Sunday, November 26, 2006

Things are still happening . . .

It's Sunday evening and Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, but our thanks for the teams that have also come and gone still remains!

A couple weeks ago we had yet another team which came all the way from Pismo Beach, California. Most of the team has been with us before in the Bayou, but they were fortunate to have and new member on the team for their latest missions experience here in LA (Lower Alabama)!

Every once and a while we run across a family who still is in need of some desperate help. Most often it's due to their willingness to let others get help before themselves. All of the "gutting" of homes was finished over 8 months ago, but when the Pismo Beach saw the need of the families home that they were going to be working on for the week, they wanted to do more than the "required" work. For this, we, and I know our home owners were both extremely grateful for their amazing help.

The team began by gutting the entire home . . .


. . . and then they proceeded to restore the home, as I am sure along with some "hope" in our home owner's lives!


Thank you Pismo Beach! It's amazing what a team of four can do when they give all of themselves to the Lord's service. We look forward to being with you again in the future.

It was not long after Pismo left that reinforcements arrived from Gardendale, Al. Two brave men gave of not only their time, but their vacation at Thanksgiving to bring about a great deal of thanks to some of our home owners. With the help of Gardendale's plumbing skills, and other much needed work accomplishments we are even closer to finishing the final eight projects on our current list.

Thanks again to all those who continue to support the efforts down here whether through coming, sending, or most of all praying. Until next time, keep us in your prayers this Christmas season.

If you would like to bring a team, come alone, or just help us out in any matter, please see our website (which you can reach by clicking on the logo above on the left)and contact us at any time.

Peace to you all.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

We had to say . . .

November is here and cranking and we are blessed to have another team with us. Yet, even though we are glad to have our returning friends from California, we are sad to have had to say goodbye to one of our faithful long-term volunteers -- Jesse Washkau. In all truthfulness, sad only captures a bit of what we are feeling. . . We are filled with those bitter-sweet emotions of sadness and joy, which seem to kiss each other at every moment. Sad that a great team member and friend has had to leave us for the North -- Atlanta, Georgia -- and yet, excited for what the Lord has in store for him in Atlanta and beyond.

It has been a true blessing to have had such great volunteers work with us in the Bayou. Yet, our true long-termer's Jesse and Jordan were a God-sent to Charles, Danielle, and I. As Jordan has found a new home in Mobile, AL and Jesse has been making his new home in Atlanta, GA for the past week we know that God has HUGE things in store for them both as they continue to seek His face.Thanks Guys!

As October was a busy month filled with teams that came through to help us in the rebuilding efforts even a year after Hurricane Katrina, so was our time spent getting ready for Jesse's departure. However, with the arrival of the new team this week, I have already encountered how vital Jesse was not only to the work but to my sanity as well.

Finally, thank you Jesse. Thanks for allowing the Lord to use you in so many ways not only in the Bayou/Grand Bay area but also with us at the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene. We will miss you, and already do, but we know that you are following the Lord as He leads you on this great journey we call the life of grace, mystery, and adventure!


Peace be with you and keep us in your prayers as we continue to labor down here in LA (Lower Alabama).