Bahama Mission Update
January 31, 2003
I am in to see the Doctor and have my flight physical in a while. We are excited about many good things that are happening.
We just took Bill and Leta Love, (He is an elder at Gulf Coast and she is a Pharmacist) over to Marsh Harbour for a couple of days. Bill climbed the ladder again and did the repair work on all of the lights in the building. Hurricanes and salt air had destroyed the sockets. There is joy again as people can actually read their Bibles. Dinah and I really enjoyed the visit with them
We also changed out one of he rotten doors at the building. We had planned to do both, but the damage by Hurricanes in the past had warped the frames. We got the first one to close after a lot of custom fitting about 10:30 p.m. We also got the van doors to open and the electric locks disengaged. The Sarvers were having to climb in through the back when we arrived. Dinah and the Loves helped get another coat of wax on the plane. We cancelled a trip to see Lincoln due to a front passing and very strange winds. I was able with the help of a lady in the Church to do his banking and get him set to pay his bills. There are always fun things to do in the Mission Field besides preach!
We spent some time with he families of those killed in the Charlotte plane crash. The whole town is still in shock.The triple funeral was 5 hours long. The remailns were identified by the use of DNA.
Dinah and I had made a quick trip to Texas to check on my Dad and to be with my mother for her 83rd birthday. We are a long way off and do not get to check on them as often as we would like. Dad is adjusting some to the home, and much of the time is not really aware of what is happening. He is still teaching others by handing out his books. Mother is still busy every day at Mission Printing.
We had a delightful visit with the brethren in Ft. Myers, and next Sunday will be in Ft. Lauderdale with the brethren at West Broward. We believe it is very important for us to have personal contact with supporters as often as possible.
We were most pleased to hear from Tom and Tressia Buehler. He was the deacon with missions in Arlington, Texas when we began this work more than 20 years ago, and Tressia did all of the reports and the book work. They wrote to inform me that they would be sending $50 a month to help make up what we have recently lost. We are thankful for them and for all of you who are so vital to the success of this work.
Jason and Katrinka Quarshi will soon be moving to Marsh Harbour where he will serve as the new preacher. He is a graduate of the Jamaica School of Preaching and has been living and working with the youth in Freeport for a number of years. We believe that this is real progress and hope and pray that others of our preachers who live in the cities can be encouraged to move to the outlying Islands to work with the smaller churches. Please pray for this couple as they begin their part of this work.
Lincoln Young is making good progress on completing the outside work and paint on the building. As soon as he finishes, we will launch a new program in the building at Rock Sound. Lincoln is doing a great job, and is well respected by all on the Island. Several people in Wynn, Arkansas recently gave Lincoln some money to help him as he works on his own house in Eleuthera. Building a house is a slow process in the Bahamas, you use what money you have and go as far as you can and then wait until you get some more. The $2700 contribution will be a big help!
Remember 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 Wydham 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.
I recently got a most encouraging letter from Benny Morton Jr. He baptized Bill Miller and was really the start of the Church in the Bahamas. We owe him a great debt of gratitude. Here are some excerpts from his letter:
"I want to let you know of our appreciation for the great work you and Dinah have been doing for the Lord in the Bahamas through the years. I well remember the evening I was able to baptize William Miller in the ocean at Nassau. We sat dripping wet dreaming together, while letting the warm summer evening winds dry our clothing, and we dreamed of a day when we could get him into the States into college, and then work to establish the Lord's Church on every inhabited Island in the Bahamas. We were able to get him, by God's Grace into Southwestern Christian,and then to support him through some individuals and churches in the Detroit area, and finally to get Lincoln Park Church (a southern suburb) where I was working at the time to support him in full time work in Nassau. The simple truth is that I had a dream, but you and William have busied yourselves in carry out the dream and making it a reality. Words can not express adequately our gratitude to God and to you and William, and your helpers for the tremendous effect you have experienced in your labours for the Lord in that area.
You have probably heard that my great grandfather migrated from London, England by sailing vessel, and settled on Eleuthera. He later married the daughter of a traveling school teacher, and my grandfather was born at North Palmetto Point, and later married Elvira Kemp, and moved to Governor's Harbour (Eleuthera) where in time my dad was born along with eight other siblings. The family moved to Miami when my dad was 11 years of age and settled there. Anyhow I remember as a small boy efforts being made by the family to get the 7th Avenue Church to send the preacher over to he Islands to try and establish the Lord's church there. At the time they were in a building program and even though Brother Prevatt was willing to go, the elder's felt they could not afford to send him. I know that my dad and mother, and grandparents, now in eternity, join me in an expression of our gratitude to you both for the tremendous work and influence you have had in the Islands..." (more in the next Update)
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/
