Everyone leaving church after the service. Mrs. Hill and Pastor Hill Mr. West - He and his wife have been missionaries in St. Vincent for 20 years.

"Emmanuel Baptist" 02/16/2003 When I first arrived in South Rivers, my host family, the Andrews, took me to their church. I really liked the church and have continued to attend without even trying any other churches. The people are great, the pastor really knows what he is talking about, and I feel at home there. It is a "living" church. A few years ago, they decided to expand the church and build a bigger building. Like so many building projects here it only got so far. The outer walls of the church have been finished, but the roof was never completed. The church is still waiting for the money to finish the roof. Until then, there is a nice tall wall around the original building. A new building would be nice because we currently have Sunday school all in the same room. Sheets are hung to divide the classes, and then everyone tries to talk louder than each other. It sounds like an oversized chicken coop. For music we have Glen playing the accordion. Sometimes he plays the synthesizer, but due to an arm injury the accordion is easier for him to play. I usually try to sit in the back of the church. Mainly because the sound system is turned up really loud during the sermon. It keeps everyone paying attention, but really bangs the ol' eardrums around. Brother West and his wife are missionaries that have been in St. Vincent for 20 years. They helped found the church as well as the Baptist Bible College that Pastor Hill runs during the week. Now they are trying to start a church in Byera, but are facing legal problems with the title to the land for the church. The person who sold the land to them has never given them the title. Everybody tends to call each other "brother" and "sister" in the church. I'm Brother A-ron. Next week the Baptist churches on the island are having a conference at Arnos Vale. I'll probably stay here and visit the other main church in the village since I haven't been there yet.