Preparations

We said goodbye to the Colorado team early this morning. In the photos you will see Lucille's new kitchen, the best 2 examples of service I have ever seen with the girls scrubbing the toilet clean and the group photo taken this morning. This team was still talking about what a blessing it was for them to bond with Lucille and her family and they were so excited to get home and show all of their video and photos to their church! It's this kind of excitement that brings more and more volunteer teams here. It's this kind of excitement and heart for service that gets the communities rebuilt and brings hope to the families! We pray for safe travel home as they have a very long drive back to Denver!

The last photo is (finally) the photo I left out 2 days ago, Bethel's new pastor and wife, Tim and Sheri. God has called them from Missouri to Mississippi to be His representatives and we pray strength and wisdom for them as they begin this new "adventure" in their lives. They both have awesome servant hearts and are planning on "breaking tradition" with their ministries! We're behind you all the way guys! Love ya!

Monty was working electrical all day. This is such an important area in the rebuilding. Being flooded is one thing, but being flooded with salt water is an entirely different animal! Salt, water and electricity just do not mix well!

I walked to the water this morning and was pleased to see cleanup beginning in one of the bayous along there. They had these 2 huge machines with arms and scoops on the ends bringing up all the broken boat parts and anything else that landed in the bayou. I am sure it will take quite some time to get just this one cleaned up but they are working on them.

I think I spent most of the day on the phone. Making preparations for our upcoming move is going to take some time. The scheduled teams must be contacted and I received 2 more calls of volunteers wanting to schedule a trip. It looks like the summer is going to be a busy one and we will be able to bless even more people and get them back into their homes. One of the most difficult parts of this preparation was telling the teachers at the school. We have grown to love these ladies and they are such a big part of our days and our lives. We wanted to reassure them that NOTHING will change for them other than they won't be able to see us when they take out their trash to the dumpster! :) We have done alot of work for alot of them and for some of them there is still alot more work to be done. We will not let relocation change any of that! As I said before, God called us here for His purpose and we are determined to fulfill that purpose to the best of our abilities. It will still be difficult to not be able to join in the morning devotions with the children and talk with the teachers. Guess I'll just have to make a trip each morning during the week to hear the children singing and praying. They sure do know how to praise God from the heart. Each morning I can see God smiling as He hears them praise Him!

We heard from our dear friend, Scott. You may remember seeing photos of him "high and lifted up" on the 30 foot lift in the sanctuary. If it hadn't been for him helping us we would have never gotten the sanctuary taped off for the painting and then cleaned up after the painter! Scott was with us for a month and is now on his surfing ministry heading to Costa Rico. We keep him in our prayers as he also follows a calling God has placed on his life! And we miss him so much!

I got to see God's hand in things again today. We have been contacted by Trinity Broadcasting TV and they are interested in interviewing us. This is really exciting as it is a wonderful way to show examples of God's love and power in spite of the disaster. It is such a wonderful way to visually show others God! We pray God will use us as He sees fit in this ministry.

We would like to thank all of you who have so generously helped support us in this calling upon our lives. Without your support we would not be able to be here. YOU are what makes this work and what keeps it going and we are forever grateful for your hearts of service.

For those of you who would like to become an investor in this relief mission you can send your tax deductible gifts to us through: Vineyard Community Church at PO Box 3277 in Bloomington, Indiana 47402. Please note "Katrina" on your gift as 100% comes directly to us for this mission.

If you would be interested in finding out more about our relief effort you can comment at the end of this blog and leave your contact information. We would be happy to speak further with you or make a visit to your church or organization with our presentation and our story.

Thank you again.....until tomorrow....Susan and Monty