Author Felecita Williams (L, standing) and principal P. Friday pose with pupils of the MKL, Jr. Primary School in Dutch Quarter (6/4/10). Williams visited grades 4 and 5 as part of the "Meet the Writers" program of the 8th annual St. Martin Book Fair.
She spoke about her life and near-death experiences written about in her new book, Because of Prayer (House of Nehesi, 2010). "I almost broke down in tears in grade 4 after telling the students that I was about their age (10) when I was critically ill," said Williams. She also told the students to "listen to your teacher and always remember to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ when asking and receiving something." Principal Friday told the author that she was a teacher at De Goede Herder School, mentioned in the book as one of the schools attended by Felecita in the Netherlands. The author said that the visit with the students "was so nice!" Coincidentally, Because of Prayer sold out at Van Dorp last week, less than seven days after it was launched here. Copies of the autobiography have since been re-stocked at the bookstore.