moments of grace

I meant to get this post up before the last, but alas, I did not.  So here is a bit of backtracking from our Crossway E-team week!

What a joy to have 14 dear ones here from our sending church in Lancaster, PA!  When we told people here in Nassau they would be hard-working, we weren't kidding.  These folks are not only some of the hardest workers we know, but also express great joy in the midst of their work.  Clyde Erb is to be commended for his bright eyes and cheerful smiles each day!  I never for one moment felt anything but joy and gladness from this man, even though I knew the heat, climbing up and down on a hot roof, and many other factors had to be taking a toll on him.  Not only that, but Clyde really engaged our girls in conversation, drawing them out about the upcoming move and their faith for it.  He commended them for following their mom and dad and assured them it was no small thing before the Lord.  What a wonderful legacy he left here! 

And as for all the other dear 13...it is true of them too. You have left a legacy.  Kurt, Gary, John, Jared, Noah, Greg, Josh, Daniel, Joanne,  Lisa, Deborah, Carissa, Brianna: you all have earned your reward in heaven!  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Your joyful attitudes, heart to serve, and warm hugs for us made it a week of "iron sharpening iron" for us as we finish out our time here in Nassau.  You helped us to remember there are brothers and sisters just a thousand miles away who are laboring for the gospel just as we are...and are willing to come alongside us, literally, to help.  Thank you.  May God's name be known wider and further because of you.  Enjoy the pictures!

Our humble dinner of spaghetti, bread, green beans and jello

 

Listening

 


I asked our former Care Group YA's "Wouldn't it have been nice to have all this space for Young Adult Care Group?"

Keith expressing our gratefulness for the team

Kurt looks confused and Clyde looks surprised
 (Do you like the moving boxes?)

Moving boxes, Chess, and Crossway



Greg Groff fixing Keith's power steering the first night...wouldn't eat dinner 'til it was done!

The Gospel Speaks, The Gospel Acts

We have been running, running since the Crossway team arrived two days ago!  Let me give a shout out of thanks to the Seeleys once again for loaning me their car to get the girls and me back and forth to camp each day for meal prep.  Otherwise, we would not be seeing much of our dear Lancaster folk!  So far, the Crossway team, divided up into two groups, has been able to multiply their ministry.  One group has been working out at the All Saints Camp (a residence for men, women, and even families dealing with the reality of AIDS and other debilitating diseases) and the other group helping to roof our church building.  Then, last night and tonight, the team has joined up with some from our church to reach out to people at Goodman's Bay...a park/beach where many locals can be found.  Last night was packed with many gospel-driven conversations, invitations to stop by our free hot dog and drink table, and invitations to visit our church. 

I (Kristin) teamed up with my good friend here, Faye Bascom.  We encountered a young couple working out at some exercise bars.  I have to say I appreciated their honesty.  When asked "are you Christians?" by Faye they replied "no."  They also said they attended no church.  Now this may not strike you as strange if you live in America, but I can assure you this is not the norm for Bahamians.  Here, similar to the "Bible belt" of the southern United States back just a few years ago, most people would say they are "Christian" and that they do attend church.  So this couple, in a sense, was being humble with us.  They listened attentively as I explained our plight as humans...the bad news: all of us have sinned and are on a hell-bound race.  The good news: God has provided a way to cover our sin, forgive us, and give us eternal life.  Though there was no prayer for conversion, these two young people were attentive and seemed to be thinking as we talked. 

Our next conversation was much more pointed.  We met Celeste sitting on a bench texting someone.   She was very nice, and though she herself could quote the gospel to me verbatim (remember, children here are taught religious instruction from Kindergarten through 12th grade!), she had no personal relationship with God.  By the end of our time together, she admitted that she was on the other side of the cavern, away from God.  She wasn't ready to "cross" by giving her total life to Jesus.  But she was very engaging, she listened, and she asked for prayer for family members.    It was a wonderful time.  A wonderful reminder that in the gospel work some plant, some water, but God gives the increase.

Today, realizing I would not be able to do the evangelism night due to one of our girls being ill, I began asking the Lord to keep my heart soft toward sharing the gospel.  Then it hit me: the gospel doesn't just speak, it acts.  There were two Haitian gentlemen, hired by our landlord, out working in our yard.  They have been working the last few days.  I have taken them water each day, but today, I felt impressed to do all I could.  I made them lunch...just some sandwiches and popcorn, cookies and lemonade, and motioned for them to sit up on our porch out of the sun.  They speak almost no English, so communicating was hard.  Then I had the idea to give them a shirt someone gave Keith recently that was a tad big.  Then I began thinking of all the clothing I could find that we were either wanting to give away or just don't need.  I motioned to one man's wedding ring and said "Wife?"  "Clothing?"  He smiled and nodded.  I said, "I'll be back!"  I filled a box and a bag with shoes and clothing for women and children, then found all of Keith's shirts he no longer needs.  The men seemed a little at a loss for what to say or do, but I noticed they bundled up the box tightly, so that the people transporting them would not see inside.  One thing many people don't realize is the hatred that exists here for Haitians.  Many of them are illegal aliens and many Bahamians resent them residing here, trying to make a better life for themselves and their children.  Well, legal or illegal, they are in need.  I have never been able to enter the portals of a "Haitian settlement" here, where the poorest of the poor dwell.  They live in wooded areas out on the south side of the island.  Making shelter with pallets, cardboard, tin, plywood, and whatever else they can find, these people are desperate...yet still prefer life here to back in Haiti.  I wept as I packed up the clothes, realizing God had given me the desire of my heart: just to touch the poor in the name of Jesus.  And I never even left my yard.  God brought them right to my doorstep.

Tonight, whatever your prayer in the way of "living a more gospel-centered life," remember God delights in that prayer.  He is working.  He will bring fruit in its perfect season.  And you may never even leave your own yard.

for those of you who are visual...

Here ya go, folks.  A choice of videos for your viewing pleasure.  Both show re-caps of our wonderful week of Music Camp.  The first one is shorter and very well done by our own Clarence Rolle from church (works for Ministry of Tourism here).  The second was produced by the Metro Life team and is quite a bit longer (and also shows a lot of their personal mission experience).

ENJOY!

http://vimeo.com/72848212  

https://vimeo.com/72708139

finding our rhythm again

Happy Saturday to you.  I am so thankful for the last few weeks of busyness and guests in our home!  Just when we need it, God fills our lives with great people and wonderful experiences.  Music Camp, the crew that came to serve from the U.S. Sovereign Grace Churches, and having Gracie Brown stay with us over the last two weeks were God's provision to us. 

Gracie is a kindred- spirit- friend of Keaton's whom she met while we were at the Pastor's College.  I will never forget, upon leaving Lancaster for the PC, John Haughery telling us of his special childhood friend whom he had met years before when HE was a boy in Gaithersburg.  Same type of PC training model...families together for months, then sent out to churches all over.  John's boyhood friend ended up being a friend for life and stood with him on his wedding day.  Keaton had no such hopes for her year at the PC...yet God blessed her with Gracie.

 

Having her visit with us for two weeks was a reminder of how God can alter the course of our lives through relationships...and we never know when or where we are going to meet people who may become forever etched into our future. 

These past weeks and days, we've also had the chance to bond more with Chris and Stephanie Jessee.  Chris is the director of worship, youth, and children's ministries at Metro Life Church in Orlando.  He stayed with us back in April? when the Orlando prophecy team came.  We met up with he and his lovely wife and kids during our short stay in Orlando this July. Then we were able to work together during our week of Music Camp, and host them for a few nights after the rest of the team headed home. 

We also met some wonderful adults and teens from Niceville, FL, Philadelphia, Clearwater, FL, Miami, FL, Charleston, SC, and Gainesville, FL.  We were blessed to the gills when mission team members showed up with bags of coffee, 9 containers of Goldfish (which my girls requested), toiletry items, books, chocolate chips...the list goes on.  They already were serving us so amazingly just by coming to help staff our Music Camp, but they went above and beyond by bringing us treats!  God continues to amaze our children by the way he provides gifts like this that we often can't provide for ourselves.  It's our "manna" we tell them.  Can't keep it and horde it, but while it's here, let's enjoy it, share it, and give God thanks.

 

I meant to give a resounding "THANK YOU LORD!" for the amazing turnout we had at our Music Camp held August 6-9.  All in all, 97 children came at one point or another to our camp, with an average attendance of 85 each day.  Only 15 of those were from our church.  So...70 or so visiting children were exposed to the gospel each day.  Along with that, we had 83 children perform Friday night...in front of all their parents, siblings, and extended family.  I have never seen our church so full!!  We pray God will water and fertilize these gospel seeds that have been planted.  In conjunction with this Music Camp, Keith would like to begin a Community Children's Choir with practices held in our church either weekly or bi-weekly.  He mentioned this idea at the concert last Friday night, and it was met with hearty applause from the parents.  This would be a way to provide underprivileged kids with an opportunity to belong to something positive and skill-related.  They would receive musical training, social connections to Christian children, and ultimately be exposed to the gospel weekly.  We pray God works out the details and provides all that would be needed for such an endeavor.  Will you pray along with us?

 

filled to capacity

Kingdom Life Music Camp 2013 started off with a BANG this past Tuesday at 9am.  With over 80 kids in attendance the first day, we realized God had answered above and beyond the prayers we prayed for this camp's attendance.  Today was day 3of 4 and we are still in the 80-85 marker for kids coming.  WOW.  That's a lot of kids, you know? 

It feels as if every inch of our church building is filled with humanity.  It feels as if every inch of our strength is being called upon to love and serve these kids the best way possible this week.  Broken and spilled out...I think I said that a few posts back.  We are so tired we can't think straight at night (sorry, 'cause nighttime is the ONLY time I have to blog!)  I would love to be more eloquent, but for now I'll leave you with some names, numbers, and pictures.  

J-quan, Dave, Savannah, Maquanda, Stephen, St. Clair, Jermaine, Samuel, Keni, Kennae, Alisha, Ephraim, Paris, William...just a few of the many beautiful children I get to love on this week...pray for them...pray for salvation...for their parents too...

85 children!  We prayed for 60 and God gave us 85! 
6 hours a day...long days...kids come early and leave late....
24 hours...24 hours from now the camp will be over, the concert will be over, and we will have shared the gospel with 85 kids and all the moms, dads, aunties, uncles, grandmothers, cousins, and neighbors who came to see them perform. 

community day

WOW!  It is hard to imagine that just a year ago, we were doing our mall "Community Day" presentation for the first time.  Keith's parents and nephew Jess were here for it.  Today the same bench where they sat was just across from our booth, and I looked longingly at it, thinking, if I just stared long enough, Jackie would re-appear there.  But she didn't.  She's with Jesus.  And I wouldn't take her away from Him for anything.

  In honor of her, I wore the blouse we bought her for her birthday on that trip.  I was able to reclaim it on our trip to Florida last month.  And how Jackie would have loved to hear our Children's Choir singing today...  And maybe she did?

We must have handed out a hundred balloons today, greeted many families, and invited their children to our upcoming Music Camp/VBS this week.  I believe we received about 15 more registrations today, bringing out grand total to 69.  We were praying for 60, and 69 would be wonderful! 

Our worship team sounded exceptionally good in the mall, proclaiming the goodness of God and the kindness of our Savior.  Many people gathered around for songs such as "How Great Thou Art" and "Blessed Assurance."  Keith was even interviewed on a Christian Radio station!  He had mentioned to the radio guy in passing, that this kind of religious activity would never be welcomed at a mall in the U.S.  The man found that interesting, so they began interviewing Keith. Cool?  I think so.  It also provided an opportunity for him to pitch the Music Camp one more time!  God's ways are definitely higher than ours. 

All in all, we had a full but wonderful day as a church.  Gracie Brown, Keaton's dear friend she met at Pastor's College in 2011 is here for 2 weeks, and already she's been a blessing.  We look forward to our time with her and all she will add to our mission this week!

The girls and I will be serving dinner again out at Adventure Learning Camp this week, filling in for dear Mindy who just had her knee operated on.  Have no fear, the Bunting Girls (and Gracie) are here!  The camp is where our mission group from Florida is staying anyway, so by cooking out there, we'll only get to spend more time with them! 


Pray for us as we step into this week of serving, morning, noon, and night.  We know we will make some amazing memories and see God move in ways we haven't yet.  Pray for stamina, safety and health, resources, children to be saved, and for those of us who know Christ to be drawn closer to Him.  We couldn't do this without you all praying!! Keep up the good work.  'Til next time...

Keva and Kristin...kindred spirits

Beautiful Tia...2 weeks 'til college!

Kendall and Sarah...fun friends

Donovan loves Pastor Keith!

though the fig tree should not blossom...

I've always treasured these words of Habakkuk,

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, YET I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.  God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."

After our precarious homecoming (see last blog post), we knew we needed a fresh vision of why God has placed us here on 21/7.  There is always a period of adjustment when we come back home to Nassau, as we are re-entering a developing country with many inconveniences we do not experience back in the U.S.  

At first, our prayers seemed to be counter-productive.  Instead of our eyes adjusting to all the blessings of living here, we began to see more of the challenges.  Our refrigerator would not return to working status after the power had been cut for 24 hours, our van wouldn't start, and when it did finally start, it was blowing lots of gray smoke out of the exhaust.  The pool guy was not returning our phone calls and so the pool continued to be a rich green color, playing nursery to many tadpoles.  We were quickly reminded of the happy mosquito population inside our home as we pulled out the OFF spray. 

Then Saturday came.  It was "Spread the Word" Saturday to advertise our upcoming Music Camp-VBS which begins August 6.  We had been expecting at least 20 people or so to come and help canvass the streets, yet only 13 of us arrived at the church.  Other than the Moss and Bunting families, we had only 4 people come to "Spread the Word."  We knew there was a birthday party taking place that had been planned before we set this date, but we didn't realize HOW MANY people it would involve!  So the 13 of us prayed, equipped ourselves with water and sunscreen and hit the streets around our church. 

The two hours or so we spent canvassing the church neighborhood were two of the best hours we have spent living on this island.  I have previously posted about the Kemp Road area...it is a low-income, "don't be there at night" type of neighborhood.  But what joy we found there as we met people, invited them to our Music Camp, and just walked the streets together!  Heaps of trash were just a part of the ambience.  As I got down to talk to one little boy, I was struggling not to eyeball the old shoes, abandoned refrigerator, and countless discarded cans and bottles that surrounded us.  Another boy was ingeniously making a basketball hoop out of an old crate and hammering it to a telephone pole.  I picked up his ball, dribbled it, and shot it through his new hoop.  He stood looking in disbelief that I, a middle-aged white woman, would play with him.  I was touched by how much they wanted to hear what we had to say, people coming to gather as they saw us standing amongst their neighbors sharing our invitations.  Two unknown ladies said they wanted to help spread the word and took a small stack of invitations to hand out as they walked in another direction.

At one home made of plywood, two mothers stepped out with guarded looks at first.  I quickly smiled and said, "We're from Kingdom Life Church and we're having a FREE music camp August 6th through the 9th..."  They took the invitations and began looking at them. Children in a group of 6 or 8 suddenly were there at our side, saying "I wanna come!"  "Me too!"  One young lady, who said she was 17 said "I'm comin' too!"  We looked at each other, knowing the camp is supposed to be for ages 5-12 and said, "Go ahead and come.  There'll be other teens there helping." 

I can't even tell you the good it did our hearts to interact with these wonderful people....people God made and desires to save.  Even now, my heart is full and my eyes are weepy to think of them.  Homes that don't have running water, homes that are ramshackle and surrounded by rubbish.  But people with beautiful smiles and hearts eager to be loved by somebody. 

We hope to go out again this coming Monday, when the team from Metro Life will be here to help.  Honestly, next to Sunday meetings at church and serving out at Adventure Learning Camp, this is the biggest highlight of living here so far.  "For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever." Ps. 9:18

Pray that God will urge the hearts of these mothers to send the kids, and that the kids will remember to come.  Pray that hearts will be fertile ground for receiving the gospel next week.  Pray for souls to be saved.

Keaton, Kristin, and Leslie caught in the rain as we canvass the church neighborhood