When talking about the Bahamas, most people think tourism and beautiful beaches. What they don’t realize is just how much hidden poverty is on the islands. Alaina Miller (‘18) traveled to Nassau with 15 juniors and seniors from her youth group on June 25, 2017.
On the trip, they worked daily at Elizabeth Estates, a children’s aid home for kids ages 11-18. These children were court ordered to live at the home because of poor living situations or decisions made by themselves or their parents. Each day the team did a project or craft, played sports and games and delivered a Bible lesson. The Bahamas, as a whole, is a Christian nation, so Bible is taught in public schools as a class. However, most kids do not understand what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ. During the week, the goal was to give the children a glimpse of what it looks to be living for Jesus. At the beginning of the trip, many of the kids at the home were not very open to outsiders coming in and trying to show them love. Most of them aren’t used to affection or people caring about them. By the end of the week, through God’s grace, the team was able to build strong friendships that continue today. A few kids accepted Christ as their personal savior! Alaina said “my first international missions trip was an incredible experience and I can’t wait to see where God leads me to next.”
