Cornerstone’s team visited a small farmers market and were able to have conversations with community members.
Read past blogs from this team and others at Team Updates – Many Hands Impact
When my day begins with the beauty of a gorgeous sunrise, I expect it will be a good day! Today was that kind of day. Our Impact team has been hard at work for the past few days, blessing several families on the island, but today was a bit different.
As usual, the day started with a wonderful breakfast then a trip to the “farmers” market in the town of Marsh Harbour. When I heard about the farmers market, I expected a street filled with many different vendors, but the reality was five beautiful ladies selling their homemade products in a small venue. The grateful and expectant look on their faces, when eleven people crowded into their market area revealed their eagerness to share their labors of love with us. Jellies, jams, cookies, farm produce, various breads, and pastries flooded our senses and the excitement on our faces revealed that fact we were ready to partake in their products.
As we purchased our goodies, I had a chance to speak with Mrs. Ruby, who was selling a large selection of jellies and jams. She explained to me that the cost of her jelly jars was quite high and that she was just starting to make her jams and jellies again after a pause in her production. After paying her for my purchase, the grateful thanks she extended to me humbled me as I felt it was I who needed to thank her for providing the products for me to purchase. I later found out she had recently lost her husband, and our purchases today were helping her get back on her feet. Her gratitude touched my heart in the same way that every person we have come in contact with on this island has touched and humbled me. I have witnessed a definite “attitude of gratitude” on the small island of Abaco, and my prayers will continue to be for these people. As we were leaving the market, we were also gifted a large monetary gift from a random gentleman and snacks for our team from the ladies at the market. God is good always!
The rest of our day was spent on the campus of Camp Abaco cleaning up debris from the beach and helping with various other duties to prepare for the next group coming to the camp next week. Our day concluded with dinner prepared by two wonderful ladies, Lula and Doreen, who we were able to thank and bless with a monetary gift that we hope will enable them to continue in the restoration of their homes. Thanks be to God for the mission work that has begun through Many Hands on this island, and I pray they can continue to set an example to this community of how working together builds a better community!
