Bahama Mission Update
January 11, 2009

We begin with wishes for a safe and healthy and happy New Year. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are struggling with health and financial issues and those who have lost loved ones. We pray God's richest blessings on all of us as we continue to reach out with the message of life and light to a world caught in the web of sin. The failures of the economy do not change the purpose and direction of our lives. We also thank each of you for your prayers and support over the years. We are workers together with God and your part is vital and makes what we do possible.

The funeral services for D D Straughn the 24 year old twin who was murdered in Marsh Harbour was the largest attendance I have ever seen at a funeral service in the Bahamas. Andrew Major from the Central Congregation in Nassau came in to assist me along with Jason Quashie and several from the Marsh Harbour Church. Andrew takes every opportunity to preach the Gospel and always offers the invitation to any who need to make changes in their lives or obey the Lord in baptism.The court hearings and work on the trials of those responsible continue. Our prayers are with this family and with all others who are bereaved.

The Caribbean Lectureship will be in Freeport July 19-23. If you plan to attend, it is not too early to be making arrangement.If you need information, travel tickets and lodging, you can contact Doug Kostowski at Travel People in Miami. 800-999-9912 or doug@travelpeople1.com. Or in Freeport Joyce Bent exoticvacationsbahamas@yahoo.com.

Studies are being conducted in all of our congregations, and souls are being brought to the Lord. This is a personal one on one effort that collectively brings in a good harvest. We are taking 8 new Bibles to be given to those in Marsh Harbour recently baptized.The Bibles for the new converts in Marsh Harbour are bought by a family who are members at the Palm Beach Lakes congregation in West Palm Beach. Bibles for the other congregations were bought by the young people at Longmire Road in Conroe, or by the Park Plaza Church in Tulsa. I am told that Sister Major or" Da Da "as we all call her has been responsible for setting up many of the studies that have resulted in conversions. Da Da is a new Christian and takes her relationship with the Lord seriously. One of the members in Marsh Harbour said that she is bringing in more by herself that all the rest of the members together. I do know that when she made the trip to Freeport (from her meager savings) for Mission Day, that she brought her daughter to worship on Sunday Morning. At the end of the service they always have first time visitors stand and give their names. She introduced herself and her daughter and added, "She is lost and someone needs to study with her"! Several of the members met the daughter after services.

The Sarvers (Frank and Bea) are set to arrive on the 13th for their annual ten weeks in Marsh Harbour teaching personal studies and public classes. We pray for their safe arrival and for their health while in the Islands. I think this is the 20th year that they have come to the Islands. For many years they also would go with us to the other Islands and congregations to visit the members. However after being in the plane crash with me in Run Cay many years ago, they have been content to send greetings and homemade cookies to the other brethren. I heard from Jack Steward that he and Donna will also be arriving sometime within the next few days. (They have been involved for about 25 years or more). Since Jack sold his aircraft they depend on rides with American Airlines space available. He retired as an American Captain. Having both of these families in Marsh Harbour each year is a real boost to the congregation. They are loved and appreciated. Jack is recovering from knee replacement surgery and I am hoping that it will not keep him from flying to visit some of the other Islands with me. Donna says when he gets to fly it takes a while to get the smile off his face.

Dinah and I for several years have spent the end of the year holidays with friends and supporters in the Phoenix area. We are blessed to be invited to share with our friends in their generous gift giving at one of the homes in Phoenix. This year we moved to an Alzheimer's Home. The 43 people seemed to enjoy our visits. In spite of the disease many clung to their gifts over the next few days. One lady was so thrilled with her clothes that she would not give them up to be washed. The staff finally had to sneak in at night while she slept to put them in the wash. We all had a great laugh at Dinah who is so outgoing and learns everyone's name. She kept asking if they remembered her. I kept telling her that they could not remember what they had for dinner, much less her visits. She was undeterred and we all continued to laugh.My Dad had been a patient in one of these homes where he died about 5 years ago. So I have a special place in my heart for these people. One man named Terry kept our attention by pulling the insoles out of his shoes and tying them over his instep with the laces. We found out that he had been a professor at MIT and was the inventor of one of the vitamin B's. "Dinah asked him which one, and he told her he had to get to his students in the Lab".

Thank you again for your support and prayers. Checks can be made out to Bahama Mission Church of Christ and sent:

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

david

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

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