Read all about day one of the LCOH-Revive IMPACT trip. They spent the day speaking to locals and hearing some amazing stories of tragedy, resilience, joy, and community.
Today was day one at Camp Abaco, and I’ve already been blown away by the beauty, tragedy, resilience, joy, and community among many other qualities noted here on the island. God’s presence and faithfulness are undeniable within this community and its individuals. Disaster struck here in 2019 when Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc upon the island for 52 hours straight – disintegrating homes, ravaging neighborhoods, and stealing the lives of thousands of souls who called the island home. The horrific natural disaster may have been 5 years ago, but the pain and effects remain current.
“Stories create community and enable us to see through the eyes of other people” – Peter Forbes.
I noticed this quote when reviewing for this trip, and it was prevalent to me today as I tried to imagine myself in the shoes of Abaco community members while I listened to stories from those who lived through Dorian. It’s near impossible to hear these stories and not experience heartbreak alongside these individuals for the hardships they have faced and continue to face, while also being inspired by their optimism for their situation, and the love that beams from them for each other and their home.
I agree that stories are a window for readers to see into an experience, so I feel called to share two that I think portray common characteristics of the new friends we are joining in community with here in Abaco.
First is the story of an individual that we worked with today to assist in restoring his home that was destroyed in the record-breaking hurricane. 5 years post-disaster, this individual is finally getting some essential finishing touches completed on his home. This isn’t happening now because he has not worked relentlessly to afford or obtain resources. Rather, it is because, instead of utilizing his gains to finish his own home, he put his own needs aside and has selflessly given away his money, time, labor, and resources to members of his community who he notices are in more urgent need than himself. This week, God is mirroring this individual’s generosity, and lending the helping hands to him that the individual has been selflessly lending to others for years. The sense of humble generosity that radiates from this person is something I consider one of the most inspirational things I have encountered in this lifetime.
Another story that struck me was of a woman who was leading a food program we helped with after landing in Abaco. She shared that the day before Hurricane Dorian struck, her husband suffered from a stroke. This caused her and her husband to travel to Nassau for more critical healthcare, as her husband’s condition was too severe to be treated on their home island of Abaco. This placed them there during the hurricane. When they returned to their home after the storm, there was no home waiting for them; it had been ripped away by the winds. After sharing this part of her story, she immediately followed with no sort of complaint but instead “God is so good for the way he worked by placing us in Nassau that day. He protected us from the storm.” Admiration is not a big enough word for what I feel toward this woman for the utmost inspiring perspective/optimism for life and unwavering faith in our Lord that she embodies.
In one day of experiencing this beautiful community, my eyes and heart have been opened immensely. I expect that an entire week in this place is going to be life changing in the most miraculous way.
–Brooke
