Hear from Kevin, a member of the InOnTime IMPACT team, about his experience in Abaco From witnessing the sunrise to working on a hydroponic farm and interacting with local youth at G2, it’s a day filled with reflection and service. Read all about his impactful day!
I awoke at 6:24 a.m. this morning, with no help from an alarm clock – a feat for a “non-morning person!” I was eager to stroll about 75 yards across the beach to a headland overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The sun was scheduled to rise at 6:54 a.m., and I didn’t want to miss it.
I snapped photos of the pre-dawn scenes while checking the clock every two to three minutes to ensure the sun would indeed arrive on time. After I briefly looked down to see 6:54 a.m. strike, I looked up and said aloud, “Okay, sun, where are you?” Without hesitation, as if to scoff at my dare, the circular top of the sun peeked over the horizon. Within seconds, its grandiose brilliance blinded my eyes as it overtook the sky and rose to its top position.
The first words of the Bible came to mind as I took in the scene… “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1). I marveled at the awesomeness of God to create the universe and the worlds within it, the sun and the ocean, the winds and the clouds, the birds and the fish, the plants and trees… and me – the creation He cares about more than all the other creatures on this earth.
The sun continued to shine down on our team as we harvested produce at the hydroponic farm at Driftwood Farms. Glen and Tracy sell the products at an affordable price to customers at farmer’s markets. Working with God’s greenery was a rewarding and peaceful moment for our team. Being from the Midwest, we appreciate the importance agriculture plays in providing nutritious meals to everyone.
In the evening, we returned to Kirk of the Pines, the church we worshipped at on Sunday, and tapped into our inner child interacting with the G2 youth group. The Bible study centered on Colossians 3:12-14, “…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…” The students were engaged and eager to learn about Jesus. Afterward, G2’s leader Carrie met with our team, sharing how many of the children don’t have a strong parental influence and feel unwanted, yet they choose to attend the youth group on their own accord every week. Our team later discussed how moved we were by the resiliency and passion of these young souls and how important it is that we be the LIGHT to the younger generation when we return home. We don’t know everyone’s story, and we may be that hope for someone.
As I type these words, the day is almost done. The moon and stars are out. The sun is nowhere to be found, yet… I know the sun will rise in a few hours and will shine its light down on this part of the world another day. It’s a day that we look forward to seeing more of God and meeting more of the people who He loves and who we are called to serve.
— Kevin Stittsworth
