Crab, apple

After yesterday’s beautiful day, the weather didn’t know what it wanted to do with itself today. We woke up to a cloudy sky, and then had rain during the morning. It cleared up, but remained windy and not altogether nice. Not really being an outdoor day then, we let the boys watch a video after lunch, but then went out later to the docks to feed the fish. There we encountered a boy of about 9 years old, fishing over the dock wall. He had already caught a few mackerel which he was using as bait. We watched as he baited his hook, then tossed the line into the sea – no fishing rod, just a line. The fish came, but he eventually let the hook dangle up the wall where the crabs were keen for a taste of fish. He caught two crabs while we were watching, whipping them up over the side of the wall, then picking them up, dehooking them, ripping off the claws, then squeezing them until they died. Then he would pull off the legs to use as bait. It was entirely revolting but the boys were fascinated, and held the dead crab gingerly by a leg.

The boys had an apple each to eat this morning (this shouldn’t really make news, but being St Helena, fruit intake is noteworthy). The point of this is that Caleb was complaining of a sore tooth after eating his, skin and all by the way, so I had a look and it’s loose. Yip indeed, his first milestone as a big boy. We reckon it should be out in a week or two. I feel strange that my little boy is growing up, and we’re into another phase now – I shouldn’t really feel so sentimental about a tooth coming out, but he’s getting so big and growing up fast. Before we know it he’ll be flying the coop.

Nick’s message this evening was excellent. Still in John, he preached on Jesus’ “I am the Gate” saying. We are the sheep, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd. What really struck me is that Jesus knows us by name – he actually knows my character and personality and strengths and weaknesses, and is interested in me personally. As Nick put it, so often we come to Him in prayer, and think He is concerned with everyone else but not really us, but that is not the case.