Bahama Mission Update
January 15, 2003
I am having a hard time believing we are into another year. We spent the close of 2002 in Marsh Harbour and Eleuthera. I had work to do on the plane, (Stuff I had been putting off, not critical!) and new doors to get ready to go on the back of the Church building. Over here it is not a matter of just going down and buying new doors and having them installed. First you have to shift through a mountain of doors taken off the boat. Most are damaged and it takes a while to find two that can be repaired and will match. Then you start the repair process, and drill out places for re-enforcement dowels to brace them against the Hurricanes, then priming and finally next week we hope to get them installed so Dinah can apply paint.
We enjoyed two Christmas dinners with two different families. Greta had us come for a lovely meal and visit at noon, and John Roberts who recently lost his wife cooked his first ham and had us over in the evening. Early on the morning of the 26th, (Boxing Day in the Bahamas) we flew down to be with Lincoln Young. We arrived in the midst of Junkanoo celebrations.( An annual celebration remembering the release from slavery- named after a slave John Canoe). Lincoln had designed the floats for the winning team. We got to visit with many of the town's people before going back to the building to continue the repair work. Dinah painted the ceilings in the bathroom and cleaned up from the leaks, before we got the roof repaired. I repaired a hole in the wall that was allowing water in, assembled and installed Lincoln's new tray for his wheel chair, and sanded, primed and painted the communion set gold. We visited with Lincoln all the while,and had planned to take him to a holiday dinner at the local cafe. Alas, they were closed for the holiday. So we shared our emergency "slim fast bars". A full belly is a full belly as we say in the Islands.
Dinah made a new cover for the airplane to protect the windows and avionics. We then got the van ready, and Dinah finished the bulletin boards in Marsh Harbour and cleaned and painted in the classroom where the Sarvers stay each year. They arrived on time January 2 and will be with the congregation until March 13. This is the eleventh year they have come for 10 weeks.
We have been involved in visiting with supporting congregations, and putting things together for shipment and hauling to the various Islands. Evangelistic work continues and Bible Studies are in progress in many places. Jason Quarshi in Freeport shared the good news of four baptisms just as the year ended. Plans are being laid for a combined meeting of all of the congregations in Nassau once a year. This will be a great time of fellowship, but also a wonderful evangelistic opportunity. We are so proud of the Brethren for their vision and the way they have grown both spiritually and numerically.
Over the many years, most of what we have done in the Islands has been taken in stride by the people. Recently we have been receiving many letters and words of thanks and encouragement from those who are now doing what we did for a while. We are thrilled that they reach out on their own. We are still here to help, guide when asked, and support in many ways.
This is a note from a lady excited to hear the lessons from the Manpower program that were broadcast over Nation Radio January 8th and 15th. The program was two hours long each week from 3 to 5 p.m.
"Hello Brother Caskey, I hope this note finds you and your family in the best of health. I thought I should let you know how blessed my heart was by the message brought by you at the Manpower program. That Sunday afternoon while at work, I heard Brother Miller's voice and ran quickly to turn up the volume, letting my co-worker know that my preacher was on the air-waves. We listened to the entire program (two hours) and it was truly a blessing. I am praying that God will continue to bless you with good health and a willing mind, to do the work that you do. Thanks to you and your wife who supports you by the sacrifices she makes. Your labour will not go unrewarded. We love you. Your sister in Christ, Barbara Burns, Nassau Bahamas"
The Church in Marsh Harbour has invited Jason and Katrinka Quarshi from Freeport to come for an interview next Sunday. We are hopeful that several of the preachers that we have working in Nassau and Freeport will move to the family Islands to continue the growth that is progressing. Please pray for Jason and Katrinka and for the congregation as they work toward having a new preacher.
We had a delightful, busy week-end in Ft. Myers this past few days. We were able to visit with many groups, have a two hour breakfast meeting with the elders, make plans with several individuals, preach at all services Sunday and show slides to the combined Bible Classes, and manage three meals with various people on Sunday. It was encouraging and reminded me of our All Day Preaching Services in the Bahamas.
The Church in Auburn, Alabama has raised their support by $25 a month for the coming year. We are thankful as fuel costs continue to rise as we work among the various Islands. We were notified by the Elders in San Augustine, Texas that they will be forced to discontinue their support in the very near future. They have been with us longer than any other congregation. (22 years). We are most thankful for the support and prayers over the decades. Their town is changing and they are going to be hiring a Spanish speaking preacher to work with the expanding population.This will absorb their mission budget. Most of the younger people have moved away seeking jobs, and 75% of the congregation is now made up of retired people on fixed incomes. We pray God's rich blessings on them as they face new challenges and pray for the success of the new work among the Spanish speaking people of their community. They will continue their support until they secure a man for the position.
Our hope and prayer is that others will fill the gap, and that we can continue to keep our efforts at the present level in the Islands. We will leave in the morning for a short visit with my parents in Arlington, Texas. Dad is in the Alzheimer's Home and mother will celebrate her 83rd birthday. We plan to take Bill and Leta Love to Marsh Harbour on the 27th. He will be doing some more high ladder work on the electrical in the building. We have had a number of problems since the last Hurricane. This is his second trip and her first. Bill is an elder at Gulf Coast in Ft. Myers. We have another week-end meeting set up with the Central congregation in Nassau in February along with our regular schedule.
This is a small world we live in. Three of those killed in the Charlotte crash last week were neighbors and very close friends from Marsh Harbour. We are reminded of the brevity of life and our need to be ready always for judgment. Robin owned the lumber yard and I visited with him recently when we got the doors, Caitlin was an excited 13 year old, who finally got her dream of going on a business trip with her dad, and Nicolas left a new bride of just a few months. We reminded of the passage that instructs us to "Prepare to Meet our God..."
Very Important is the fact that the Caribbean Lectureship 2003 will be held in Nassau on July 13-16. This will be followed by a Gospel Meeting at Highbury Park with Thaddeus Bruno. This dynamic Caribbean Preacher will speak on the theme, "Preaching the Old Time Gospel In a Troubled World". Last year this program had more than 500 people from the Caribbean, as well as many American visitors. Bill Miller is the Director this year and has made arrangements to hold the programs and house the people at the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace. This is a 867 room facility so there will be room for you. The Theme is, "God's People In A Troubled World". For additional information, reservations, prices etc. Please Contact Bill Miller (wilabil@hotmail.com) or call 1-242-393-2486 or 393-6041. His mailing address is:
Highbury Park Church of Christ,
P.O. Box SS-5001,
Nassau, Bahamas.
If you would like a preview of the hotel, check: http://www.wyndhamnassauresort.com.
Thank you again for your prayers and support.
david
Bahama Mission Home Page
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact
David Caskey
Webmaster
Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/
