When I thought about David and I opening a blog, I knew I wanted a clever title to go along with our mission. I had taken this photo in 2012 the first time we visited the island and I've always loved the image. I used it as a cover photo on my facebook page about the time we were praying more intentionally about our call to mission ministry. The phrase "Getting Out of the Boat" just worked.
This little boat can be found along the shore of the calm water of the settlement, James Cistern. It was moored there with a fishing net strung out into the deeper water. We would usually see it at least once each time we would stay on the island. When driving by, I'd even watched other tourists stop on the beach to photograph it too. I've wondered how many people have taken this same picture. Just like photos of the gondola's in Venice, it seemed like, if you've been through James Cistern, this is the tourist shot. You just don't often see boats around there, not even at the dock.
I never wondered who this boat belonged to. The boat was taken care of, that was obvious. Sometimes the net was cast out, sometimes it was lying on the rocky beach. Occasionally, the boat would even be pulled in to shore. I never thought about who was using it or why. Was it for fishing for income? Why was no one tending to it when we passed? What could you actually catch in those nets left unattended. (I don't know much about fishing)
This week at BMH we met some of the crew leaders we had not worked with before. Crew leaders are Bahamian young men (most under 45) hired by the ministry to work with, teach and lead the tasks for the volunteers on the job sites. They are patience people. They have to be. They take workers with little to no building skills and put them to work repairing homes. Or, they may encounter highly skilled workers who need to learn the island way of doing things. Either way, each week they work with whomever has joined the team.
Crew leader work is so important to the ministry. The work crew leaders help to provide the cultural piece of the puzzle. As volunteers go out on to the job, this is the Bahamian they will get to know the most. Each work day it is also the teams job to make lunch for their crew leader. There is a list of what sandwich to make for each leader and the team has to include it in the cooler as they pack for the work site. To the volunteers, the crew leader represent ALL Bahamian people. The crew leaders I have known are well mannered, fun loving people who like to lighten the load with a joke or a smile. (or a song - TJ is always singing something) They share their stories of island life as the working day brings people closer together.
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| David helping Luke with the new ceiling. |
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| Luke inspecting the next part of the job. |
So far we have met or worked with Bush, Jerry, TJ, Smokey, Pedro and Luke. This week we had 4 team sites running. Two in Hatchett Bay and two in Cupid's Cay. The groups traveled on two buses, one heading north and one south. David and I worked south in Cupid's Cay. Crew leaders arrive for the morning, and with the team, gather the tools and supplies needed after consulting with KP, the construction coordinator. Teams get a chance to chat on the bus ride to the job.
The one full day David and I worked, it was one of those chats when we learned who owns the boat. It's Luke, the crew leader. When we asked where he lived, he shared he was from JC (James Cistern). Luke asked if we had seen the little boat on the beach and proudly told us it was his. He uses it to catch food for himself, family and friends. If he has a need for fish, he'll go fishing in his little boat just across Queen's Highway from him house. The meal is right there just waiting to be caught.
The people of the island need to continue to learn to use the resources of the sea and the land. Imported meats are expensive and their income can reach farther when they can catch fish for the family or grow fresh vegetables at home. These are skills they don't teach in school. Growing things and fishing are lessons passed down from one generation to the next. However, with the economic changes on the island and the need for money for things like cell phones and satellite TV, young men and women have to seek out someone to teach them these basic island life skills. Year's ago these were trades in times of the simple life but, life just isn't so simple any more.
There is so much to learn about the new country where we will be living. So much to learn from them and so much we hope to share. This ministry goes to the heart of community to share Christ's love. The ocean of joy and peace is right there in our hearts when we have faith in God. We just have to learn how to fish it out. As we seek out God to teach us His way, we will no longer be hungry for He will fill out nets.
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalms 25:4-5
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