Bahamas, Journey to Eleuthera

Mission Possible: Bahamas Methodist Habitat

This is the Bahamas – even more to the point, the island of Eleuthera – so to start this blog with any reference to date or time is in direct conflict with our hosts’ rhythm of life. However, for those of you left stateside, on the clock, and burdened by too many layers of clothing, I will ease you into our new world. The Kessel family – Pat, Barb, and Allie – arrived on Eleuthera Thursday, via a 60-mile westward flight from Nassau. This was after driving through a winter storm the night before to take a five-hour nap at the Flint Quality Inn; a 3:45 a.m. alarm (thank heaven for the iphone, the wake-up call never came); a 4:30 a.m. shuttle ride to Bishop International airport (part of the $65-a-night Stay N’ Fly Package); and an airport security check line where we witnessed the pat-down of a five year-old. Unfortunately, a lack of caffeine and the slow absorption of my ADD meds led to me leaving our van keys on the shuttle seat, but they are now safely locked in the Quality Inn Manager’s office (so really honey, that was a minor hiccup in the overall scheme of things). Oh yeah, did I mention it was our wedding anniversary?

Southern Air had the best rates from Nassau to Eleuthera, which would explain counting the co-pilot seat as one of the nine available on the circa 1960 twin-prop plane. As we awaited the arrival of two more members of our mission team – Nancy and Ashley Wright – we searched the chapel-sized Governor’s Harbor Airport and much larger parking lot for Stanton Cooper with whom I had exchanged two somewhat confusing emails regarding a rental car. While I feigned organization and confidence, I seriously doubted we would find Stanton, a vehicle, or really any way to get to the rental house where we were to enjoy a couple days vacation prior to beginning work at Bahamas Methodist Habitat. After a process of elimination (“Are you Stanton?”), and the exchange of $210 cash for a three-day rental (the rule of economic scarcity is alive and well here), we loaded our luggage into a slightly battered white 2003 Chevy Classic. Nancy and Ashley’s 4WD Sportage was secured after a lengthy closed door meeting with Butch, who is also the airport manager and, I believe, a Bonefish guide.

Are we close to the Bermuda Triangle? I ask only because every clock we saw was a different time – the car clock, our iphones, and the clock on the rental house stove. Stanton and the house caretaker, Freddie, shrugged – “you’re on island time; no worries.” We stayed Thursday night through Sunday afternoon at the two-unit home discovered in my last desperate attempt to find a place to stay prior to the start of our mission work. Literally, there was nothing else available on the island when I found Jeff through Trip Advisor and received an incredible email response – “Bless you and thank you for your work! I am on the board of Bahamas Methodist Habitat (BMH), would half price be okay?” We settled in and spent three days swimming, snorkeling, boogie boarding (one run, anyway, by Pat “Bay Watch” Kessel) and generally exploring the most beautiful place any of us had ever experienced.

By the third day, I reflected that island time was like God’s time. As much as we want to know exactly when things will happen in our life, we need to be patient, be flexible, and let God’s plan unfold.