We have been so blessed this year with the lack of Hurricanes. As we write there is a storm that may be developing, but it has not gotten full blown as of yet. The experts claim that there may be a number of reasons for the slow season. The lower jet stream, the dust storms off of Africa and the development of another El Nino. What ever the cause, we would like to order some more!
We have been busy hauling materials to the various places. We bought more World Bible School materials, and more Bibles. The remarkable group of young people at Longmire Road in Conroe, Texas have just sent another $1000 for Bibles from the money that have gotten selling soda cans. This makes a total of $8000 since they began this work several years ago. We are so thankful for the help, and so inspired by the example of these young men and ladies. They have been one of the most exciting things that has occurred with the Bahama work over the years. Our hope and prayer is that, "they will not grow weary in well doing..."
The economy in the Bahamas is hurting in a number of places. Planes landing in Marsh Harbour from the United States often have only 5 or 6 people on board a 19 to 30 passenger plane. Taxi drivers and those in the tourist business are hurting. Last week when we were in Rock Sound, we were the only plane on the airport. Some believe the slow down is because of the new law for Americans to have a passports to travel to the Bahamas or Mexico and some other places where a birth certificate would work before. This extra cost of $90 for the 10 years life of the passport, may be causing some to go other places.This would really be true with big families. Some believe that the last two years of active Hurricanes have caused many to rethink long range planning for travel during the Hurricane Season.
We have had a lot of problems with the power going off and on for the past few months, and the phone systems have been having problems as well. We continue to be thankful for the Satellite Phone provided by the friends from Pecos, Texas. It does not always give instant service, but often we can move locations or just wait a while and get connected. Heavy storm cloud coverage seems to have more effect on the phone, than on the GPS we use in the plane for navigation. Both use satellites as the base of operation.
We have also been busy conducting clinics in various islands, and have done some touch up work and preventative maintenance on the plane. This is time consuming, but gives a lot of peace of mind when flying over the water.
We really enjoyed the classes in Marsh Harbour last week. Dinah said the Ladies Class was very well attended and is being taught by a different lady each week. Each teacher has been well prepared and it is exciting to see the growth. I was very impressed by the dedication I heard and saw in the men's class. Like all places, we see those who were one time very strong drift, but some of our new men are really stepping up. The men continue to have a visitation period on Thursday evenings. They spend time encouraging and strengthening those who are weak. Dinah and I were able to doing a lot of visiting both in and out of the Church last week.
Lincoln will be going to Arkansas for his yearly visit to Wynne and other places next week. Brethren from Nassau and Freeport will be supplying preachers for Rock Sound in his absence. Dinah and I were both very impressed with the new people he has converted and those who are now visiting services on a regular basis. Cecil Williams who lives 40 miles from the building down on the southern tip of the Island has started bringing his mother. Cecil has a form of MS, but is anxious not to miss a service. At $5 a gallon, the congregations spends a good portion of it's budget each week driving the two round trips to see that Cecil and his mom can be present. Dinah carried a lot of materials for children this past week, and they and the parents were very grateful. One of the new men that Lincoln has had coming the past few weeks is Michael Dorsett. Michael is the head of the Local Government Committee, active with Lincoln in working with young people, and the son-in law of the speaker of the House in the Parliament in Nassau. We are also very impressed with a Mrs. Hastie who teaches art in the High School and has been very faithful in attendance. We met several others on Sunday who have just started to attend. Please pray for these new contacts. Lincoln has been able to get one of my Drug Education books accepted by the School System in Eleuthera. I was very pleased about this. Several School Systems in the States wanted me to revise the books and take out the Biblical and religious materials as they were afraid this would be offensive! We are thankful for the freedom we have to teach Bible in the Schools of the Bahamas.
The last Sunday of November is set for the 8th Annual Mission Day in Freeport. We are grateful to these brethren for taking the lead in keeping "Missions" high on the list of outreach with the Island Churches. These brethren have been very active in having a monthly "Bring Your Friend Day", and in setting studies and baptizing people.
Dinah has a good time last week, eating almond fruit for the first time. She knew about the nuts, but did not know that the fruit that covers the nut was so delicious. She also saw how hard it is to get the nut out of the shell. She said it really does make it nice to just buy a package from the store.
We are thankful for your support 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/
