No, absolutely NO!

I asked my wife (mother of 4, 3 daughters). Her response was a no way.

I’ve been there. If you’re unaccustomed to third world conditions or have any vulnerabilities, don’t go. I certainly wouldn’t want my teen daughter to go unless I was right there. I wouldn’t trust other leaders/adults to care for her safety either. Not saying it’s a pirate’s den but there are some creeps. Too many creeps. Would be better to go Stateside.

I hadn't thought of the Bahamas as being that unstable or dangerous.

quote:

Would be better to go Stateside.

There are lots of places in the US that I wouldn't want a minor child to go to - or even go to myself - but at least they are in the US, not separated by hundreds of miles of ocean and needing a passport to get to.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

I have done mission trips with various churches since I was 17. Camden, NJ was the first.
Have done I don’t know how many since, most up and down the east coast of the states, rebuilding from storms (Katrina was one).

My view is there is so much that needs done here in the states, why spend the money getting out of the country?

Can you go?

Think about it this way . If something bad happens , do you really want to be thousands of miles away and trying to deal with things through an Embassy or Consulate ? The laws , customs , and language could all contribute to the mess . I've read horror stories about people having a medical emergency in a foreign country and it was mostly financial issues that complicated things .

An out Island, sure. Nassau, hell no.

I lived on Andros five years ago. The out Island people are some if the nicest I've ever met. Even they avoided Nassau.

you can get the same experience going to a local slum or spend a week in DC

I'm in and out of Nassau at least 3-6 times a year. It's a little more dangerous than other places late at night, and what it used to be, but nothing like what everyone is saying here. I can find far worse places in Miami. I wouldn't worry about it, there are 20 adults to 30 kids. It's only a 38 minute flight from Fort Lauderdale.

Let me put it this way, I wear my Rolex when I go to Nassau or the Bahamas. Never would I do that anywhere in Central America including Costa Rica or Panama.