Trust the Process: Eleuthera 2024
I’m looking at my “Trust the Process” coffee mug from Alissa as I write this. Because she lives by this motto, I do in fact trust the process when we work together (even though the anxiety in my stomach tells me to freak out). We just talked on the phone and had the same questions for each other- Am I forgetting something? Do we have everything? What are we missing? We are both surprisingly calm, considering the next 48 hours that lie ahead. I’m finishing up my teaching job for the school year today, then taking the 6:45 AM flight to Austin tomorrow morning. Alissa is driving 14 hours from Leadville to Austin. We are having a slumber party (never too old to say that) at Peri’s tomorrow night, then back to the airport at 4:00 AM to fly to Orlando, then Nassau, then finally the beautiful Bahamian island of Eleuthera. If all goes as planned, we will be doing the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson from Tarpum Bay at 6:00 PM on Thursday! This will be our third year supporting One Eleuthera Foundation’s free summer swim camp.
I’m already packed, which is shocking. Usually I’m up all night, packing and repacking and second-guessing everything. Since this is our third trip, I know what to expect (sort of). It is still island life, so there are always Plans A, B, C, and D, but I know the basics. I can’t wait to reconnect with the incredible team at One Eleuthera Foundation, visit our friends at Craving’s Bake Shop, and dance to live music at Cybil’s Wild Orchids. Those are the moments of relaxation I look forward to, woven between hours of hyper vigilance around the pool and bay, teaching a community how to create a safer, healthy relationship with the beautiful water that surrounds them.
I’m traveling with three 50 pound bags filled with swimsuits, masks, every hydration electrolyte and mosquito repellant on the market, Sun Bum products, masks from Dive California, Learn to Swim with Lou books, coloring booklets, bookmarks and skill cards (Thank you, Presentation Folder for the exceptional printing job!). Alissa’s truck is filled with water safety curriculum, Step into Swim skill trackers for our grant data, energy bars, snacks, and lifejackets. Peri is working her magic with a heat press to put logos on the UPF rashguards that Watermen supplied us with once again. She has been busy sorting all of the deliveries of masks, goggles, caps, and dive toys from our Amazon Wish List (which I’ll reshare again for the next outreach). Dive World Austin connected us with Mares, who helped us get mask and snorkel sets shipped to the island. We were also fortunate to have Craig Sears from Sears Pool Management Consultants contact One Eleuthera Foundation, looking to lend a hand through his non-profit, Greater Atlanta Water Safety Alliance. He put out the call in his area and was able to personally deliver swimsuits, goggles, caps, towels, and dive toys. We are making plans to add Craig to the mix for Lifeguard training in the future!
Sounds like we are ready! If you have followed our adventures in the past, thank you for all of your support. Everything is wonderful- the texts and emails with prayers and well-wishes, the equipment donations, the PayPal contributions, the swag- we love it all! Stay tuned for more posts and Facebook Live updates.