Thrift Market Team – Exploration

The Many Hands Thrift Market Impact Team is made up of staff, volunteers, and friends of the Many Hands Thrift Markets located in Iowa. They will be serving together in Abaco, working alongside the community to be impact where God leads them.

The team poses together on the Many Hands campus in Abaco

We made it! After weather delays and interesting flights, we all arrived on Tuesday. After good food and a good night’s sleep, today, Wednesday, the Iowa crew is ready to go!

 

We saw how hearts and lives were touched by the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. It was sobering to see how people were still struggling four years later but definitely saw encouraging signs of rebuilding.

 

We got our practice as farmers planting, pruning, and harvesting at Driftwood farms. (There may or may not have been a little sampling of the produce). We even gathered eggs! This is a hydroponic farm that was a new experience for us Iowans and especially for the farmers in the group!

Members of the Thrift Team help with planting at Driftwood Farms
Melissa Nelson harvesting cherry tomatoes

After showers and a quick clean up we headed back to town to attend the G2 youth group with the Kirk of the Pines Church. This was a highlight for some in our group. We played football and soccer and visited with the kids before the bible study started. We helped hand out snacks (the kids love snacks and begged for more). The most memorable part was when they broke into small groups and how these kids openly shared their joys and trials that they face daily. We saw their faith and resilience. They were all open, polite, and happy to have us there to share their night. We had many discussions on the way home about how we were the ones blessed.


New adventures tomorrow, sunshine and waiting to see what God has in store for us.

Members of the team enjoying community at G2 at Kirk of the Pines

Check back for more blogs from the Many Hands Thrift Market Team as they serve over the next week!

Related Posts

A Call to Go

The Crossroads Church – Norwalk IMPACT team finished their last full day with food distribution around the island, providing team members with the chance to speak with locals and one another about what they had seen throughout their week. As evidenced by their daily reflections, the Crossroads Church team participants were met with emotions and experiences that challenged them to view themselves and their impact on others differently. It truly was a powerful week for them. Hear more from Peri and John for the final reflection from this team! 

 

Read more
A Different Side of the Abaco Islands

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. 

Read more
Out of Left Field

The Crossroads Church – Norwalk IMPACT team shares another day in their life in Abaco! Hear from Jodi and Jeff as they reflect on their time spent at the Central Abaco Primary School, the continued work on Zhivargo’s house, and more!

Read more
Hands and Feet of Christ

The Crossroads Church – Norwalk IMPACT team is making a difference in Abaco, balancing meaningful work with enriching cultural experiences. Join Dustin and Kim as they share highlights from their day, including a breathtaking sunrise, a visit to the vibrant Farmer’s Market, and continued progress on Zhivargo’s home rebuild.

Read more
Enlarging Our Territory

The Crossroads Church–Norwalk IMPACT team had another busy, yet impactful day serving alongside those in Abaco. Matthew and Brandi share about their time at Driftwood Farms, an agricultural partner of Many Hands’, and about a youth group they attended at Kirk of the Pines Church. 

Read more
Zhivargo Dawkins – Bahamian homeowner and friend!

The Crossroads IMPACT team is jumping right into their week in Abaco. Carrie and Mark share about their first day of serving; the team worked on a housebuild for Zhivargo, a man in Abaco who lost his home in 2019 from Hurricane Dorian. Check out the team’s initial thoughts and impressions of Abaco! 

Read more