We have internet at Camp Symonette!!!
I must first apologize for falling so far behind on our "up-to-date" Hurricane Irene blog. It has been quite a "whirlwind" around here but there is some "normalcy" that is creeping back into our lives...and it is welcomed.
Eleuthera and Cat Island are also getting back to a stay of "normal" but we can't get complacent. Electricity has been restored to the vast majority of the islands that were affected by the storm, which is a huge blessing but that is just one piece of the Relief puzzle. There are still hundreds of families that have tarps on their roofs, other families are having to dry out clothes from the sea surge flooding, more are trying to figure out how to get back on their feet. Things were tight in the Bahamas before the storm, now it's even more tight.
I received a call yesterday from Capt. Russell of NEMA and he asked us to be ready to start work on Monday, September 19th on Cat Island. He informed us that they have already distributed materials to families and they are ready for us (KP and I actually saw the materials on our visit to Cat last Saturday). I assured him we would be there with our volunteers and ready to Roof! KP and I are rounding up our local volunteers from Eleuthera that have expressed interest in going to serve with us in Cat and the plan is to mobilize there over the weekend and jump on the roofs on Monday!
There are many homes that need repairs and many families that need love.
Please start making your plans to come join us in the recovery efforts if you are able.
If you or your church, group of friends, family, etc would like to come serve with us, please fill out our Volunteer Information Request Form and state in the Additional Comments block "IRENE". We will then send you the details of coming to serve with us.
Camp Update:
Camp Symonette is looking great. The roofs are fixed (Camp, Cottage, my house), half the trees are trimmed, brush is cleaned up, windows are washed, floors have been mopped, driveway is swept and we have Electricity and Internet! What more could you ask for?
We had 3 volunteers come serve with us last weekend from Orange Beach UMC, Alabama, 2 from Port Orange UMC, Florida and a pilot who flew all the way from Detroit to deliver supplies and help us repair the Camp. The six of them really pulled Camp back together along with the Royal Bahamas Defense Force guys that are staying with us.
I am off to the airport to meet two more planes with supplies headed to Cat Island so I will write more and send pictures on the next blog!
Keep praying WITH us and we also need your financial support as our Recovery Efforts continue.
Peace and Love.
Abe and the entire BMH Community.
