Bahama Mission Update
June 24, 2010

The 2010 Hurricane Season has made it's beginning. We are promised that this year will be heavy. So far there is only a large slow moving Tropical Wave south of Haiti.(There is some concern that it may develop and move into the Gulf of Mexico and cause more damage to the oil spill areas.) Much rain has fallen and it makes it very difficult for the people and the workers serving their needs in recovery. 98% of the trees in Haiti have been cut down to make charcoal, and there is nothing in the mountainous country to keep the rain from washing down the mountain sides and causing floods and landslides. The work in Haiti continues, and much progress is being made. Some of the church buildings are being repaired. Many homes of members are being put into some kind of repair that will allow them to move out from the camps and from under tarps and tents. Dr.David Vanderpool is still taking teams in every month and leaving some to continue the clinics in the affected areas. Our daughter-in law Marie spent 10 days as a team member. They worked not only in Port Au Prince, but in many of the outlying areas, and even took two and a half tons of food into one of the camps. Yesterday the team saw 60 patients and was bracing for the rain and the storms. We continue to support efforts to feed the brethren and the children. In one congregation 162 children are being fed daily. Most of our brethren in the affected areas are housing and feeding orphans. There has been a surge in spiritual awakening and more than 80 souls have been baptized recently in one area. Clean water systems are being dug and developed so that the children will not have to haul clean water from distances in buckets. The efforts toward recovery are on going and will be for a long time into the future. We deeply appreciate all that you have done to help support these areas of work; and the trust that you have given to Bahama Mission in reaching out to the people. I have pictures and hope to have them on a web site soon so that you can see what is being done. My son Jason is hoping to have them up soon. There are too many to just e-mail.

This past month I have spoken at West Broward in Ft. Lauderdale for their annual Mission Day. It was good to hear Gladwyn Kiddoe speak and report during the Bible Class period. It is such a joy to see the work in the various Islands develop and grow from the seeds planted many years in the past. Gladwyn has directed the Jamaica School of Preaching for more than 30 years. His wife Alva is a medical Doctor. The school has expanded into Cuba and many other Islands of the Caribbean. We also had opportunity to speak at Gulf Coast in Ft. Myers and express appreciation to our sponsors for the many areas where they assist in the Bahamas. Mother's Day put us back in Abaco, I was also invited to speak there on Father's Day, but had another appointment.The congregation continues to work on and use the new classroom building. One day it will be finished! I did go to Eleuthera along with Terrance Baker ( the aircraft mechanic). Lincoln is doing a great job and it was a joy to meet new members, speak to a full house and to hear of all of the studies in progress. Dinah made a trip to Phoenix to spend time with her Mom. My Mother is doing much better and my sister is playing the Medicare Game of musical rehab hospitals. Our plan is to go up to Houston and give Cleo and Judy a break after almost 4 months of constant care. We were there for a while when we were speaking in Texas, but Judy did not want to leave due to her critical condition. She has all of the tubes out and is eating by mouth again.

I want to thank all of you who sent cards and well wishes for my birthday. Reaching three score years and ten with good health is a blessing. I did spend some time at the eye doctor, skin cancer doctor, and had oral surgery in the past few weeks. In addition to speaking and studying, I finally got some much needed work done on the car and the van in Abaco. We also got them licensed for the next year. The power in Abaco is off and on. More often off than on. A new power plant is being constructed. They have been saying that we should have it open and working by August. Now they have said it might be the first of the year. Our new runway is open, but the taxi way and access to the runway is still not completed. Our hope is that this dangerous situation can be fixed sometime later in the year. I did receive my new work permit good until June of 2012 and got my new Bahamas drivers license good until 2013.

Saturday will be the funeral of Lilla Strachan. Lilla was the oldest member in Abaco and has had great influence over many years. She was a friend of mine for more than 30 years. Any of you who have visited Abaco most likely ate at Lilla's table. I remember her for her faithfulness, loyalty, love of God and man, courage, compassion, generosity, trustworthiness, independence and humor. She had a heart that was immune to hatred. She will be sorely missed. We rejoice that she had gone on to her special reward.

Bea Sarver has not been doing too well lately and we encourage your prayers in her behalf. We continue to appreciate all that you continue to do for the work in the Islands. The economy has struck Bahama Mission like many others and we have lost some support to the programs. We will continue to do all that we can with what we have and will tighten our belts like everyone else.

Thank you again for your support and prayers. Checks can be made out to Bahama Mission Church of Christ and sent:

Att: David Caskey-Mission, c/o Gulf Coast Church of Christ
9550 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway
Ft. Myers, Florida 33966.

david

Bahama Mission Website
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact: David Caskey

Webmaster: Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/