Dinah stayed in Florida on my last trip with supplies to the Islands. She had been on antibiotics for two weeks with infections in her ear and throat. She is to see the specialist again on the 19th. He keeps telling her that flying aggravates her problem. I have tried to fly lower to lesson the problem, but do not know if that helps or not.
I spent a couple of days going over the plane, washing, waxing and changing the oil to get it ready for our speaking trip to supporting congregations very soon. The starter went out in the little car. We think it may be the starter part of ignition switch? Anyway since parts are unavailable I wired around the switch, and mounted an old 1950's style starter button on the dash. It works good. Old cars and old planes take a lot of loving care. I also got the licence renewed on the Bahama Mission Van which the Sarvers have been driving.
The Sarvers are busy in Marsh Harbour. They are working with new converts and teaching some public classes as well as having a few new studies.They will soon complete their 15th year of spending 10 weeks in Marsh Harbour. They are a very stabilizing force with this young congregation. They are deeply loved and our prayer is that their health will allow them many more years of service. At Jason Quashie's request, I carried over some cheaper Bibles and Testaments for the congregation there to give away. We reserve our very good Bibles now for New Christians. We continue to be thankful to the Youth Group at Longmire Road, in Conroe, Texas for Bible money. I visited with a number of the members and got engaged in a couple of studies. I also delivered some medical supplies to friends who could not get what they needed in the Islands. Lilla Strachen is doing much better and I had lunch with her and the Sarvers one day. Bernice Brown had breakfast for me each morning, and dinner on Sunday evening when I got back from preaching in Eleuthera. I got all of my paperwork together to make application for the renewal of my Work Permit (Green Card). Greta Culmer will get this to Nassau for me and hand deliver to her best friend Cora who is high up in Immigration. Like a lot of places, it is not what you know, but who you know that gets things done. I had to have a police report, medical letter, and letters from the Elders in Nassau showing that I am working with their knowledge and invitation. The congregation will soon have a meeting with Dan Jenkins of West Palm Beach and the Fisher's Of Men Personal Evangelism training program starts in several Islands after that with Brother Hatcher.
Jack and Donna Stewart are in Abaco staying at their place in Treasure Cay. This is about 20 miles north of Marsh Harbour. They have been coming to the Islands for a little more than 19 years and have been a great help in many areas. I had lunch with Jack and Donna on Saturday and invited them to go to Rock Sound with me Sunday morning. We left the Marsh Harbour airport just after 8 am and arrived in Rock Sound about 47 minutes later. Bea Sarver sent Lincoln another bag of cookies! The crowd at services was down some, with about 20 people down with the flu that was running it's course. However, that did not dampen the spirits of those present. Lincoln has been having between 30 and 40. We were down to just over 20 with the sick, and the prayer list was pretty long. The service was very uplifting and inspirational. I took Lincoln and Tony to lunch along with the Stewarts before we fly back to Marsh Harbour where Jack preached at the evening service. We also met the newest convert there and two others whom Lincoln hopes to baptize very soon.
Lincoln amazes us all with the efforts he puts forth and the changes that are being made in the community and all over the Island as a result of his love and devotion. He was just home from holding a meeting in Nassau at the Highbury Park congregation. He does a lot of counseling with young people in the schools, coaches ball teams, serves on the South Eleuthera Drug Counsel,( One of my Drug Abuse books has been approved and is being handed out in the schools starting this week) and preaches for the Church. He lives on a very small salary, never complains, always has a smile, and touches the lives of all he meets. He had two young men at services Sunday who had been assigned to him. One by the court and one by his mother. They are to counsel, attend every service for a few months and put in hours of community service around the building. Lincoln did not go into detail on Sunday, but welcomed then and said it was his hope and prayer that they would continue to come and study after their requirements were met. He had done something else that is impressive. Junkanoo is a Bahamian cultural festival that has its roots back to the days of slaves. In recent years it has become more of a tourist attraction in Nassau and other Islands. It has been changed to a more sensual parade to be more like Carnival or Marti Gras. Over the past few years, Lincoln has taken it back to its roots in a religious beginning. He spends many weeks working with young people setting a theme and making costumes.This gives him quality time with young people and gives them wholesome meaningful activities. Last year they handed out my Alcohol and Drug Abuse book. This year they looked at eleven aspects of the Life of Jesus and handed out tracts. He has taken something that has come to symbolize evil and turned it around to be good. His kids have won the top prize the last three years.
The Lord willing, Dinah and I will leave next week for our reporting trip that we do each year. Our first stop will be to hold a short meeting in Ringgold, Georgia. This is the congregation that sponsors Steve McQueen and the work in Exuma. Then it is on to Desdemona, Longmire Road in Conroe, Graber Road in Rosenburg, Crockett, Grapeland, Rockport, Point Comfort, and end up in Pecos for another short meeting. These are all in Texas. When we return, we will be speaking at Gulf Coast in Ft. Myers, Florida and West Broward in Ft. Lauderdale.We look forward each year to the renewed fellowship and bringing supports up to date on the progress in the Islands. It is a long and tiring trip, but leaves us encouraged.
We are thankful for your support and prayers. Checks can be made to Bahama Mission Church of Christ, and sent:
Att: David Caskey-Mission, c/o Gulf Coast Church of Christ
3825 McGregor Blvd.
Ft. Myers, Florida 33901.
david
Bahama Mission Home Page
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact
David Caskey
Webmaster
Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/
