If you’ve been following these adventures for any time at all, you probably know that I have a deep love for travel. I love seeing new places and experiencing new things! But, there is one place that I experience with a renewed freshness each time I visit. That place, is Eleuthera, Bahamas. I’ve written about Eleuthera many times on the blog. You can read about those adventures here. But I think it’s important to know the FULL story- to know how Eleuthera came to mean so much to myself and my team.
It started as a missions for high school seniors- one that changed locations every summer. On this particular summer, the church group decided to visit the Island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. After contacting a few different places and planning the trip, the group of teenagers and adults ventured south, to the tropics.
Their 10 day trip was incredible, but not at all what they expected. Through vacation bible school, teenage bible studies, and construction of broken homes, a completely different type of construction was happening. The team found that the relationships they had built with the people of the island gave them little desire to return back to the states. Their hearts could not deny the fact that something was different about this place.
The people of the town were grateful for the team, but when the trip came to an end it was made clear that they expected the team to never return once they left the island. “Many people love our sun, and our sand, but few have returned as they have promised.” one bohemian explained.
That spurred something in the missions team…. Many had loved the sun and sand of Eleuthera, but not many had truly loved it’s people. Right then and there it was decided that the team would return again. They didn’t need to go some place they had never been before, they needed to continually invest in the relationships they had developed.
Each summer since, that team has kept its promise and returned to the island. Though the team has grown and changed over time, their mission has stayed the same. Relationships with those who live on the island have blossomed, the gospel has been shared countless times, and God has done wonders in ways you would have to see to believe…. all because a small team of American teenagers vowed to love God’s people, and not just benefit from a trip to the tropics.
This summer I will once again be joining Hope Outreach Ministries (through Salem Baptist Church located in Sparta, Virginia) on their annual trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas. The trip is set for June 25th – July 4th 2015. While in Eleuthera, we will lead vacation bible school (the kids LOVE it), lead praise and worship, invest in the community and work to build the town a playground along with other miscellaneous work projects!
I’m writing you to ask for you to partner with me as I go on this trip. Partnering first in prayer, and second in financial giving. Prayer is what allows us to be successful as we follow God’s lead in ministering to the people of Eleuthera. Nothing that we will do on the island is important unless God is doing it in and through us. We firmly believe that through committed prayer warriors like yourself, God will not only do incredible things on this trip, but also eternal things in the hearts and minds of everyone we come into contact with!
Financial support is also needed. I ask that you trust the Lord in your giving, as I trust the Lord in my going. This will be my fifth trip to Eleuthera and I am more than ready to continue what we have started there! I cannot WAIT to share with you what the Lord is going to do this summer!
One of the fun ways that you can partner with us is by purchasing one of our shirts! These shirts are something we designed specifically for our missions work in Eleuthera! These super comfortable V necks have one of my most favorite verses on them AND represent the country of the Bahamas, with the nation’s infamous pineapple and flag colors!
Purchase a shirt below!
If you would like to make a separate donation, feel free to do so HERE!
xo
AnnaFilly
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