6.15.24
EBTC Grace Mission Trip

It was an ambitious goal for our church this year. We attempted to send our people out to 6 different mission locations – not large trips, but small ones, to expand our church’s vision of the nations. We made plans for Lebanon, Myanmar, Ecuador, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. Of these 6 trips, only 4 of them actually happened, and Emily and I were able to lead 10 members from Grace on the Bahamas Team.

For years (*some for decades) our folks heard about our life, ministry, and adventures on Eleuthera. This would be the first time that we would be able to actually share that experience with them. For a whole year we met together, prayed, together, and fundraised together – and finally the time came to carry our church family back to the island where we’ve grown so much. For some it was, not only their first time out of the country, but their first time on an airplane!

Like all missions trips, this one would test the endurance, patience, and faith of each and everyone one of us. We were blessed to be able to partner again with one of our old mission agencies to reserve a week for lodging and transportation with EBTC. Bill and Teresa are doing excellent work there, and their years of faithfulness have produced tangible results for the effectiveness of ministry in the lives of countless teams, interns, and local churches.

As our week progressed, everyone became more comfortable with the routine, albeit enduring the heat and humidity! Our ministry plans were also ambitious, and almost half of our team getting sick which made things even more complicated. But that is all part of a mission trip! The difficulties are part of the journey, and when mixed with the beauty of the ocean and the joy found in relationships, they can together teach you so much about your own progress of faith.

Overall it was an amazing trip, and the greatest accomplishment of all for me was sharing the experience with our church family. From the waiting at the airport, to persevering through the trials, to getting to help complete strangers stranded on the side of the road, we availed ourselves to be used by God for however He would be glorified throughout this week. And the greatest take-away for the team was birthed a new love for a people group they had never met before!