Alone, at the Bottom of the World (part 15)

Friend Extraordinaire

1972

I feel I cannot completely leave our discussion of the country of New Zealand without mentioning one of the kindest, most steadfast young Christians we met there. 

Stuart Eyre.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theleetgeeks/3039015562/

It was our first Wednesday at Capernwray Lodge, a Work Day. We were about to find out just what work we would be slogging away at. Some students grew up doing yard work and could handle it. But a few of us seemed a bit like Maynard G. Krebs, the Beatnik who jumped and shouted 'WORK!?' at the very mention of a job.

But there really were no Maynards at The Lodge. The weather was beautiful and everyone wanted to be out. My first job was weeding the considerable gardens, and then to use the lawn mower with another student (did you SEE how big the lawn was??!!). 

But the mower wouldn't start!

Our Manager of such things was Haldane, and we soon learned to give him a shout-out at our numerous breakdowns. 

We shouted and turned to look for him, but instead of Haldane, we saw in the middle of that green lawn two young Kiwi guys; one with a helmet in his hand. I said nothing until Trevor (a fellow student) introduced us to Stuart, his good friend who was visiting that day.

When I said, 'How do you do, Stuart?' He jumped back and said, ' You're a Yank! Only a Yank would say Stew-ert like that.'

Stew-ert became the Trio's closest and most loyal friend. He was one of the two who volunteered to drive us safely to the South Island. He wrote songs and taught us to sing them. He shared new guitar chords, and often played guitar with us as we practiced. And he worked just as hard as anyone else did on Wednesday afternoons. Everyone liked him, because he was just - Stew-ert.

Stuart lived and worked in a town nearby, but arranged to come to classes at the Lodge. He was 17 when we met him, and the Americans were all in their 20's. But this young man studied hard, and excelled in the classes even though he had a job and did a great deal to support his mother and siblings. This was no Maynard G. Krebs.  

On my last day in New Zealand, Stuart was one of the 20 well-wishers who saw me off at the ship; who stood in the circle while I spoke to each, telling them how much I would miss them. 

Stuart was the last one; the hardest to say goodbye to. Just as difficult as Dorothy's goodbyes in the Wizard of Oz. But he was not the Cowardly Lion, nor the Tin Man, nor even the Scarecrow. 

He was just ... Stew-ert.

See you along they way!

the SconeLady


photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theleetgeeks/3039015562/">theleetgeeks</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>