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This year marks Brookwood’s second trip to The Bahamas and Windermere. However, even though their length of involvement has been short, their impact upon the school has been transformative. (I might also add their impact upon our own lives has been duly transformative).
Under the direction of long time mission team member from Golden Corner, Drake Bagwell, the team from Brookwood knew exactly what was in store for them and the purpose for their trip: to be a blessing to the school. There is a undeniable difference between those team I’ve experienced in the past that are coming for an experience to “take home,” and those teams that come to give whatever they can, just to give. Brookwood is one of those teams that comes to give.
There donations to the school alone have been transformative: last year a team member donated pallets of toiletries that the school will have to utilize for years to come, in the middle of last summer a member from the church donated our new minivan to us, and this year Fred donated “new” computer to the school from those which would have otherwise been recycled or discarded. These three donations in and of themselves have helped to shape the landscape of the school, and will continue to serve the school years to come.
The plan for Brookwood was VBS in the morning and afternoon with the contingent of men working on campus on a host of jobs, from repair to renovation. However of all the tasks completed I have to give props to the team Jerry, Jeff, and Davy who hand painted the ceiling of 8 rooms! (for any of you who have never painted above your head for long periods of time, believe me when I tell you, once you do it, you will never want to do it again). I’m proud to tell you that it can be said of these men, “they finished the job.”
I’m so thankful to Drake and Ashely and the entire team for coming and giving. Personally and especially thankful for those rare conversations when I could tell how very much this team loves the Lord and desires to be used by Him. The absolute highlight of the week however was 3 of their team members getting baptized in the ocean in following the Spirit’s leading in their lives – it was truly awesome!
Its hard to pick a “best team” from the summer, but suffice to say that I’ll take the team from Brookwood any and every day of the summer if I could. Thank you for sacrificing and giving in your worship to our Lord through your service at Windermere.