The past few weeks have been busy as we have covered a lot of ground. I got my flight physical and surprised the Dr. with my good health as he declared me fit to fly. He did send me to a Dermatologist who burned (froze) about 30 pre-cancerous spots from my face, head, ears and hands. Too much tropical sun over the past 25 years! I looked for a while like I had been in a fight. We loaded up the plane and headed back for a 6 Island trip.
The Sarvers are doing well in Abaco for their 15th year. The complexion of the society is changing and it is harder than in past years to get people who desire and have time for Personal Bible Studies. They continue to teach classes and serve as a stabilizing force in this young congregation. Lilla Strachan was taken back to Nassau for work on an infection in her incision for her pace maker. The congregation gave the entire contribution last Sunday to help with her medical expenses. Her annual birthday party has been postponed. I picked up my "police report" so that I can apply for my work permit renewal. I was happy to note that I have no criminal record in the Bahamas. We had cold rainy weather, but I did some more checking of the airplane. Dinah had carried some free material to ladies in all the Islands given by Pat Bosley in Clewiston, Florida. It was good to see that all of them had made use of it with dresses, drapes etc. Marisa Allen catered a Valentine Dinner for a bout 25 members of the congregation. They reported a great time.
A number of the congregations in the Islands will be hosting the "Fishers of Men" program of personal evangelism training conducted by a Brother Hatcher. Abaco will also have a short meeting with Brother Dan Jenkins from the Palm Beach Lakes congregation in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Dinah and I flew back to Exuma with a load of Bibles, World Bible School Materials and cookies for the kids. Bea Sarver is famous for her no bake peanut butter/oatmeal cookies. She had a box for each stop that we made. They were a hit, and after all these years, expected! In Exuma we made our deliveries, enjoyed conducting a Bible Study in the home of the McQueen's, and had lunch with the McQueen's and with Kelly and Anne-Marie.
The next stop was Long Island. We had song books, Bibles, another sign, paint and stain, a bulletin board, and pictures to go on the board. Again we were hosted by the Burrows family. One of the sons cooked a great lunch on Sunday and I ate ginneycorn grits for the first time in my life. Solomon Noles was baptized. He made the decision late in the night. It was cold and windy, and the ocean is not heated this time of the year. Donald asked him if he wanted to be baptized in the morning? No he replied, tonight! I could not help but think that Donald would have rather been singing "O Why Not Tomorrow", rather than "O Why Not Tonight". Dinah touched up signs again, added some pictures to cover electrical boxes,and added the pictures to the new bulletin boards. When leaving we carried a lot of fresh bananas with us to share along the rest of our journey. Friday night before we arrived, the congregation had a surprise "Appreciation Banquet" for their preacher and wife. They were happy that they kept the secret and even happier with the menu. They had called Nassau the capital city and had buckets of chicken from KFC, and all the trimmings delivered to one of the charter flights and landed in Long Island. We got a kick out of this as members of the congregation are renown for their great cooking. This was a special treat for all of them and most of all those who had never tasted KFC.
We had a nice visit with the Deveaux's in Cat Island and dropped off supplies. They seem to be having better health. I found out talking to one of the Taxi drivers that his brother is one of the preachers for a congregation in Denton, Texas. Small world! Then we flew to Eleuthera for a visit with Lincoln and Tony. Lincoln is waiting for someone to help him install his "Dragon Speaking" program which will allow him to speak his reports, rather than type with his tongue. Things can be very slow when you are dependant on others to help you and they are busy or off the Island. Dinah and I repaired a picture frame that he been damaged in travel from Arkansas some months ago, had lunch, delivered Bibles and then flew in the rain for the next 100 miles to Abaco. I added and antena to help improve my internet connection. We were there for Wednesday evening classes and to check the plane again. I conducted clinic as usual and had a delightful lunch with the Sarvers.
Thursday morning found us flying to Freeport for the rest of the week. We were met my Joyce Bent and settled into accommodations. We were thrilled later in the day to meet two planes with Taylor family members from Texas. The Taylors are good friends and loyal supporters of the work in the Islands. Dinah and I visited with members of the congregation, shivered in the strange cool weather, and renewed association with the Taylors. Sunday morning was rainy and cold and windy. We enjoyed a great Bible Class taught by James Miller. (This past Sunday they had a special contribution and raised almost $1000 to help one of their members with eye surgery.) The congregation is preparing in study to appoint elders in the future. I preached and we were to have had lunch (all of us) with Rudy and Paula Stewart. Her stove malfunctioned on Saturday night and burned up the turkey in less than an hour. So it was KFC chicken. Rudy had just returned from Florida with the news that he has Lymphoma. He will be traveling to Florida a number of times in the next weeks to determine the form (aggressive or non-aggressive) and then will begin his Chemo treatments. He is in contact with the West Broward Congregation in Ft. Lauderdale. Dinah and I went over on Sunday night and visited and had prayer with the family before flying out on Monday morning back to Abaco. The Taylors were all to have left on Monday. Some did and 6 more spent another night in Freeport after American Airlines cancelled their flight. They did finally get back to Texas.
Back in Abaco, we had lunch with the Sarvers ( Her Birthday) and dinner with Dave and Amy Collins (her birthday) both we belated from the week before. Dinah goes back to see her specialist next month, we are hopeful that her ears are improved. We are working on our schedule for April and visits to supporting congregations in Texas and Alabama. We will be with the Church in Ringold Ga. for a short meeting on the way. They sponsor the work in Exuma
.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/
