Relocation

Okay, last night I must have had an off night as I referred to our new pastor and his wife and then left off the photo I was talking about. Now tonight I am unable to load any photos on the blog?! Maybe tomorrow?

Today was one of those days packed with so much going on that it is hard to remember it all when night time comes! First of all, the weather broke last night with some of the heaviest rains I have ever seen. We must've gotten atleast 3 inches, based on the dogs' water bowl outside. The lightning and thunder had the dogs in the bed with us for awhile. Today we had beautiful sunshine with north, dry winds! Not the typical southern Mississippi weather but wonderful when it is here!

Our Colorado team headed out for Lucille's again this morning. Today is their last day here and they really poured it on! When we stopped by late afternoon they were in the last processes of cleaning up the house and making it look like a home and not a disaster zone. Lucille had a graduation dinner to go to and had not "peeked" inside all day. She was waiting for the great unveiling this evening, after dinner. This team has managed to complete this house to the point of installing the carpet and baseboard and she is ready to move in! It's just amazing and they are so thankful that they were able to come here, work together as a team and work in one house, getting to know not only Lucille but her entire family! When the team returned after dinner and took Lucille into her new home she was speechless and in tears! And so were certain members of the team! When she stepped in to her new bathroom and saw the step in shower complete with a handrail and seats she lost it, and so did her son! THIS is God moving! THIS is what the relief effort is all about, the relationships that are built in less than a week and that will last a lifetime! The personal connection and relationships that God tells us about! Funny how God always knows what He is talking about!

Monty and I had 2 important meetings this afternoon. The first one was with the new pastor, and our dear friend, Tim. We talked about the future of this church and our future. There have been alot of changes at this church. It has taken a long time to get the building itself rebuilt and this is the main focus. It needs to be operating as a church. The decision has been made to concentrate on doing just that and volunteers are not going to be run from here. We had an idea this was coming, as it has come to other churches as they get rebuilt.

Our second meeting was with the heads of Convoy of Hope. They realize the situation here and had a plan to relocate our operation to the city just west of here, Gautier. There has been a Convoy relief station there for months and the couple currently coordinating the relief efforts will be returning home to Wisconsin in 2 weeks. The pastor there has seen the miracles of volunteers with the size of his congregation growing by leaps and bounds. He desperately wants this operation to continue from his facility and Convoy is in this effort for the long haul so it was an easy decision to make. We said from the very beginning that we were committed to follow God's calling on our lives, whenever and wherever and God took us up on it. As usual, God always has everything under control and this will be a great move. We will be moving back into our own trailer, a move that I will get started on tomorrow, and hitching it up and moving the 10 miles to our next "home". As for volunteers, this will not change a thing for them, only the place where they will be sleeping! Our mission and focus and homes and people we are helping will not change. We believe it will only grow and result in more people having their homes and lives rebuilt and more and more people filling the church in Gautier, The Refuge. We thank God for His almighty direction and for always preparing the way before us!

Tim and Sheri and Monty and I had opportunity to talk this evening. The close relationship the four of us have built will be for a life time. What the four of us have been through in these months is something most people don't go through in a lifetime. We have a bond that will not be broken. We have an understanding, of so many things, that is only shared between the four of us. We all know that if one of us was in trouble all we would have to do is pick up the phone and call the other and they would be there. This is a bond that is blessed and arranged by God! We thank Him for bringing this couple into our lives and we plan to see alot of them for the time we are in the area! Please keep them in your prayers as he begins the awesome task of pastoring this church!

Isaiah 41:13 states, "I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand, so don't be afraid. I am here to help you." When God makes a promise He keeps it! This is our prayer, for Monty and I and for Tim and Sheri. Please join with us in this prayer. We thank you for it!

If you would like to invest in this mission, in this calling from God for our lives, please send your tax deductible gifts to us through our church, Vineyard Community Church at PO Box 3277 in Bloomington, Indiana 47402. Please make sure to note "Katrina" on your gift as 100% comes directly to us to support this relief effort. May God bless you for your servant hearts!

Until tomorrow....which will be yet another day the Lord has made and has control...blessing to all of you....Susan and Monty