HOME REPAIR INITIATIVE TRIP INFORMATION Serving God in Abaco
WELCOME
Fueling the Dreams of the Forgotten Imagine the unthinkable: your entire world, shattered in an instant. On September 1, 2019, Hurricane Dorian, the strongest storm in modern history, razed the island of Abaco. Homes, businesses, and lives were obliterated. As the island’s residents struggled to rebuild, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, further isolating them and halting all progress. Left to fend for themselves, thousands of Abaco’s residents faced an impossible task: rebuilding their lives from scratch. With no support, no aid, and no hope on the horizon, they became a forgotten people, their cries for help lost in the global noises of crises. Ignite compassion and fuel the dreams of rebuilding the lives of the forgotten. Many Hands has heard the cries and answered the call to rebuild, restore, and renew lives for the people of Abaco, Bahamas. This is your invitation to join us!
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TRIP INFORMATION The Opportunity We are welcoming volunteer teams of up to 10 for a three-week in-country home repair project. The following dates are open for volunteer teams: 2026 •Team 8: October 31 - November 21 FULL 2027 •Team 1: January 9 - 30 FULL •Team 2: February 6 - 27 •Team 3: March 6 - 27
Reimbursement As a volunteer dedicating three weeks to serve, you will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of $1000 reimbursement for air travel, ground transportation and food expenses incurred while serving in Abaco.
Housing Volunteer Teams will stay at Camp Abaco, located on the mideast side of the island. The camp provides the following accommodations: •Dormitory style bedrooms •Large bathrooms that include private showers and toilets •Clean water and modern plumbing with 24/7 electricity •Fully-functioning commercial kitchen •Hospitality team trained in sanitary food preparation •24-hour security
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TRIP INFORMATION Meals Volunteers will be responsible for their own meals unless Many Hands is hosting a team on campus. Volunteers will have access to a full kitchen to prepare their own meals at their own expense. There will be designated space in a refrigerator for volunteers to store perishable items.
Airfare Volunteers are responsible for purchasing their own airline tickets and will be required to arrive and depart on a Saturday, unless special permission is granted.
Ground Transportation Volunteer teams will need to rent a vehicle for group transportation to and from the Marsh Harbour Airport as well as to and from any job sites throughout their time in-country. (Further information will be provided upon trip registration.)
Tools & Equipment Many Hands provides newer Milwaukee tools for teams to use.
Insurance Elections Out of country emergency medical insurance will be the volunteer’s responsibility. Volunteers will need to evaluate their current medical policy and, if deemed necessary, purchase additional international medical coverage before coming to the Bahamas.
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WHERE IS ABACO?
Camp Abaco
About Abaco •Located 187 miles east of Palm Beach, FL •Official language: English •A quarter of the Bahamian population is made up of Haitian immigrants
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CENTRAL ABACO MAP A
B
C
D
Treasure Cay
E
F
1
G
H
I
J
Great Guana Cay
2
3
Murphy Town
Marsh Harbour Elbow Cay
4
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Spring City 6
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Little Harbour
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N 0 mi
2.00 mi
4.00 mi
Camp Abaco
Central Abaco Primary School
Airport
Kirk of the Pines
Community Center
Poinciana Driftwood Farms
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CAMP ABACO MAP GATHERING HALL WAREHOUSE
RESERVED HOUSING
GENERATOR HOUSE
DORM
STAFF HOUSING
DORM
DORM
SUITE-STYLE HOUSING
CHAPEL
Our Team in Abaco
Laura Johnson
Carrie Veenstra
Doug Veenstra
AT Holder
Director of Ministry
Education & Office Administration
Camp Maintenance & Community Team Work Logistics
Director of Community Engagement
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TESTIMONIALS “God called us here to help rebuild, thus giving families hope and a place to call home again. The work is far from done. Thank you for this amazing learning experience, and we encourage others to accept the call to Abaco Island, Bahamas. We will be back!” Cora World Renew
“Having a home is part of one’s spiritual and emotional stability. Here on Abaco Island through Many Hands, we work with people in rebuilding their homes. It is rewarding to see the smiles on people’s faces as they see progress being made in their homes. If you want to be engaged, I encourage you to sign up for 1 week. The need here is great, and many hands are needed.” John World Renew
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WHY GO TO ABACO? In today’s fast paced life, it is extremely difficult for those in their “comfortable” settings to truly see God’s global heart and to slow down enough for God to speak to them and show them where He wants them to be part of the solution. As a mission, we take very seriously the opportunity to introduce you to the work God is doing in the areas in which we work. We are excited to share with you the vision God has presented to us and pray you continue to be part of the solution even after you return home. Our hope is that both you and the local people you encounter are blessed by your time in-country. Together, we learn from each other and bring hope to one another. We are all the hands and feet of Christ. We trust God will work through all the planning, preparation, and prayer to make your trip a powerful experience to glorify God.
“We want to do this together. We believe that we are better together, that God has called us to live life in community, to be love in action.” -Tim Brand | Founder & CEO, Many Hands
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CONTACT INFORMATION Pam Osborn - Impact Manager & Travel Coordinator Point of contact for trip details and organization Cell: 641-840-0292 Email: posborn@mh4h.org
Many Hands - US Office Phone: 641-629-6633 Email: info@mh4h.org
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION Scan the QR Code or click the link below to start your application today! https://impact-trips.managedmissions.com/MissionApplication/Start/49366
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Click the link below to learn more! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nAryKZfXryezs5SPs6wHZ661O10DU_ S67PN81d2MB14/edit?usp=sharing
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