This year is really moving fast. It is hard to believe that we are facing Hurricane Season in less than a month, and we have not recovered from the four we had last year. We continue to meet the needs of many of our brethren who are still struggling. Several of you have been most generous in sending more money that this might continue for a while yet. We all thank you for your love and compassion. We have been reaping a spiritual awakening in the Islands. When material things are destroyed, you turn to the real values in life. We are thrilled at the return of many to the Lord and the "Trips to the Sea" for others.
Frank Sarver has been released by his doctors and we are very thankful that his cancer surgery was successful. Bill Miller had major surgery on his stomach removing a malignant tumor. He has progressed rapidly and is home and able to attend services. He told his Dr. Yesterday that he went last week without permission! Dick and Beverly Parker have both been very ill. She had shoulder surgery and Dick is in the middle of several bouts with the surgeon. He is supposed to have carotid artery surgery today in California. The Parkers labored for a quarter of a century in the Bahamas working with congregations in Freeport, Eleuthera, and Abaco. Lincoln Young did see the Urologist and will go back for another round of tests very soon. Everything so far is encouraging. Please keep all of the men in your prayers.
Before we left the Bahamas for our trip to Texas, we had many things to do. We are very thankful for the work that Donna Steward did with the ladies in Abaco. She spent many hours counseling and teaching. Jack and Donna have been spending time in the Bahamas for two decades and always work hard and accomplish much. They were down some months ago to help with the clean up after the Hurricanes. We had good visits with many of the members on several Islands, before we flew back to visit with Churches in Texas.
We are thrilled that the congregations are doing so well. It is a real tribute to the growth and maturity of the Island Churches, their preachers and members. They continue to expand and evangelize and we rejoice with them.
Two men, an elder and a deacon, were in Abaco recently from the Palm Beach Lakes congregation in West Palm, Fl. They did some teacher training, attended the Friday night fellowship for the congregation, taught some personal studies, spoke at services and report there were four responses to the invitation. There have also been a couple more baptisms there recently. They have several groups scheduled for Abaco this summer.
Lincoln Young (in spite of his recent illness) has been very busy with National Youth Month, has groups coming June 13th (Memphis, TN) and July 21 (Wynne, AR.) He is working with the Drug Education Counsel to use some of my Drug Education Books in the school system. Also he is studying with five individuals and asks that we remember them in our Prayers. (Ann and Travis Sands, Jaime Hunt, Tony Smith, and Desiree Symonette).
A group from the Auburn AL. Church will be going to Freeport the first week in June. Dinah and I plan to be there with them at least a part of the time. Several groups will be coming to Exuma starting the third week of this month. I will be going down to meet them and carry tracts and study supplies.
We have received interest from a Group in Kentucky who are willing to come March 10-17, 2006. They will in part be a medical team, and we are looking into the possibility of getting them in to do some free medical screening and treatment. We have not been successful in bringing medical groups in the past. We are praying that things are changing.
The Caribbean Lectureship will be held in Cuba this year. July 9-13th. This will be a real milestone. Brethren from Cuba have only been allowed to attend the Lectureship in the past couple of years. This annual Lectureship started way back in the 60’s.
Dinah and I are stuck in Ocala, Florida with untimely severe weather. We got the plane in the hanger and saw on TV the massive damage from hail received by those who were tied down outside. We hope to get out tomorrow and then on to Abaco where I have been invited to speak Sunday as we honor those who have labored over the years to keep the congregation going and growing. We got out ok. 38 planes were damaged by hail at the airport. We were in the hanger. Best $25 I ever spent. We leave in the morning for the Bahamas.
We had great visits with supporting congregations in Texas: Longmire Road in Conroe, Graeber Road in Rosenberg, Crosby, Crockett, Grapeland, Rockport, Point Comfort, and Pecos. (Oops, the Seven Churches of Texas turned into eight) We were enriched by the fellowship and did all we could to share the joy of the Lord's work we do together in the Islands. There were many highlights and we will carry the memories for a long time. I even got the cavity in my false tooth repaired in Crockett!
Soon we will put a picture and a write up on the Web Page about the Young People at Longmire Road, in Conroe. This small group has inspired the whole congregation and those of us in the Islands by their great vision and dedication in providing Bible Money for the Islands. They have been collecting and selling soda cans and donating money from their allowances. This month they handed me the fifth $1000 check for Bibles. This has been accomplished in just over a year. They tell me that they are not finished yet! "Let no man despise your youth..."
We continue to thank you for your concern and prayers. Checks can be made to Bahama Mission Church of Christ, and sent:
Att: David Caskey-Mission, c/o Gulf Coast Church of Christ
3825 McGregor Blvd.
Ft. Myers, Florida 33901.
david
Bahama Mission Home Page
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact
David Caskey
Webmaster
Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/
