Monday 18th Aug
A super busy day today! We started at 9:30am, we went to a church members house to do some clearing of the house and yard. Im not sure anyone expected the huge amount of work we had before us. We spent two hours clearing a huge yard where we found, laptops, a rusty truck engine, a sofa, and lots more. We also set to with Machetes, chopping down banana trees, coconut trees and anything that stayed still long enough for the boys (and a few girls) to hack!
We cleared alot of the yard and made some very impressive piles for a fire and rubbish. We then had lunch at the manse and changed into more appropriate clothes. After some prep time we went to run a Vacation Bible School, we were expecting between 10 and 20 children so imagine our surprise when 38 descended upon us!
It was a great time of singing, drawing and colouring and learning about God.
We then had a team meeting and then it was definately time for bed!!
We have a busy week ahead of us so pray we all keep our energy level up!
Ruthy x
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Sunday, 17 August 2008
SAND, SEA ad SUNday :P
Well Sunday is nearly over so we thought we'd update you on our day.
We split into two teams for church today, 2 services each. Sarah, Mandy, Katy, Chris and Revd Stacia went to Stanyard Creek and Stafford Creek. Al, Rev.d Mark, Caitlin, Tom, Tim, and Roo went to Nicholl's Town and Mastic Point where Rae and Ruth joined the rest team at Mastic Point so got off lightly with only 1 service.
Sarah was Preaching at Stanyard Creek and did fabulously!! only 2 locals turned up though which made it very personal intimate service. She preached on Praying like Jesus and gave a brilliant insight into how, why,where, when and what Jesus prayed, giving those who heard it great insight into the spiritual life of Jesus in a way that we hadn't heard before. Mandy was preaching at Stafford Creek to a congregation of 4 locals, we all sang out to God. Mandy preached on disciples and why people don't become disciples and how God called her. It was a great sermon and she summarised the message in poetry! She really needs to publish her poems - you should hear her!
We all did Sunday lunch Andros style each at their home stay. Sarah, Al and Rachael had craw fish!!! After an afternoon rest we gathered for swimming (a long awaited reward for hard work). The beach is just ten minutes walk and it only took a few seconds before everyone was in the water. The water is warm and clear; it provides a great environment for diving under the waves to observe the fish. Even in the shallows there are are plenty of fish to swim with. Mandy came back with a baby conch (which she returned to the sea I add) and with Chris an underwater video of fish.
Back to home stays for a good nights sleep in preparation of our outreach tomorrow morning.
Al, Mandy and Sarah
We split into two teams for church today, 2 services each. Sarah, Mandy, Katy, Chris and Revd Stacia went to Stanyard Creek and Stafford Creek. Al, Rev.d Mark, Caitlin, Tom, Tim, and Roo went to Nicholl's Town and Mastic Point where Rae and Ruth joined the rest team at Mastic Point so got off lightly with only 1 service.
Sarah was Preaching at Stanyard Creek and did fabulously!! only 2 locals turned up though which made it very personal intimate service. She preached on Praying like Jesus and gave a brilliant insight into how, why,where, when and what Jesus prayed, giving those who heard it great insight into the spiritual life of Jesus in a way that we hadn't heard before. Mandy was preaching at Stafford Creek to a congregation of 4 locals, we all sang out to God. Mandy preached on disciples and why people don't become disciples and how God called her. It was a great sermon and she summarised the message in poetry! She really needs to publish her poems - you should hear her!
We all did Sunday lunch Andros style each at their home stay. Sarah, Al and Rachael had craw fish!!! After an afternoon rest we gathered for swimming (a long awaited reward for hard work). The beach is just ten minutes walk and it only took a few seconds before everyone was in the water. The water is warm and clear; it provides a great environment for diving under the waves to observe the fish. Even in the shallows there are are plenty of fish to swim with. Mandy came back with a baby conch (which she returned to the sea I add) and with Chris an underwater video of fish.
Back to home stays for a good nights sleep in preparation of our outreach tomorrow morning.
Al, Mandy and Sarah
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Hello Andros - brace yourselves!
Saturday 16th August
So you know the saying early to bed early to rise ... that didnt quite work. We were departing from Nassau for Andros at 8am (check in at 7am) and for one I was still in bed when Rose came to pick me up! Sarah and Al's car kept breaking down enroute and it was really touch and go to make the ferry!
The goodbye was emotional many tears mainly from Rose! After our departure the ferry ride took just over two and a half hours. With an amazing encounter with flying fish (or birds the debates still rages.)
We were greeted by Rev Mark Christmas and taken to our respective home stays, after depositing our belongings we met at the Christmas' house and had lunch and a discussion about what we are doing. Today was really just a settling in to the relaxed style of Andros life, really really laid back!
The difference between the city life of Nassau and the sparseness of Andros is vast. It is a really nice change and we are all looking forward to our change in pace but still a packed programme.
Saturday 16th
Lunch at Manse, relax into homestays
Sunday 17th
Church - Al preaching at Nicholls Town and Mastic Point,
Sarah Preaching at Stanyard
Mandy preaching at Stafford Creeks
Team distributed throughout churches.
Rest of the day with hosts with a possible trip to the beach.
Monday 18th
Outreach, house clearing for a church member, clearing external area of house and starting to lay lino flooring inside.
Vacation Bible School at Wesley Methodist Mastic Point.
Tuesday 19th
Outreach, house clearing, clearing external area of house and starting to lay lino flooring inside.
Vacation Bible School at Wesley Methodist Mastic Point.
Wednesday 20th
Outreach, house clearing, clearing external area of house and starting to lay lino flooring inside.
Vacation Bible School at Wesley Methodist Mastic Point.
Thursday 21st
Trip to Androsia cottage dyeing factory, tshirts, bags etc.
Lunch at Morgans Bluff
Vacation Bible School at Wesley Methodist Mastic Point.
Friday 22nd
Completion of outreach house clearing if necessary.
Craft workshop, local basket weaving.
Saturday 23rd
Community Tour
Lunch at Fish Fry
Prep for services on sunday.
Sunday 24th
Al preaching at Stanyard and Stafford Creek
Others to Mastic Point and Nicholls Town.
Shared Evening worship - sharing cultures of church.
Monday 25th
Free Day to pack, and get ready for Grand Bahama
Tuesday 26th
Flight to Nassau and onto Grand Bahama.
So you know the saying early to bed early to rise ... that didnt quite work. We were departing from Nassau for Andros at 8am (check in at 7am) and for one I was still in bed when Rose came to pick me up! Sarah and Al's car kept breaking down enroute and it was really touch and go to make the ferry!
The goodbye was emotional many tears mainly from Rose! After our departure the ferry ride took just over two and a half hours. With an amazing encounter with flying fish (or birds the debates still rages.)
We were greeted by Rev Mark Christmas and taken to our respective home stays, after depositing our belongings we met at the Christmas' house and had lunch and a discussion about what we are doing. Today was really just a settling in to the relaxed style of Andros life, really really laid back!
The difference between the city life of Nassau and the sparseness of Andros is vast. It is a really nice change and we are all looking forward to our change in pace but still a packed programme.
Saturday 16th
Lunch at Manse, relax into homestays
Sunday 17th
Church - Al preaching at Nicholls Town and Mastic Point,
Sarah Preaching at Stanyard
Mandy preaching at Stafford Creeks
Team distributed throughout churches.
Rest of the day with hosts with a possible trip to the beach.
Monday 18th
Outreach, house clearing for a church member, clearing external area of house and starting to lay lino flooring inside.
Vacation Bible School at Wesley Methodist Mastic Point.
Tuesday 19th
Outreach, house clearing, clearing external area of house and starting to lay lino flooring inside.
Vacation Bible School at Wesley Methodist Mastic Point.
Wednesday 20th
Outreach, house clearing, clearing external area of house and starting to lay lino flooring inside.
Vacation Bible School at Wesley Methodist Mastic Point.
Thursday 21st
Trip to Androsia cottage dyeing factory, tshirts, bags etc.
Lunch at Morgans Bluff
Vacation Bible School at Wesley Methodist Mastic Point.
Friday 22nd
Completion of outreach house clearing if necessary.
Craft workshop, local basket weaving.
Saturday 23rd
Community Tour
Lunch at Fish Fry
Prep for services on sunday.
Sunday 24th
Al preaching at Stanyard and Stafford Creek
Others to Mastic Point and Nicholls Town.
Shared Evening worship - sharing cultures of church.
Monday 25th
Free Day to pack, and get ready for Grand Bahama
Tuesday 26th
Flight to Nassau and onto Grand Bahama.
Chill Out Day!?
Friday 15th August
So today was meant to be a rest day (HA!).
We met at Rev. Sykes office and agreed to change monies, post postcards (expect them within 7-10 working days) and meet at the Houses of Parliament at 11am.
When it was apparent that changing money on a friday just wasnt going to happen we decided to focus on post office duties and do money later in the day!
We visited the Houses of Parliament and were given a tour by the Chief Clark Mr Tynes. It was a very interesting and informative morning, we even got to have a gander at the Senate meeting room (never open to the public) and it was great to think that is where royals open sessions and we were in the same room!
We then had an amazing meeting with the British High Comissioner Mr Peter Young, the main man who will get people home if they get in trouble but that aint us. He was brilliant to talk and listen to, he had great insight into the inner workings of the Bahamas, the importance and priviledge of cultural exchanges and what we can learn from them. He really encouraged all the team to continue to learn from other cultures and the doors this experience will open for them in their future!
We then had a second attempt at banking and were successful! Had lunch on Bay St, even some experience of Conch Salad. Then back to Wesley for Vacation Bible School Prep in Andros next week. The theme is B.I.B.L.E Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth, what the bible teaches us and why it is a useful tool.
Our last meal with the folks at Wesley and a little emotional for some of the team and hosts.
We then went home to pack and get an early night (again with the HA!)
So quite a good 'rest day'.
Ruthy
So today was meant to be a rest day (HA!).
We met at Rev. Sykes office and agreed to change monies, post postcards (expect them within 7-10 working days) and meet at the Houses of Parliament at 11am.
When it was apparent that changing money on a friday just wasnt going to happen we decided to focus on post office duties and do money later in the day!
We visited the Houses of Parliament and were given a tour by the Chief Clark Mr Tynes. It was a very interesting and informative morning, we even got to have a gander at the Senate meeting room (never open to the public) and it was great to think that is where royals open sessions and we were in the same room!
We then had an amazing meeting with the British High Comissioner Mr Peter Young, the main man who will get people home if they get in trouble but that aint us. He was brilliant to talk and listen to, he had great insight into the inner workings of the Bahamas, the importance and priviledge of cultural exchanges and what we can learn from them. He really encouraged all the team to continue to learn from other cultures and the doors this experience will open for them in their future!
We then had a second attempt at banking and were successful! Had lunch on Bay St, even some experience of Conch Salad. Then back to Wesley for Vacation Bible School Prep in Andros next week. The theme is B.I.B.L.E Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth, what the bible teaches us and why it is a useful tool.
Our last meal with the folks at Wesley and a little emotional for some of the team and hosts.
We then went home to pack and get an early night (again with the HA!)
So quite a good 'rest day'.
Ruthy
Farewell to All Saints and AIDS Secretariat
Thursday 14th August
We all met up for our last visit to All Saints HIV/AIDS community, which was quite moving for a number of the team. Most of the team visited a number of the community and were really moved by their stories and huge amounts of faith regardless of the situation they now found themselves in. We thank God for Miss Moxey, Lillian, Lofton, Garvin, Sophie and many other members of the community.
We then had a quick lunch and went down to see the AIDS secretatiat. She gave us a very informative presentation about the situation of HIV/AIDS in the Bahamas. It was shocking to think that 3% of the population are infected with either HIV or AIDS. As of december 2007 11,200 people were known to be living with HIV/AIDS in the Bahamas. A positive statistic is that only 4 babies have been born infected in the last year. Which just shows the work that the Secretariat is doing, pushing regular testing and education about the disease.
We had another tasty meal at Wesley - please dont think any of us will be coming back thinner I dont think anyone will allow us to!
Ruthy
We all met up for our last visit to All Saints HIV/AIDS community, which was quite moving for a number of the team. Most of the team visited a number of the community and were really moved by their stories and huge amounts of faith regardless of the situation they now found themselves in. We thank God for Miss Moxey, Lillian, Lofton, Garvin, Sophie and many other members of the community.
We then had a quick lunch and went down to see the AIDS secretatiat. She gave us a very informative presentation about the situation of HIV/AIDS in the Bahamas. It was shocking to think that 3% of the population are infected with either HIV or AIDS. As of december 2007 11,200 people were known to be living with HIV/AIDS in the Bahamas. A positive statistic is that only 4 babies have been born infected in the last year. Which just shows the work that the Secretariat is doing, pushing regular testing and education about the disease.
We had another tasty meal at Wesley - please dont think any of us will be coming back thinner I dont think anyone will allow us to!
Ruthy
Sorry severe internet failure!
BTC went on strike this week so we havent had internet access since weds! So for all who are worried we are all fine and havent been eaten by a hurricane or sea monster! But thanks for the concern!
Weds 13th Aug
Today we all had to get up early to meet at the ferry port at 7am, we did a visit to Eleuthera, Spanish Wells (briefest of brief) and Harbour Island.
The ferry was about 1:40, with only a little seasickness from Sarah and Ruth (I personally hate ferries). Arrived in Spanish Wells and jumped on a water taxi to Eleuthera. We were met by a tour guide and bundled into a minibus. We visited Preachers Cave a milestone in the early Eleutheran adventurers, a ship was wrecked on Devils back bone (great name!) and travelled to the area where they discovered caves, they set up a preachers point and people came to hear them preach the gospel. It was amazing to see a genuine historical site that hadnt been commercialised so the atmosphere is incredible. A number of the team were struck by the peace and history of the place.
We then travelled down to the Glass Window Bridge which is a concrete bridge over the point where the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea meet. I cant really describe it but it was amazing to see the deep blue of the Atlantic on the left and the clear blue shallow waters of the Caribbean on the right.
Atlantic Side of the Bridge
Caribbean Side of the Bridge!
We then hopped on another water taxi to Harbour Island - I must just say at this point it was getting so so hot that we all required copious amounts of water on arrival! We had a walking tour of Harbour Island. We went to Wesley Methodist Church (not a part of the MCCA) where just outside was temperance square . We then walked up a hill (in stifling heat) to the famous pink sands beach where the sand is apparently pink, we tried but weren't convinced about the pinkness of it!
After lunch in a local restaurant we milled about and caught the ferry back to Nassau.
We returned to Wesley Methodist Church in Nassau for another tasty meal.
A busy, hot but very interesting day. One of the hosts joined us all day and we as a team really enjoyed playing with her children and getting to know them all better.
Ruth
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Kids fun at All Saints
Tuesday 12 August 2008
Today we put on a kids activity morning at All Saints. When we started ther we no kids in sight. We got the parachute out and children started to appear as if from nowhere. They ranged in age from 18 months to 15 years. They loved the parachute, we had them running underneath it, bouncing balls on top and trying to get them through the hole in the centre and playing cat and mouse.
Afterwards we made an All Saints banner of hand and foot prints with coloured paints on an old sheet. we hung this up in the chapel afterwards. There were piggy back lifts and running races. Al raced an 8 year old lad in bare feet, Mandy recorded it on her camera and re-played the action as the 8 year old raced ahead to the finish line! Basket ball was also enjoyed with the young lads and members of the team.
sarah
Thrift Shop -
This afternoon we cleared another bookshelf, organised some boxes, and sorted some clothes mainly it was too hot to do anything so we were a little lazy and bought stuff - bad shirts included.
Just going for another yummy meal!
Ruthy x
Today we put on a kids activity morning at All Saints. When we started ther we no kids in sight. We got the parachute out and children started to appear as if from nowhere. They ranged in age from 18 months to 15 years. They loved the parachute, we had them running underneath it, bouncing balls on top and trying to get them through the hole in the centre and playing cat and mouse.
Afterwards we made an All Saints banner of hand and foot prints with coloured paints on an old sheet. we hung this up in the chapel afterwards. There were piggy back lifts and running races. Al raced an 8 year old lad in bare feet, Mandy recorded it on her camera and re-played the action as the 8 year old raced ahead to the finish line! Basket ball was also enjoyed with the young lads and members of the team.
sarah
Thrift Shop -
This afternoon we cleared another bookshelf, organised some boxes, and sorted some clothes mainly it was too hot to do anything so we were a little lazy and bought stuff - bad shirts included.
Just going for another yummy meal!
Ruthy x
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