MBC Bahamas Trip June 2022

Denise fed us well throughout the time here, worked on our laundry, etc. Conversations with Ron and Denise were great as we processed through all sorts of topics--I got to know them much better during this visit, and I appreciated working alongside them over the last week and a half! Ron and I had to catch the Ferry at 8:00 AM for my early afternoon flight. We drove around Marsh Harbour and visited his and Denise's old stomping grounds at another church campus there--which is still not up and running since Dorian. Flight from MHH to MIA went smoothly. Then MIA to CLT--delayed and waited on the tarmac for an extra 20 minutes due to weather. CLT to MDT--smooth. Harrisburg had a shuttle waiting for me this time 😁 Made it home by 10:10 PM and heartily greeted by all but our youngest. It is good to be back!

 Well after 10 1/2 hours of labor including lunch, we finished out the rest of the ceiling in the enclosed breezeway! Cleaning, disc golf, swimming, and conversation pretty much wrapped up what little was left to the day.

I had the opportunity to preach once again this morning--it was a pleasure to take an exegetical approach in paralleling Ps. 24 and Col. 1 together! The afternoon was relaxing, and we played another round of disc golf. We went to The Gospel Chapel to attend an evangelistic service with Kevin Knowles.

Today was laid back--after breakfast with Ron and Denise, I spent some time at the coffee shop. Reconnected with Bronson, met Carmen, Denise, and Donnie and spoke to the later for quite a while about his church in Florida and his role as a pastor there. We also spoke for a while about outreach and some unique strategies that have worked to draw people into fellowship with other believers. Afterwards, I visited the museum and reconnected with Michael and Nancy who we met back in January when my whole family joined me. Electricity has been on haphazardly throughout our time here. With private, backup generators running on fuel costing between $8-9/gallon here, energy is precious, albeit unreliable. Aside from spending time on the beach and talking with Ron and Denise, I had a chance to continue planning for Sunday's sermon. Looking forward to it!

We tacked on a couple more visitations today--Ron delivered some leftover relief money to specific people who still needed help following the storm (Hurricane Dorian, 2019--which came with a series of tornadoes, and the reason for our work team and the reason for so much of the rebuilding going on right now in that part of the world). After another mini disc golf tournament between Ron and me, I went to explore/swim. I was chased up the island in a golf cart by a storm, and then it hit--hard. Felt like I needed to shelter since thunder was so loud, so I did ask cover in a shed sitting back off of someone's driveway. Good thing because lightning and thunder joined instantly together as it struck just outside where I was hiding. After the storm finally subsided I came out and found a great swimming spot. After a while, the sky started looking dark again, so I had to make another run for it and again took shelter under an overhang of a barn structure. After getting cleaned up, we welc...

 Ron and I started playing rounds of 18 holes of disc golf going back and forth using 2 metal baskets at opposite ends of a baseball field by the ocean. Good fun--keeping me in practice for the MBC Disc Golf League 😀 As I was out throwing this AM, I met Kevin and Regina Knowles--he's a visiting pastor to The Gospel Chapel church on the island--a Brethren church. Had a good conversation with the two of them, and may try to get down to an evening service he'll be leading later this week. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania... the work team landed and finally got back to the church by 12:10 PM. Tired but doing well! In the afternoon, Ron and I went out on visitations around the island. We stopped in and prayed for/with Lambert and Theresa, Ron gave a hand to Ralph and Lucas on a ferry boat they're repairing, stopped in to see Jan at the boat supply store and check in to see how her family is doing. We greeted Richard and Annie at The Sail Shop, and ended with a longer visit with Dolli,...

Todd thinks Ron and I should be able to finish the ceiling ourselves. The team left is some tools and equipment and took many of the other tools back to the shared tool shed on the island. The team caught the 8:00 Ferry back over to Marsh Harbour this morning. After golf carting around the island, swimming at the Low Place, and chatting for a while with a couple of couples at the rebuilt gazebo there (they both attended and enjoyed the sermon also), it was time to finalize some thoughts about sharing at the Potluck Dinner this evening. I was asked to share my testimony and a challenge. After delicious food and conversation, I shared a part of my testimony, and wove it with Deut. 6 and Ps. 119 as I highlighted my parents' work in reading through the One Year Bible as a family growing up. It did serve as spiritual light as I've navigated temptations, priorities, decisions, and challenges of life. Also discussed impacts of Self Confrontation and Perspectives, etc. Good feedback! A...

More work today! We started with gutters. Gary and I manufactured them--drilling and riveting and prepping. Angel caulked and cut angles. Todd, Ron, and Angel worked to hang and level each run, and Gary and I joined as needed--especially to transport the ~50ft runs. Many obstacles to overcome throughout the day, and never did get a chance to return to the ceiling. The team is supposed to leave early tomorrow and I'll be staying back to continue with spending time and helping with some of the ministry work. Todd, Ron, the two elders, and I met this evening to discuss next steps regarding our family joining in the ministry here. Elders and deacons are supposed to meet about the future of the ministry, and consider our family as partnering with them--not sure what will come of that. Much would need to be done in terms of land ownership, administration, constitution, mission/vision, support package, goals for raising up local leaders over time, etc. Time for the team to rest up before ...

Today the team--Angel, Todd, Gary, and I--hit the ceiling in the enclosed breezeway between the fellowship hall (where the service yesterday was held)/classrooms and the church building. Scott went to help at Bernard's house (including PVC, the tiny shavings of which he does not particularly like having combined with sweat all over his skin). The island builders construct their homes like their renowned boats--solid...the ceiling is being constructed by interlocking wooden boards. With help from Ron Hamme and Chad, we spent a long day working. My primary role was to transport, measure, and cut boards into lengths being ordered from the rest of the team. We made good progress-- got through a lot of the tricky geometries, but didn't get to the turn down to the other door. This will be on the agenda for tomorrow along with putting up gutters. Here are some more work team pics I was sent from the previous days as well:

It certainly wasn't sweet sleep, but I caught some shut-eye. Apparently fire ants found me during the night. You're welcome for the treat, little guys... Jumped on a flight from Nassau about 100 miles north to Marsh Harbour this morning. Caught a cab over to the ferry where Colin, Chad's son, met me to boat across to Man-o-War Cay (pronounced "key"). With a final golf cart ride over to the church, I had 20 minutes to spare before the main service! There was an extra communion service this AM, of which I caught the very last part. Though Todd McAllister had a quick sermon prepared, we made the decision to have me preach. Despite a few technical difficulties, received good feedback from people--seemed to be a blessing. Gary Baldwin gave his testimony, and even clarified later that he did, indeed, receive Christ as his Savior! Todd preached his message later that evening in a surprise bonus service! 😀

Greetings! Steve here...the work team had a flight on Wednesday down to the Bahamas, so they have already been busy there. For me, here are the objectives I've been given as I understand them: I'm scheduled to preach on Sunday, join up with the work team (Scott, Todd, Angel, and Gary) for a couple of days, then give a challenge for a potluck meal, help lead a youth family night, meet with young adults and other island residents, and preach again the following weekend. All while considering and praying about our family's future involvement in partnering with the ministry in the Bahamas. For those who are familiar with my family's travel experiences in January: this travel experience has been par for the course. Last night prior to travel, I got the worst migraine headache I've ever had. Between that and receiving an alert that my first flight from Philadelphia to Charlotte was delayed, making my Charlotte arrival time later than my Charlotte to Marsh Harbor (Bahamas)...