This January, The Urban Family will be traveling to the Island of Exuma on an international Short Term Missions Trip. We will be traveling with a team from our church, Bayside Chapel and working with Starve Poverty International to reach out to the community of people in Exuma. Starve Poverty has been working alongside the people of Exuma for years and has the resources and knowledge necessary to execute a short-term mission trip.

 

 

WHY EXUMA?   WHY THE URBANS?   WHY ARE YOU BRINGING THE KIDS? 

With a small population largely spread out through the country, the biggest need is stable housing that sustains storms. Unlike the United States, shelters are not readily available and homes are often lost, to be rebuilt with extremely limited means. Older homes that have survived are often one room, with no bathroom or kitchen.

As a community that was directly impacted with Superstorm Sandy, this factor hit home for us. How easily we had safe shelters from the storm, food and water readily available, round the clock workers to restore power, and ample gasoline available at any station to drive to any place we needed. Donations or insurance to cover damages, and even donations by the garage full of clothing, canned goods and supplies as we put the pieces back together. The volunteers were plentiful and the community came together to help each other put the pieces back together.

We witnessed the devastation in our small hometown, and surrounding areas. Our children saw first hand what it takes to rebuild something after it was destroyed, and most importantly, how important it is to help others. To serve them, to give to them, and to minister to them. We worked with other families and helped clean out destroyed homes, serve food, distribute clothing. Even how small acts of bringing hot coffee to construction workers in the snow can make a huge difference.

 

Specifically on this trip, our team will be doing some construction, and building a bathroom for one of the local homes.

Beyond helping to meet some physical needs, we will also have an opportunity to visit some elementary schools in the area and lead children’s events. This is a valuable opportunity for our family to participate in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ while being His hands and feet for the community of people in Exuma.

(Exuma Home)

 

 

 

We feel called to serve in missions specifically as a family with young children. Our children will not only be coming along, but will be participating as well. They will be assigned alongside the adults to help where needed and to reach out to the community of adults and children of the island. We believe this experience will leave a lasting impression on our children and we hope this will help to cultivate their passion to serve others, leaving a permanent impact on their lives. That the experiences they have can be shared with their peers, impacting our local community, and generating future interest for other families with young children to have the same opportunity. We felt Exuma and Starve Poverty was the perfect match for this vision, and are extremely excited about this opportunity to partner with them. We are blessed to be able serve along side them, for their willingness to allow us to serve as a family, and be included in this mission trip.

Harmony and Greyson are very excited for this opportunity as well. Specifically after we found out about the Exuma swimming pigs, but truly because they have both been given a compassionate heart and are interested in what they can do to help. Greyson is curious if the children have Legos (which, I’m guessing, no) so he is working on ways he can bring them some legos to enjoy. Harmony will be spending her birthday on the island, which we thought, might be an issue at first, but she is actually very excited to be able to celebrate her birthday while on a missions trip.

 

 

WHERE IS EXUMA? 

Nestled between Cuba and the Bahama Islands. From the looks of a google image search, it’s a stunning landscape that looks like paradise. Reminds us of a our trip to Turks & Caicos and made us think how often we visit resort looking areas not thinking about the families of the locals that live there and the conditions among them.

 

 

 

 

We need your help! 🙂

 

1. Prayer: You can help by covering our family and our team in prayer for this life-changing experience! For preparedness for our children (who will be 7 and 11 years old) to be equipped to serve alongside adults and other children their own age. Also for the health and saftey of our family and our team.

 

2. Share our need: You can help by sharing our need with others through your social media outlets and to other missions supporters.

 

3. Financial Assistance: You can help by financially supporting our family on this mission. To be fully funded for this trip, we will need to raise $1100 per person (x 4). The funds will cover all airfare, lodging in a dorm, all meals and transportation on the island. Any excess funds raised will be used to purchase supplies for donations for the community of people on the Island, as pricing for the simplist supply is extraordinary.

 

To make a tax deductible donation, click below to donate directly to Bayside Chapel. Please notate in the SPONSOR field: EXUMA – THE URBANS

 

Other donations made on our youcaring site, or directly to our family, are accepted, but are not tax deductible.

Our family is thankful for this opportunity to serve and we are so very grateful for your support!

Joyfully in Christ,

The Urban Family
Steve, Angie, Harmony & Greyson