Cornerstone’s team work together to bless a family in Abaco by adding finishing touches to their home
Read past updates from this team and others at – Many Hands Impact – Team Updates
Today was a day when we set out to bless a family that spends much time blessing others in their community. Our first full day in Abaco we heard a speech from a man who talked about how hard it is to find volunteers on the island, which makes this couple’s efforts stand out even more.
We were given the task to paint the outside of this family’s home and to make it safer for their children inside. The house had been under construction for about 3 years and needed its first coat of paint on the outside. Everything to build or repair a house in Abaco needs to be imported from the United States, which makes it incredibly expensive. Most families are unable to get a mortgage so they work on their house as they have extra money to put at it. In the meantime they need somewhere to live, so they make due in their unfinished house.
It was a big project and the only way we were going to get through it was working together. Each person soon found work that was suited to their interests and abilities. Some did detail work with brushes, some added an extension pole to their rollers did the big areas, some trimmed down low (so others didn’t have to get up and down), some were more comfortable on ladders, some did the tedious work of painting the gorgeous (but detailed) railing, some built a relationship with the homeowner, some used their carpentry skills to help the children run safely up and down the spiral staircase, some prepared the food and fetched supplies, some organized our efforts at the beginning of the day. The homeowner was also a part of our team, working alongside us. Each of us brought our own skills, abilities, and heat tolerance levels, but it all came together beautifully (as was evidenced by the look of pure delight on the homeowner’s face at the end of the day).
Upon arrival back at camp I finally found the courage to get in the water (I generally hate swimming). It was refreshing after a long, hot day of work and I was even more refreshed after seeing all of the amazing creatures hiding under the surface of the water. From the shore you can mostly find snails and see a few fish (if you go to the right place). Once you are in the water with snorkeling gear there is so much more to see. You can find starfish, sand dollars, sponges (I think), sea biscuits, an occasional sea turtle, and more varieties of fish than I will ever know the names of. God made all of these amazing creatures that most of us will never have the opportunity to see.
Teamwork was brought back to the forefront of my mind over dinner this evening. We had several guests who came to talk to us about the work they are doing with the youth. Pastor Barrett and Carrie Hendrickson work each week to bring 70-90 kids to church for youth group (G2). While Many Hands isn’t directly involved with the work the teamwork and collaboration between ministries was evident. Over and over again we had heard and seen this week how much more work can be accomplished by islanders, Churches, Many Hands, and even the local government working together to be a blessing to this community.
