Welcome to the All Saints Camp!

This is a letter from Tim and Felicia, the full-time missionaries in Nassau, written to all the teams coming to serve at the All Saints Camp this summer. It gives a great overview of what the camp is like and the work we will be doing there from the perspective of people that know and love the All Saints community. Reading this letter gives me so much excitement! The countdown has started...12 DAYS! 

Dear Team,

We are so excited that you are joining us in serving the Bahamas! Your mission trip will be venturing into the area of the Bahamas that is opposite the tourist area, away from the hustle and bustle that the capital island is known for and into an area where the need is great. All Saints Camp. The Bahamas is a collection of over 700 islands and cays. Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas is on the north side of the island of New Providence. This is the same island you will be serving on! New Providence is 21 miles wide by 7 miles long. The population as a whole is approximately 350,000 with 260,000 of the population living on the island of New Providence. The average summer termperature is 90 degrees.

The All Saints Camp is also known as the 'AIDS' camp. This camp was once a leper colony in the 1960's. It then was vacant for some time until the 1980's when there became a need for a place for people with HIV/AIDS to live. Due to the stigma of HIV/AIDS in the Bahamas, many of those who contract the disease are shunned and "put out" by their families and friends; they are like the lepers of the past. However, despite their circumstances many of the residents continue to praise God for each day that they are alive. There is hope! 

You will join together to participate in the complete renovation of the camp as many of the current cabin like homes are in dire need of replacement. The goal is to rebuild the camp home by home making them a comfortable place to live, complete with plumbing and electricity. At the camp, you will be challenged with various projects to help complete this goal. Each home will be built brand new as well as the demolition of old homes and other much needed projects. Each day you will also have the incredible opportunity to spend time with those who call the camp their home, hear their amazing stories, and learn how God is working not only through you serving at the camp, but through the residents you are there to serve. 

Sincerely,

Tim and Felicia 

All Saints Missionaries