Methodist Habitat Bahamas: News and Events

Staff, Interns and Donors
				Staff___________________________________________________________________________ Abraham McIntyre, Executive Director ...came to us in January '06 from Nashville, TN after graduating in 2004 from East Tennessee State University and traveling throughout North and Central America in 2005. We are very excited to have him join our ministry here in the Bahamas. Abraham graduated with Business Management and Camp Leadership degrees that have prepared him for serving the Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church. He worked with the Appalachia Service Project for five summers and comes to us with a wealth of experience and knowledge. His heart and life have been full of service to others. He says he is blessed to be serving families here in the Bahamas. Abraham was an intern with BMH and knew in his heart that he would be back to serve. New ministry, outreach, and sustainability projects as well as growing the organization are on Abraham's plate . . . we are excited to see where he takes the ministry! BMH Internship Program _____________________________________________ Methodist Habitat encourages each individual to engage in an active spiritual formation and vocational discernment process. One of our missions is to provide resources and service opportunities to assist those searching for God's purpose in their lives. The internship program was born from this mission. Several Americans and one Bahamian participated in the internship program. The interns help out with everything from administrative tasks to preparing for and hosting the volunteer teams. Interns are challenged to leave their comfort zones, become a part of the community, and consider their future in the service of God. You could be the next intern, email Abraham for further details 2008 Emily Bagwell will be joining us after having graduated from Berry College in Rome, GA in May 2007 and working as the Youth Director for 6 months at Rome First UMC. She is excited about moving to sunny Eleuthera to help with the great program of BMH where she hopes to learn some new construction skills and also meet some new friends. Hiking, playing the guitar and trying to entertain middle and high school students are a few of her passions. She also enjoys traveling and is excited that her next adventure leads her to the Bahamas. Leia Suska is a recent graduate of Lambuth University in Jackson, TN. She wanted to take a break break before grad school & decided to spend some discernment time serving people & God. She She has never done long term missions before and is looking forward to the experience. She came came down in October '07 to visit & see what life on Eleuthera would be like & absolutely fell in love love with the people & the island. She’ll be here for four months and looks forward to working with with all the teams that come. "So far everyone has been amazing! Their willingness to serve people people they have never met and truly love them is something that could only be done with the the love of Christ." 2007 Bill Gwyer is from the shores of Southeast Florida and Eastern New Jersey...and he has been a blessing to BMH from the day he showed up. With an exciting and diverse background, Bill brings a variety of skills and talents BACK to the Bahamas. He actually lived here in the late 1970's on a sailboat in Hatchet Bay. We are very thankful for his passion for serving others. Larry and Barbara Brannon 2006 McGareth Newton is serving with us all the way from Andros, Bahamas. He is here on a year long commitment and has been a huge blessing to our ministry so far. McGareth is an avid outdoorsman that loves to learn all he can about birds, fish, and plants. He also loves to read, watch movies, learn guitar (Sweet Home Alabama) and write poetry. He also took three semesters of Eco-Tourism university classes in Ohio to help become a fishing and birding guide. As soon as you meet this man you know his heart is in the right place. Patrick Hawkins served with BMH in February-March and was a huge blessing to the staff! He was a true servant and had fresh ideas for the ministry. We thank him for all that he contributed to the organization while in the Bahamas. He is also taking his servanthood back to Tennessee and will be doing promotions for us in the States, if you would like him to come to speak to your group email Abraham to set up a date. Patrick is from Murfreesboro, TN but now resides in Johnson City, TN where he graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Biology degree. He is now working out plans of moving to Korea to teach English. Pat was a huge fan of the heat and bugs... Our biggest thanks go out to Patrick. 2005 Abraham McIntyre, March 2005 Who would have thought that a simple trip to the Bahamas for a Spring Break mission trip would open so many doors...Abraham is a great example of a seed planted in fertile soil. We never know what our experiences are going to lead us to but if we keep our hearts and minds open to what God wants us to do then God will make amazing things happen. Matt Carson, October 2004-March 2005 Another Matt right out of high school and green behind the ears but a wonderful addition to the ministry staff. Matt was a huge blessing to so many on the islands as he served right along side the staff as we traveled around relieving disaster and promoting community. 2004 The Dynamic Duo, Elizabeth Scott and Erin Johnson, roommates from East Tennessee State University, were a huge part of the success of the Summer program in 2004. Their dedication to the ministry made it possible for Martin to host volunteers with out having to go crazy. Cooking, Cleaning, and Construction are just a few of the responsibilities that they had throughout the summer. James Cistern has never been the same. Matt Cohen, Shortly after his high school graduation, as well as his 18th birthday, Matt ended up in Eleuthera. Not knowing what to expect, he kept an open mind to anything that could happen. Matt loved spending time with the people in the community and the mission teams. Matt worked around Camp with repairs such as rebuilding screen doors, hanging drywall in the dorms, re-enforcing tables as well as working with teams with their projects. From his stay in Eleuthera, he feels that he had a lot of personal growth and learned a lot about himself. 2003 Methodist Habitat's first intern, Cary Corley served, January 2003-May 2003. Cary will graduate from the University of Alabama in May 2005. "Before my stint on Eleuthera, I had no direction in my life. And even though my stay seems to have brought about more questions than answers, I really learned a lot about who I am. Now I feel I'm prepared to take on anything that comes my way, all because of what God did in my heart while I was in the Bahamas... I learned that life is never what you expect it to be, and if you can grasp that and love life for what it is, instead of what you want it to be, then you will be happy." Methodist Habitat's only Bahamian intern in 2003 was Crystal Lee Demeritte. Crystal is a Hotel Catering and Hospitality Management student at the College of the Bahamas in Nassau. She loves children! Crystal conducted Bible school on Cat Island and assisted with the summer camp for local children. Serving with Methodist Habitat helped Crystal discover and explore her passion for mentoring children and she plans to continue her volunteer work, focusing on at-risk girls. Amanda Dean, from Kingsport Tennessee, describes her summer internship experience: "God has shown me so many amazing things. I have seen the vibrant faces of children that are longing for attention and are claiming the love of Christ. I came here to serve, but the people here are serving me in amazing ways! I never knew that life could be so simple and sweet at the same time." Amanda now works at the headquarters of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission with Landon Taylor, a Methodist Habitat summer intern from McEwen Tennessee. Both recently graduated from East Tennessee State University. Erin Williams, from St. Petersburg Florida, served with Methodist Habitat in the summer of 2003 and lived at the recently remodeled manse (parsonage) in Tarpum Bay. Erin dedicated her time and energy to taking photos of the area, collecting and organizing information, and helping create promotional and informative material. Stephanie Johns is a Human Development and Family Studies major at Penn Stated University. She worked on housing assistance projects with teams and helped host Bible school for local children. She enjoyed immersing herself in the community. During her free time, Stephanie could be found knocking on doors to ask if the children would come out to swim or play games. She made lots of friends who explored the island with her and gave her history lessons along the way! Stephanie says she will continue to serve others "in any way I can because by doing this I am serving God." Jeannie Cariker, from Wilmington North Carolina, spent several months in Eleuthera helping Shaun build the internal structure of the organization and working with volunteer teams at Camp Symonette. "Living on Eleuthera has taught me a lot about faith, worship, integrity, and community. I learned that when I approach relationships with an open mind and heart, every one of God's people has something to teach me. I have also realized my passion for helping other volunteers receive the gifts that come from serving God. When I return to the US, I will continue to support mission activities in my home church and conduct some myself." Brent Holman, from Birmingham Alabama, is Methodist Habitat's current intern planning a term October 2003 through May 2004. He is the current webmaster as well as public relations planner for the organization. His duties include searching out contributors for fundraising and directing awareness toward Methodist Habitat. Stan and Jennie Lowrey from northwest Missouri, are no strangers to mission work. They have been on many short-term work missions around the USA and in several countries. This is their first long-term volunteer mission, which will last for four months. They are serving as work team coordinators and camp hosts. Stan enjoys being a part of the work, particularly the carpentry, and Jennie is at the camp in the kitchen making sure the teams have good healthy food. They truly enjoy being a part of the Bahamian culture and the Christian community in Eleuthera. Generous Donors Provide Transportation ________________ Volunteers had an easier time getting around in vehicles that were donated by churches from the US in the Spring of 2003! Crievewood United Methodist in Nashville, Tennessee, under the leadership of Rev. David McIntyre and his son Abraham McIntyre (now Director of BMH), donated Bahamas Methodist Habitat two minivans that were used on the island of Eleuthera. One of the vans (not pictured) has passed on into mini-van heaven but the red van (pictured) is now Abraham's "company" vehicle. Little did he know 3 years ago that he this would turn into his personal vehicle. Clemson United Methodist in Clemson, South Carolina donated 2 school buses. Rev. Lane Glaze coordinated their efforts. One bus is stationed at Camp Symonette on Eleuthera for the use of volunteer teams. Locals and incoming volunteers on Andros Island are benefiting from the other bus. Volunteers staying at Camp Makepeace on Andros Island travel to and from worksites on a school bus given by Glen Mar United Methodist in Ellicott City, Maryland. Tarpum Bay Receives Ambulance_______________________ Tarpum Bay Health Clinic on Eleuthera Island was the recipient of a van ambulance filled with medical supplies from Ambulances for the World, an organization founded in 2002 by three EMTs. This is the second ambulance donated by the organization. The first one was delivered to a town in Guatemala after the EMTs went on several medical missions there and identified a need for medical supplies. In November 2003, the three founders of Ambulances for the World, Mr. Brian Fisk, Mr. John Owen, and Mr. Bill Southwick, visited Tarpum Bay to train the local volunteers how to use the vehicle and to teach basic first aid. Three local men volunteered to serve with Mrs. Regina Ingraham, RN to create the Tarpum Bay Rescue Squad. With the leadership of Mr. Rick Smith, Statesboro United Methodist Church in Statesboro Georgia raised the funds necessary to ship the ambulance from Miami to Eleuthera. The advanced art class from Lake George High School in Lake George New York painted the ambulance. They illustrated the ambulance's journey from New York to Eleuthera. This ambulance is one of a kind! See a photo of the other side of the ambulance in the header on this page.
"Relieving Disaster, Promoting Community" Methodist Habitat is an outreach program of the Bahamas Conf. of the Methodist Church. NEWS \| HISTORY \| SERVICE AREAS \| CURRENT PROJECTS \| HELP \| CAMP SYMONETTE \| CONTACT US GALLERY \| RESOURCES © Copyright Methodist Habitat 2003. All rights reserved.