The Crossroads Church – Norwalk IMPACT team experienced the tourist side of Abaco Island today. They enjoyed conversation, food, and the beach, while reflecting on the stark contrast between this financially stable area and other parts of the island. Aaron and Liz share their insights from this different kind of cultural immersion.
Each morning of our Impact trip begins with breakfast, followed by a team devotional. This morning’s schedule allowed for a little more time, where we discussed at great length the topics of calling, discernment, and dependence on the Lord. God has been so good to give us rich times of studying the Word together.
Today was our cultural experience day. We took the ferry from Marsh Harbor to Hope Town along with the locals who were going to work on Elbow Cay, dressed in their resort uniforms. Winds were strong and the ride was choppy, with water blowing onto the windows and leaving a few of us queasy.
As we disembarked, we went first to Elbow Reef Lighthouse. It is one of the last operating kerosene-fired lighthouses in the world. After 101 steps to the top, we squeezed out a little door onto the observation level. From there you could see the God’s natural beauty that the Bahamians love so much!
From there, we had lunch as a group at the marina, where we talked about our experiences so far and shared funny stories from home. The group dynamic has enjoyed rich and fun conversation the whole trip, and this was no exception.
We then took a pontoon across the bay to the settlement. It’s a quaint couple of little streets, connected by alleyways. It has such a quiet, almost old-world feel to it. On one side you have the bay, bustling with sailboat tenders, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world on the other side. At the end of our time separately meandering the cay, we all found each other sitting at the same section of beach, resting and reflecting on our trip. Some napped, a few swam or walked, and the rest of us enjoyed looking toward the horizon. The water was a beautiful turquoise blue, with powdery white sand. It was a gorgeous end to a laid back day.
Our trip to Elbow Cay showed us the diversity of life among the Abaco islands. Although it was also impacted by Hurricane Dorian, its rebuilding has happened much faster than Great Abaco due to greater financial resources and dependence on tourism. As many locals commute by ferry for work or school, it challenges our perspective to see people living between two worlds: one island with yachts and resorts only minutes away from another with ruins of homes and demolished vehicles along the road. Yet through all the challenges, we continue to be met with joy, hospitality, and respect from each person we meet. Their resilience and God’s grace truly abounds here.
— Aaron and Liz Vande Voort
