5 Tons of Blessings

For the first part of this week we find ourselves "teamless." It happens. There were two teams on the schedule, one from the Presbytarian camp and one from UMCOR, both of which ran into complications and cancelled.

So this is the week where I play catch up and also plan for next week at the same time.

Yesterday started with a phone call that was literally 5 tons of blessings. Sandy, the construction coordinator for UMCOR who runs volunteers on the island of Galveston, called saying he had a donated AC unit, a 5 ton one! And then the question I was hoping for, "do you have a home for it?" Do I have a home???????

We headed off to the island, got some help from some guys in the parking lot to load it into my truck and away we went. We knew "the" home would be Hsilda's home. We already had the bid from our HVAC man, he planned on a 4 ton unit so this would be great. When I called him to discuss what we had he said "free is always good." A man who knows the reality of working in disaster recovery!

We had the help we needed to get it into the truck and now we needed to get it out of the truck. All it took was one call to Mariano - they live around the corner from Hsilda and he and Maria, along with Hsilda's husband and a friend of theirs got it unloaded and up on the deck. Not an easy job but they made it! Now our HVAC man will come and take a look at it and rewrite the bid. And we will have a substantial savings to go along with the amazing blessing!

The unit is only 3 years old and still under warranty! Thanks for the awesome answer to prayer Lord!

Today was our monthly Long Term Recovery meeting. One of the main focuses is always funding. There is more coming down the pipe line but that pipe is a long one so we all keep going with what we have, pinching every penny when we can and pray for the pipe to shorten -- someday! It's always good to hear the uplifting stories from the other organizations "in the trenches." As the UMCOR main case manager, Lee, and I talked we realized that UMCOR itself has nearly 100 homes in process!!!!! Amazing!!!!

I had to stop at Lowes to finalize the order of cabinets and flooring for Martha and Steven. It's that planning for next week thing. I have a sample of the flooring, a peel and stick tile, to take to Martha and Steven to make sure they like it. We use the peel and stick as it makes it easier for volunteers and looks great when it's completed.

Monty continues working in the box truck, both repairing and rebuilding the box portion so it can be used in all sorts of ways. We can haul things, we can store things, we can help move families . . . you name it and we can put it to use! Another of those surprise blessings.

We thank all of you for reading, for supporting, for volunteering, for praying!!!

Until next time . . . be blessed and bless someone else! Susan and Monty

My oh my - did they paint!

They worked till dark last night and were back at it early this morning! They came to prime and paint and did more than that. Yes, they got the outside of the house painted, two coats. And the inside is completely done, including the ceilings.

But they also came to minister and that is exactly what they did when Ms Doris came to pay them a visit and thank them for their work. She spent some time with them, telling them her story and admiring all the work they had done and were continuing to do. Ms Doris is 87 years "young" and more than ready to return home. After this team, all she needs is flooring and cabinets and she will be able to do exactly that - come home!

Many thanks to this team as they joined together for a common cause, to represent Jesus in everything they did. Smiles were abundant, one lady even celebrated her birthday yesterday! She came to serve on her birthday! What a heart for Jesus! She even got a home made carrot cake for her birthday!!!!!!

It was the perfect way to end a fantastic week of volunteers coming, work getting done and folks being blessed from all directions!

Thanks to all the teams who worked so hard this past week! Bless you!!! And come back soon!

Until next time . . . bless someone else and get the blessing in return! Susan and Monty

Blessed Friday for sure

The day started off with a bang -- I'm taking the dogs for a quick walk when one of our camper neighbor ladies approaches me. With her face looking downward she begins the conversation with an apology for coming to me. She then proceeds to explain that she and her husband had their car stolen just prior to the storm. At the time of the storm they were renters and lost everything, including their apartment. They purchased a very old and very small camper and relocated here so her husband could be closer to his work as a fisherman. He leaves every morning between 3 and 4 am and doesn't return until around 7pm each evening. All that time she is inside the camper, no transportation and no company. She asked about the free food give away at Pastor Bob's church each Friday morning and what she needed to do to qualify. I explained that it was totally free, no strings - but she would need transportation. I finally asked outright if they needed help and she broke down crying telling me they were down to their last jar of peanut butter and she didn't know what to do. I tried to reassure her things would be fine and I would see what I could do. She smiled and talked of helping us with rebuilding, of joining with a team if we could take her. I agreed and said I would get back with her later.

As I got back and told Monty we decided to make some things happen. We had a short meeting with our nearly 50 volunteers about Friday being clean up day and a reminder of the house blessing later in the day. All were excited and ready to get to their final day.

Monty and I then headed to Walmart and within the hour we were back to our neighbor with a truck bed full of food! When we pulled up she truly fell apart in shock and thanks. We had a few things that needed refrigerated and she then showed us that they had pawned the refrigerator in the camper so her husband could have money for gas to get back and forth to work. Monty took a trip to the local station, grabbed a bag of ice and she was able to put those things in a cooler. She is so excited about going to Pastor Bob's and helping hand out food and hopefully helping us out with volunteering.

There was another side note to her story. She told us she had read the only book she had - twice! Monty chose "The Shack" to replace that book. It's definitely one she can read over a few times and she was amazed.

The point -- you just never know when God is going to place someone literally directly in your path -- challenge you to help --and show you the exact way to help! We were honored to be the vessels He chose to work through!

All our teams were going full steam ahead, finishing what they could do and cleaning up at the end of the afternoon.

The house blessing for Mariano and Maria and family was a packed porch - you can see in the photo. Good thing we built is as big as we did!

It was great to see the Methodist team there in their new orange team shirts. The even gave one to Billie and Mel as you can see. The Presbytarian's were in their bright blue shirts and the Boat People came in their navy ones! All God's people coming together creating their own rainbow of colors!

The blessing was great as we thought about when we first met them and how we all had become family. Some joked that Monty and I would now have to learn to knock on the door before entering! Everyone enjoyed the tour of the home and all agreed that it is beautiful! Monty even managed to capture a rare moment with Mariano smiling! The children translated into Spanish for Maria and she held up well until one of the teams presented her with a prayer shawl from their church and that did it - the tears of joy came streaming down her face -- and the faces of many, many of those watching!

The day sped by -- and in the middle of it we welcomed a new team! They are painting the inside and outside of a home in Hitchcock. They will be here through tomorrow and hopefully I can have some photos of them. They are from the same church that was here a few weeks ago ---the team that gutted Ms Verlis home in Hitchcock! It's great to have them back again!

An amazing day! A day filled with joy, with love and also a bit of sadness as we said goodbye to so many teams, so many folks who did such amazing work -- all for the Lord -- all week long! Our sincere thanks to all of them! They changed hearts, homes and most of all lives!!!!

Until next time . . . be blessed and bless someone else! Susan and Monty

The "urge" of Thursday

Today -- plenty of photos from all the jobs!

Thursdays are the day when the teams are all working well together and also the day when it dawns on them that tomorrow is their last day and it's an all out push to "get it done." All jobs are rolling so smooth it's amazing. And one of the things Monty and I must also get in our own heads -- these teams cannot stay! We get used to them, they are getting so much done and we are getting to know them all - and then we have to say goodbye!

Mariano and Maria's is 98% complete with the team putting on the final finishing touches that are making a powerful difference. Both Mariano and Maria are working inside along with the kids. Curtains are going up, pictures on the walls, you name it and it's happening. All in preparation for the official house blessing tomorrow afternoon!

Art's house is nearly complete with doors and trim and he's already preparing for the final thing - kitchen cabinets. His house blessing won't be far off at all.

Martha and Steven are thrilled with their new ceiling fans - Martha making note that each has 5 blades instead of 4 and the difference that makes. Their walls and ceilings shine like glass and have transformed the very tiny house into a home already.

Logan and Janey have people installing the plastic vapor barrier underneath the trailer and the kitchen inside is nearly complete, just awaiting the counter tops to arrive. Painting is being done in all directions and smiles are everywhere.

Robert's counter tops are being installed and nearly complete. His painting is nearly done and each room is beautiful. He stops me each time he passes in his work truck - just to say thank you and brighten my day with that smile.

George and Hsilda are also nearly completely painted inside and the deck is going up outside. Even the little kids are smiling as they see their house come together.

And last but not least is Billie and Mel. The Baltimore team is working on top of the house - literally trying to put up a tarp to keep the water from leaking inside until we can get the new roof on. They are working in the kitchen cleaning and cleaning and boxing up items so we will be able to move around with the rebuilding. It's amazing to see how the house is drying out just over the past couple of days! They filled yet another dumpster today with all their progress! Billie and Mel are thrilled to be able to start to see a light at the end of the tunnel and realize that it is NOT an oncoming train!

With each orientation Monty and I stress and stress and stress that this disaster recovery is NOT about production -- it's ALL about ministry! This week has been a perfect example of that ministry at its finest. We see the faces of homeowners change -- literally take on a different look from the first of the week to the last! Frowns turn to smiles. Hopelessness changes to hope. The feelings of intense loss change to feelings of being loved! Lives changed - both the homeowners and the volunteers! How blessed we are to see it happen each week!

Until next time . . . bless someone else - change lives! Susan and Monty

A BIG "Hump" Day

Sorry for not having more photos but it just didn't happen today. Hopefully tomorrow!

We kiddingly refer to Wednesdays as "hump day" because the teams have worked through the intial "how do we do this" to running on all cylinders and working like a well oiled machine. They were all doing exactly that today.

Mariano and Maria are getting very excited about their House Blessing that is set for Friday at 4:30. The team is doing all sorts of last minute touchups and cleaning. The smile on Maria's face is contagious!

Art has all his doors hung and his shower door installed. His trim is going up and the team was literally waiting for paint to dry at noon so they called and we relocated them to Logan and Janey's where they are cleaning out underneath their mobile home, securing the insulation and installing plastic for a vapor barrier. I think they enjoyed the inside of Art's home a bit more than the underneath of the trailer but they are troopers and doing fantastic!

Martha and Steven's walls are absolutely beautiful! They have one coat of polyurethane on them and are planning on a second tomorrow. We have had perfect drying weather for this project and the team is thrilled. More ceiling fans were being installed also so they will really be set for a cool breeze now.

Logan and Janey's entire house continues to transform. It's quite different with this home though since we have gutted and are rebuilding only one half at a time. It's almost impossible to imagine seeing one side beautiful and the other side not even gutted out yet! We do what we can do accomodate the homeowner and make them as comfortable as can be during the entire process.

Mel and Billie's place is nothing short of astonishing! The team has managed to start working their way through the inside of the home with cleaning and cleaning and then more cleaning! They are planning on tackling the kitchen area tomorrow. Monty and I will then be assessing the entire home and start on the rebuilding process. The new roof is priority since it is raining inside their home. The team will reinstall a temporary tarp over the hole in the roof until we can get it redone. What troopers they have been --- angels for sure!

Robert's home now has all it's doors and door hardware and the kitchen counter tops were going in this afternoon. The HVAC will hopefully start soon and then we will be down to installing the flooring only! He also has a smile that cannot be removed from his face!

Hsilda and George continue to be amazed at the progress in their home. The archway is ready for priming and painting along with the rest of the home. The bedroom closets are complete and the final 3 doors were going in today! George will be shooting the texture on the ceiling areas tonight so the team can also prime and paint them.

I also visited with a new client late this afternoon. Tracy also lives in a mobile home that has water pouring in from all the windows and therefore the mold is quite toxic and quite the mess. I went to do an evaluation to see how we will go about starting this project. Thankfully Tracy is living in a FEMA trailer so it will help us be able to work a bit more freely. She is both hopeless and excited and ready to get the process started. Now all we need is to secure the funding . . .

Seems like alot going on, doesn't it! You should be here and try to keep up with it all. Having 7 different rebuilding projects happening in a week is really something! As small as San Leon is they are all in very close proximity and it's a good thing. Between us checking on all of them and Chester and Pat from the PDA camp we are having a blast!

Be sure and stay tuned as the week starts to wind down tomorrow the teams will step it up a knotch trying to get it "done" - whatever it is they are working on.

Until next time . . . be blessed and bless someone else! Susan and Monty

Can't keep up

They pushed. they pulled, some were cramped into closets to get the work done, others were outside in the sunshine, others were staining walls and ceilings while others were patching walls and ceilings and some more were framing closets.

And still others were hanging doors, installing trim, painting and repainting, laying tile floors and then grouting that floor.

And more were cleaning debris, bringing down trees (carefully), putting insulation under a mobile home, installing a shower door and/or anything else you might think of.

Amazing, inspiring and blessing --- all wrapped up in a fantastic day called Tuesday.

Art is smiling and ready to use his new shower, Martha is still in shock at how nice her walls look, Hsilda loves the new color going in her home, Janey is seeing half of her home transform, Mariano is nearly complete, Robert is getting new counter tops and Billie is seeing her yard for the first time in who knows how long.

Each team is working together like a well oiled machine - a machine built by God Himself. Each homeowner is feeling the blessings that pour from each team member. The neighbors are watching and being blessed just by watching.

Monty and I do what we can to keep up with questions and supplying materials. We actually made it to all the homes today, some even twice! Wonders never cease!

And in the meantime we plan for an incoming team this weekend and for next weeks team. Not to mention needing to go and look at 2 new homes and add them to our list! We have an appointment with a 3rd tomorrow.

It's exciting, amazing and wonderful to see all the changes and all the progress. It's even more amazing and wonderul . . .

OOPPSS ---- CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had to take a quick break --- you know how you hear tires screeching and wait for the BOOM -- the boom hit just outside our trailer!

Yes, one man's evening just took a nasty turn -- he chose to drink and then drink a ton more and then get behind the wheel -- and met up with the telephone pole in a quite nasty crash!

It didn't take 5 seconds for the police to realize this is the same man that had the same accident just 3 nights ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This time he won't be getting behind another wheel!

Anyway . . . until next time . . . be blessed and be careful! Susan and Monty

Nearly 50 Strong

Morning orientation had nearly 50, I lost count, and then later in the day even more came in. I still don't have an exact count and it really doesn't matter. They all joined in together and are rotating between homes depending on their skills. Each home I visited I found more and more. Don't need names - they are just plain awesome!

Once again we have a combination of Methodist from Baltimore and Presbytarian from all over the place, Arizona and Oregon just to name a couple.

Our Baltimore team is starting a new job -- cleanup of Mel and Billie's place in preparation for some rebuilding to come. The dumpster arrived and was full before the afternoon was finished. They came in and when they got started they didn't quit. They even managed to bring down a quite large tree that was in danger of falling on their home! I am guessing that all of them will sleep very sound tonight!

The Presbytarians are spread between 6 different homes. Yes -- doing the math shows that we are running 7 homes this week - I did meet myself coming and going already today! I didn't look bad for a Monday! :)

The homeowners being blessed this week are: Steven and Martha, Mariano and Maria, Art, George and Hsilda, Robert and Janey and Logan. You name it and it's going on. All the way from cleaning out and reinsulating the underneath of Janey and Logan's mobile home to putting the last and final touches on Mariano and Maria's home.

YES -- you read correctly -- THIS Friday at 4:30pm we will be having the official House Blessing for Mariano and Maria's house!!! Praise the Lord! The team is tiling the bedroom floor and touching up last minute things in preparation for the celebration! If you are a team member that worked on their home -- we thank you! We are in the final stretch and it's looking great! All are excited and each team member here this week will be attending the Blessing!

What a week we have in store for us! The homeowners are thrilled and blessed and some nearly speechless! Another week of God's hands and feet in visible action!

A note about the top photo -- Jimmy from Iowa with his newly decorated stilts! Each tool we have for our disaster recovery is to be painted hot pink in order to keep them coming back to us for the next weeks use. When Jimmy left a day early last week and left his stilts we just couldn't resist "marking" them for him! Love ya Jimmy -- you are awesome and we miss you already! I always knew you would look good in pink!

Until next time . . . just try and keep up with this week! Susan and Monty