Bahama Mission Update
September 5, 2003
We are grounded today from flying as we are sitting between two tropical storms. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Bermuda as they brace for the onslaught of Fabian a category 3 Hurricane with winds gusting to more than 150 miles per hour. We enjoyed so much our visit with brethren from Bermuda at the Caribbean Lectureship. Knowing these people and loving them makes the weather channel depiction of their plight much more personal. The other storm is Henri which is slowly making its way across central Florida. We had hoped it would move faster and cause less flooding, as it moves on out into the Atlantic. We are waiting for it to get out of the way, so that we can fly to Texas, where I have several speaking appointments with supporting congregations, and a meeting in Pecos.
We completed the Annual Inspection on the aircraft and are pleased to have it finished. Keeping the plane in good condition is an obvious concern as we fly over the ocean from day to day. Dinah has returned from her visit to St. Louis and the Birthday celebration for her Mother. She too thinks the time spent on maintenance of the plane is crucial!
Visits with congregations in Abaco and Eleuthera have occupied our time of late. We did finish the 10/25 minute radio broadcasts for the congregation in Freeport. These will being airing on Sunday and will reach Grand Bahama, the Abacos, and Eleuthera, along with the Berry Islands. This Sunday evening program at 6 P.M. is funded by the Freeport Church and hosted by James Miller. Recently in Eleuthera, a lady who runs a cafe asked me if I was a friend of James Miller? I told her I was, and she replied, "I thought so, I have heard you on the radio. I always listen and encourage everyone else to not miss it". I also met people in Man O War Cay off of Great Abaco who listen faithfully. It is encouraging to know that radio is still very effective in many parts of the world.
World Bible School has not worked well in the Bahamas when we ask students to return their lessons to the United States for grading. However, we are having very good success in handing the first lessons out in the community and the schools and then picking them up personally, grading them and setting personal studies. Jason Quashie has 58 students in a small settlement of Crossing Rocks, and Tex Williams just mailed me 200 first lessons to take down to Steve McQueen to use in Exuma. "Working well" is a relative term when you understand that we do have a few students who send their lessons to the States. We got word this week of a lady in Nassau who has been studying with a couple who are members of the Longmire Road Church in Conroe, Texas. She wanted to have contact with the Church, and this information has already been relayed to Frankie Simmons in Nassau who is tracking her down. All we had was a P.O. Box. Houses in the Bahamas do not have numbers, and mail is not delivered to the homes. Pray for these students and all of the new ones we are seeking.
The School of Biblical Studies in Marsh Harbour is doing well. The number of serious students who are watching the Sunset tapes is up to 10. Jason Quashie is to be commended for this effort. We are hoping to add classrooms in Marsh Harbour in the not too distant future. The cost of the metal structure in the United States is just under $11,000. Another $5000 will be needed to get the supplies on site with the shipping and duty that must be paid. The labour for construction will be supplied locally by the brethren. Money is always the deciding factor!
We enjoyed a visit to speak in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. It is always good to be with these brethren. This trip they had a cake baked for two members who had a birthday and we had a nice treat over at Lincoln Young's place. This congregation is still excited after the special summer programs, and is still having some visitors as a result of all of the good work done. They are struggling now to help their oldest member, Bertha Edwards, to repair her leaking roof. She is not only in poor health, but is blind. It is a joy to see the concern of brethren as they reach out in love. We got back to Abaco on Sunday afternoon and got to meet with our home congregation. Jason was also having a birthday and though we missed the birthday lunch at Greta's for everyone in the congregation who had a birthday this past month, we did get a piece of his cake that night.
School has started again in the Islands, and people are getting back to normal. Many of the kids who live in the Family Islands like to catch the boat and visit relatives in the two cities over the holidays, and the city kids like to come to the quietness of the small settlements on the larger less populated Islands. A number of our kids are in Universities in the United States and we run into them from time to time while over here.
We did say the wedding ceremony for Jerry and Sonia Pickup last week-end in Palm Beach Gardens. Jerry has been doing our Web Page from the beginning and supports/supplies our domain name, http://www.flyingpreacher.com/. We wish them both happiness and health in the days that lie ahead. The bride went to school on the Island of St. Vincent with Jason Quashie, and the brides maid was a fomer college room-mate of Sonia. Kenva Delancy is the daughter of one of my former students in Nassau. What a small world!
Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers. So many of you are getting our reports by e-mail now, that the decision has been made to mail reports on a quarterly basis. This will include a report and financial report. This will save a good deal of money over mailing every month as we once did, and every other month as we have been doing.
Until next time, may the Lord bless and protect us all!
david
Bahama Mission Home Page
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact
David Caskey
Webmaster
Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/
