Anyone who has had two near drowning experiences must understand purpose. As a small child, I was rescued from a ten foot spring tide well just before the tide turned. The rescue was orchestrated by my maternal grandmother. Besides knowing Jesus and having a personal relationship with Him, she knew that her granddaughter had been born for a specific purpose. By age nine, I was reading and writing voraciously.

"Don't mind them", Mama would remind me. "You are going to college".

Mama was right. I was going to college. But, a picnic at a beach with an undertow sought to cancel the plan that God had for my life. The beach ball went out of bounds; and since I was the tallest player, I was sent to retrieve it. Nobody had warned me not to float on a beach ball; so I did. Soon, everyone on shore seemed small - like Lilliputians! How would I return to the safety of the shore? When God spoke to me and instructed me to let the ball go, i was faced with a difficult decision. I knew that I could not swim back to shore. But, if I did not obey God, I would drift farther from the shore. To drown meant I would never attend college. Mama had said I would attend college. I released the beach ball.

My maternal grandmother died a few weeks before my fourteenth birthday. Although I missed her, I had a paternal grandmother. Grandma and I became closer. Like Daniel, she prayed three times a day. Her tamarind tree had the sweetest tamarind ever; but the guinep tree produced true Spanish limes, suitable for seasoning the smothered fish she prepared often. Grandma cooked with coconut oil and produced scrumptious peas 'n rice, a native dish. Straw mats were scattered in her home; and she knew how to plait peas 'n rice. Grandma was a loving and generous woman.

The last time I spoke with Grandma, she told me her dream. The street was lined with people dressed in white. A little child led her by the hand to a bench. The bench began to sail away. She asked the child where she was going.

"Home', the child replied.

Grandma looked at me then said, "I have not been to my home for thirty years. I must be booked."

Her natal spring is Nicholls Town in North Andros, Bahamas- where my Dad was born too. The next time I visited Grandma, she did not call my name when I stepped on the front porch. Nor did she answer when I called her name thrice. When I touched her hand, it fell limp by her side. Grandma could not hear and respond to me. Saying goodbye to Grandma broke my heart. A few weeks after Grandma's death, I made a decision to live for Jesus and serve Him for the rest of my life. My mother and I sealed our decision the same day and were baptized by immersion at the same time.

The Call Of God

When Grandma died, I had a lucrative job at a local bank. Previously, I had worked as a stock control clerk then as a clerk in the advertising department of a local newspaper. The first time I applied for a job at the bank, it was not the position God had for me. Later, after applying through an employment agency, I received an available job.- as a clerk in the Deposit Department My verbal score was the highest the agency had ever seen; and only one applicant had exceeded my mathematical score. Thus, I was offered a salary that was one and a half times what I had earned at the newspaper! Within six months, I had received two salary increases. But, when I discovered that a teacher training college was being established on San Salvador, Bahamas,I applied to enter the institution. Since age fourteen, I knew that teaching was my vocation.

Mama had told me I was going to college. My high school was Xavier's College . Now I was preparing to enter the San Salvador Teacher Training College. Would I be accepted? Who can change destiny - the call of God on a life? When I informed the manager,he offered me another increase in salary. But my decision to leave did not involve money. In fact, my new salary was one half the amount I earned at the bank. Money did not motivate me then; and it does not influence me now as an educator. What thrilled me was being able to live on beach front property for three years, having the time to write and enjoying a paid summer vacation - in addition to the Christmas and Easter Break. Living on San Salvador equipped me with innovative and creative skills. Many teachers at the college would return to hardship islands after graduation.

My spiritual mother died when I was twelve; so God provided me with Godmother Hilda, a Shepherdess. She prayed for us - the mighty eight who attended the same church fellowship as her - and walked the mile to the college every Friday to bring us our treat of freshly baked bread, bread pudding, tarts and canned goods. We rode to church in a Cadillac! During my second year, my aunt in New York gifted me with a chord organ. Everybody who desired to make music received an opportunity. I was just learning music myself; but I found time to guide those who needed assistance. We had fun at college for we had to create our own entertainment. After a trip to Europe, I returned with a Retina S1; and I became the local photographer. Using a slide projector that I purchased, we had our slide show while eating popcorn. On Saturday night we had a talent show; and on Sunday night we watched a movie. We formed prayer groups; and eventually, we combined our prayer energy, having early devotions every morning.

The Price Of Stewardship

Although reading the Bible, praying everyday, praising God and fellowshipping with believers ensures growth, one can expect vicissitudes too. Before entering the teachers' college, I had no teaching experience in the classroom. Though I performed well in theory, I faced challenges. The Music professor was delayed for a year; so I had to take the woodwork and metal craft course known as Handicraft. Since I protested inwardly having to take the course, it proved difficult. But my father was a first class  carpenter; and after one of his friends visited and talked with the Handicraft professor, I saw a change in his expectations. He was no longer satisfied with my mediocre D and occasional C. He wanted me to love the subject and excel in it the way I did with Psychology - his wife's course.

My problem was art- - being able to provide a visual presentation of the finished product before I touched the wood! Did I have the talent? With a change in attitude - a new perspective on stewardship - I began to research the subject. In addition, I asked for and received help from the lecturer as well as my classmates. Within six weeks, my abysmal grades in Handicraft rose to a B! This move proved to be perfect timing as I was being considered for an endorsed certificate by the University of the West Indies, who would moderate our examinations and provide the accreditation. To qualify, I needed a minimum of a C in every subject. Fortunately, i achieved the required standard; and at graduation, I was the first student to receive an endorsed certificate. Thus, I became the first student to graduate from San Salvador Teachers' College in San Salvador, Bahamas. The college has been incorporated into College of the Bahamas.

A Call To God's Niche

The first disappointment after leaving the Teachers' College occurred during the reassessment of my salary. When I presented my qualifications, the officer was astonished. During the three years at the college, I had not been paid for my certificates; and the officer calculated that I was owed $3000! But, he told me, it was too much money to pay me; and I should never expect to receive it. That experience left me with a bitter taste for teaching. I had been cheated for three years; and the officer was unwilling to rectify the error!  Then, after my first year at a Primary school, teaching the upper grades, I was transferred to a junior secondary school.  Among the classes on my timetable was 8J- the tenth group in the eighth grade. Besides reading problems, the students needed help with computation skills. Nothing in college had prepared me for this depth. I was drowning again; but this time in the educational sea!

God, in His mercy, prepared a lifesaving team. These elderly and experienced teachers took me under their wings and allowed me to see the students as a mission field. They had missed the basics; and now they were depending on me to provide them with survival skills. Could I meet their need? I tapped all my talents and abilities - ingenuity, creativity, initiative and Lord give me insight! Wisdom is the principal thing; but do not forget insight. During hog plum season, we ate the plums and counted the seeds! The poinciana has a long pod - a shaker like the maracas ; and that served a purpose. I found a book with a record. When it was time to turn th page, a bell tinkled as a signal.Everybody learned to read that book, often during lunchtime.  That class worked me hard! But I needed to build a firm foundation. After 8J, I was armed with sufficient aces and courage to face any class in the public school system. But,three years after teacher college, I felt a burning desire to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Although I possessed more than the minimum qualification for a scholarship or in - service award, I received no response concerning my applications.

A Vow

My application to a college in Massachusetts was accepted; but somehow, I failed to register before the deadline. Thus, I had to return to the Bahamas. Since I had resigned from my teaching job in the public system, I needed to find a position at a private school. My neighbour informed me of a vacancy at the denominational high school. I applied for the job and was accepted. The need there proved great. Like public school students, I discovered that many there lacked basic skills. However, unlike the public school, there was no social promotion. Those who did not achieve the minimum standard of a 2.00 GPA had to repeat the grade.

What God was showing me was that the need for remedial education with the failing students was dire. Most students failed the basics - Mathematics and Language Arts. Did God need my help to remedy the situation? Could I provide a different perspective and hope to students who struggled with reading , writing skills or grammar? Many students needed study skills techniques too. Some could benefit from handwriting lessons resulting in legible work. After presenting the case of students whose parents wanted them to receive a Christian education, I mentioned my need. To obtain a student visa, the U.S Embassy required a sponsor or sufficient funds to cover the tuition, books, incidentals and housing for the year. Who could I turn to for help? At this point I made a vow to the Lord. Surely, if He helped me to enter  the college of my choice in Massachusetts, I would return and serve at the denominational high school for one year.

To Be Continued

From Depth To Life Part 4