Do
nate a week. Change a life. Yours.
The kind and generous people of the Bahamas are very proud of the natural beauty of their country, but beyond their kindness, what strikes the new visitor to the Out Islands is the persistent poverty. The places we visit, while also beautiful, have no casinos, no large resorts and very little tourism. There are no major employers so steady work is hard to come by. One island we worked on last summer had 25% of population living on less than $400 per month. There are no “homeless” Bahamians in the Out Islands, but sub-standard housing is rampant. Providing a dry and safe place for a family, an elderly widow, or a single mother is the primary work of BHM. Job site training is provided for every volunteer and work assignments are matched to the volunteer’s skill level. There is a job for everyone. There is a job for you.
Travel to the Bahamas is fairly easy with most islands within a one-hour flight of Miami. The Out Islands are very safe with very little incidence of crime. The citizens of the Bahamas speak English (many with a wonderful British accent), which makes communication easy and building relationships a natural occurrence when working together in the community. US currency is accepted on a dollar-for-dollar basis with the Bahamian dollar.
The most consistent indicator of a successful trip that our FUMC leadership has recognized is that virtually every volunteer begins planning his/her next trip to the Bahamas before they leave the islands. When they return to the U.S., volunteers have a new appreciation for their many material blessings, a renewed appreciation for the United States, and a feeling that they have made a difference in the life of someone less fortunate.
Our upcoming mission trips are scheduled as follows. Contact us today to receive your volunteer package of information.
Spring 2010
2/28 – 3/6
Summer 2010
TBD
Fall 2010
9/4 – 9/8
Please contact Laura Schaus or Jeff Hearn if you have questions or would like to join us on a trip.
Laura J. Schaus Jeff Hearn
ph: 727-460-2773 ph: 727-642-7295
fax: 727-369-6477 fax: 727-896-2979
Through these missions our goal is to make and send disciples of Jesus Christ into the world.
