Abaco | Day 1:The Paradox Begins
Day One: The Paradox Begins
3:00am came early… or maybe it never really arrived at all.
The kind of early where the world is still quiet, your thoughts feel louder than usual, and everything ahead feels both exciting and just a little unknown.
By 4:00am most our team gathered at Storyhill, while some headed straight to CLT Douglas, all with sleepy eyes, travel pillows, coffee in hand, and that shared sense that something meaningful was already beginning.
The Getting There
Travel days have a way of setting the tone.
Our first flight (Charlotte to Miami) was delayed about an hour, but no one seemed rushed. There was an ease to it. Some of us waited, some napped, all of us just were. It felt like a quiet grace for a day that started before the sun.
We finally left around 8:00am and made it to Miami… though, unfortunately, Gloria Estefan did not make an appearance. We checked.
Somewhere between finding breakfast and figuring out gates, we realized Made’s flight was different from the rest of ours, just about an hour off. Not ideal, but she handled it like a TRUE Gumby (A Storyhill Mission Trip accolade). No drama, just steady willingness. Amy journied to the gate with Made to work out details, Nicole was a Momma Bear, ensuring she got a breakfast order. Katie then ran to grab her coffee and breakfast so she wouldn’t be hungry….seemingly small moments, but adding up to be beautiful moments that set the tone for servant leadership.
The rest of us found a little spot for Cuban coffee and breakfast (parfaits, sandwiches, strong espresso). A simple meal, but it felt like a pause. Like we were continuing to settle into the Story together.
From Miami to Marsh Harbour, everything was just as it was meant to be. A quick 40-minute flight, and just like that… we were there.
The Arrival
Abaco doesn’t ease you in….it meets you.
We stepped off the plane, moved through the tiniest customs area with no issues, and then walked out to be greeted by Paisley and Soren (missionary kids who radiate joy and leadership in the most genuine way).
And then… luggage.
Lots of it.
In an effort to fully embrace “the WHOLE Gumby,” Nicole somehow managed to fall in the most graceful, most hilarious way possible. A few small injuries, a big laugh. Honestly, it felt like a proper welcome.
“It wouldn’t be a trip without a fall.” -Nicole
“Nicole, you’re just falling for Jesus” -Shannon
We loaded up and headed to Kirk of the Pines (the Church that will be our homebase), where we got to see the ongoing construction in the youth wing…a space that has been shaped over time with vision, care, and even design contributions from Nicole. There’s something powerful about seeing long-term faithfulness take physical form.
A Place to Land
From there, we made our way to Friends of the Environment. This will be our home for the week.
We unpacked donations and supplies, laying everything out before giving it to the Hendricksons (the missionary family). It felt a little like Christmas, a joyful exchange of intention and joy.
No rush, no pressure. Just laughter, conversation, and a kind of ease that didn’t quite make sense after a 3:00am start. It was a clear gift from the Lord. Like the Holy Spirit had settled something over us, allowing everyone to simply be.
Water, Dinner, and Depth
Later, we headed to the Bethel’s home (friends of the Hendrickson’s) right on the water.
As they prepared dinner, we sat outside, taking it all in. The ocean stretched wide, the light softened, and conversations deepened. There was laughter, yes, but also something more grounded. Admiration. Curiosity. Connection.
Dinner was fully loaded tacos and cheesecake (a combination no one questioned), and we stayed around the table longer than expected…talking, listening, learning names and stories.
It didn’t feel like strangers meeting. It felt like something being built. One might even say “a story in the making.”
The Paradox
Back at Friends of the Environment, we got ready for Junkanoo (think Brazil’s Carnival but Bohemian!) BUT, before we left, Carrie introduced us to something we’ll carry all week….
The Paradox
Starting in Genesis 1, we’re reminded:
God was there before anything else.
He created.
And after each part of creation, He said, “It is good.”
And then, after creating humanity:
“It is very good.”
But just two chapters later (Genesis 3) everything fractures.
Shame enters.
Relationships strain.
Work becomes toil.
The world breaks.
And now, we live in both.
Yay Ducks + Yuck Ducks
Carrie gave us language for what we’ll be noticing all week:
Yay ducks | where we see God’s goodness (Genesis 1)
Yuck ducks | where we see brokenness (Genesis 3)
And often, they come together, making….wait for it…….
A pair of ducks.
A paradox. (get it?)
Because both are true at the same time.
You can see breathtaking beauty… and heartbreaking need in the same moment. You can feel deep joy… and deep ache in the same day. Here in Abaco, that tension is immediately visible, and as the time here passes, it will become engrained in all of our senses. Yes, the water is stunning. The people are full of life. And yet, there are still marks of devastation, reminders that not everything is as it should be.
But the truth is…..that’s not just Abaco. That’s everywhere.
After some time in reflection and prayer, we jumped right in to a BIG “Yay Duck”….
Junkanoo
JUNKANOO! A parade of color, rhythm, and joy. Kids from the tiniest to high school….tiny lobsters to big Hercules’, all dressed to the nines, dancing with precision and pride. It was loud, vibrant, ALIVE.
We didn’t just watch…we joined. Joined the dancing and laughing, taking it all in until about 9:30pm, when we walked back under the night sky, tired in the best kind of way. What an immersive gift.
Day One Reflection
God is HERE. Emmanuel is NEAR!
He’s been here…long before the flights or hiccups. Before the laughter, the meals, the music. He’s been here….always (Genesis 1).
In the goodness.
In the brokenness.
In the in-between.
And as we begin this week, we’re learning to see clearly:
Not just one or the other… but both.
And then, as we follow the lead of our incredible servant leaders, we are learning where and how to use the gifts He has given each of us for HIS name and HIS glory.
To notice the yay ducks.
To acknowledge the yuck ducks.
And to trust that God had a plan before Genesis 1 and is at work in all of it.
Jesus, be our hands and our feet. Amen.