IN  THE  EYE  OF  THE  STORM......

Life is filled with storms, but the lyrics to the song in the picture above became reality on October 6, 2016. Matthew, a very powerful category 4 Hurricane ripped through much of the Carribean including all the islands of the Bahamas before making landfall in the US a couple of days later.  Click on or copy and paste link below into your browser:  It takes you directly to one of our staff's blog page where you can view a dramatic video of the centre and camp pre and post hurricane as well as prayer requests and needs for those of you wishing to help in a practical or financial way.  The rest of this update gives my personal perspective in this experience.  Enjoy!  

https://seeleyfamily87.com/2016/10/10/adventure-learning-centre-and-camp-hurricane-relief/

Psalm 47: 1-6 You are my refuge and strength.  A very present help in time of need…….

Even though we live in a hurricane zone, never did I imagine experiencing one of the biggest and strongest storms since 1929 to ever hit Nassau. Even many easy going, worry free Bahamians were saying, “I’m uneasy about this one."  We can identify with the Psalmist in the passage above that says, The Lord is my rock  and my fortress....my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge.

For those of you in my listening audience who wouldn't have done well to know some of the information being given us ahead of time, let me fill you in on some of the details now that the storm has passed.

Nassau, New Providence, a small island of 7 by 21 miles and home of 2/3 of the entire Bahamian population, was projected to receive a direct hit, with the eye wall bringing the strongest winds.  Everyone located in the blue area was encouraged to evacuate due to the high likelihood that we would experience a 12-18 foot storm surge.  Adventure Learning Centre and Camp is located at the “S” of Faith Gardens on the map of New Providence. All of the most updated reports showed that the storm would arrive at HIGH TIDE which increased the chance of severe flooding and catastrophic results.

We had been prayerful that the storm would go around us but still worked diligently to prepare by housing as many animals as possible in the top level of the barn, removing electronics, and lifting refrigerators, freezers, and anything that could be ruined by 2 feet of water.

On Wednesday afternoon before the storm, Mark Wallace, one of the ALC directors, received a call from the National Emergency Association (NEMA). They had seen that we had parked our buses on higher ground along one of the highways here in Nassau and asked that they use our buses for rescue during the storm.  While Mark was waiting, a specialist, hired in from the states (left), introduced Mark to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas (black and white shirt) who had just gotten out of meetings.  He looked at Mark’s shirt and said, “Adventure Learning Centre.  You guys do a good work down there. “  He went on to inquire about the “land” issue that has been going on.  Mark took that as an invitation to share with him that yes, we’ve used that crown land for educational purposes and have written letters and made several attempts to request that the land be preserved. The prime minister’s reply was, “Well I am in charge of crown lands”.  After this is all over, you need to come talk with me!”  WOW!   To think that God would use a HURRICANE, to set up a future meeting with the Prime Minister over an issue that has been in the works for YEARS???

So Mark took the specialist to the ALC to get keys for the buses. When the gentleman saw the centre, he was impressed by the facility and expressed his sorrow while voicing to Mark that it would all be wiped out.   He even showed Mark an app on his phone indicating how deep the water would be in certain spots throughout the island.  According to him, he said that there would be a pile of debris with bodies included as far as where you see blue on the map above.   He saw our old back hoe and said, “this is going to be gone.  Can we have it for clean up after the storm?”  Mark said, "sure”.

I have to be honest, when I heard that news, I first had a sick stomach to think that the entire Adventure Learning Centre and Camp, a ministry that has reached so many children and families for 23 years, would be decimated.  However, I had a strong sense after Mark's conversation with the Prime Minister, that the Lord was going to preserve the Adventure Learning Centre and Camp.  

Some believed that the storm wasn’t coming and therefore did not make preparations or evacuate the recommended areas even though storm models showed the eye coming right over Nassau. Others prayed that the storm would go around us but still made preparations. Many cried out to God for mercy, peace and protection to weather the storm.  

This isn't the first time that people were told that a powerful storm would come.  Only that storm was a flood that would cover the entire world.  One man believed God and obeyed by building an ark in preparation for the storm.  That man, Noah and his family, listened to the warnings, obeyed, and therefore were spared.  Some however, mocked and laughed at such a thought.  After all, in the days of Noah rain had never fallen on the earth.  Why would there be so much rain that it would flood the entire earth?  Those that questioned and did not take heed therefore perished in the storm.  Thank the Lord there was no loss of life here in Nassau during the hurricane but this picture reminds me of the judgement that is to come.  God has given the solution to our problem of sin through his son Jesus and one day He is coming back for those who have taken heed to the warning, recognized their need for a Savior and have given their life to Jesus.  Just as in this picture, the day is coming, and for many it will be too late.     

In the eye of the storm,  it was clear that the Lord was in control.  Listening to several testimonies following the storm, one person shared that he specifically prayed that the eye would go to the west of us.   Does God answer prayer?  Looking at this picture you can see that Matthew DID shift to the west, sending the eye between New Providence and another Bahamian island called Andros.  The strongest winds hit New Providence between 9a.m.-11a.m. on Thursday morning (approximately between 130-140 miles p/hr.)and they were still very strong for most of the day. But if the eye had come right over us it would have been worse.  Please pray for the island of North Andros and West Grand Bahama island as they sustained more damage than Nassau and may be a couple of months before full power is restored. 

Many of you were also praying!   We are so very thank ful.  What was your prayer as this storm approached?  Did any of you ask the Lord to slow down the storm?  Usually slowing down the storm might bring negative results like it did last year with Joaquin when it sat over the southern Bahamas for two and 3 days dumping crazy amounts of water and leaving the islands flooded.  Matthew slowed down, but for us in Nassau it could have been the difference between complete devastation and what we did endure.  You see, one of the reasons this storm was so dangerous was not only that it was a gigantic category 4 but that the position of the hurricane hitting the south side of New Providence was originally forecasted to happen at HIGH TIDE- thus giving us reports of 12-18 foot storm surge.  Praise God, that as a result of the storm slowing down, it did not hit New Providence until LOW TIDE.  They are estimating that it is likely that we only had a 10 ft storm surge on the south shore where ALC &C are located.  Can you believe this?  If we had been hit at high tide as predicted, everything in the blue could have been one big pile of debris by the time it was all over.

 Where did I ride out the storm?  I stayed at the house further inland where I’ve been living the past year.  ALC staff living onsite were told to evacuate and so I had invited Eva, a 19 year old German facilitator to join my roommate and I.  Looking again at the map of New Providence, we live half way between the word Pinewood and Yamacraw and straight north to about the middle of the island.

How was I in the midst of all of this you might ask?  Surprisingly well considering this was a first for me and very much an unknown.  Though I have lived here for 3 ½ years we’ve only had hurricane threats that never materialized to anything.   The adventurous side of me brought some excitement and anticipation.  The anxious side of me brought fear of the unknown; and my leadership side of me brought strength especially for supporting those younger than I who perhaps had some real anxiety about what to expect.   I was at peace the night leading up to the storm and slept straight through the night wind. The next morning, I awoke at 7 a.m. to hear the wind howling and banging things outside.  I must have been exhausted with the pre- hurricane preparations as  I was able to go in and out of sleep for another two hours!  What a blessing!  :)  After some time in the word by candlelight, the three of us played games by the light of my flashlight!  

Pictures of what Matthew left us!

    

Praise God that animals survived and structures are standing.  We did experience significant flooding and water damage to doors, cabinets and roof tops.   

Most of the mess was large trees uprooted which broke water lines and cement foundations in one of the animal pens.

Over at camp, the same thing:

   

lots of trees

and fences down;

and plenty of flooding.

Progress!

 

View from front entrance                                        view from entrance after 2 days of work 

 

Looking toward front entrance               Tim, the chain saw man cutting up all the trees

                                          Board walk after the storm

Board walk before the storm

Wetlands teaching platform

This was our last photo taken of program out in the wetlands before the storm.

Pray!

We are helpless without God.  We need Him for strength, stamina, wisdom, discernment, daily provision, and so much more.  Everything else comes to us as a result of prayer.

 Please pray that God will guide us, direct us, sustain us, keep us, give us wisdom and discernment, and provide all our needs.

Please pray that we are able to start ministering to the Bahamian people soon.  In order to do this we must first get our own houses, lives, and facilities in order.

Please pray that God supplies funds (for our staff as well as for the ministry) for repairs and supplies and laborers to come and help us clean and make necessary repairs.

Please pray for the clean-up, repair of not only the ALC&C but also for the people of the Bahamas.

Please pray for the strains and concerns that many may have that may lead some to commit crimes.  We all know desperation can cause people to do bad things.

Please pray the power comes back on soon.  We are in the coastal area, and as such, all houses in our area need to be inspected one by one to make sure that there are no water issues that will affect the power lines before the power company turns on the current.

Please pray for the people of the Bahamas that their hearts are softened at this time and turn to God.

Donate Funds

Of course the easiest material ways to help is financial contributions, both for the ministry and for the missionary staff.

Ministry Needs

The ministry will not be bringing in funds while the facility is not operating.  

Repairs and replacement of damaged or destroyed items will be costly.  The board walk alone is over $30,000 (it was just replaced in 2014).

Normal everyday expenses continue to accumulate:  Bahamian staff salaries, animal care, animal feed, utilities, increased costs of goods and services due to shortages and supply interruptions and lack of refrigeration.  

Some needs are not noticeable now but may become evident as time passes (ie cabin 6 appears ok now, but it still has water in it and around it)

Donations can be made by clicking on the following link:  http://bit.ly/1Kh8o5Y

Missionary Staff Needs

The main issues for the missionary staff are loss of food from spoilage due to power outage and increased cost of food due to shortage issues and supply interruptions.  Many staff are barely making it on the donations they receive, and this added expense as well as other added expenses will strain already tight budgets.

Donations to missionary staff can be made at this link:  http://alcbahamas.org/staff/

Come and lend a hand

This is something that is going to be needed immediately as well as over the next several months.  We already had a long list of tasks and deadlines of things that needed to get done, and with this hurricane, our maintenance staff will be stretched further.  As you contemplate and pray for laborers to come (maybe it is you), here are a few things to keep in mind.

Our staff is stretched and will need people to come along side us and help pull the load, not burden it further.  We are looking for skilled (NOT only construction trade skills), hard-working, mature individuals.

In the interim, the work will be hot, dirty and in not so desirable conditions.  We may or may not have electricity available.

Food:  Volunteer laborers will need to come prepared to take care of their own food needs (especially over the next month) as store supplies and refrigeration here may be limited. Volunteers can use the Camp kitchen to prepare their food, but remember if we don’t have electricity, stove and refrigeration is limited.  Think camping in the wild when planning food (ie MRE’s, Freeze dried food, etc).

Lodging: Volunteers working at ALC&C can stay at Camp (just remember power may or may not be available and staff will do their best to make you comfortable).

Work needed: 

Cleaning (lots!)

Clear brush

Run chain saw

Clean-up garbage

Roofers

Construction help (siding, soffit, fascia, kitchen cabinets, mason/cement work, fence repair)

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