Precious Gifts

Merci Beaucoup!

On Friday afternoons I work an extra hour by myself to keep the Handicraft Center open. During that extra hour last Friday a group of French tourists came by. They said their children had gathered school supplies from the children at home to give to the children of our island. They would be back with the gifts on Saturday before our 4:00 closing time. Saturday as soon as I arrived, a local man came to tell me that the French tourists had had to leave because the sea was getting too rough for their sailboat. What a huge disappointment - it sure dampened my day.

Fifteen minutes before closing time on Saturday..... here came the French tourists! Unloading a milk crate plus plastic bags FULL of school supplies for our kids! Writing pads, pencils, colored pencils, pens, erasers, glue... Oh My! What a celebration we had. Hugging and kissing and taking photos of the donors and whatever local children could be rounded up. You can't possibly know how much those gifts are wanted, needed, and appreciated. Our island is so small and remote that we are often forgotten in many ways.

The rest of the story is that yes, the sea on the west was very rough but they hadn't left, they had just moved their boat to calmer southern waters, frantically docked (getting soaked by a big wave as they got off the boat), found a taxi, and hurried to get to the Center before closing time. And that was just the last leg of the journey. They had to get the idea, collect the donations, pack them into their sailboat, and sail them all the way from FRANCE. Rather heroic measures, I think! And we appreciate the gift all the more for it.

This couldn't have happened an hour later. Friday afternoons the school and all the offices on the island close at 3:00. Of course, nothing is open over the weekend. And this Monday there are no classes because the school will be the polling place for Council elections. Someone is looking out for all of us.

Isn't that the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful gesture for those French children to do??!!