On past trips – mostly to sunny vacation destinations – this Iowa girl is always impressed with the beautiful palms trees and green vegetation in the middle of January. However, landing in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas was a little different story. Even before landing, I was struck by the snapped off trees that had been stripped bare of all leaves. I’ve seen the path of a tornado after it has ripped through a town and / or farm, but this was a different kind of animal. Hurricane Dorian left miles and miles of devastation as I have never seen. Another team member said it reminded them of the aftermath of a forest fire, with only the blackened tree trunks remaining. Driving through the towns and seeing the businesses and homes also proved to be a very sobering sight. Neighborhood after neighborhood we saw buildings and homes with no roof, only to find out that originally most had another floor beneath that missing roof. Broken glass, broken concrete, and broken dreams seemed to fill the streets. But praise the Lord, this is not the end of the story!
We have this amazing promise in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come.” As Believers, we have experienced that, and know that through Jesus Christ, we have hope for new life and a better future. We know that our God is a god of restoration and nothing is beyond His reach. So we put on our work gloves and asked the Lord to use us for His glory. Being only the second team on location here at Camp Abaco, I feel that we are the ones helping to prepare the ground for seeds to be planted throughout the island later. Our work so far has been to repair, clean, sort, and organize areas of this camp, so the future teams and full-time missionaries here can better do their jobs.
I am amazed at our team and the incredible variety of gifts and talents – all of which have been beneficial for our to-do list. In this blog I’ll highlight one area. Monica Peterson and Donna Krogman are two very talented ladies whom we call the “linen ladies.” They both volunteer at the Many Hands Market in Spencer, specializing in the linen department. The first task on our list was to clean and organize a packed room that was full of donated sheets, blankets, towels and a variety of other things. I wouldn’t know where to begin figuring out the difference between a full or queen size sheet. And don’t count on me for folding anything that is fitted! But by Monday morning, everything was sorted, shelves were labeled, and there was space to get around in that room. Laundry room project… Check!
I’ll highlight other projects in future blogs, but please know that we are on the move, knocking projects off the list faster than expected. After the construction and plumbing tools are put away, and the cleaning rags are hung to dry overnight, we have all enjoyed the fellowship time, as we get to know each other a little better. I’ve learned a new card game called, “Up and Down the River.” And although I hold the record for coming in dead last, I treasure this time of laughter and comradery, after a day where Many Hands make light work.
