Bahama Mission Update
July 3, 2008

We are saddened by the expected call from Dick Parker telling of the death of Beverly. Doctors promised her only a short time after the discovery of cancer. Funeral services are scheduled for July 7th in California. Dick and Beverly were involved in planting and strengthening Churches in the Bahamas since 1979. Dinah and I were talking yesterday about the delightful week-end we spent with them during the last Mission Day in Freeport. Even after moving back to California, they continued to visit the Bahamas and be a support to many of the Island Churches. Several from the Bahamas are planning to attend the funeral.

My memories of Beverly are many. We worked on different Islands, but because of the plane I had many opportunities to visit with them. Often we spent time in their home while delivering supplies or holding meetings. Beverly was a warm and caring person with a genuine love for souls. She was renown for her hospitality and for always having people around her table. Some were new Christians and many were those with whom she and Dick studied. Beverly never met a stranger, and would know and remember the names of family members of every person she met. If you went out to eat, all of the waitresses knew her by name. She spent hours in grading Bible Correspondence Courses and writing personal notes to supporters and friends. She was an outstanding Bible teacher and the children and ladies adored her. She was a real trouper. I remember loading her in the back of the little Cessna 172 and flying her and Dick to Abaco from Eleuthera for a survey trip before they made the move. I remember her sense of humor, which was often self directed. She would tell stories on herself that most of us would have tried to hide. I remember her untiring drive to see the work of the Lord prosper. Over the years she made the sacrifices of not being with family. She loved her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, though for years she had to rely on mail and pictures to know of their accomplishments. Her sister JoAnne preceded her in death by only a few weeks. I know of her faith. The last time I talked with her she told me that she had accepted her situation and was ready to go and be with the Lord. Even at the end she had me laughing as she told me not to let Dick marry some old "floozy" when she was gone. I think Bill Miller said it best, "She will live on in our hearts". If you would like to send Dick a note,

Dick Parker
P.O. Box 42
Strathmore CA. 93267.

Dinah and I enjoyed the week-end in Detroit where we spoke at two congregations that directly or indirectly have had a part in the work in the Bahamas for many years. Benny and Peggy Morton overwhelmed us with their hospitality. We had a great visit with them. Benny was the man who first planted the seeds of the Gospel in the Islands. The Lincoln Park Church is very Mission Minded and has supported the work in Nassau through Bill Miller since the 1950's. It was a joy for us to meet these brethren and update them on the work. Sunday night we met with the Church in Flat Rock. They were gracious and made a contribution to our Fuel Fund.

The Church in Edge, Texas has collected and supplied us with Bible Study materials for some time now, and recently sent a generous check to help with Fuel costs. This remains as our largest expenditure from month to month. We are doing all that we can to reduce the number of trips and cut costs. Last week in Abaco we were paying $6.09 for car gas and we paid $7.39 for aircraft fuel. The price of gas in not likely to go down but we can not stop reaching out with the Message of Hope any more than we can hole up in our homes because it costs more to drive to work.

We enjoyed a week in Abaco, filling in for Jason and Katrinka Quashie while they were away at a family wedding and a visit with a supporting congregation. We preached and taught lessons on "Sin", "Drawing close to God", and "The Cause and Cure of Discouragement". We held daily clinics and spent time visiting and encouraging.

This week I have been back to the Doctor with more skin cancers. I had a dozen or so frozen and hope today to get a report on a biopsy. I may have to go back for more cutting on my leg. My Doctor tells me that years of sun damage from Africa and the Islands will keep me coming back for the rest of my life. So far we have gotten to the malignant ones in time.

Next week we will be in Abaco and then off to Nassau for a Vacation Bible School at the Central Church with Andrew and Bonnie Major. A large group from the Longmire Road congregation in Conroe, Texas will fly in for a week.We look forward to being with them and reaching out to the young and old near the building. Andrew was the guest speaker in Abaco this past Sunday. He has recently started a work among Haitians in his area of town. We were able to give him the last of our Personal Bible Studies in French and are looking now for Creole Bibles. He is working with a group of about 25. I will also pick up more communion cups and unleavened bread to haul to Nassau.

We have had a number of Baptisms lately and several Bible Studies are in progress in most of our congregations. New convert classes are being taught and Lincoln has about a half dozen studies in progress. He was finally able to get his computer going again and stay on line long enough to send out a report. Electrical Power in the Islands has been hit and miss. Lincoln said they lost power eleven times while he was preparing his last report. In Abaco we preferred the power going off in the day time as they rotated between sectors. This way we got to sleep through the night. Some days we got our wish.

A special word of thanks to those who are sending Memorials and Honors. The address is listed below if you would like to reach out in this manner. Be sure and include the name or the person and the address of the family. We send them and you a very nice notification.

Thank you so much for your support and prayers over the years. Checks can be made to:

Att: David Caskey-Mission, c/o Gulf Coast Church of Christ
9550 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway
Ft. Myers, Florida 33966.

Please note the new address. They have recently moved into their new building.

david

Bahama Mission Home Page
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact: David Caskey

Webmaster: Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/