southern end over 60 miles away where Dick Ryde and Bill Prince disembarked. We met three or four weeks later at Palmetto Point.”

But where did they stay each night? “People in those days,” she explained, “opened up their homes and appreciated the message and our visits. There was a very kind man living at Palmetto Point who put his home at our disposal. The boat had gone on to another island, and when the brothers finished there, they returned and picked us up.”

Sister Fairweather had also been aboard the Faith on a trip to the southern islands. She shares some of their experiences with us: “The first landfall that we sighted after leaving Nassau was Bell Island in the Exuma chain, and six of us went ashore in the dinghy, anxious to get started after a day and a half on the boat. There turned out to be only two small palmetto-thatched houses there, with just three people and these were almost illiterate. However, some literature was left, and we proceeded to other cays.

“On a typical day two would be left on the boat, and the other eight would pile into the dinghy and go ashore. Two groups would be formed to go in opposite directions and would call at every house, proceeding away from the boat. A halt would be called at lunchtime for a half-hour break, and then it was back to the field. Since we placed much literature, each of us carried two bags. The people seldom had the opportunity to buy anything to read. By nightfall we might be many miles from the boat.

“Then we had to retrace our steps in as direct a way as possible back to the boat, which was anchored up to half a mile offshore because of the shallows. We had a loud whistle to blow to signal the boat. A dinghy would then push off from the boat, and we would climb aboard for the trip back. This was often a wet ride, as the dinghy was usually overloaded. Tired, not to say exhausted, we had something to eat, and then we went to bed.”

Through much effort, expense and time the Kingdom good news was reaching people of the Out Islands.

One of the persons that the missionaries soon found was Mrs. Angie Rankin at Governor’s Harbour. She had shown interest when called on earlier by Kay Fairweather in Nassau.