We used this page to document the daily events of the Mission to Eleuthera by members of the Saint Mark team and the students from the Clemson Wesley Foundation from March 12th to the 28th. Here at the top is Bob Dobson's summary of the mission
March 30
Services Rendered by the St. Mark International Mission Team
March 21-28, 2010
Eleuthera, Bahamas
A. Worship
1. Singing with Brad Ferguson
2. Palmetto Point Church of the Nazarene (Luc Noel) – Haitian Church
3. Mission House devotions
B. “Construction Projects”
1. Tarpum Bay Community Center
a. Removed rock with jackhammer to make room for floor joists
b. Removed rock with jackhammer around inside perimeter for subsequent framing
c. Leveled concrete flooring with jackhammer
d. Installed remaining floor joists and spacers
e. Formed rebar for cistern floor and walls
f. Poured concrete for cistern floor with bucket brigade
g. Formed walls of cistern for concrete pour
h. Poured concrete for cistern walls with bucket brigade
i. Removed forms from cistern
j. Formed hurricane bands
k. Sifted sand for mortar mix
l. Moved rocks
2. Bannerman Town Community Center
a. Painted exterior wall of building and exterior bathroom (2 coats)
b. Painted interior wall of building
c. Installed ½ of the window cranks (missing screws precluded doing the other ½)
d. Installed conduit for complete interior wiring per information about receptacle needs provided by Shaun
e. Installed 20 receptacles for future electrical service
f. Wired ½ of the building, exclusive of connections to the breaker panel
g. Installed cistern cover
3. Mission House
a. Installed cistern cover
b. Picked up trash spread by dogs (multiple times)
c. Formed pads for trash containers – see (b) above
d. Painting
e. Installed new motion detect light on exterior stairs
f. Installed ceiling fixtures on top porch and hall
g. Installed wall fixture in kitchen
h. Replaced door knob on men’s bathroom
i. Installed 6 smoke detectors
j. Scraped and painted west exterior wall of Methodist Church sanctuary
C. Laundry
1. Washed and folded 15-20 loads of clothing left behind by the Clemson Wesley group
2. Took 4 suitcases and a trash bag of folded, clean clothes to Haitian church
3. Took t-shirts and tennis shoes to Bannerman Town
D. Training
1. 1st responder
2. CPR
3. Office software
E. Installed software
1. South Eleuthera Emergency Partners (SEEP)
2. Cancer Society
F. Health clinics
1. Tarpum Bay- M,T,W, Th – also sang there
2. Rock Sound – M, T (home visits), W (with doctor)
G. School programs
1. Tarpum Bay Primary
a. Teacher volunteer 3rd grade
b. Tutor 3rd grade student
c. Music for K, 5 senses program
2. Windermere
a. Volunteer library
b. Music program for assembly
3. Preston Albury High School
a. Student participation
b. Volunteer teacher/helper-guidance counselor, English class, homemaking
c. Interviewed teacher for grant proposal
4. Rock Sound Primary
a. Music program for assembly
b. Sang “pick it up” for going green on the island
c. Presented extra alphabet books related to healthy life style developed by Clemson nursing students to K-1st grade
d. Sat in on Spanish class
5. Day care-music
H. Grant writing
1. Woodworking shop at Preston Albury
2. Cancer Society
3. TB Community Center
4. Library
I. Song writing
1. Tarpum Bay
2. Pick up the trash
J. Listening to the stories of the people in their homes
1. Mr. Sands
2. Mrs. Cartwright
3. Gerrard and Vernice
4. Sisters
5. Rolena
K. Distributed agape health kits throughout the neighborhoods and to all areas we served
L. Sang at government office in Tarpum Bay
M. Primary speaker at Rotary Club of Eleuthera
1. Large part of team attended and heard an outstanding presentation by Debbie
Other activities
· Went to Lighthouse Beach on Tuesday and had cookout at Bannerman Town
· Toured part of the island on Friday
o Sea-Sea Drive
o Gregory Town (shopping)
o Glass Window Bridge
o Savanna Sound Beach
o Dinner at Tippy’s
· Saturday
o Farmer’s Market
o The Mission House of South Eleuthera
o The Island School
o Lenten Tea in Rock Sound sponsored by the Anglican Church
o Dinner at the Unique Restaurant
March 26
We spent the morning removing forms from the water tank concrete pour, moving bags of mortar back and forth from place to place, and getting 1/2 of the Bannerman Town building wiring completed.
This afternoon we drove north with stops at the Sea-Sea Drive, Gregory Town and Glass Window Bridge, then back to Savannah Sound for a brief swim. After a short stop at the Mission House for clothes change, we headed back north for dinner at Tippy's on the Atlantic, after finding out that the Tarpum Bay fish fry had been cancelled.
Then back to the Mission House for devotions and bed.
No pictures today - sorry.
The team is awesome and has really bonded quite well - God is good!
Your St. Mark International Team
March 25
Today's updates from Eleuthera:
Andy counted the buckets that the bucket brigade moved from the truck to the walls of the water tank that were poured today: 1424, including about 128 buckets used in other places like the soon-to-be support for the wood framing that will support the roof structure and the deck extension on the Caribbean side. Forming for the hurricane band has begun (see pictures below).
Wye and Pauline have washed 15-20 loads of laundry left behind by the Clemson Wesley and saved Shaun much $! Alicia noted the difficulties they had in getting enough water in the MH washer, and Pauline noted that she had not broken her washer! We too will leave clothing behind, including something sacrificial.
Andy will get conch shells for those who want them to take home.
Bobbi, Alicia and Matthew had a great time singing with the kids of Windermere school today.
The Banterman Town team finished touching up paint and installed much more electrical, including the breaker panel and conduit around the building.
Anna taught a class on Microsoft Office here in the MH - see picture.
Curt formed for two concrete pads for trash barrels.
Gary has gotten permission from Ian to bulid a shelf for and place a bible in the MH, perhaps signed by members of the team.
This was our last dinner in the MH - Lynn presented gifts to Violet and Shirleen - see below.
Our own Debbie DuBose was the primary speaker at the Rotary Club of Eleuthera this evening, talking about the fund raising she has led for OMC; most of our team was there to hear her presentation.
Your St. Mark International Mission Team
March 24
Reports of today's activities:
Debbie/Anna/Anna/Marla/Lynn/Gary were involved with Shaun to write grants for equipment, tools and supplies for a woodworking shop at high school, the community center, the cancer center and the library.
Dave and John accomplished much wiring of the Bannerman Town Community Center, and the painting crew did a great job getting a ins coat of paint on the outside, a coat of paint on the inside wall and 2 coats on the exterior bathroom. Andy cut down two trees that were too close to the building. Piictures of inside before and after below and some of the electrical work.
Pauline took command of the laundry detail after her leader left her.
Work at the community center consisted of getting forms in place for a concrete pour of the water tank walls (to happen tomorrow morning); Steve was put to good use in retrieving a hammer that dropped into the cavity between the old wall and the rebar/plywood - he was lowered into that cavity head first as the team held his feet! See picture of prep for that below.
Ann had good time working with Dr. Smith at Rock Sound clinic - he took time to help her anytime she needed help understanding local methodologies and drugs.
Anna did some training of Office software at the Cancer Society.
Matthew did some singing at one of the clinics.
We all went to the Palmetto Point Church of the Nazarene and were warmly welcomed by Pastor Luc Noel and had a great music evening (although a bit loud for the tastes of many)
.
March 23
Reports from individuals from our wonderful second day of "work" in Eleuthera:
Edna reported a great day learning that children are children wherever they are!
Sandra and Alicia taught CPR to the class today - wonderful class made up of 8 adults who have been given government stipends to work with Island Journeys.
Alicia noted that the community center at Banterman Town looked great after our painting team got a coat of paint on the outside - see before and after pictures below.
Bobbi had fun teaching a home economics class at the high school.
Debbie, Edna, Marla, Anna V, Anna B, and Lynn ate lunch with the officers of the Eleuthera Cancer Society and continued to dialogue with this group which was begun last week with Lynn.
Bob D. (one of 4 Bob's and a Bobbi on our team) beamed about the successful bucket brigade concrete pour of the 6" floor of the "water tank" in the community center- see pictures below.
We saw one of the most beautiful beaches in the world at Lighthouse Beach at the southern tip of the island, followed by a cookout at Banterman Town; after our return to the Mission House, we shared our experience of the day and had devotions.
Your St. Mark International Mission Team
March 22
Following are reports from individuals about their first full day on the beautiful island of Eleuthera - a pretty good thunderstorm did interrupt outdoor activities for about two hours this afternoon, but much was accomplished anyway:
Martha - Matthew did a wonderful job with the kindergarten kids at Tarpum Bay Primary School
Mike and Andy - Preston Albury high school had a bit less structure than US schools, perhaps a bit behind equivalent grades in the US.
Debbie noted that she and Lynn were both "married" to Mr Sands, the King's Baker, who makes the best bread on the island. He is 84 years old, his wife of 54 years died 2 1/2 years ago, his walls and tables are covered with pictures of his family. He prepares bread for the royal family - including the wedding of Charles and Diana when that occurred.
Curt noted that rebar placement and tying in the "water tank" in the old schoolhouse was completed; jackhammer removal of about 6" of rock on the south end was completed, as well as installation of remaining 2x12x20' floor joists.
Richard and Cindy spent time at the Rock Sound clinic, with Richard dispensing medications (different process than the US) and Cindy helping to see 22 patients before 11:00. Richard noted the gratitude expressed by the locals, and Cindy just allowed things to happen!
Dave and John installed several light fixtures and did some new wiring for an exterior motion detect light for the Mission House stairs.
Pauline noted that the 3rd grade teacher really did a great job with limited tools in educating those children.
Alicia spent most of her day providing training to 8 locals on 1st aid/1st responder subjects, with help from Ann and Sandra, especially on cardiovascular subjects; Ann also worked with nurse Roe.
Wye headed up the laundry detail, washing a table full of clothes left behind by Clemson Wesley team.
Brad Ferguson led us in parse and worship for over an hour - awesome!
A great start to our week! Here are pix of the completed rebar and floor joists, Alicia in action and Brad leading us in worship.
Your St. Mark international team,
March 21
Greetings from Eleuthera!
The St. Mark team arrived right on time at Governor's Harbour airport in Eleuthera at 4:35 this afternoon, all in good health. We made it to the Mission House in Tarpum Bay by 6:00, settled in, had a great dinner of salad and sandwiches and learned a bit about the island and our tasks for tomorrow. We are excited about what may be in store for us this week! Due to an very early start this morning, the exhausted team closed with a group prayer and headed for bed. Here we are on our luxurious transportation system, ready to head for Tarpum Bay.
Your St. Mark international mission team,
March 18
Hello Family and Friends!
It has been another wonderful and busy day in Eleuthera!
We continued working at our sites. It was our last day of work and we met our goals!
After dinner, some of us headed to the rotary meeting and then we all went to a local Restaurant in Rock Sound to watch some basketball games, sing some karaoke, spend time together, and of course celebrate two very special birthdays - Lindsay Hook and Katherine Cragon! It was a surprise party for the two of them and everyone had a wonderful time!
This is probably the last e-mail as we are having a busy and fun tilled last two days here in Eleuthera. Tomorrow, we are touring the island for the day and going to a fish fry! On Saturday, we are helping with Ride for the Cure. This is a fundraiser to raise money to send women of Eleuthera to Nassau in order to get screened for breast cancer.
I also apologize for the brevity of this e-mail in comparison to the previous - it has been a busy day for all!
We will talk to you all on Sunday!
I hope you all have enjoyed the updates!
We love and miss you all!
Goodnight!
Emily Forney
March 17
Hello Hello!
Wednesday has been a busy day, so here is the first part of our update. Hopefully we will have the second part of it tomorrow!
Today was another day at the work sites! We continued to work at the same sites as we have the past two days!
Unlike the previous two days, we ended work a few hours earlier so that we could have a little bit of free time! Some of us went to the Ocean Hole while others went to a beach, or rather tried to (we got a little lost along the way)! This evening, we went to Brad Ferguson's church and worshiped with his family and church! It was wonderful!
Here is what happened at three of the four groups today!
James Cox - Tarpum Bay community center aka Shepard's Flock
Today, our group finished knocking down a bathroom. We also, frustratingly, had to move some rocks that had been previously moved! We also began laying down some floorboards. However, we soon discovered that some more rocks, inside, were in the way of the floorboards, so we have to move those too! So, in short, it was a day of moving rocks!
Amber Beck - Bannerman Town community center
Today, our group put up windows and painted the outside of the house and did more paint scrapping! Then, later on, we tried to find a beach, but we ended up on a wild adventure. We hit some trees and made a few wrong turns, but we soon found a beach! It was a fun and interesting day!
Lindsay Hook - Nursing Clinic
Today, the nurses had their first emergency. A woman in Tarpum Bay, suffered a stroke and several of the students assisted in the transfer in the ambulance to a clinic and then onto an airplane to be taken to Nassau. The woman was found unresponsive and before loading the airplane two hours later, she was speaking again and moving her extremities. What a blessing to be a part of that healing process. Several other nurses went to 3 primary schools today and educated the children on health, hygiene, and safe sex. Needless to say, they got some great questions!
Here ends part one of Wednesday's update. We hope to have part two tomorrow. Part two should include the primary school, afternoon excursions, and our time with Brad Ferguson!
Goodnight!
Emily
March 16th
Hello Hello!
Today was absolutely wonderful! We again spent the day working in the same sites as yesterday, with nurses going to clinics, people working construction here in Tarpum Bay and Bannerman Town, and people going to school!
Here is what people had to say about today's activities!
Sally Britt - Primary School
Today, when we were at the school, I got to take over the 5th grade math lesson. I gave the kids a little mental math quiz and helped them to review their averages later on in the day. After lunch, we did a bible story lesson and sang with the 2nd graders. Every kid in the school was adorable and they are all so wonderfully respectful! It was a wonderful day!
Rebecca Moseley - Tarpum Bay community center
Today on our work site, we continued to clean up rubble and began the task of tearing down an old bathroom. I was part of the roofing crew, and we spent the better part of the day removing plywood from the roof. Some of the guys continued removing the outer part of the building, and everybody took a sledgehammer to the bathroom at some point. I went with Tyson, who is one of the locals, to the dump to unload the old wood we tore down and had a great conversation with him about the differences between the U.S.A. and the Bahamas and his trip to Haiti as a relief worker. It was definitely an exhausting but an all-around amazing day!
Helena Williams - Nursing Clinic
Today, I was in the Rock Sound Clinic with a few other nursing majors. We didn't have as many patients as yesterday, but it was still an amazing day. We followed Nurse Edwards all day and helped her with various things. We spent a lot of time in the pharmacy counting pills and measuring medications - something we don't get to do back in the States. Before finishing up the day, we went with Nurse Edwards on a few home visits. We got to visit a 99 year old man, probably the oldest man on the island. It was so much fun and very enlightening to follow Nurse Edwards, a Bahamian nurse, and to see how she interacts in the culture.
Hunter Hayes - Bannerman Town community center
Today, we knocked out the roof! We finished tar papering the roof and shingled it after that. The tar paper was difficult because we ran out of discs, so the paper wasn't staying in place. This, along with the gravel from the shingles made for a few scary moments, but everyone was fine! During lunch, we headed over to Princess Cays to visit the site we worked at last year. Everything had been painted in a various array of bright colors and it looked really nice. Back at the work site, while we were continuing to work on the roof, some local volunteers were prepping the window holes for the new windows - they made some concrete and then used that to smooth out the edges of the window holes. We finished the roof, and then hopped on the bus. This time, it started on the first try! We headed to the Ocean Hole, and it was still awesome, and we all had a lot of fun! We then headed back to base and met up with everyone else for dinner and an evening of ice cream runs and relaxing!
After everyone came back from work sites and time at the beach or the Ocean Hole, we had a wonderful dinner of pork chops, mac and cheese, corn, and salad! It was delicious. The rest of the evening was spent talking about our day, going over the schedule for the rest of the week, and then again relaxing, and enjoying each other's company.
It was another great day here on the Island.
We love you all!
Emily
March 14th
Hello Family and Friends!
This morning the group split up and we all went to different churches around Tarpum Bay. I went to the Methodist Church. The service was similar to CUMC. We sang hymns, greeted one another, and the pastor preached and we ended with a closing benediction. However, it had its own Bahamian style and operated on Bahamian time. For example, we sang verses multiple times and the hymnals had only the lyrics of the songs. After about two hours of praising God, we ate a good lunch of chicken, slaw, and beans and rice. We then relaxed and explored the islands of Lighthouse Beach.
After time on the beach, we went to a cookout not too far away that the local people threw for us. We were able to play with some of the local kids and they quickly came out of their shyness. We played Frisbee, tag, capture the flag, and swung on the swings until the bugs came out and made us head back to our home for the week.
It was a great first full day in the Bahamas enjoying God’s creation and getting to know more of his people.
Katie
March 13th
Hello Family and Friends!
We have all arrived safe and sound in Tarpum Bay!
Upon arrival at the Rock Sound Airport, we headed to our home for the week. We were then treated to a Bahamian BBQ with traditional Bahamian mac and cheese, rice and beans, coleslaw, and a choice of chicken, pork or ribs. After eating, we enjoyed a mix of familiar and Bahamian music, a few games of Ninja, and frisbee. Activities halted when the sun began to set, as we all wanted to enjoy the first sunset of the week!
More updates to come!
We love you and miss you all (but not really because we are in the Bahamas :) )!
Emily
We arrived safely around 3:00 this afternoon, had a wonderful dinner of chicken, macaroni, slaw and peas and rice with conch fritters thrown in for good measure.
We can't wait for your arrival.
Bob and Lynn
A few pictures to whet your appetite - the view from the front porch of the Carey House, typical Tarpum Bay sunset, and two pix of the old schoolhouse we will be working to turn into a community center.
