Well Tropical Storm Bonnie blew threw here in the middle of the night and it seems all is well. I was glad I put up the hurricane shutters in the priest's apartment. There no water leakage on the leaky windows I covered - naturally the windows that never leak, which I did not cover, had a lovely puddle waiting for me the next day.
The storm itself was a wind and rain event. The wind was pretty constant at about 30-40 mph all night long and when the rain started it was a monsoon! Around 2AM the lightning and thunder just rocked the place, literally, windows rattled and when I got out of bed I could feel the vibrations from the thunder in the soles of my feet on the tile floor.
What was most surprising the next day was that on the patio between our home and the church were about 100 small white paint chips all over the grey floor - the storm actually blew chips of paint off the walls! As I drove through town and saw a branch here or there I could not help but wonder about our Haitian friends up on the northern part of the island. In that community there is actually 1 house, the rest are the tin roof huts with makeshift walls consisting of whatever planks were around when they were built. Some have dirt floors, some are raised up on cinder blocks and have plywood floors. Needless to say they were not built to endure tropical storms, much less an actual hurricane.
We haven't been able to hold church services for them up north since the schools closed (we had been meeting in the school). I have called my Bahamian contact up there, but she is off the island for the month of June so, since they have no phones, I will have to take the hour drive up there to check up on them, and possibly have church outside next to the fields where they grow cabbages and onions.
We still haven't had a priest for some time. The last priest to join us on Andros was on Easter but I am hoping we will have one with us soon. The first communion class is still waiting to experience their first confession and then first communion, but for now we wait until either a visiting US priest on vacation offers to help, or a priest from Nassau can be sent. I was talking to the Sister who had been on Andros prior to our coming here. She is now on another family island and she's in the same boat, not having had a priest since Easter.
The Archbishop actually does a great job providing coverage throughout the Bahamas with the limited resources he has. In the US a priest may cover multiple churches by driving great distances. When the different churches are on different islands that are miles and miles apart it creates a whole different dynamic.
The Bahamians simply smile and say "Dis be island life faddah" - and smile, recognizing the reality of island life. When you run out of something you just have to wait for the boat, if its not on the boat you wait for the next one. When I had a flat tire once, it took 4 days before I could get another tire - all you can do is wait. In our case, we're waiting for a priest (a limited resource). Until then, everyone has to settle for the Deacon. :)
Till next time.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tropical Storm threatens oil spill - what about us!
Well if you watch CNN or the Weather Channel you've been hearing about this tropical storm that is brewing that could cause all kinds of caos in the Gulf of Mexico and disrupt the oil spill cleanup. You might also have heard that this storm is forming IN THE BAHAMAS!!!
You got it folks, lets forget for a minute where it 'might' go, and talk about where it IS!
Actually, as far as storms go, its not that big a deal compared to an actual hurricane, but the point is, this storm is right now chewing up the south eastern islands of the Bahamas and is on track to just follow the entire Bahamaian chain and pass over the tip of Florida.
This means Andros, and Fresh Creek in particular, is the bulls eye of this storm's projected track. So - the good Deacon needs to get ready. The storm is headed on a NW track and we sit on the east coast of Andros so we'll get it from the SE. The sky right now is dark dark grey in that direction and the wind is about 20-30 mph.
Our church as a small apartment for visiting priests on the south end of the church that will get the full force of this thing so I went into the garage and pulled out hurricane shutters and covered all the windows on that end of the church and the window in the sacristy that faces due east. Usually we don't need the shutters for a big wind/rain event, only for hurricanes, but these windows all face the sea and the years have taken their toll. We know that several of these windows leak and some of them, being the crank-out style, no longer close tightly. So I sorted through piles of tin shutters until I found the right ones, gathered up the metal clips that hold them in place, and my ball-pean hammer (actually my only hammer) and the shutters went up not only to protect the windows, but to help keep the rain out as well.
Rainstorms here are an amazing example of natures power. The wind is so strong here that the rain falls sideways, literally, sideways, parallel to the earth.
As I write this its about 4PM, we have already lost power once around 2:30, and I am sure we'll lose it again a few times before this passes on by and creates problems in the Gulf. All we can do is sit and wait - after all its not a hurricane, its not even a tropical storm, its a tropical depression, basically a big windy rainstorm (OK since the Weather Channel shows it as all red and orange its a really really big rainstorm).
So we will just sit tight and see what happens. Both here, and in the Gulf - but for now, its OUR storm and the Gulf will have to wait their turn. Bye for now.
You got it folks, lets forget for a minute where it 'might' go, and talk about where it IS!
Actually, as far as storms go, its not that big a deal compared to an actual hurricane, but the point is, this storm is right now chewing up the south eastern islands of the Bahamas and is on track to just follow the entire Bahamaian chain and pass over the tip of Florida.
This means Andros, and Fresh Creek in particular, is the bulls eye of this storm's projected track. So - the good Deacon needs to get ready. The storm is headed on a NW track and we sit on the east coast of Andros so we'll get it from the SE. The sky right now is dark dark grey in that direction and the wind is about 20-30 mph.
Our church as a small apartment for visiting priests on the south end of the church that will get the full force of this thing so I went into the garage and pulled out hurricane shutters and covered all the windows on that end of the church and the window in the sacristy that faces due east. Usually we don't need the shutters for a big wind/rain event, only for hurricanes, but these windows all face the sea and the years have taken their toll. We know that several of these windows leak and some of them, being the crank-out style, no longer close tightly. So I sorted through piles of tin shutters until I found the right ones, gathered up the metal clips that hold them in place, and my ball-pean hammer (actually my only hammer) and the shutters went up not only to protect the windows, but to help keep the rain out as well.
Rainstorms here are an amazing example of natures power. The wind is so strong here that the rain falls sideways, literally, sideways, parallel to the earth.
As I write this its about 4PM, we have already lost power once around 2:30, and I am sure we'll lose it again a few times before this passes on by and creates problems in the Gulf. All we can do is sit and wait - after all its not a hurricane, its not even a tropical storm, its a tropical depression, basically a big windy rainstorm (OK since the Weather Channel shows it as all red and orange its a really really big rainstorm).
So we will just sit tight and see what happens. Both here, and in the Gulf - but for now, its OUR storm and the Gulf will have to wait their turn. Bye for now.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Vacation Bible School - Bahamian Style!
Hello again - Well let me tell you what's been keeping us busy this week - Vacation Bible School.
For the past 25 years the AUTEC Navy Base has been hosting a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for all the grade 1-6 Bahamian children. This has been done in collaboration with an evangelican church from the US who has been planning the entire program, gathering up volunteers, equipment, supplies ... Then coming to Andros to lead the Bible Study. On the Bahamian side there is a complex network of volunteers to register kids, and coordinate transportation.
Historically, the volunteers have conducted fundraisers in their local churches to fund this mission trip which includes them chartering 2 planes to get here and AUTEC has provided housing and food for the team of volunteers once they are here. This year, however, with Navy budget cuts and economic stress, the policies have changed and this year the volunteers have to pay AUTEC for on-base housing and food, which may mean this is the last year for this program.
Later on tonight I will be talking with some of the other ministers, and possibly a government official, to see if we can continue the program using the Crabfest Fairgrounds. Clearly the team that comes from the US wants to keep coming, they just can't afford the added expense and there isn't anything the Navy can do with current Navy budget constraints. If we can pull this off using Bahamian resources we just might keep this program alive. Keep this one in your prayers because this program is a winner!
Last year Ginni and I were travelling off island and missed VBS, this year we made a point of being here and you cannot believe how valuable this program is for the local children. During the school year the kids are all in school doing what you do in the school year. In the summer there is NOTHING for them to do. There is no mall, no movie house, no bowling alley, no youth center, not a thing - until Vacation Bible School. So the kids come in droves, from everywhere. This year there were over 200!
Ginni and I get to the gate at the Base a little before 8AM where there are already a crowd of kids waiting to get signed in. Signing the kids in is a MAJOR project. This is, after all, a secure US Navy Base. Every day Security requires each child is signed in, gets a guest badge, and is chaperoned while on Base. So I drop Ginni off on one side of the gate, where she works with the Chapel Staff to sign in kids and pass them off to the Security Guards. The Guards sign in the kids and give them their Navy badges, then they are passed through the gate in blocks of 10-12 and given to me. They pile into our Church van and we drive off through the Base to the beach where the volunteers are waiting. They climb out of the van and the guitars and song time begin to kick off the day as I shuttle back to the gate to get another load.
After 4 or 5 van loads of those kids that have been dropped off early, the buses begin to arrive. Two school buses of kids from the far reaches of the island arrive and the check in process continues until they are all done and the bus loads of kids hit the beach where Ginni and I are now traffic cops directing the kids towards bleachers that had been set up under a pavilion the Navy has at the beach. 
One thing that happens to me since I let the beard go longer is that the Bahamians want to know if I am really Santa Claus. So of course I say I am and explain that I always come to the Bahamas for the summer and tell them all about my riendeer and the elves working away at the North Pole. These two just couldn't get enough of it.
Camp songs from my youth are still in vogue, we used to get our kids out of bed with "Rise and Shine and Give God Your Glory Glory", and here it was again - complete with hand motions and weaving back and forth in your seats. A guitarist that was just fantastic with the kids, and a crew of 20-something volunteers that were the most energenic, positive, upbeat crew you can imagine. The kids ate it up. Older songs like "Amazing Grace" become new when sung to the tune of "The Gilligan's Island Theme Song". The song leader was an incredibly talented guy, he had the kids in the palm of his hand in no time - singing, clapping, and making all the hand motions to each song, including the Deacon!
After "song time" there was a skit the volunteers put on depicting a bible story such as Daniel in the Lion's Den, or the birth of Christ, or Noah. Hillarious stuff and very well done. Then the kids would go to small groups. On the first day each block of about 10 kids were given a colored sticker and they had picnic tables with the same colored flag. When in was time to break the volunteers would shout, "OK, purple team come with me". "Green team, over here", "Yellow team, follow me" and in minutes all 200 kids were off doing their individual projects with 2 team leaders. The organization was amazing.
Once they broke up into small groups it was time for us to head back to Fresh Creek and get back to work on our own programs. We haven't had a priest since Easter (does that give you a new perspective on the priest shortage) and we have lots to do. Last week Ginni led "A Ladies Renewal Night" for the women of all 3 churches. We had a great turn out and Ginni's reflection was as big a hit as my barbequed chicken fresh off the grill. We hope that this might become a monthly event and help bring our 3 churches closer together.
Well there is always more to tell, but I need to go meet one of the contractors about restoring the church in Calabash Bay we want to re-open, so until next time - Peace.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Independence Day - True Freedom
Well a few weeks have passed since my last post and we've celebrated the US Independence Day as well as the Bahamian Independence Day a week later.
Whenever we attend a Bahamian holiday, the difference between the US and the Bahamas always strikes me as amazing. The difference is that the Bahamas is an explicitly Christian nation. Unlike the US that tries to be tolerant of all cultures and religions, the Bahamas is Christian and has no fear about making that plain.
Here, on Independence Day, the stage at fairgrounds is full of priests and ministers, as well as government officials. Whoever speaks, be it the Town Administrator or the Baptist Minister, they all praise Jesus, and thank God that because of Jesus Christ we are free, and an independent nation because Jesus Christ died for us. True freedom only comes from Jesus, without Jesus we're not free - thank God we are a free independent nation!
To have this as part of the Minister's presentation is one thing. To have it also be from the Town Administrator, or the Member of Parliament is radically new for us Americans. In the Bahamas Christianity is in the Constitution and everyone here it totally comfortable with Christianity being proclaimed publicly.
This time of year is also the time for the daily downpour. We have blue sky sunshine all day long and then - BOOM - torential rain and thunder and lightning and power outages and rain coming at you sideways - then its done and the sun is out again. A few days ago we drove from Cargill Creek back to Fresh Creek and mid-way had about 3 minutes of a downpour. Then we realized it was a strip of rain that we basically, drove through. There was no rain north of that downpour, nor any south of it, but if you lived in that strip of rain you probably had your 3 hour rainstorm.
A few days ago it was a terrific storm, that actually ripped a strip of flashing off the roof of the church. A 10' strip of copper strapping was now held on by 1 nail as it rapped against the side of the church. I had loaned our ladder to a parishioner and it took 2 days to get it back and, when he returned it and saw the flashing he said, "Deac, You're not going up there are you?" I said that sure I was, it was only about 10 nails to put the flashing back in place, and he said, "Oh no, Deac, I don't want you up on the roof of the church. You call Leonard and if he can't do it, I will, you're not going up there" (Leonard is a parishioner who does roofing). I thought to myself, 'this is what Ginni would say', but held my tongue.
Anyway, I tried calling Leonard but his phone was out of commission so I drove to work sites where I expected to find him and still couldn't find him, but while trying to reach him I remembered another parishioner who is a carpenter that recently lost his job (this economy is a killer here) and drove by his house. "Sure Deac, I can fix that, want me to come over now?" So he came back, and in 10 minutes all was well. I gave him $20 and it was like I'd saved his life. With that $20 he'll get some rice and a few other things to get his family though the week.
I guess the last thing I should mention with this post is our work to restore the church in Calabash Bay. St. Gabriel's has been closed for quite some time, the windows and doors were all smashed in and termites had begun to take their pound of flesh. Ginni and I would really like to restore it and so, last year, I put money in the budget to restore it. Well the contractors who have looked at it have come in with bids well in excess of what I put aside. So now we are trying to figure out how we can change what we 'want' to what we 'need' and come up with other sources of support to get the job done.
It will be a struggle, but hopefully some of you reading this blog might be willing to help restore St. Gabriel's so our CCD classes might actually have tables and chairs instead of sitting on the floor and using the pews in church as desks. We need to replace 13 windows, 4 doors, install water and electricity, repaint the interior and exterior, plus add a septic system for the toilet. (The Anglican Church had a fair and I won $100 of plumbing supplies in the raffle, so with that, I bought a toilet!) Anyway, we are about $4,000 short so that's our next challenge.
Feeling generous? Let me know.
Love Ya - till next time.
Deacon Frank and Ginni
Whenever we attend a Bahamian holiday, the difference between the US and the Bahamas always strikes me as amazing. The difference is that the Bahamas is an explicitly Christian nation. Unlike the US that tries to be tolerant of all cultures and religions, the Bahamas is Christian and has no fear about making that plain.
Here, on Independence Day, the stage at fairgrounds is full of priests and ministers, as well as government officials. Whoever speaks, be it the Town Administrator or the Baptist Minister, they all praise Jesus, and thank God that because of Jesus Christ we are free, and an independent nation because Jesus Christ died for us. True freedom only comes from Jesus, without Jesus we're not free - thank God we are a free independent nation!
To have this as part of the Minister's presentation is one thing. To have it also be from the Town Administrator, or the Member of Parliament is radically new for us Americans. In the Bahamas Christianity is in the Constitution and everyone here it totally comfortable with Christianity being proclaimed publicly.
This time of year is also the time for the daily downpour. We have blue sky sunshine all day long and then - BOOM - torential rain and thunder and lightning and power outages and rain coming at you sideways - then its done and the sun is out again. A few days ago we drove from Cargill Creek back to Fresh Creek and mid-way had about 3 minutes of a downpour. Then we realized it was a strip of rain that we basically, drove through. There was no rain north of that downpour, nor any south of it, but if you lived in that strip of rain you probably had your 3 hour rainstorm.
A few days ago it was a terrific storm, that actually ripped a strip of flashing off the roof of the church. A 10' strip of copper strapping was now held on by 1 nail as it rapped against the side of the church. I had loaned our ladder to a parishioner and it took 2 days to get it back and, when he returned it and saw the flashing he said, "Deac, You're not going up there are you?" I said that sure I was, it was only about 10 nails to put the flashing back in place, and he said, "Oh no, Deac, I don't want you up on the roof of the church. You call Leonard and if he can't do it, I will, you're not going up there" (Leonard is a parishioner who does roofing). I thought to myself, 'this is what Ginni would say', but held my tongue.
Anyway, I tried calling Leonard but his phone was out of commission so I drove to work sites where I expected to find him and still couldn't find him, but while trying to reach him I remembered another parishioner who is a carpenter that recently lost his job (this economy is a killer here) and drove by his house. "Sure Deac, I can fix that, want me to come over now?" So he came back, and in 10 minutes all was well. I gave him $20 and it was like I'd saved his life. With that $20 he'll get some rice and a few other things to get his family though the week.
I guess the last thing I should mention with this post is our work to restore the church in Calabash Bay. St. Gabriel's has been closed for quite some time, the windows and doors were all smashed in and termites had begun to take their pound of flesh. Ginni and I would really like to restore it and so, last year, I put money in the budget to restore it. Well the contractors who have looked at it have come in with bids well in excess of what I put aside. So now we are trying to figure out how we can change what we 'want' to what we 'need' and come up with other sources of support to get the job done.
It will be a struggle, but hopefully some of you reading this blog might be willing to help restore St. Gabriel's so our CCD classes might actually have tables and chairs instead of sitting on the floor and using the pews in church as desks. We need to replace 13 windows, 4 doors, install water and electricity, repaint the interior and exterior, plus add a septic system for the toilet. (The Anglican Church had a fair and I won $100 of plumbing supplies in the raffle, so with that, I bought a toilet!) Anyway, we are about $4,000 short so that's our next challenge.
Feeling generous? Let me know.
Love Ya - till next time.
Deacon Frank and Ginni
Friday, July 2, 2010
Ginni is back! The ministry goes on.
Hello all:
Well Ginni has returned after a few weeks of nursing back in the States. Hospice just keeps on going and they seem to be happy to welcome Ginni to do some per dium nursing when she can. This is good, because we need the extra income she generates; but its incredibly stressful for her and, even after just a few weeks, she returns a bit frazzled.
While she was away we had a string of violent crime here in the Bahamas. In one week we had 3 murders in 24 hours, with a total of 5 murders in that same week, one of whom was from Andros. Nassau violent crime is getting a ton of attention here, and it should. I already know of 10 families who have lost a family member to murder.
I heard about this particular murder while I was at the AUTEC Navy base for dinner before the Saturday evening service. The cashier told me a person from a local town was killed last night in Nassau and he was related to one of my 'members'. It turns out he is the step grandson of someone who comes to St. John's.
This news upset me a bit and my planned homily took a few twists and turns I hadn't planned as a result. When I got home I threw that homily away and a new one emerged. Bahamians know this problem is serious and universally, when asked how should we deal with it, the answer is "hang them!" My problem with that is two fold - first, hanging them is immoral; second, hanging them deals with the problem after it occurs, we need to deal with it BEFORE it occurs. The question is - how do we stop the murder in the first place?
There is clearly a need for stronger gun control laws in the Bahamas, but there is also a greater need for a personal relationship with Jesus. Bahamians are proud of the fact that this is a Christian nation - unlike the US it's in the constitution that this is specifically a Christian nation. Consequently there are churches everywhere and everyone claims to be Christian. My sense is that while church is important here, and people go to church, they may or may not have a relationship with Jesus. Church without Jesus is smoke in the wind. All the prayer books, candles, incense, icons, and crosses are nice, but without Jesus they're nothing.
What we need here is revival! Suffice it to say the updated homily made people sit up straight and take notice. Now what? Well this has become a focus of my prayer, and with the Holy Spirit, and Ginni, let's see where this goes.
On a different front, this week is the July 4 weekend in the US - happy Independence Day! In the Bahamas, the following weekend is Independence Day, July 12. We will have a huge party at the Crabfest Fairgrounds and all the clergy will be up on stage (including me, in my Roman collar). It will be a wonderful celebration, just like last year, and I am looking forward to it.
This weekend is also the closing liturgy for the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of Nassau as a diocese. Two of our parishioners here on Andros will be recognized with a special medal struck for the occasion for their years of service to the Church, and I am very proud of them. I hope to have pictures for the next post. While in Nassau for this event, Ginni and I plan on taking a few days to stay at one of the resorts on Nassau to celebrate our wedding anniversary back in June. It will be interesting to experience the Bahamas as most Americans do with all the glamor of Nassau.
Finally, some of you know that our source of diesel fuel is a man who has barrels of diesel in his back yard and who, at $5/gallon, will siphon fuel into our van with a garden hose. Well he told us he is going to Cuba for a few weeks and so I filled up several 10 gallon containers with diesel to get me through his absense. I made sure I have a functioning funnel - I haven't mastered the talent of sucking on a garden hose to get diesel to drain into my gas tank just yet.
Enough for now - till next time - Peace!
Well Ginni has returned after a few weeks of nursing back in the States. Hospice just keeps on going and they seem to be happy to welcome Ginni to do some per dium nursing when she can. This is good, because we need the extra income she generates; but its incredibly stressful for her and, even after just a few weeks, she returns a bit frazzled.
While she was away we had a string of violent crime here in the Bahamas. In one week we had 3 murders in 24 hours, with a total of 5 murders in that same week, one of whom was from Andros. Nassau violent crime is getting a ton of attention here, and it should. I already know of 10 families who have lost a family member to murder.
I heard about this particular murder while I was at the AUTEC Navy base for dinner before the Saturday evening service. The cashier told me a person from a local town was killed last night in Nassau and he was related to one of my 'members'. It turns out he is the step grandson of someone who comes to St. John's.
This news upset me a bit and my planned homily took a few twists and turns I hadn't planned as a result. When I got home I threw that homily away and a new one emerged. Bahamians know this problem is serious and universally, when asked how should we deal with it, the answer is "hang them!" My problem with that is two fold - first, hanging them is immoral; second, hanging them deals with the problem after it occurs, we need to deal with it BEFORE it occurs. The question is - how do we stop the murder in the first place?
There is clearly a need for stronger gun control laws in the Bahamas, but there is also a greater need for a personal relationship with Jesus. Bahamians are proud of the fact that this is a Christian nation - unlike the US it's in the constitution that this is specifically a Christian nation. Consequently there are churches everywhere and everyone claims to be Christian. My sense is that while church is important here, and people go to church, they may or may not have a relationship with Jesus. Church without Jesus is smoke in the wind. All the prayer books, candles, incense, icons, and crosses are nice, but without Jesus they're nothing.
What we need here is revival! Suffice it to say the updated homily made people sit up straight and take notice. Now what? Well this has become a focus of my prayer, and with the Holy Spirit, and Ginni, let's see where this goes.
On a different front, this week is the July 4 weekend in the US - happy Independence Day! In the Bahamas, the following weekend is Independence Day, July 12. We will have a huge party at the Crabfest Fairgrounds and all the clergy will be up on stage (including me, in my Roman collar). It will be a wonderful celebration, just like last year, and I am looking forward to it.
This weekend is also the closing liturgy for the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of Nassau as a diocese. Two of our parishioners here on Andros will be recognized with a special medal struck for the occasion for their years of service to the Church, and I am very proud of them. I hope to have pictures for the next post. While in Nassau for this event, Ginni and I plan on taking a few days to stay at one of the resorts on Nassau to celebrate our wedding anniversary back in June. It will be interesting to experience the Bahamas as most Americans do with all the glamor of Nassau.
Finally, some of you know that our source of diesel fuel is a man who has barrels of diesel in his back yard and who, at $5/gallon, will siphon fuel into our van with a garden hose. Well he told us he is going to Cuba for a few weeks and so I filled up several 10 gallon containers with diesel to get me through his absense. I made sure I have a functioning funnel - I haven't mastered the talent of sucking on a garden hose to get diesel to drain into my gas tank just yet.
Enough for now - till next time - Peace!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Summer Blues
Well as I realize I am not as faithful to this blog as I should be I find myself a bit depressed this morning. Ginni has left to do some nursing in the States, and hopefully earn the money we need to keep our heads above water - so being without her has its affect. But there are other issues that I am sure that people in ministry like this have faced before.
As most of you know, we couldn't sell our home in this economy so we rented. Well of the 3 families renting property we own back home, 2 have lost their jobs in this economy and paying rent on time has become a problem.
As we enter the summer months things change rather dramatically here. First, school is out so most families take their children and head off to Nassau or the States for the summer. They do that because there is no work here, its too hot to stay, and there is literally nothing for their children to do. At least in Nassau there is the mall, or the movies, or the bowling alley. Here there is not too much - so off they go.
This complicates ministry on several fronts, but one that is bringing me down a bit is that we haven't been able to have a priest here since Easter, that's 12 weeks and counting. Our 1st communion kids are ready for 1st penance and 1st communion but it looks like many of them will be off the island by the time we get a priest. Last week I went to Nassau and recieved another ciborium of consecrated hosts so I can continue to do Eucharistic Services. The Archdiocese is doing a great job covering the parishes in all the islands. With some priests taking well deserved vacations, and others experiencing illness, it is very difficult for them to cover all the parishes in the 'family islands' right now, so we wait. Eventually we will have a priest and we'll celebrate the Sacrament but the shortage of priests now makes me wonder where we will be in 10 years.
Now having less people to serve may seem to make our lives easier, but in reality it creates a hidden financial burden. With the loss of the people, the weekly collection drops off dramatically, while the weekly bills stay constant. So having been here over a year now I can project that things are going to get extremely tight over the next few months.
With that on the horizon, I am still waiting for the insurance money for the Church that was flooded back on Palm Sunday. The Archdiocese changed insurance companies 3 days prior to our flood. So, the insurance company that had approved our claim and authorized us to do the work (which we did), was the old insurance company and now we are waiting on the new insurance company to pay for the work we already did, on the authorization of the first insurance company.
There are other financial and facilities related issues we're dealing with, but buildings and money are only one aspect of being the Administrator for this mission.
For example, in the midst of the financial issues, and the priest shortage, we have been working with a family that is desperately poor and who, we have learned, tends to control their children by beatings. Unlike the States, this is accepted and not uncommon in the Bahamas but in this family's case it is severe. We are now involved in child custody issues between parents and grand-parents and when the children confide in us we are told to be careful what we do to help because if word gets back to Mom that they've spoken to us they are beaten. I have met with social services here and they know the family. Bruises are explained as, 'she fell down' and nobody in the family will support the accusations whispered to us. It is an ongoing issue that will take time to resolve, but it is emotional and difficult for us right now.
While we struggle with all this stuff there are successes. It does look like we will be able to restore an old church that has been closed for several years, and put it to work at a Parish Center for CCD classes and parish meetings. Rather than the children sitting on the church floor and using the pews as desks we hope, with the support of the Archdiocese, to actually have tables and chairs -and- maybe even add a toilet to this building that never had running water.
Also - this is the 50th Annniversary of Nassau being designated as a Diocese. We have had several activities commemorating the Anniversary and the closing Mass for the Anniversary Year will be July 5. I have just learned that 2 of our parishioners from Andros will be recognized with a special medal commemorating their years of service to the parish, and the Church, at that Mass. So - while things are tough, there are good times and signs of hope as well.
God is good, His mercy endures for ever and ever - Amen? Amen!
Keep us in your prayers
As most of you know, we couldn't sell our home in this economy so we rented. Well of the 3 families renting property we own back home, 2 have lost their jobs in this economy and paying rent on time has become a problem.
As we enter the summer months things change rather dramatically here. First, school is out so most families take their children and head off to Nassau or the States for the summer. They do that because there is no work here, its too hot to stay, and there is literally nothing for their children to do. At least in Nassau there is the mall, or the movies, or the bowling alley. Here there is not too much - so off they go.
This complicates ministry on several fronts, but one that is bringing me down a bit is that we haven't been able to have a priest here since Easter, that's 12 weeks and counting. Our 1st communion kids are ready for 1st penance and 1st communion but it looks like many of them will be off the island by the time we get a priest. Last week I went to Nassau and recieved another ciborium of consecrated hosts so I can continue to do Eucharistic Services. The Archdiocese is doing a great job covering the parishes in all the islands. With some priests taking well deserved vacations, and others experiencing illness, it is very difficult for them to cover all the parishes in the 'family islands' right now, so we wait. Eventually we will have a priest and we'll celebrate the Sacrament but the shortage of priests now makes me wonder where we will be in 10 years.
Now having less people to serve may seem to make our lives easier, but in reality it creates a hidden financial burden. With the loss of the people, the weekly collection drops off dramatically, while the weekly bills stay constant. So having been here over a year now I can project that things are going to get extremely tight over the next few months.
With that on the horizon, I am still waiting for the insurance money for the Church that was flooded back on Palm Sunday. The Archdiocese changed insurance companies 3 days prior to our flood. So, the insurance company that had approved our claim and authorized us to do the work (which we did), was the old insurance company and now we are waiting on the new insurance company to pay for the work we already did, on the authorization of the first insurance company
There are other financial and facilities related issues we're dealing with, but buildings and money are only one aspect of being the Administrator for this mission.
For example, in the midst of the financial issues, and the priest shortage, we have been working with a family that is desperately poor and who, we have learned, tends to control their children by beatings. Unlike the States, this is accepted and not uncommon in the Bahamas but in this family's case it is severe. We are now involved in child custody issues between parents and grand-parents and when the children confide in us we are told to be careful what we do to help because if word gets back to Mom that they've spoken to us they are beaten. I have met with social services here and they know the family. Bruises are explained as, 'she fell down' and nobody in the family will support the accusations whispered to us. It is an ongoing issue that will take time to resolve, but it is emotional and difficult for us right now.
While we struggle with all this stuff there are successes. It does look like we will be able to restore an old church that has been closed for several years, and put it to work at a Parish Center for CCD classes and parish meetings. Rather than the children sitting on the church floor and using the pews as desks we hope, with the support of the Archdiocese, to actually have tables and chairs -and- maybe even add a toilet to this building that never had running water.
Also - this is the 50th Annniversary of Nassau being designated as a Diocese. We have had several activities commemorating the Anniversary and the closing Mass for the Anniversary Year will be July 5. I have just learned that 2 of our parishioners from Andros will be recognized with a special medal commemorating their years of service to the parish, and the Church, at that Mass. So - while things are tough, there are good times and signs of hope as well.
God is good, His mercy endures for ever and ever - Amen? Amen!
Keep us in your prayers
Monday, June 7, 2010
It's hot!
Well my friends, there are the hot dog days of Boston I am very familiar with. Then there is hot.
A full week of 90 degrees with 80% humidity is a killer.
We do the Saturday evening service at the navy base (with AC) and when we come out our glasses fog up from the humidity. Sunday morning starts with the 8:30 liturgy and when its done I can literally wring out my shirt. I actually have to change clothes before we leave here at 10 to go to Cargill Creek for the 11AM liturgy, after which, once again, I am soaked.
Once we get back from that one we have about an hour to clean up and get ready to head North for our last liturgy. Ginni takes a shower and changes her clothes while I am loading up the car with all we need (since we have no Church up north and this liturgy is in the Primary School).
The service up North is interesting in that we have uncovered a Haitian community and some local Bahamians have begun hearing about our 4PM liturgy in the school and have joined us. The Haitians live in very poor conditions and some are extremely limited in their English, but come anyway because they know it is 'Catholique Church'. I really need to find a resource for Creole if I am ever going to break into that community. Anybody know where I can get a creole sacramentary?
The bottom line is the Haitians do speak some English, they need it for the market, trips to the clinic, and the children must learn it for school. The kids are actually a great source of translation when I can involve them in conversations. Often the adults simply smile and say, 'OK, OK, OK', which sometimes makes sense if they're answering a Yes, No question, but often doesn't when its not a Yes, No question.
"Do you want us to pick you up for Church next week?" OK, OK, OK
"What crop will you be brining in after the onions are harvested?" OK, OK, OK
But with all that said, we do communicate enough to get by. We've begun to realize what songs they recognize, and try to focus on them during liturgy. For example, everyone knows Amazing Grace.
How these folks live in this heat is beyond me - never mind how do they work the fields and do the heavy physical work they do in this heat.
Well enough for now, stay cool where ever you are.
Love ya
Frank and Ginni
A full week of 90 degrees with 80% humidity is a killer.
We do the Saturday evening service at the navy base (with AC) and when we come out our glasses fog up from the humidity. Sunday morning starts with the 8:30 liturgy and when its done I can literally wring out my shirt. I actually have to change clothes before we leave here at 10 to go to Cargill Creek for the 11AM liturgy, after which, once again, I am soaked.
Once we get back from that one we have about an hour to clean up and get ready to head North for our last liturgy. Ginni takes a shower and changes her clothes while I am loading up the car with all we need (since we have no Church up north and this liturgy is in the Primary School).
The service up North is interesting in that we have uncovered a Haitian community and some local Bahamians have begun hearing about our 4PM liturgy in the school and have joined us. The Haitians live in very poor conditions and some are extremely limited in their English, but come anyway because they know it is 'Catholique Church'. I really need to find a resource for Creole if I am ever going to break into that community. Anybody know where I can get a creole sacramentary?
The bottom line is the Haitians do speak some English, they need it for the market, trips to the clinic, and the children must learn it for school. The kids are actually a great source of translation when I can involve them in conversations. Often the adults simply smile and say, 'OK, OK, OK', which sometimes makes sense if they're answering a Yes, No question, but often doesn't when its not a Yes, No question.
"Do you want us to pick you up for Church next week?" OK, OK, OK
"What crop will you be brining in after the onions are harvested?" OK, OK, OK
But with all that said, we do communicate enough to get by. We've begun to realize what songs they recognize, and try to focus on them during liturgy. For example, everyone knows Amazing Grace.
How these folks live in this heat is beyond me - never mind how do they work the fields and do the heavy physical work they do in this heat.
Well enough for now, stay cool where ever you are.
Love ya
Frank and Ginni
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