• Barbados, West Indies
    1989 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • A number of years later, Philippa La Borde, a Trinidadian, settled in the island.

      There is a rustic expression among farmers in the West Indies that has often proved to be true: “Drop seed bears more than the one planted.” In other words, a seed that falls by chance produces more than the one deliberately sown. For example, in 1918, while going through her husband’s pockets before doing the laundry, Philippa found a Bible tract that had been given to him by W. R. Brown. This tract sparked interest. Both she and her husband studied and accepted the truth and then were baptized on August 1, 1918. A few years later, sometime before 1923, they went to St. Vincent for health reasons. They intended to stay for just a few months, but it turned out that they stayed for many years.

      Recalling her first impressions when she went to St. Vincent, Philippa stated: “The streets were rough and dusty, but the people were very friendly, and that was the important thing.” Over the next 50 years, Sister La Borde, generally referred to as “Mother Lab” throughout the island, was able to take the message to top officials of government​—because she had been the kindergarten teacher for some of them. She was petite and of frail appearance, but she had a strong personality and was capable of expressing Bible truths in a simple and logical manner.

      Her initiative and resourcefulness were clearly seen in the way in which she assisted Marion Dunn, a native of St. Vincent, to the point of baptism. Mrs. Dunn had first come into contact with the truth in Cuba in 1914. Soon thereafter, she returned to St. Vincent, but then she ran into stiff and sustained opposition from her cousin with whom she was living. Because of the vengefulness of her cousin, Mrs. Dunn hesitated to dedicate her life to Jehovah and symbolize this by water baptism. However, after Sister La Borde had provided the necessary Scriptural encouragement and help, arrangements were made to have Marion Dunn privately baptized in Sister La Borde’s home in 1935. Years later, Sister La Borde reflected, “I learned a great deal from working with Sister Dunn, namely, patience and humility.”

      Additional Help Provided

      John C. Rainbow, from the Society’s headquarters in the United States, was assigned in 1924 to spend a week with the Witnesses in St. Vincent. His visit provided fine encouragement not only to these faithful sisters but also to those who attended his lectures at the Carnegie Library in Kingstown, the capital city.

      George Young, on his second missionary tour through the islands, also stopped at St. Vincent to help these sisters. At that time, in 1932, the Photo-Drama of Creation was shown at the Carnegie Library and was very well received. In fact, by public demand, arrangements were made for another showing, this time at the capital’s courthouse. Brother Young put on a series of public lectures and helped the sisters to organize a weekly study of The Watchtower. To aid in furtherance of true worship among these humble folks, he also initiated the house-to-house ministry on this island.