Bahamas Methodist Habitat

Aid to Haiti

bmh — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:02:32 +0000

Sunday Evening Update:

Conversation between Abe (BMH Director) and Cameron (BMH Pilot) after returning from a full day of delivering much needed medical supplies and evacuating 27 missionaries:

“Abe, you know what the best part of my day was?”
“No Cameron…tell me.”
“It’s when we got off the plane in Les Cayes (La Kai) and we heard the nearby church singing:

“Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!”

Today was a good day!”

Yes, today was a good day and God is Great!

As the 27 people that we evacuated out of Haiti today thanked me, I kept saying, “well it’s gotta be God because I have never done this before…but somehow it keeps working”

I was also reminded tonight that, “God does not call the prepared…He prepares the Called”. That’s how I feel right now, but so thankful for all those of you that have done so much behind the scenes in supporting us. Today, it has produced:

Over 17,000 pounds of medical supplies (in)
27 persons being evacuated (out)
with the help of 9 private planes from Nassau to Iowa!

It is incredible! Thank you!

Many persons keep saying, “I want to do more…but don’t know what to do”.
If you feel this way, please join us in our fundraising campaign. You too can be a critical supporting factor in our efforts!
Realize that the donated medical supplies would still be on the Nassau Airport Ramp if not for willing servants like you!
We need your support!

Please Donate now.
Because more planes and supplies are coming!!

Peace and Love.
Abe

Sunday, January 17, 2010

To all our gracious friends,

We had a very successful donation drive at Queen’s College, Nassau on Saturday! Hundreds came out to donate items and volunteer. We brought our partnership with the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas even closer. All items donated to the BCMC were transported to the gymnasium at the Western Medical Plaza (the Rotary’s staging area) by large trucks, drivers and lifters provided by Pinders Brokerage and Bahamas Waste. This move allowed our combined resources to operate more efficiently. Neither BCMC or Rotary is in it for the glory – we just want to serve the people of Haiti. The bible says one can chase 1,000 but two can put 10,000 to flight (amazingly, working together we delivered 10,000lbs of emergency items to Haiti so far)

On Saturday, the Methodist Habitat airplane was joined by Dave Spangler out of North Eleuthera. Two more volunteer planes from Alabama and Iowa flew in from the States to offer their services to Methodist Habitat. While on the airport tarmac this morning we were approached by a local pilot who too offered his plane. Odyssey Aviation has once again partnered with the BCMC and giving all our planes full access to its services and facilities. This has been such a blessing.

In all, FOUR fully loaded planes made successful trips to Haiti today and One to Inagua, Bahamas!! Added to the two flights on Friday this makes more than 10,000lbs of emergency medical supplies already delivered in Haiti.

I just got word that TWO MORE volunteer planes arrived from the Gainesville, FL tonight to join Methodist Habitat – This makes SEVEN PLANES now in our fleet!

Millionaire Aviation has volunteered to make two flights in their Caravan plane on Sunday (over 4,000lbs of cargo) and the Rotary Club has arranged for a DC-3 flight for Sunday (over 6,000lbs of cargo), each going to Cap Haitian. So on Sunday we are likely to deliver close to (or more than) 23,000lbs of emergency aid into Haiti!!! GOD IS GOOD.

Here’s how you can help.

WE NEED CASH DONATIONS TO FUND THE FUEL COST.

Please DONATE

Today is Sunday….that means there is a good chance you are going to church, PLEASE ask them to donate to Bahamas Methodist Habitat. All the other organizations are doing well but we are just a small fish in a big pond trying to make a difference. We just need to extract the cash out of your pocket and make sure it get’s to us.

We also GREATLY NEED Medical supplies, food and water. Email or call us to let us know where we need to pick it up from and / or ship it to Ft. Lauderdale. We need Basic Surgical Supplies!

Please spread the word. Please pray for the safety of the pilots. Please get involved. Please join in making a difference.

God bless our efforts. God bless the people of Haiti.

Henry / Abe

Saturday, January 16, 2010

BMH Sets Up In Nassau!

After two days of sitting in front of the computer at Camp Symonette it didn’t ‘feel’ like we were making much headway….but then today the pieces came together. This is a very short version but more details and stories on their way.

Cameron King (BMH Pilot) and Dave Spangler (FlyN4God Pilot) staged in Inagua, Bahamas on Thursday afternoon. I then gained them access to land in Port-au-Prince at 8:00am Friday by a US Army C-130 pilot via Facebook (of course…). Upon arrival they found out the teams of 8 and 46 missionaries that they were supposed to begin evacuating had been taken out at 4:00am, a huge blessing. So the next best thing is to grab whomever and get out. They did just that. Now a family of 5 is spending the night in North Eleuthera waiting for a flight to Miami, FL.

Steve Merritt (Bahamas Habitat Treasurer) and Charles Stites (Able Flights ED and Photojournalist) made their trek from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau to pick up medical supplies and a Rotary supported Doctor and Nurse. Then to Inagua for fuel and off to Cap Haitian to make their drop off with our contact, Ann Jordan Reynolds of Montgomery, Alabama. She is volunteering/working with “Partners In Health” (Dr. Paul Farmer’s org). She is great and guaranteed that ALL supplies would get to the right hands and EVERY LAST band-aid would be used. “We are totally overwhelmed with people moving out of Port-au-Prince into the rural areas, Oh thank you thank you thank you for sending the supplies!” Steve and Charles then headed back to Nassau to rendezvous with myself, my parents, Matt Hansen and Cameron King. We are all staying together at Queen’s College, our Methodist School.

Meanwhile….two more planes were being loaded with medical supplies in Ft. Lauderdale (9:00pm). David Robertson arrived from Cullman, Alabama and Ken DeYoung flew straight from Northwest Iowa to join us! Our team of medical supply donors lead by Mike Sullivan and Bob Denison did an amazing job of getting the supplies donated and loaded in the plane in a VERY short time frame.

Next:

All four planes will meet in Nassau at 9:00am to pray, debrief, load up with supplies and get back down to Haiti to drop off supplies and bring back missionaries that no longer feel safe in Cap Haitian and Les Cayes.

We have great contacts on the ground in Haiti and ask that you support our efforts by either donating medical supplies in Ft. Lauderdale (mike@sullivan4irsmatters.com) or donating monetarily to cover our aviation fuel expenses.

And don’t stop praying WITH us!

If you know of any groups/individuals that can get to the Cap Haitian or Les Cayes Airport, please let us know ALL known information and we will do out best to evacuate them…..that also means we need more planes, pilots and money.

Follow these links to serve.

Able to Fly

Able to Donate

Read More

Thank you for your support! It’s working.

Peace and Love.

Abe

Abraham (Abe) McIntyre
Executive Director Bahamas Methodist Habitat
Camp Symonette, James Cistern
Eleuthera, Bahamas

931-230-7771 USA
242-335-6210 Camp
242-422-9318 Cell

www.MethodistHabitat.org

Relieving Disaster, Promoting Community

Supplies in… People out - http://www.bahamashabitat.org/wordpress/?m=201001

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

On Friday January 15th our first two flight teams made it in to Haiti from our staging base on Inagua delivering medical supplies and evacuating people. Tomorrow the process begins again with more planes on the way.

We have had a rush of requests today to help get people out and more medical supplies in. Pilots with aircraft have been volunteering today and making preparations to join the efforts. We have medical supplies in Nassau and Fort Lauderdale that need to move along with 30 doctors that are trying to get in. The list of people needing to be evacuated continues to grow.

We need more volunteers that have twin engine aircraft and high performance singles to join in.

Tomorrow two more Beechcraft Barons a Mooney Acclaim and a Bonanza join in along with a Cessna 340 and a 182. More have signed up to be able to come in the coming weeks. If you can volunteer for a mission please do so.

Our operations are focusing on getting to the airports of: Cap Haitien and Les Cayes that are north and south of Port-Au-Prince. People are moving out to these areas seeking help and evacuation.

Here is how you can help
1. Aircraft owners volunteer. If you don’t have a plane help us get the message to other pilots that have suitable planes and then join in with them.

2. If you can’t jump in and join the missions please donate what you can.

3. Help spread the word to help us obtain supplies, funds and additional airplanes.

4. Pray and then pray some more.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

All is fine here in the Bahamas regarding the Haitian Earthquake so we are focusing our efforts as best we can to aid in the disaster. The Bahamas and Bahamas Methodist Habitat has been blessed for years with the love and service of so many, and we now have the opportunity to “pass it on”.

As of right now, we are partnering with Dave Spangler, a long time friend and pilot here on Eleuthera to deliver roughly 1,000 lbs. of supplies. Cameron King, BMH Pilot, is assisting with the flight. They are to leave at 9:00 am from North Eleuthera and return Friday afternoon. That was “our” original plan but God had a different one. We are now not only dropping off supplies but transporting 8 missionaries from Port-au-Prince to Inagua, Bahamas for transport back to the States via Nassau.

I just received a call (8:30 am) from our Bahamas Habitat (501c3) Treasurer, Steve Merritt. He is loading our newly donated twin-engine Barron with 1,000 lbs. of supplies and will picking myself and three Bahamian Government Officials up in Nassau on Friday at 12:00 pm to make our way down to Port-au-Prince. The “plan” is to drop off the Bahamian officials so they can asses and see how the Bahamas can best respond while Steve transports 20 Missionaries from Clayton, NC to Inagua, Bahamas. They will then fly out of Inagua on Sunday afternoon (seats available).

This is all very contingent on many things so please pray that our logistics all fit together.

The Bahamas Conference of the Methodist Church, our parent ministry, is also responding by setting up a Relief Supply Collection Point at Queen’s College, Nassau on Saturday, January 16th.

Our aviation efforts aren’t cheap and we don’t have huge cash reserves to pull this off….but we know that you as our supporters will come together to take care of us.

Please make your secure donations to Bahamas Habitat. They are our registered US 501c3 and support organization.

PLEASE DONATE NOW

Thank you for your CONTINUED support of BMH in the Bahamas and thank you for the support that will aid us in our assistance in Haiti. Pray WITH us as we venture into uncharted territories and continue to pray WITH all affected.

Peace and Love.

Abe

Hurricane Ike, 2008:

bmh — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:10:12 +0000

Hurricane Ike passed directly over Great Inagua, the most southern southern island of the over 700 Bahamian islands and cays. BMH was the first volunteer agency on the ground…and on the roofs to aid our Bahamian brothers and sisters.

2009 Photos:

bmh — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:07:06 +0000

Hearn Group: September

Denton, Texas Wesley Foundation: May 17-23, 2009

Bluff Park UMC, Hoover, Alabama: March 14-21, 2009

Fly-In & Help Out, 5th Biannual: March 5-8, 2009

Patmos, Nassau, Bahamas: Feb 27 – March 5, 2009

St. Petersburg, FL & Holston Conference United Methodist Women: Feb 22-28, 2009

2008 Photos:

bmh — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:05:37 +0000

Madison Street United Methodist Church, Clarksville, Tennessee: July 27-August 2, 2008

2007 Photos:

bmh — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:01:50 +0000

Northwestern State Univeristy of Louisiana, Natchitoches, Louisiana: May 17-25, 2007

BMH Experience Evaluation

bmh — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:43:05 +0000

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Denton, Texas Wesley Foundation

bmh — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:10:07 +0000

What happens when you mix 19 college students (and 2 team leaders) who have hearts for serving with an island who welcomes them with a warm embrace? You get a blessing bigger than any of them imagined! Despite some setbacks along the way (like arriving without luggage), the Wesley Foundation from Denton, Texas poured their hearts into the communities of Upper and Lower Bogue and Bluff. The group split up into 3 different teams to do some much needed home repair. One team put up siding, installed new windows and doors, and put on a whole new roof. The second team was able to tile a whole house. Team three had the privilege of jumping around to several sites and helped repair some damaged siding, re-framed windows, scraped paint off emergency housing, and even helped team two to complete the tiling project. Though it rained every single day, they worked through it showing how big their hearts really are. The group also did a Vacation Bible School at Bluff Primary School. The kids’ faces lit up every time the group arrived for another day of games, crafts, Bible lessons, and singing. The kids even taught Denton a few songs to take back to the states. To say these teams were a blessing is an understatement. God definitely worked through them. Evenings were filled with fun, lots of smiles, and tons of laughter. As they prepared to head home one student told me they had never before been that exhausted but had that much fun and been so blessed by a community. Thank you Denton Wesley for your serving hearts and the handprint you left on our community.

BMH Volunteer Calendar

bmh — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:11:22 +0000

Check out our availability for volunteer opportunities throughout the Bahamas.

Please email us with your desired dates to come serve with us.

Tarpum Bay Manse

bmh — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:43:38 +0000

Tarpum Bay is a settlement that is south of James Cistern. It is home to one of our Bahamian Board Members, Ken Culmer. Having the opportunity to house groups farther south on the island will make it easier to broaden where we are able to be of assistance.

Flight Instructions:
From Nassau (NAS) to Governor’s Harbour (GHB): You will fly with Southern Air (19 seater) or Bahamas Air (50 seater).
From Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) – to Governor’s Harbour Airport (GHB): You will need to fly with either Continental Airlines (19 seater), Lynx (19 seater), or Twin Air (8 seater).

Facilities:

Island Coordinators:
Abraham McIntyre (Director)
Kenrick “KP” Pearce (Project Coordinator)
Emily Bagwell (Camp Coordinator)
and Year Round BMH Staff

Transportation:
40 passenger Bus

Max # of Volunteers:
25

Day-off Adventures:
Trips North
Hatchet Bay Caves
Island Made Gift Shop, Gregory Town
Glass Window Bridge
Pink Sand Beaches

Trips South
Pink Sand Beaches
Snorkeling
Ocean Hole
Island Made Gift Shop, Rock Sound
Banyan Tree

K-Life, St. Pete, 3-Pete

bmh — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:37:32 +0000

K-life, K-life, K-life…after their 3rd time as a ministry down to Eleuthera, the K-Life team carries back home to St. Petersburg, FL new stories, stronger friendships and excitement about their next trip back to Camp Symonette. K-life is a ministry attracting many different denominations, counties and schools to their program which is serving hundreds of youth each week in their spiritual walks. The now annual trip to Eleuthera has brought familiar faces and new friends back to the island as they seek to minister to and be ministered unto each trip. The teams worked at Camp Symonette laying tiles in the new office space and in the dorm rooms. They also worked at Berta Pinder’s house in Governor’s Harbour, where they finished installing the rafters, fascia, plywood and completing the felt paper on the roof. One of the boys with a dirty shirt and sun burnt face one afternoon shared, “I love this, I love this…it felt so good to put down that last sheet of plywood.” On Friday evening, culminating their experiences by sharing with one another special moments from the trip, many spoke up about the children’s warm hearts, the softball game on Wednesday night in James Cistern, and even the dance party bringing together the community for laughs and sharing. BMH is thankful for the friendship of K-life ministries and their hard work and loving spirits, which made another successful week, as we played hard, worked hard, and grew in our walks with God.