Bahama Mission
June and July 2000
Life offers many good things and other times things happen that we do not
understand. The congregations in Nassau have been very evangelistic. Mike
Gurgainus of Ringgold, Georgia brought 26 workers down to help with a
Vacation Bible School at Highbury Park. They worked hard, and brought in
more than 100 children each day despite the fact that they started on a
holiday. July 10th is Independence Day in the Islands. Services were also
held at night and much good was done. The work is going well at the Central
Church and the Southwest congregation is expanding. They have just changed
their place of worship. The Creole congregation is facing great
difficulties. Most of the members along with a great number of their
countrymen from Haiti do not have their papers to live legally in the
Bahamas. The preacher and ten of the members were recently picked up and
sent back to Haiti. This will also be the lot of many of the Creole people
living in Marsh Harbour at the end of the summer. The good thing is that the
church in Haiti is doing well and they will have opportunities to worship
and serve. Pray for these brethren!
Mike Gurgainus and the brethren in Ringgold, Georgia are planning to target
Georgetown in the Exuma chain of Islands for the establishment of a new
congregation. This is a hub in the southern Bahamas with a large airport and
a community of about 3000 in the area. We are thankful to these brethren and
are pleased to have had a small part in showing them around the Bahamas
while they were in Nassau. They were able to be on four Islands.
The Church in Marsh Harbour continues to grow as it waits for Todd and Jamie
Brunner to move to Abaco. They are getting married on August 5th in Ft.
Worth, Texas.We have had three more baptisms there since the April-May
report. The congregation in Freeport has also had several baptisms and has
studies in progress. The congregations in Nassau continue to grow and it is
a joy to meet new brothers and sisters on each trip.
The first 4000 lbs of Bibles should soon be arriving in Abaco. We have also
drawn the last $10,000 of Hurricane money to try and finish roofing houses
for the brethren before the end of the month. The obtaining and shipping of
supplies has been slow, and labor has stayed way behind the jobs available.
We are praying that we will be spared more Hurricanes this year. The Church
building in Abaco has been designated an "A" shelter in times of disaster.
That is the highest rating given, but even then much damage is done.
Dinah and I will be anxious to get back to working with the Churches in the
central and southern Bahamas after Todd and Jamie arrive. We have spent as
much time with them as possible, but there is so much to do. Cleo and Judy
Tarver will be down in a couple of days to help finish the painting on the
inside of the Marsh Harbour building. I have gotten an agreement from the
window man in Abaco to fly 200 miles south to Cat Island to do the windows
in the Church Building as soon as we can get our schedules to mesh.
We finished the Annual Inspection on the plane as per the requirements of
the FAA. We are thankful that it is in good shape and that it continues to
perform a great service in the overall programs of work.
Dinah and I spent one week-end in Ft. Myers with Gulf Coast, our sponsoring
congregation, on their Mission Emphasis Sunday. Also we attended and had a
booth at the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Orlando, Florida. We are hopeful
that we can get more Florida Churches involved in the Bahamas since it is so
close.
I continue to hold my free clinics where ever we are in the Islands.
Recently in a 12 day period in Marsh Harbour, I averaged 25 patients a day,
with a high of 28. I usually start the clinic at 7:00 a.m. and have an
afternoon session between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. for those I could not treat
earlier. This continues to be a great way to meet people, and opens many
doors and hearts.
We continue to covet your prayers and thank you for your generous support.
If you are not receiving our periodic e-mail reports and would like to join
the 95 individuals and congregations who are, please send me your e-mail
address with that request. These reports are made as much as twice a month
and will give you a quicker update on the work. Also you can get these
reports from our web page.
Checks can be made out to:
Bahama Mission Church of Christ and sent:
Attn: David Caskey Missions
Gulf Coast
Church of Christ
3825 McGregor Blvd.
Ft. Myers, Florida 33901
David Caskey
