The hurricane made a threat of attacking our island but the Lord spared us! Other islands were not spared, the island of Inagua wasn't. So last week, the ALC sent a bunch of the staff and Patmos students down there to help repair roofs. I was part of the skeleton crew that stayed behind at the ALC.

This is an email from Meredith, one of our staff on the trip, and its an email worth sharing.

Good morning from Inagua!

What an incredible weekend!!!!!!!!!!

Looking back on the trip, it is amazing to me that we have almost completed 6 roofs. This is indeed a miracle, as none of us are roofers by trade. We also had the opportunity to do a neighborhood sweep/clean up. That also opened doors to share the gospel with people who were curious about the Americans picking up trash on their streets. God's favor has been upon us despite the heat and our inexperience. One of the families went all out to bless us as we worked on their home. From cakes to curry chicken to pleasant conversation, we have been lovingly "adopted in" to different families on the island.

Yesterday certainly was a day of needed rest and re-fueling... In the morning, we split up to attend two churches. I visited Zion Baptist, which is the church that is allowing us to sleep in their large fellowship hall. Reverend Bain exhorted the congregation to continue to celebrate, despite their situation because God is worthy of our praise all the time and has indeed spared the people from a lot over the past couple of weeks. Another group headed to the Methodist church, where many of the locals we have met attend. In the afternoon we were invited to a BBQ with John Nixon's family (he's here assisting with the government's disaster relief organization, called NEMA). He's from Inagua and his whole family came out to serve us with food and FUN. I believe some of the guys speared fish, while others played volley ball with the children or just enjoyed great company and the aqua waters of the Caribbean.

This morning, the door opened for us to go back into the schools to present a high school assembly on sexual abstinence. The message of purity and God's heart for relationship through the book of Song of Solomon was very well received by the students and teachers alike. We are also back on the roofs beginning the 7th and 8th homes, and we are eager, Lord willing, to accomplish the goal of 10 before Friday. Please continue to pray for protection, favor, and a move of God's spirit among the people here. Some are still in "shell shock" and others are just trying to make it a day at a time, rebuilding their lives. Thank you for co-laboring with us!

Rejoicing in Him,
Meredith Cravens
Patmos: Reality Discipleship
Adventure Learning Centre

For nothing is impossible with God! --Luke 1:37


PS - I've since heard two stories from those working of their shoes melting from the heat!