Aruba 1

I arrived safely on Aruba, saturday August 31st. I was met by William Woodley who is involved in most things within the local Y's men's club. Aruba YMC is the only club on the island and was chartered in 1959. Today it has 20 members, equal numbers of men and women.

They meet the first Friday of every month, and normally 8 - 10 members show up. My arrival here was a "secret" to the club until two days before I came, so there hadn't been much time for detailed planning. But experience covers up for a lot. On the evening of my arrival some of the club members mett at Willie's and Cora's house - my hosts. Interesting persons were there - like Jorge Guastavino who was a charter member of the YMC in Valparaiso in Chile in 1942.

On Sunday we went to service in the Methodist church 8.30 in the morning. It was the start of a new church year to them, so the service lasted a little longer than usual. It was close to 11 before we walked out into the heat.

People at home (Norway) have been complaining about the heat in august. This is another world, though. It was 28 at the lowest last night, but I'll hopefully get used to it.I have to mention a few things from the service in addition to the custom that visitors have to stand up and present themselves. I am not sure how well that would have worked at home - even if we probably would have benefited from it in the long run.

As it also was the start of a new school year, the priest asked all teachers and pupils present to come forward so that he could pray for them. I am on leave this year, so I remained seated.

The way we celebrate the holy communion in my local church at Hinna is quite disorderly. Here in San Nicolaas, it was far more structured when it came to the behaviour of the congregation. Stewards let people access the altar row by row, no crowds or queueing - and everyone was served.

I met several Y's men in church, so I reckon most of the Y's men here are methodists, even if the diversity of churches is quite big. In the afternoon we toured the southern part of the island which is about 30 km long and 10 km wide. If you want to know more about the island, you can go to www.aruba.com

There will be a club meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday. My next report will follow after that meeting.

Y'sly

Arne Augedal