One of the wonderful things about the work that Dinah and I do, is that with our travel between congregations we always have good things happen, even if there are disappointments in some areas. Mission work is like work anywhere, we rejoice in growth and achievements, and struggle with problems both individual and collective.
Lincoln Young has his new batteries and tires working and is mobile again. His nephew who has cared for him the past 3 years has moved to go to college. He has hired a lady to work with him 4 hours a day, and the men of the community will be on hand to help him get to the bathroom and in and out of his chair each day.
Dinah and I were with him last week along with the Muery's and we have completed the finishing touches to the front posts on the building, redone the bulletin boards, and repainted the communion trays.(Metal trays do not last long in salt air!) I will carry him Bibles this week, and $2000 given by the brethren in Wynn, Arkansas to help him complete his house. Rock Sound has been having a number of visitors to services lately. Two major groups will be coming to Eleuthera soon. (Thank you Auburn youth for the help to Lincoln).
The building in Marsh Harbour is painted inside and out ( Thank you Gulf Coast Youth for the paint), and the steel for the classroom building is on site. It is not an easy thing to move 10.000 lbs. across America, the sea, and clear customs duties in a foreign country. Hopefully we can begin digging the foundations soon when we get the permit.
The Sarvers are continuing to teach studies and have had two baptisms lately. They often have as many as four studies in a day. The Sarvers will complete this years tour on March 10. Jan and Kathy Blackwell will be in Marsh Harbour on the 13th and 14th for a special week-end in the study of the "Crucifixion." We had a great visit this past Sunday with the brethren at Highland in Lakeland, Florida. They gave the first $11,000 to buy the steel and will be sending some people down to spend a weekend May 23. We will then plan some activities for them to be a part of the work in Marsh Harbour. We have three other groups coming to help in the summer. Jason and Katrinka Quashie have purchased a home, and are putting down roots for the future.
John and Gay Muery came to Marsh Harbour and spent 12 days traveling with us to other Islands, as they assess their interest in working a few weeks each year in the Islands. We enjoyed them and benefited from their talents. It is our hope and prayer that they will make the decision to come and help. John is a great song leader and Gay is outstanding in teaching ladies and children. Both of them also got involved in manual labour. They are also trained effective personal workers. We rejoice that retired Christians are willing to come and help.
Our work with World Bible School is really getting off the ground. Sandy Haney from the Lewisville,Texas Church of Christ has taken the responsibility of raising funds and shipping the new materials for us to use. We spent some time with Steve and Suzzette McQueen meeting new WBS students and giving them new lessons. They have enrolled a number of teachers, principals, and high school graduates. Several of these are also attending home Bible studies each week. While in Exuma, I made a visit to the Commissioner (like our governor and Island judge). He has promised to visit with Steve and the congregation, and asked me for a Bible and Study. These will be delivered next trip. I also had a request for a Bible from the Honorable Anthony Moss M.P. (A member of Parliament is like our Senators). We will continue to reach out in this Island as we work to establish a congregation. Please remember in prayers, Mike Gurganus, who preaches for the Church in Ringgold, Georgia. This congregation sponsors the McQueens. Mike is to have a kidney removed in the next few days. Steve reports that since we were there last week, Seven students have completed the first lesson and moved on to lesson two. He fears he will run out of material before I get back with more, or some sent from Ringgold arrives by mail. A group of 20 from the Southwestern congregation in Nassau will be in Exuma the second week in March. We rejoice that the city churches in the Bahamas are reaching out with mission fervor.
We are still reaping the results of the economic slow down that hit the Islands after 911. The family Islands of the Bahamas are much harder hit than the two cities. The lack of tourism has sent the way of life back many years. Old people are getting older and dying, and young people with job talents are moving out in droves to get jobs in the two overcrowded cities. The numbers in the small rural congregations continue to drop even though souls are being brought to the Lord. We continue to work with and help these brethren and look for the day when retired workers will return to their homes and occupy the houses they have built and are building for the future.We hope and pray that somehow some industry can be spread to these areas to provide jobs and keep people home. Along with this problem, we like those in the United States are faced with the ravages of sin as they permeate the lives of those who one time walked upright. It all sounds like congregations in the New Testament! We must help the small congregations deal with these problems.
As we look back over more than two decades of service we are reminded that some of the thriving city Churches with elders and deacons and self supporting mission outreaches were also small and struggling back then. We are to plant and God gives the increase. These brethren living in distressed areas do not have the luxury of choosing where they will serve the Lord. Sometimes the need for help is greater there than in the city! We will continue to plant and water.
david
Bahama Mission Home Page
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact
David Caskey
Webmaster
Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/
