Your Mission - if you choose to accept it

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO PRAY! 

WE SALUTE YOU!

What do you need for Christmas if you are going to leave to be a missionary - well this is our prayer list

How to Pray for Us and Our Work with Bahamas Methodist Habitat

The following is a list we hope you will keep handy in the next few weeks and months as we take this step in service.

-          Pray for us to be listening to hear God’s voice in resolving the needs of leaving our home and family. There are many things for us to do – from getting rid of things to finding save storage for what will remain here while we are gone – from saying good-bye to family and friends to helping them feel comfortable with our absence.

-          Pray for Mason to continue to be surrounded by caring and nurturing adults who will help him grow and be confident God is with him while we are not with him physically. Pray he is able to ask for help when he needs it and to be aware of others needs around him. Pray for Mason to be protected from harm and wise in his choices. Pray in moments of loneliness he will know he is not alone.

-          Pray for those who will be caring and nurturing Mason. This gift of being called does not go without calling others to share in our mission. We pray God continues to bless the Bohannon family as they offer  their home and welcome Mason into their family. Pray for the church family to seek Mason out to hold him in close connection. Pray for Mason’s friends and the people in his life that they too are good influences in his maturing Christ-like character.

-          Pray for David and I to have continued peace and to know and be aware of the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Help us to be aware when we are to step up to help and be aware when we are to rest. Prays for our health and safety as we work and travel.

-          Pray for those we will be working with and those who’s good we are working for when we arrive on Eleuthera. We will weekly meet many new volunteers from many walks of life and with many reasons to be responding to their call to go on a mission. We pray God’s light will shine through us. Pray for the staff and co-volunteers we will be working with too as we keep focus on the mission and reason we serve.

-          Pray for our happiness to be apparent, our strength to be unchallenged and our spirit to be lifted when we are feeling overwhelmed with change or stress.

-          Just Pray! We know God has the power to make you aware of our needs and how to pray for us in ways we may not even think of right now.

Thanks you for your support and we hope you continue to know you are a part of this mission too.

Byers' Bahamas Blast Off

THERE IS STILL TIME to RSVP

You are Invited to attend

an evening of 

Music, Fun, Fellowship,

 and Delicious Assortment of Ethnic Foods as we 

Celebrate and Send-off 

David and Linda Byers!

Date for Departure Celebration: Saturday, December 27
Launch Time: 6:00 PM
Attire: Your Favorite Work Clothes (t-shirt and jeans - mission work attire!)

Provisions: A free-will offering to support the mission to Bahamas Methodist Habitat, Cards, prayers and Well wishes will also be collected!

RSVP by December 21st 

to the Lancaster Church of the Brethren office -  (717)397-4751 (ext101)

Celebrations!

Just Got a Party for our 25th Anniversary! 

     OK, they could only surprise one of us because between David and I working and planning and arranging things for our normal lives - no one could know our schedules. I got the surprise.

     I even threw in a last minute church meeting David didn't know about on the day of the party - which was being organized at the church (without me knowing) - I still had no time to think about someone taking time to organize a special gathering for us. 

     David's sister Kelly and her daughter did a great job - they got OLD photos scanned (and back in the photo albums without me knowing), she even got us orange tiger lilies for the tables and balloons (just like at our wedding) She worked to make all the food and served it up with all her dishware!

     And this wasn't the only celebration. Last week at the last Ministry Team meeting they celebrated my work as Youth Director. The chair, Bob, had cupcakes and drinks and they gave us cards and a gift certificate.  (I even got a flock of Ducks donated in my name to Heifer International! - that's just cool!) And a week or so ago I was gifted a "Wordle" as a thank you from the church board at our Congregational Business meeting.

We are both feeling SO BLESSED!

There is another CELEBRATION being planned so save the date!

December 27 - 6:00 pm 

at the Lancaster Church of the Brethren

Our Farewell Gathering / Sending / Funraiser

I'll post more details as they are arranged - and the awesome thing is

WE DON'T HAVE TO PLAN IT

They even have a committee working on the plans!

Love it!

We have a Video!

Missionary Community

     We've been working to learn how mission ministries outside the U.S. work. David and I did not grow up in missionary families, and really, we've never even known anyone who has been working as a missionary. We have had to ask a lot of questions about how you do this.

     There is a whole network of people and organizations who work in the background supporting mission ministries and the work of those serving in far away places.

     Agape Flights is a service in Florida who will become part of our network. Who knew - they may even be delivering our Turkey Dinner next year! How Cool it that!

BMH Video

I found an old videos about the ministry of Bahamas Methodist Habitat I wanted to share:

Flexible Ministry

We've learn in mission work you need to expect to be flexible. I think God sort of leads us into the unexpected so we always need to be prepared to live out the grace we are called to give other.

As we were going about our week at Camp Symonette, I was off on a mission with Miss Pauline (head chef) to shop for groceries north in the settlement called The Bluff. David was at camp doing some repair work when two vans drove up.

Class from the College of the Bahamas

You must remember, it's a small island, not many people, so when two vans loaded with visitors arrive unannounced and unexpected it really is a surprise.

Abe is there to welcome the leader however, he's a bit perplexed. Conversation ensues and it turns out this group was under the impression they had made confirmed plans to stay at the camp for a couple of days.

The group was from Nassau. A class of students from the College of Bahamas with their professor. The class is an astronomy class who was planning this trip to see the night sky from Eleuthera.  Most all of these students are from Nassau where they have the same troubles we have in Lancaster in looking at the night sky, light pollution. Many of them have never been to this island before and have never been to a camp like Symonette. They are "city kids" - not like the local "island kids". This trip for them is like traveling to the country or the mountain. Their professor not only want to share with them a lesson about the stars and planets, he wants to show them their island heritage. Of course, not all are kids or youth. The student group ranges in age from 20 to 30 or so.

I would also say almost all of them grew up attending private schools. This is another discovery we've learned about the islands. Those who have the means will send their children to private schools where they will emerge with a better education and societal advantages over those who go to public schools. We haven't learned all of the reasons and problems behind the public school issues. We know it is a problem for this small country, much like other countries around the world. It is the reason BMH does it's best to help support the local primary school in James Cistern.

Of course, the camp was not prepared to welcome this additional group, however, we also know they are limited in their options of where to stay now that they have arrived. So, what to do? There are rooms not being used in the dorms so at this point David and Tori spring into action to be sure they are clean and also they re-install the air conditioning units in the windows.

If you didn't know, yes, we are thankful to have air-conditioning in the dorm rooms for sleeping. However, because of the cost of electric they are only used from 9:00 pm to about 6:30 am. In the summer months it is very necessary to help with the humidity. This time of year, it's still needed.

The group is told they can stay and they will be required to work with the current groups of volunteers to do the chores. We are also going to share a few meals together. Also the following day the group would be joining us for the excursion trip around the island. Now the challenge is how do you blend this group of college young adults from Nassau with the volunteers from Georgia and Colorado.
Answer: you make them mingle!

As the team assembled for the evening meal and prayer, the group was informed each person needed to sit next to someone who did not share the same area code. It worked and mingling began.  The groups began to not just know each other from the places they lived, they also learned each other's name.

Knowing each other by name is one of the most important ways to build peace and it is key to community. It is so easy to group people as "them" or "they" and put individuals in categories if you don't know them by name.

This group of people who had been gathered at this place for different purposes (one to work as volunteers and the other to gaze at the stars) could begin to form a community.

At first reaction to a new or unexpected situation we have the opportunity to draw a conclusion to think the best of people or we can think the worst. I think this is what we are meant to do according to 1 Corinthians 13. In three different versions of the Bible it is stated in different ways:
        Common English Bible
Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.
                NRSV
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
                Living Bible
You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

I want to be one who welcomes the best in everyone. I know our new experience with BMH will need us to.