Bahamas. First missions trip. Ever.

To preface the next few blog posts, this week I have the amazing privileged of being in the Bahamas working at the Adventure Learning Center. The center is a day camp for children that runs during the summer, and I’m volunteering for a week as a camp counselor. While I’m here I also get to spend some time at the All Saints Camp, which is an AIDS camp not far from the ALC where victims of the HIV/AIDS virus, as well as some other diseases, can live.

I went down to the AIDS camp on Saturday, and it was literally life changing. When you see residents living in an 8x10 room and unable to get out of bed, it definitely makes you think twice before you complain about the heat, food, or anything for that matter. We met many of the residents and had a chance to hang out with several of them. Perhaps the most well known resident at the All Saints Camp, Miss Moxy was literally the most joyful person I have ever met. Living with full-blown AIDS, while she’s only 49 Miss Moxy looks about 80. Her small room is filled with scriptures and pictures of the visitors that come to see her, each picture featuring her brilliant smile. Miss Moxy can’t really get out of bed, so she sits reading her bible and praising God all day. If anyone ever questions the ability of a person to give thanks to God in amazingly tough circumstances, all they need to do is meet her. Their minds will be changed.

While talking with Miss Moxy, she requested that we read her 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 which says:

“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (NIV)."

Here she is rejoicing in the fact that, while her earthly body is dying of AIDS, she knows that God is keeping her strong to finish her work on earth. More than that, she's looking forward to one day when she can fellowship with him face to face. She must have said three or four times while we were there visiting with her what a blessing it was to be alive on another beautiful day. It was incredibly humbling to sit next to this strong woman of God and see her poverty stricken circumstances, yet realize that she's more joyful than I am.

More to come later…and pictures coming soon!