Grace United Methodist
Church Youth Bahamas Mission Project
"Go ye into the
world" challenges all to be in
mission throughout the world. Mission work has always been an important
ministry at Grace United Methodist Church in the local, state ,and national
level. Going to be a missionary in another country has become a common
happening for many at Grace, for all ages. Grace members have gone to Haiti,
the Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Mexico in previous years.
After Hurricane Floyd's
devastating visit in the fall of 1999, the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas
was in much need of repair. Through personal contact and the Methodist
Volunteers in Mission Program, a group of nine at Grace struck out in February
of 2000, to find the needs of churches, and assist in the repair and rebuilding
efforts. This advance team stayed at a Methodist camp while they reroofed,
rewired, and repaired many homes in the area.
Ray Haskett and Ken Lowe
were two of the group who saw that much more work was needed on homes. They envisioned
and recruited a team of youth who would go to Eleuthera to help more families
rebuild their lives. The week of July 22-30 was selected since school would be
out for the summer.
The mission team was composed of Rev. Steve Patterson, Phil McCollum,
Tim Sullivan, Trisha Haskett, Jennifer Haskett, Jessica Haskett, Ryan Haskett,
Matthew McCollum, Danny Sullivan, Shea Maple, Nickole Brown, Zach Martin, Drew
Porter, Chuck Grant, and Spike Evans. Ray and Ken served as project engineers
during the trip.
The Bahamian government supplied all the materials needed for home
repairs. Ms. Rosa Lee's home needed a roof replaced with plywood and shingles.
She and her granddaughter have no running water or bathroom. The team was able
to put a new roof on and build petition interior walls for a future bath and
bedroom. She was a very spiritual woman, who brightened their lives by being
around her.
The second home belonged to
Lucille and Bradley, who had five children. They had lived in a three-room home
that had been condemned by the government. The team worked on their new four
room home by enclosing the gables, installing windows, wiring and building
interior walls, hanging sheetrock, and putting on shingles for their roof.
Exterior doors were built and installed as well.
While home repairs and construction were
being done, Jessi Haskett had her own project going on back at the camp. A
fashion design student from Atlanta, she taught sewing classes to 26 children
in the small town of Tarpum Bay. Two boys were part of the classes that were
interested in making their own clothes. At the end of the week, the children
put on a fashion show featuring the outfits they had made. These children, ages
8 to 17, learned a valuable skill that can be used the rest of their lives.
The main group began each
day at 4:45 AM. After eating breakfast and having devotion, they worked between
8 to 9 hours at the construction sights. Afterwards they returned to their base
camp, ate lunch, changed their clothes, and then headed to a secluded beach
(different one each day) to enjoy swimming and snorkeling. Trisha Haskett was
the chief cook for the trip. Phil McCollum, who used creative ways of cooking
outside on the beach, assisted her.
Steve Patterson preached on the
island the Sunday that the group was there. On Wednesday night Steve conducted
a bible study at the James Cistern church. The area churches were presented
with 196 bibles, delivered and purchased by the members of Grace and other
Methodist churches. Hurricane Floyd destroyed all bibles and hymnals. Hymnals have been ordered and will be sent
directly to Eleuthera.
The group was truly blessed
to be able to work, help these families, and make such life long friends. They
cannot wait to make another trip back next summer to be with such loving and
spiritual people, as they stayed with on the island of Eleuthera.
Since returning to Pickens,
the mission team had one last project to accomplish. Money has been collected
to provide a new refrigerator, 2 sets of bunk beds, a cot, and living room
furniture for Lucille and Bradley's house. In addition to this, a used church
van has been purchased and will be shipped to Eleuthera for their use. Good,
used clothing is being put into the van for the people who live there.
Chuck Grant stated,
"The Island’s beaches were beautiful and the people did everything
possible to make us feel welcome. You could really see how the Lord was working
through the people on Eleuthera."
Shea Maple stated, "The
best part about the trip was the people. They were always smiling!"
Danny Sullivan said, "I
enjoyed the swimming. The people were very friendly and were willing to help
themselves."
Matthew McCollum said,
"It was my first time in a foreign country and I loved every minute of
it."
Drew Porter said, "I
enjoyed swimming and snorkeling during the rainstorms and the different kinds
of foods."
Ryan Haskett said, "I
enjoyed helping the people and the beautiful beaches."
Nickole Brown stated,
"I liked being around the kids. They were so friendly and I can't wait to
go back."
Grace was honored to have
Rev. James Neilly and his wife Giselle spend the week with us September 17-22,
planning for a return trip to Eleuthera for the summer of 2001. Three families
will also be coming to visit Pickens from the island, in the future.
We hope to continue this
relationship and mission as long as God needs us. Eleuthera has become an
important stop in our sacred journey.