The Faces of our Trip!

Hey Guys,

Many of you remember how I was taking close-ups of your face during the trip... so I put this thing together just for fun!


I had a blast with all of you guys this past week. It was so cool to see how God worked through all of us. I so enjoyed getting to know all of you more (or for the first time!) I miss you all and can't wait to see how God uses you in the future!

Much love,
Angela :-)

Mission accomplished!

Hey everyone,

I just awoke from a nice restful Saturday afternoon nap! I can't believe our time with each other is over, but it is - now, the reflection and thankfulness for our experiences begins. There was much accomplished during our time away, and I'm so grateful for how hard each member worked.

In talking to my girls today, I learned of a conversation that occurred one day at the girls' home. One resident commented that while they had regular visits from groups of Bahamians, and groups from the US, they had not seen such a group as ours - that included both categories. They were impressed with the obvious love and unity between our girls on the team, and those from Kingdom Life. What a great show of Christ's love to these girls, many of whom have not had great examples in their lives.

If you haven't yet heard, my bag was located! Someone apparently picked it up at the airport, thinking it was theirs. They were staying in the Royal Tower at the Atlantis, and turned it in to the Bell Captain. They contacted me, and will be shipping it to me next week! Thank God for that.

Soon, we'll have more photos on the blog, and the picture sharing will begin I'm sure!

Thanks again for being willing to share your life and time on thie Mission X team. It was a joy to serve with you.

Now, we'll be praying for the other teams yet to deploy! God bless.

Mike Gilland

The work is over - fun day is ahead...

Hey everyone,

We are winding down on our dessert reception at the Moss' home, just down the street from our camp. What a feast night they prepared for us tonight. Back at the camp, we had: chicken wings, meat balls, crab salad, and corn! Then tonight, an incredible series of desserts, including more "guava duff," (Cedric wanted me to add what I called it the first time - "Guava Buff"...ooops) a Bahamian delicacy. They also had - CARROT CAKE! Who told them?

By God's grace, we finished a lot of work over the last three days. A neat thing happened this morning - we stopped by the paint store to get some supplies, and while there, a young 12 year old boy approached Cedric and said, "Are you the pastor?" Cedric looked at him, and couldn't believe it. His name was Shaquille, and he was a resident in the boy's home two years ago, when the last Mission X team was here! Shaquille couldn't believe that another team was here - he ran outside to greet them. Cedric marveled at God's sovereignty, that we would happen to stop there - with our team - and that he would recognize and remember our being here two years ago.

Sunday, a couple came up to testify - they joined the church a couple of months after our team left here - the result of someone passing the young wife a tract that had Kingdom Life's name on it! Fruit that remains - how good is our Lord!

Cedric gave each member a gift tonight - a shopping bag (we're going to the Straw Market in the morning, and the beach afterwards), and a map of the Bahamas. During a testimony time tonight, many young people shared about how our youth has grown together, how appreciative they were to have been a part of this team (even though a Missions trip to this island apparently has a reputation as an "easy" missions trip!) Hey - anyone that says that should have been on our construction crew, or on the paint crews!!! No doubt about it - we worked hard, much harder than our team thought it would be. But it has been GOOD.

John Watt has been much better - he worked all day today, and was able to be himself tonight.

Thanks for all your prayers. Serving Cedric and Alexine has been such a joy to my heart.

We'll be leaving soon. Not sure I'll be able to post anything else until we are home. We leave the camp Friday morning at 8:30, and we fly out at 11 AM.

God bless!

Mike G

Rainy Wednesday morning!

Hi everyone,

We are having a good day, though we lost some of the morning to rain. Our construction efforts were truly washed out, but it didn't stop the girls from their interactions at the girl's home, nor the guys from doing the finish inside painting at the home for boys. We had a nice lunch, then the girls were back talking once again with the residents (under the supervision of a wonderful church member named Keva - your girls will tell you all about her - she has been amazing. Also, the outside wrought iron fence is being painted. Cedric and I took all the clothes that Metro donated to Good Samaritan Ministries shelter - you should have seen the director's face when we brought in 7 huge bags of clothes. She is the wife a pastor, and she runs the clothing house and pantry. Her words were, "These have come at just the right time..." She was amazed.

Tonight, we have the reception at the Moss'. Hey - John Watt made the trip today - he is a lot better - even had a Subway sandwich for lunch!

Take care. More later...

Mike G

It's Tuesday Night!

Hey Parents,

I was able to get on to our blog site to post tonight! Here is the update from tonight!

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Well, we've had two great days of outreaches to the two homes - one for boys, the other for girls. Everything from interacting, playing games with the residents (the kids), painting, and building a huge carport. The details are endless - but I will give you a taste...here goes.

Sunday, I preached and led worship at the service at Kingdom Life. Afterwards, we had a fun trip at the Atlantis - what a buffet, and the aquarium there is unlike any I've ever seen. We spent all Sunday afternoon there, then went to Burger King for snacks before an earlier curfew time.

Monday - we split up in teams for the two homes. I have great video of everyone (I think!!!) doing "their thing." You'll see on our DVD what we accomplished. Rich Graham has been a delight - the man is on fire to share his faith...what a blessing to us all. Sadly, last night - John Watt started feeling bad at bed time, and awakened quite sick at his stomach at 5:30 this morning - he had to stay back and in bed all day - please pray for him, for while he is improving, he is still weak.

Today, we had more of the same - lots of painting, interactions, Jeff Hubert, Tyler Day and I are working on a construction project, several mission x team members were painting the wrought-iron fence at the girl's home. Your kids will have much to tell you about these locations.

Tonight - Cedric's wife Alexine and some ladies in the church presented us with "Bahama's Night" - fried conch, red snapper heads and tails, wild rice, plantains, and guava duff - an incredible dessert. They have lavished on us some of the greatest meals.

I'll try to write more tomorrow. We are doing well. The kids are responding, and the weather has been fantastic. Tomorrow, we'll finish our outreaches at the homes, have a dinner reception at the Moss' in the evening, then Friday is our fun day - beach in the morning, through lunch, then the straw market in the afternoon. We'll leave Friday AM at about 8:30 AM for our short ride to the airport, then an 11 AM flight home.

Thanks for praying for us, and for praying for John.

God bless you all.

Mike G