Bahamas Habitat Fly-In & Help Out weekend to Eleuthera in the Bahamas is scheduled for Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 8, 2009

REMINDER! The upcoming Fly-In & Help Out weekend to Eleuthera in the Bahamas is scheduled for Thursday, March 5th through Sunday, March 8th, 2009.

It is not too late (yet!) for interested pilots to join in this exciting mission.    Sign up for info and details!

“What makes this mission opportunity so unique is that the Bahamas are so easily accessible by general aviation aircraft and so in need that it provides the ideal opportunity for a mission minded pilot to give back to a community in need in an exciting and tax deductible way,” explained John Armstrong, Vice President of Bahamas Habitat and Regional Manager for Dominion Aircraft Sales.

Pilots and crewmembers participating in the March Fly-In & Help Out mission will meet at Fort Pierce Airport (KFPR) on Thursday, March 5 for lunch and pilot briefings prior to departing to Eleuthera. Lodging and transportation on the island are arranged for the group.

“If you’ve ever wanted to fly your airplane to the Bahamas, this is the perfect way to learn the ropes while supporting a good cause,” Armstrong said. “We had pilots join us from all over for our last Fly-In & Help Out event and in every case the experience really touched their hearts (see: Fly-In Help Out Touches Hearts post). We had about 14 aircraft on previous trips. We can house up to 60 people at Camp Symonette and we expect up to 20 aircraft for this next event.”

Also, Bahamas Habitat has launched Dental Missions beginning in 2009 and the organization is seeking flying dentists and dental hygienists that wish to participated in these missions. Please see the details at the Dental Mission links on BahamasHabitat.org

“We hope to form partnerships with various aviation organizations including type clubs, flying clubs and aviation media organizations to grow and support this vital mission.” continued Armstrong.

Pilots and aviation organizations interested in the mission and learning how to fly to the Bahamas with us should sign up for updates at: http://www.bahamashabitat.org and select Fly-In and Help Out Event.
About Bahamas Habitat

Bahamas Habitat is a US-based Christian nonprofit organization supporting housing & disaster relief work in the Bahamas. Through our partner Bahamas Methodist Habitat (BMH), operating out of James Cistern Eleuthera, we are involved in hosting over 600 adults and youths each season for impactful week long and weekend Christian missions. Bahamas Habitat is expanding and supporting the work of Bahamas Methodist Habitat through encouraging greater involvement of non-Bahamian volunteers, pilots and aviation organizations in the extensive community development, housing renovation and construction work needed not only on the island of Eleuthera Island but throughout the Bahamas including the islands of Andros, Abaco, Grand Bahama, New Providence, Ragged and Cat Island. For more information visit: www.bahamashabitat.org or email to info@bahamashabitat.org.

We said goodbye to 12 of their volunteers on Sunday morning but welcomed 10 new volunteers on Sunday evening and kept the 10 two-weekers happy with a very lively church service and a relaxing day at the beach.

Over the second week the crew of 20 finished Penstone Petty’s home and the Gregory Town manse. They were also able to serve Mrs. Olga Boles and Blanche Stanford in James’ Cistern with their construction skills. On Wednesday however, we were so excited to finally start the construction of Ms. Berta Pinders home. Her son Terel provided materials and our Wilson crew did the rest! Within three days and help from some friends and family…Ms. Berta had all four walls up with 75% of the exterior sheething installed! If BahamasAir would have allowed them to change their plane tickets, I am pretty sure they would have stayed to complete the home.

Thanks Wilson for all your hard work!

As many of you know, the Bahamas are smack in the middle of Hurricane Hanna and it looks like Ike is coming right behind her.  I am currently in St. Petersburg, Florida at the beginning of my annual promotional tour…

My plan is now to wait out the storms here in Florida and then if necessary, assemble emergency disaster response volunteer teams to go back to the Bahamas with me and begin responding to the damage that may occur.

This is our first major storm since 2004 and it is my hope that we can respond strongly and make our presence felt to those that are in need. Please continue to pray for all those affected by the storms throughout the Carribean and the Southeast United States and that response efforts will be able to be made quickly and effectively.

If you are able and willing to be on call to aid us as a response volunteer, please respond to this email so we can keep you up to date with our immediate plans.

Pilots… this will be your time to shine.  As soon as it is safe to fly down I would like to be able to initiate flights down with immediate needs and volunteers.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.  Truly this is OUR time to shine and use what God has blessed us with to make a difference in the lives of those that are affected by this hurricane season.

Peace and Love,
Abe –
Abraham (Abe) McIntyre
Executive Director
Bahamas Methodist Habitat
Camp Symonette,
James Cistern Eleuthera, Bahamas
615-469-7974   USA
242-335-6210 Camp
242-422-9318 Cell
www.MethodistHabitat.org

PS: You can track active storms via this link: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/nhc_storms.shtml

PSS: If you wish to make a flight to assist send an email to Abe at: methodisthabitat@gmail.com

Considering the condition of the Cottage when they started (seen below) we are most impressed with the amazing abilities of Abe and his teams (lol)