With only fall a few days away, we too are getting ready for the harvest here in the Bayou. Yet, we must carry on with one less person(at least until the baby is born!). With the unexpected changes and cut backs from Nazarene Disaster Response, we were thrown a curve ball in regards to our Alabama team. And with any batter not expecting the curve, there comes adjustments. However, our adjustments meant that our team found it necessary to begin looking for more substantial jobs. This is in no way saying that we did not believe that God could not provide, but is in fact saying, that we found this to be the avenue in which God would provide.As I (Tim Whetstone) continue to hold down the fort as the Alabama South District Disaster Response Coordinator, I find myself hoping and praying for the best for my tremendous two volunteer staff members -- Jordan Mitchell & Jesse Washkau. We knew the time would come where we would need to part ways, but we had no idea that such a time would arrive so quickly.
That bitter-sweet moment has arrived yet again. The time has come for one of our crew to move on. It is with great energy that we congratulate and wish the best to Jordan Mitchell. He is already making the transition out of Disaster Response to teaching and helping disabled children at a school in Mobile, Al. Jordan, thank you for being more than a volunteer or just one of the staff here in LA (Lower Alabama). You have and will forever be a great friend!Jordan fist came to Bayou La Batre over his Christmas break from college last year with Jesse. The two were a great help then, but I had no clue what a tremendous asset they would be to the area within just a few short months later. Jordan then came back to the Bayou over his Spring Break. It was then that I asked if he would like to help us for a longer period of time once he finished school. Long story short, Jordan signed on for the long haul. Even though the "long haul" was cut a bit short, his help, his work, and his love to serve were but only a few of the highlights that he brought to the job.
Thanks Jordan. Thank you for your service, your hard work, your friendship, but especially for your love to see that His kingdom come right here on earth as it is in Heaven. We will miss you. Keep seeking His face and living with your whole self.
As a "last hoorah" we all went to Nashville, TN last week.
I was scheduled to speak at Trevecca Nazarene University in one of their chapel services and I thought it would be awesome if the whole team came along. So, Danielle, Jesse, Jordan, and I spent a week hanging with college students, eating cafeteria food (some of the time), chil'n at cool coffee shops, and catching some of Nashville's highlight scenic sights!
Oh yeah, and I spoke in chapel too! In fact, if you would like to check out the chapel service it has been podcasted at: www.tnu.edu/chapel Even though we will not be blogging much in the next couple weeks we do ask for your continued prayers. It has been slow in regards to teams coming to help in the Bayou, but we must give another shout out to Milford, DE Church of the Nazarene.
They sent their FOURTH team this past month. Thank you! We are looking forward to October with seven teams on board to come. Jesse, Danielle, Charles and I will still be around and ready to get some more work done (as we know the home owners are anxious as well). If you would like to help please check out our new web site, and come on down to LA!
Grace and peace.
