The Big Move
January 1st. 2006 Maritime Ministries
staff Reuben and Debra, Rachel, and Stella Smith, Rick and Sandy Redd,
moved to Long Island to take up residence in the new staff housing
building. Once in Long Island, the crew found that much work was needed to
be able to actually move in. In fact, the first month and a half was taken
up with installing cabinetry, fixtures, drains, painting, getting
utilities sorted out, obtaining occupancy permit, etc. This period turned
out to be a test to refine the team and train them to work together under
stress. It was particularly challenging for Debra who had to care for an
infant and a toddler in the midst of a construction zone. The intricacies
of the timing of everything the group went through, pointed to the fact
that this was a divine orchestration. The container with both families’
furnishings and possessions was expected to be on the island at the time
of the teams’ arrival. As it turned out, the container was about six
weeks late, and it arrived exactly when they had finished the building and
received the certificate of occupancy. Also, teams were scheduled to be
there in January and early February. Both of these church teams
mysteriously had to change their dates by a few weeks— which put them
arriving, again, just after the crew had received the CO. During this
time, God used the two families and James Fox in a divine appointment to
intervene in the life of a man who was at the moment of committing
suicide. He rededicated his life to God and had a tremendous renewal which
is continuing now, seven months later. This divine appointment was a
direct result of the delay in our housing being finished—Thank you God
for your divine inconveniences!
The staff housing building is wonderful!
We want to stress again how thankful we are for all of the help and
financial support that you gave to make this a reality. A special note of
thanks also to James Fox, Craig Fox, and David Harding for all of their
hard work and sacrifice in this project. The Door to the Nations Center is
emerging as a tremendous tool for ministry to and from the island.
