Our weather in the Islands has been very un-tropical. We have experienced cool to cold weather and a lot of wind for this time of the year. The flying weather has been good with some exceptions with high cross winds that have caused a few delays. On our last trip to Florida, I got repairs and certifications done to the radar encoder on the plane, bought a new headset, (My old one finally gave up after 23 years-guess they do not make them like they used to?) and ordered a new computer for Lincoln Young's wheel chair. We were hoping that was the problem! I also received some study materials that the Sarvers had ordered for Marsh Harbour. We hauled back some Bibles and World Bible School Materials. Dinah also took her sewing machine to use in freshening up our little room after several years of Hurricanes and damage. We now have new curtains, couch cover and pillows along with a new bed cover. It looks great and is done in bright Island colours.
On Thursday night we had the rehearsal for a wedding that took place on Saturday on a exclusive gated 13 acre estate by the sea. The owner, Tommy Malone, is a lawyer who specializes in Medical Malpractice in Atlanta. He told me that if he gets sick he has instructed his wife not to take him to an Atlanta Hospital as they would take delight in just "Putting Him Down"! The guest list included the Who's Who of Marsh Harbour and many from off the Island. It was nice to dress up in a Tux and see friends that we had not been around for a long time. One sad note was the sudden heart attack of the father of the best man who had flown in from Winter Haven, Florida. They rushed him to Nassau (medical flight) for stints in his main artery. They released him and he died at the Nassau Airport trying to get back to Marsh Harbour. I preached his funeral on Sunday after all of the red tape in getting the body shipped out of the capital. Friday we had a birthday party for Amy Collins, with cake and homemade coconut ice cream. All good for the waist line. ha
Early Sunday morning Dinah and I flew out to Freeport. I had been asked to speak at the combined Bible Class and preach. Dinah did a final check on the paint samples that she and my Interior Designer sister had picked from pictures. Kevin Wooten is bringing a group of University Students down from the University of Kentucky this month to work with the Freeport congregation, and wanted to have them do some physical labour. They plan to paint the interior of the foyer and halls, along with the auditorium. The new colours are the latest and will really freshen the building after 3 serious Hurricanes. The congregation has already painted much of the rest of the building. The Freeport congregation has just completed their new master plan for 2006 with the theme, "Keep Your Eyes Fixed in 2006". They have a number of new converts already, and plan to have a guest speaker and a "Bring Your Friend Day", each month. Judy and Donald Burrows ( Preacher and wife from Long Island) were excited about that as they had their first contact with the Church many years ago at the then annual Friends Day. We plan to be in Freeport for a day or so with the group and then I have been invited back in June for the Friends Day. Dr. Bill Miller was the speaker last Sunday. Dinah and I bought the 23 gallons of paint and got rollers, trays, brushes and drop cloths and drove them to Ft. Lauderdale last night to deliver to Derek Turnquest who "got volunteered" to take them to the dock and put on the daily boat to Freeport.( The Discovery runs daily between Florida and Freeport). Derek is still struggling to get his house back in order after the Hurricanes. Most of us have seen pictures of the Gulf Coast 6 months after the storm and 4 months before the opening of next Hurricane Season. Some places in the Bahamas are in worse shape due to lack of assistance and difficulty in getting materials shipped out to the Islands.
Back in Abaco on Sunday afternoon after a lovely lunch and visit with the James Miller family that also included some new converts, we were in time for the evening services.James also asked me to do some more 25 minute Radio Programs for Freeport. This program sponsored by the local congregaton is also heard in Abaco. Bernice Brown had salvaged us a couple of plates of food from the congregational Birthday party for Lilla. She was 78. So we had some supper after services.The Sarvers are working very hard doing follow up studies for New Christians and also having some success with new students.Both are teaching classes on Sunday and Wednesdays as well. Ray and Mary Christopher from Richardson, Texas came to visit with Jason and Katrinka for a week. He is the missions contact elder for this congregation that has been involved in the Bahamas for several years. They are delightful and plan to bring a group back in the Summer to help with some spiritual projects. I spent time Monday with checking out the airplane, removing and touching up the painter where there was corrosion and also running my clinic.
Tuesday morning, Dinah's oldest brother Barry Zeigler arrived for a three day visit and to travel with us to several other Islands. He had been wanting to see what we did for a long time. We fed him "conch" for lunch and then were invited to Lilla Strachens for a fish dinner that night. She also had saved us a piece of Birthday cake. Early Tuesday we flew to Exuma with World Bible School Materials and some homemade cookies from Bea Sarver. We got fuel at Exuma International Airport, and had a nice but brief visit with Steve and Suzette McQueen. Their work is really doing well, and the van is helping them to provide transportation for more folks on Sunday.We are still working to find the Generation Property that belongs to Lincoln Young's family. Our understanding is that part of it is located in Moss Town near the highway. Lincoln wants to donate a plot that can be used for a building in time.
Our next stop was Long Island with a load of Bibles (promised but high jacked in Nassau on our last trip) and Bea's cookies. Judy Burrows met us in the Church Van and took us to unload and then go and visit with Donald and some of the members. Sister Fox just celebrated her 76th birthday. We had a lovely lunch at Mama and Papa Burrows house. Peppered Turbet Fish and Johnnie Cake. Then we were off to visit with Sister Jessima Darvelle. Aunt Jessima is not doing well. She seems to have congestive heart failure. At 78, she is not interested in traveling to Nassau where she might get some better care. Keep her in your prayers. She and her late husband donated the land for the building in Long Island. Dinah also delivered some children's Bible Class Material that Bea Sarver had made up.
The next stop was Rock Sound Eleuthera. Ann Sands picked us up in Lincoln's Ramp Van and had her husband John with her this time. John has been attending with her for the past few weeks. We had a nice visit with Lincoln, loaded him in the van and made several more visits. Barry helped me put his new computer arm on his chair and it worked! We put the chair on charge. I did some study for the Wednesday evening Bible Class and we had supper with Lincoln and Tony Smith. Tony is the new Christian who helps Lincoln now. I only spoke for an hour as I was a little weary. Lincoln asked for comments after the lesson-"Too Short", came a shout from the back. You would never hear that in America! We had neglected to tell Barry that the brackish water that come through the pipes in Rock Sound is cut off about 12 hours a day to allow the shallow wells to fill back up. He thought had failed to pay his bill at the the little guest house!
Thursday morning got us back into Abaco. Dinah took her brother over on the ferry to Hope Town to see some of the tourist sights. Jack Steward arrived on the plane to join Donna who had been here a couple of weeks. His car would not run, so she had it in the shop. Always a nice way to arrive when your condo is 25 miles from the airport. He got it back later in the day. I worked on a funeral lesson and checked the plane over again. Barry left on Friday morning and Dinah and I had both come down with the flu. We rested as much as possible and got an early night. Saturday was busy and ended with dinner at Dave and Amy Collins home. We had brought some sour oranges from the Burrows yard in Long Island, and they made a "Cut Up". A cut up is a cabbage salad with what ever else you have soaked in sour orange juice. It is as much a social event (as everyone gets a knife and cuts something up,) as it is a meal.
The funeral was a long drawn out affair with cold winds and rain. I spent some time counseling the family, who had come for a joyous wedding and ended up with a funeral.
A nice surprise came this morning. Lincoln Young has needed extensive dental care for a long time. He has ignored it due to lack of money. He finally had to have one pulled, and Dr. Knowles said he needed more pulled, a root canal, and some extensive work on his front teeth. Lincoln asked her how he was to go about trying to pay for all of that.She replied that he did so much for the Young People on the Island that it was time someone did something for him in return. She said she would bring her equipment to make all of the impressions and do it at his house which is over 30 miles from her office. All of her labour is to be donated. He will only have to pay for the lab and materials fees. It seems we are not the only ones to feel that he is an incredible person.
We are thankful to all of you for your sacrifice, prayers, and encouragement as we labor together in the service of the Master. 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/
