Bahama Mission Update
July 22, 2007

Our weather in the Islands has warmed up, the winds have dropped off, and it has been pretty dry again. Forecasters warn us that the Hurricane Season is alive and well and we should have a more than normal influx of storms. We pray that lives will be spared and damage will be minimal.

37 from the Bahamas attended the Caribbean Lectureship in Puerto Rico. The next Lectureship will be in Guyana, and then in Freeport, Grand Bahama in 2009.

The Church in Freeport just had 35 from Tuscaloosa, Alabama spend time working with a Children's Home and holding a VBS. There are still a couple of groups coming this summer to various Islands.

The Church in Marsh Harbour has been working to close in the new classroom building and repair the trim on the old building.I t has survived more than two decades and about 8 Hurricanes. The Palm Beach Lakes congregation in West Palm Beach has pledged $8000 to assist them in this work. I had a pleasant breakfast meeting with Jeff Leslie this past week. He is head of the Mission Committee. Dinah and I are buying the paint to color the old building to match the new shingles of the roof that was replaced after the last storms. It will take 25 gallons, and is a heavy load to carry in the plane.

More than 80 people on three Islands graduated from the "Fishers of Men" twelve week training sessions in personal evangelism. A number of studies are in progress and several have been baptized. Classes were conducted in Marsh Harbour, Freeport and Nassau.

Jason and Katrinka Quashie and two members from Marsh Harbour are going to Richardson, Texas to attend and speak at a special Mission Day. I spent about 5 hours helping Jason put together a PowerPoint presentation on Marsh Harbour. Dinah and I will be in Marsh Harbour during their absence. We will also be there for the funeral of Alphonso Strachen. "Bones" as we all knew him died last Thursday due to some unknown complications after he was released from the Hospital in Nassau. He is the son of Sister Lilla Strachen who is the oldest member in Marsh Harbour. His body was returned to Nassau for an autopsy.

Dinah made another trip with friends. This time to Phoenix and San Diego. She had a great time. I was in Marsh Harbour and Eleuthera. Early Sunday morning I flew to Rock Sound, Eleuthera to speak and visit with Lincoln Young. Abraham Michaud went with me. He is a young (22 years old) man who moved from Nassau to help strengthen the Church in Marsh Harbour. He got a job as a loan officer in one of the local banks. We are thankful for his dedication and wish we had more who would make that kind of sacrifice to work with the congregations in the distant Islands. On our way back to Marsh Harbour in the late afternoon (Services were not out till 1:15 P.M.) we ran into a small squall that parked itself over the end of the active runway in Marsh Harbour. Several airliners were turning back without landing since no one could see the runway. I dropped down low and gave it a try. "No Joy" as we pilots say! I circled a mile or so around the rain and came over the top of the runway. I could see to land to the west. A friend on the ground gave me the word that the wind had died, and we landed safely. Others followed suit soon afterwards. The squall moved off about an hour later.

We carried some needed supplies to Lincoln, some art books that Donna Stewart sent to Miss Hastie a local art teacher who attends regularly, and I took some clothes and new shoes to Tony Smith who cares for Lincoln. These were given by Michael Hursey Jr. in Ft. Lauderdale. Michael and Tony share one thing in common. They both have big feet. I was a little worried that the size 12's might not be large enough, but Tony assured me that they were "very comfortable". I sort of got the idea that he was so proud of them that he would have said the same thing if they were 2 sizes too small. We really appreciate Tony and all that he does for Lincoln. Sometimes I slip him a little extra money and Lincoln says he just spends it on food. He is big and strong and always hungry. ha

My good friend Jerry Pickup is overhauling our web page and adding some new pictures along with updating some information. Jerry is an unsung hero who not only keeps the Web Page up, but got us the domain name Flyingpreacher.com, and has been paying for it from the beginning. I will let you know when he gets is all done and you can take a look.

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/