Posted by Fig Tree People on April 17, 2002 at 14:36:57:
Methods of heaven
Released Monday, April 15, 2002 at 11:01 am EST by transporter
Methods of heaven, homes on earth
By JANICE MATHER
Guardian Features Reporter
It began naturally enough, after the whirl of 1992s hurricane had settled to reveal the ruins of North
Eleuthera. But what began as one church's move to help affected members in the wake of disaster has
flared to a roaring drive to eliminate poor housing in the family islands. "The goal is basically to eradicate
substandard houses in The Bahamas," says Shaun Ingraham, coordinator of Methodist Habitat, a
community renewal initiative whose presence has already been felt in Eleuthera, Abaco, Cat Island, and
Andros. Though restoring homes and churches damaged in hurricane Andrew, and later, Floyd, was a
great priority, the goals of Methodist Habitat now reaches out to encompass mending homes that are not
only prone to damage during the stormy season, but which are unfit to live in at any time of year. Battling
houses devoid of bathrooms, with chunks of walls missing, and gaping spaces where part of the roof
should be, an estimated 100 buildings have received the Methodist Habitat's healing touch since its
inception almost 10 years ago.
Working with Social Services, using volunteer labour from their US-based sister organization The United
Methodist Church, and gaining support from various local sponsors, Ingraham has set a goal of making
poor housing a thing of the past within the next decade. "We still have a lot of people that don't have
running water in The Bahamas. We still have a lot of people that don't have bathroom facilities that still use
the oil lamp. They're the ones we're trying to get first of all, and try to repair," he says. Working on homes
from those requiring minor repairs and only a few hundred dollars worth of improvements, to places that
must be levelled and completely rebuilt at costs of several thousand dollars, the greatest challenge yet has
been recruiting locals to assist. Though Methodist Habitat generally targets residents who are elderly,
have small children, or are unable to help themselves, problems have been met when it comes to getting
people within the community to give of their labour and time. "One of the things that has upset us a lot is
that we have all these American work teams, which come down. They take a week of their vacation, and our
own local guys are sitting on the block, watching them work," complains Dr. Reginald Eldon, secretary of
The Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Church, of which Methodist Habitat is a part. He recalls an
incident where the son of a woman whose home
was being restored agreed to give help only if he would receive payment for his toils. Though persons are
encouraged to contribute whatever funds they can towards work on their homes, communities are being
encouraged to join in the initiative, too. "It's a theological problem, because we don't really see ourselves
as our brothers' and sisters' keeper," reasons Dr. Eldon. "Affluence has made us very selfish and the same
sort of family and relational stuff that we experience in Nassau is seeping over into the family islands. It
used to be that in The Bahamas, if you lived in a family island, if one person was needy, the whole
community responded and helped them.
But that's beginning to change dramatically ... persons are becoming more isolated and insulated into their
own world and they're interested in their own children, their own house, their own church, and very few
people would look outside of that to say "these people are also our responsibility."
According to Ingraham, the expectation that outsiders will provide is part of the problem, "It's the colonial
mentality, that somebody else is gonna come in and help us, or do it for us, whether it be government,
whether it be Americans, whether it be the British," he says. "I think we still have to shake off that old
colonial mentality. We have to realise that we take ownership, now, of our own community."
Pre-existing community leaders are being targeted as persons most likely to help willingly, and persons
with skills, like contractors, construction workers, plumbers, and electricians willing to give of their time are
particularly welcome. But even the everyday, no skilled do-gooder is welcomed, whether to paint, or to
donate a door, a toilet, some sheets or towels for a new home. "We cannot be sitting up in our
air-conditioned houses and be content, while our brother down the road is living in a place that doesn't
even have doors and windows, and no bathrooms. I think the whole element of raising the consciousness
of the people in the communities to know that there's something that we can do in the place where we live,
to improve this situation," says Dr. Eldon.
One success story is that of Lower Bogue, Eleuthera, where a contractor recruited several young men from
within the area, and had a house built from the ground up in a matter of a few hours, with siding up,
petitions, and roof all completed. Only a lack of materials barred the group from fully completing the house
within 48 hours. "There's no reason that we could not do it if we all come together - non-government
organizations,, the government, churches - if everybody came together and made a conscious effort to
eradicate substandard housing, I think within 10 years, The Bahamas can do it. You could see a
tremendous difference in the communities," Ingraham says.
The homes aren't glamorous. A house built for a single elderly resident might be 400 square feet, and
include a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living/dining area. But, though small and wooden, they're
approved to withstand hurricane winds, are brand-new, whole, and built with unquestionable love.
Part of the Methodist's convention, Methodist Habitat is its own personal ministry, a display of
unselfishness, love of fellow mankind. About half of the people it touches have no affiliation with the
denomination that backs it, but they're helped despite that, because of their need. Some might call
Ingraham an angel, a saint. Although the selfless actions are certainly spiritually approved, they're
grounded in practical humanity.
"I don't do it for rewards in heaven! I do it so people could
have a house on earth," Ingraham says. "I do it because
people need it, we do it because it shouldn't be like this in
The Bahamas, and it can be different."