Bahama Mission Update
August 2, 2009

Most of us have had hot weather the past few weeks. Some of us have struggled with a lack of power and thus have really been hot. The Bahamas struggles with having enough power to supply the needs in the summer. The name of the game is power sharing. It is on for a while and off for a while. In Abaco we have also struggled with no phone, no T.V. and the internet being on and off. The satellite phone has kept us in touch with the world and allowed us to check weather and file flight plans. Andrew Major said his internet has been off for the past 3 weeks.

Dinah and I bought 100 Bibles and took them to the Abaco Youth Camp. These kids come from all over the Bahamas and few of them even have Bibles in their homes. We continue to work on supplying Bibles to all of the children in the public school system in the Islands. We are thankful for the special contributions received last month for this project. We believe that it will pay great dividends in the future. People can not do right until they know right. When we supply Bibles from the Church, we also give Bible Studies and they go into almost every home. A slip sheet is supplied about the Church on the Island with contact numbers also. We are working now to get the best price on Bibles in case lots. Bibles like everything else have really gone up this year. Dinah and I loaded extra donated communion trays to take for the crowds at the Caribbean Lectureship in Freeport. One old set, we sprayed with silver paint to improved its looks. We also carried a box of books to give to Drexel Major. Drexel was hurt in a wreck years ago in Abaco where he was a leader in the congregation. He now lives with his mom and his kids in Nassau. He is still in need of a replacement wheel chair with large back wheels. He has spent much of the past years in and out of the hospital. He has a group coming to the house for Bible Studies. When we arrived in Marsh Harbour, we were met by Terrance Baker the aircraft mechanic. It took him only a little while to level the main struts on the plane.

We flew early to Freeport. The weather had some stormy spots with rainbows, but we were able to work around them. We were met by both of the Elders. We were taken to pick up a car and then to registration for the 39th Annual Caribbean Lectureship. The Lectureship was started by Dr. Ken Dye when he was a missionary in Jamaica. Ken and I were roommates in College and I brought the first American group to Jamaica. Ken and I noted that 39 years ago, 95% of the brethren were from America. This year 95% to 97% were from the Islands.That is progress and we know that the Church will continue to be strong even if we were not here. We had a great reunion with many that we have known since they and we were young. We had about 500 different people to attend. Many from the Caribbean Islands did not get to come this year. The economy and the lack of American Visas hurt the attendance. The United States would not allow those from the Islands to transit through Miami without a visa. There are few direct flights from the Caribbean to the Bahamas. Next year the Lectureship will be in Trinidad. Sunday, we were all treated to a wonderful meal by the Freeport Brethren and after lunch shared in the baptism of Leslie Hatchet. Leslie is married to an American but comes from Peru. The brethren in Freeport worked for months to make the Lectureship a great success. I noted that everyone in the congregation had a job, young and old. The opening ceremony on Sunday afternoon before the evening service featured an Honor Guard and a welcome and lecture by The Hon. Vincent Vanderpool Wallace, the Minister of Tourism and Aviation. He had flown all afternoon to be with us and had even studied Neh. 8:10, the passage that served as our Theme this year.("The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength") The event was covered by T.V. Radio and the newspaper.

One interesting sideline was the friendship that Dinah started with a little 8 year old girl by the name of Savvy Sasha Greene. Her great grandmother (deceased) and grandmother have been friends of mine over the years. This little girl suddenly appeared on the seat beside Dinah and sat with her at every service all week. The grandmother remarked to Dinah that the generations have come full circle. Dinah attracts the young ladies like a magnet. One of the highlights was spending the afternoon with Dr.Cliff Ganus and Louise from Harding University. We have been friends since their son was in graduate school in Texas and was a member where I preached. We took them out the home of some dear friends. They own a restaurant next door. We were treated like kings and queens with a lavish array of local dishes. This wonderful couple have been married 60 years.

Lincoln Young missed the Lectureship due to a group that came down from Memphis. Lincoln's computer "died" recently. A dear friend of ours just sent me a new laptop and the latest version of Dragon Speaking (Speech Program) for us to take to him. We are so thankful to all who do so much for him and others in the Islands. Marsh Harbour soon begins their VBS.

I just got a call from Andrew Major in Nassau. Ellison Delva, one of the Elders in Freeport has been in the Hospital in Miami the past four days. He was having some chest pains and was not feeling well the last day of the Lectureship. He told me on Wednesday night at the close of the program that he was going to see the Dr. for a check up. Andrew thought he had a blockage in an artery. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Tomorrow I go see my skin cancer doctor again. I hope they do not find more places to cut.

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/