Here you see a couple of the aligators we happened onto this afternoon. Some of them were just huge! I have been wanting to see some ever since we got here and this little place of water had more than their share! They kept their eyes on us, they thought we looked like "gator bait"?
You can also see the progress of Bethel College and the mural they are putting in the school nursery room! They drew this free hand on paper first and it is now covering all 4 walls of the room! The colors are incredible and the talent is beyond amazing! The teachers are in awe of the whole thing and the babies will surely be easier to care for because they will be watching the walls!
Bethel also created a wonderful puppet stage for Tim and Sheri and their childrens ministry. Once again, their creativity came through and became such a blessing for this ministry!
The "grouting crew" were once again in action. They completed their goal for today and made it all the way down hallway. I can't believe their knees are holding out, but then again they are college age kids and I am showing my age just thinking about painful knees!
Another group continued their work in the school play yard and it is actually looking like something besides a field of tall weeds! The kids will actually be able to go out and play and not get lost in the weeds! And of course, with all those tall weeds you get mosquitos of an entirely different (and large) breed!
The group has another drama presentation tomorrow afternoon and already have the rest of their days here planned out with work and presentations and fun! They are such a joy to be around as they continue with their music, singing, working, laughing and serving in the Lord! If only all of us adults would keep that free spirit, that sense that working for the Lord is FUN?! We all seem to get so caught up in what WE need, what WE want and how easily forget that the Bible itself says that in everything we do we should be doing it for the Lord!
Today is our "adopted" son's 18th birthday! This is the day our entire church small home group has been waiting for! He will graduate high school in a few weeks and we learned today that he will be baptized in another week! Kevin, we cannot fully express how happy we are with your choices and want you to know we miss you and will continue to keep you in our prayers. God has great plans for your life, stay close to Him and He will reveal them on an as needed basis. God is never too early and never too late!
We heard from Barbara, our next home rebuild. She had to return to her house today to wait for inspectors and for someone to come and evaluate the house for a grant application she filed. We hope to haul her sheetrock into the house tomorrow but will need to make sure the inspection has been completed. I heard a story today of someone who decided that their house was their house and did not get a building permit after the storm. They went ahead and rebuilt the house without any inspections. When the proper authorities found out and paid them a visit they made them tear out everything they did in the rebuild and start over again. This may seem ridiculous but remember, this flood wasn't just water, it was salt water! What that does to electrical is dreadful. Nearly every house needs some form of electric work done and some need completely redone! Just a reminder that most rules are there for our protection!
We paid a visit to our friend, the pastor holding his services in a tent due to the total loss of his church. He has a team of volunteers from Virginia there this week helping to get the parsonage rebuilt and able to house volunteers. There was a small part of the church structure that is being made into a warehouse type building and they were busy trying to get it closed in. We will be loading him up with sheetrock for their temporary structure also. Tomorrow should be the day of hauling, thus the day they are one step closer to getting out of the tent and into a decent place to be able to worship our Lord! We would like to thank his volunteers for taking time from their own lives and coming here to serve! God bless all of you!
If you would like to take an active part in this rebuilding process you can send your tax deductible gift to us through Vineyard Community Church at PO Box 3277 in Bloomington, Indiana 47402. Be sure and note "Katrina" on your gift as all of it comes to this relief mission.
We thank you for giving us the ability to follow the calling God has placed on our lives!
Until tomorrow.... Susan and Monty
No comments:
Post a Comment