Bahamas Habitat

Aircraft Project Background

Bahamas Habitat

Bahamas Habitat is a US non-profit organization established to assist in the mission of Bahamas Methodist Habitat (BMH) on the island of Eleuthera in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The mission of BMH is to improve substandard housing and build community in the Bahamas. BMH is active on the island of Eleuthera and wants to expand its mission to other islands in the Bahamas. The logistics of travel in the Bahamas require the expenditure of an excessive amount of time since all travel whether by ferry or airline must pass through the hub of Nassau, New Providence. Having an aircraft would reduce the travel time from Eleuthera to Abaco by five hours in each direction. The straight line distance is 74 miles. Bahamas Habitat desires to provide an aircraft to the mission on Eleuthera to expand the capabilities and potential of this vital mission. (more…)

On Sunday July 20th, 2008 Dr. Herbert Rust and his lovely wife Louise officially donated their entire dental office to Bahamas Habitat.

We are extremely grateful to Dr. Rust for his generous donation and his enthusiasm to be a part of this project. He is looking forward to a trip to visit the island and scope out the location.

The first task was to move the equipment from his office because he sold the building. Steve Merritt, Randy Redding and Drew Baird flew from Raleigh NC in Randy’s Twin Comanche to meet up with John Armstrong to help move the equipment to a temporary storage hangar at Manassas airport in Northern Virgina.

“It has been amazing the way this entire project has developed. Every time we need something God provides and this time was no exception.” stated John

The move day was a beautiful but warm July Sunday. We worked from about 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM to get the equipment disassembled, loaded, moved and unloaded. The load filled two pickup trucks and the large trailer.

The way the project is getting off the ground is creating alot of excitement. The Flying Dentist Association is eager to

support the effort and several of their members are expected to me on the committee for development. At every turn God is putting people in our paths that are eager to help and support our goal of a dental clinic in the Bahamas.

Our next task will be to move the equipment to Florida for shipping. If you have connections that could possibly donate this service please contact Steve Merritt at 919-280-5510..

We want to again thank Dr. Herbert Rust and his wife Louise for making this all possilbe. Ben Bowan is a young fellow that deserves great credit. He has been Dr. Rust’s helper to disassemble the gear before we arrived and to help us move the lot. He has been invaluable to Herb and we could not have done it with out him.

We want to express another special thanks to our friends at American Aviation and American Helicopters. Their support has made our first phase efforts a success.
We look forward to pilots coming down this fall to volunteer and get involved. Put November 6-9 on your calendars for our next “Fly-In and Help Out Event”.

During this Fly-In and Help Out Event we are planning to invite flying dentist to join us to see the facilities and be a part of the team that helps setup and establish the new dental ministry.

Make sure you register on this site to receive all the info and updates for the trip.

go to: http://www.bahamashabitat.org/wordpress/?page_id=7

The plan to pick up the complete three chair dental clinic donated by Dr. Herbert Rust of Alexandria Virginia are coming together. Plans for the transportation of the almost container load of equipment are underway and the pick up date from Dr. Rust is set for July 20th, 2008.

Dr. Rust’s donation opens the way for a major advancement in the impact our ministry will make on the lives of the Bahamians we seek to help. It is clear God is blessing our initial steps of faith.

I also want you to know a bit more about Dr. Rust as he is an amazing fellow. Herb Rust is a septuagenarian husband, father and pilot who grew up in the Big Apple. He is an avid aviation enthusiast who remembers Bill Odom’s round the world flight in his Bonanza and himself dreams of a solo circumnavigation. He is a practicing dentist, educator and preventive dental pioneer for fifty years who became a transplant to the Mid Atlantic region following graduation from the University of Maryland. Herb is a lover of the Caribbean scene who in recent years has developed a keen interest in all things digital.

When I called the Flying Dentist Association to discuss this opportunity, they were immediately interested in helping to support our efforts and they said of Herbert Rust, “Everyone knows Herb Rust!”.

The Flying Dentist already conduct missions to many far away places such as the Dominican Republic. See a recent article.

They are eager to support the efforts of establishing a clinic and the cooperation of Bahamas Habitat and the Flying Dentist organization should prove to be very productive.

On behalf of everyone involved in Bahamas Habitat we express our deepest gratitude for your generous gift. We look forward to making it a gift that will keep on giving and create many happy smiles.

Bahamas Habitat

God truly works in wonderful ways! This story will make you smile and likely many others in the future.
Our group has been working to renovate a two story “Caretakers Cottage” on the Camp Symonette to house long term volunteers and possibly for other uses that had been discussed by the board including a possible clinic.

So you won’t believe the timing. As we near completion of this renovation a one Dr. Herbert Rust of Alexandria Virginia contacted us to donate his entire office of dental equipment. He is a dentist that is selling his dental office and retiring and saw what we were doing and felt moved to donate this equipment.

So, stay tuned for news updates on this project. If you are in the dental profession and fly please contact us right away as we will be collecting volunteers to help with the installation, setup and staffing of the dental clinic. Opportunities exist for dentist to visit the Bahamas and provide their services while also enjoying some time in the islands.

The goal will be to establish scheduled clinic operation for a week every quarter to start to serve the needs of the people of Eleuthera for dental care.

To volunteer or offer related equipment, supplies or services please email flypremier@gmail.com.

One of the best ways you can support Bahamas Habitat is by helping bring in the supplies they need. Remember, there is not a Home Depot on every corner (beach) in Eleuthera so when Abe and the gang need something and don’t have it, it can mean a real delay. Our Fly-In Team volunteer to source and bring in all types of items. Please review this list and email to steve.merritt@mindspring.com a note with the items you can bring. This sheet will be updated as we go along leading up to our flight.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pZg8k_9HTWkGIGplBazhxbQ

As you can imagine alot of materials need to be moved around in the process of constructing homes and doing the work of the ministry.

The director Bahamas Methodist Habitat, Abe McIntyre, has put out the request to all friends and supporters to help him find a way to obtain a truck. The mission has a bus to move the people and now a van that was recently donated but nothing suitable to move the large supplies and building materials such as block, brick, plywood and quantities of lumber.

The photo is an example of a small truck that could help but ideally a larger truck is being sought. The trucks being considered range from $11,000 to $21,000. Please post comments to this item if you have ideas of how we can help God supply this much needed piece of equipment.

$5,000 was received this week from Paul and Patricia Honeycutt of Manchester UMC, TN to help with the renovation of the Caretaker’s Cottage.

Paul Humbly said, “I hope that will help with some of the building materials”. God it Great! Thank You Paul for your Generosity and Support!

This news just in…Steve Merritt and Sam Arbes are just back from a Santa flight to Andros Island. Sam attended for the first time the Fly-In and Help Out event in November. Sam’s experience moved him so much he felt led to do something really unique. He decided he was going to take Christmas gifts to the children of Andros Island.

So sure enough he and Steve took off in Steve’s trusty Piper Aztec with a sleigh full of gifts. Steve reports the take off was a bit “rolley” but the trip was “Outstanding!”

They just got back and we can’t wait to see the pictures and hear the full story!

Bahamas Habitat Board & Friends,

Please find attached a photo of the van which was donated by JL Wallace, Inc in Ft Myers. We want to thank Jerry and the folks at J L Wallace who worked to get this ready for delivery, and for them having the logo installed on the van.. I took it to the Firestone and had new tires, brakes, alignment, filters and a courtesy check done and it is ready to roll.

God’s Blessings to Everyone during this Season of Celebration of His Son’s Birth,

In His Service,

Dan

Bahamas Habitat received its designation as a public charity under section 501 (c) 3 of the internal revenue code from the IRS effective August 7th, 2007.

The lRS letter states:

“We are pleased to inform you that upon review of your application for tax
exempt status we have determined that you are exempt from Federal income tax
under section 501-(c) (3) of the internal- Revenue code. contributions to you are
deductible under section L7o of the code. You are also qualified to receive
tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2oss, 2:-,06
or 2522 of the Code.”

For a copy of our exempt status letter from the IRS for your files click here and print.