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!
We started our Monday morning in Abaco with devotions led by team member Liz Vande Voort. She read an excerpt from First Chronicles 4:10:
The scripture was about a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. He prayed to God “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
Liz’s devotion served as the ideal prayer message that spoke into our hearts, for we all came to Abaco hoping to expand our outreach and the impact we could have on others. Yet many of us were feeling inadequate, ill-equipped, and unprepared for the journey in front of us. It took another team member to remind us that this is the human condition and that it takes many hands, as the body of Christ, to accomplish His will! And with that encouragement our Crossroads Team came together to serve our Bahamian Christian brothers and sisters.
Many Hands is currently rebuilding a home on the island for a man named Zhivargo, whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Zhivargo was seriously injured in a car accident in 2020 and was life-flighted to a Bahamian hospital for treatment. After extensive surgery, he was left with permanent nerve damage and partial paralysis. Although disabled now, Zhivargo said with all seriousness that God saved his life to enable him to share his testimony with others.
The team spent our first day at the location of Zhiargo’s homebuild, hanging sheetrock, taping and mudding joints, and siding the outside of his house. His home is nearly 60% completed. It is inspiring to see the work past IMPACT teams have done, as well as watch our work progress throughout the day.
Zhivargo’s house is a duplex and each unit has a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, with large decks on the back and front. He plans to use one side of his duplex as rental property to provide sustainable income for himself and his son once finished.
While we were working on Zhivargo’s home, we were able to take time to speak with him and get to know him more intimately. Zhivargo loves to cook and he plans to use the lot he owns next to his duplex for a large garden. On his property, he has planted mango, lemon, avocado and banana trees. We could see a spark in his eye when he discussed the possibility of a small hydroponic garden similar to the large-scale ones Many Hands’ partner, Driftwood Farms, operates.
Zhivargo is grateful to Many Hands and their Impact teams for how they have partnered with him in this journey to rebuild his home. It was a beautiful blessing for both the givers and receivers alike to be a part of God’s plan for him and the island of Abaco.
— Carrie and Mark Schouten
