Behind the scenes

There is so much that happens "behind the scenes" with this relief effort and today was one of those.

These photos explain some of it. Another Convoy of Hope truck arrived this afternoon with supplies. You can see it being unloaded and the crew of people it takes to organize and get out the food and supplies to those in need.

Pastor David is head of this sector of Assembly of God churches and today he found himself behind the forklift (until Monty arrived). It isn't easy unloading these trucks! The supplies may be on pallets but getting them out of the back of the truck and placed where they should be - without dropping them, takes some practice!

You can also see the women in charge of the food operation at Pastor David's church. Kaye runs the program (gray tshirt) and does a fantastic job. Having all the food and supplies organized as she does, making sure the entire place runs smoothly and the people's needs are met is quite an undertaking. They have been feeding more and more people lately, just another sign that this effort is not over and the need is still great!

Also shown in the photos is Leon, our new "doorman". There were a large amount of doors donated to us - without the jams. Leon and his wife are with the US Maps organization and also decided to come and donate their time, and talents, to the relief effort. Leon has taken it upon himself to organize all of the doors and arrange for the frames, which were delivered this afternoon also. He will soon be getting the jig that will enable him to cut out for the hinges and then we will be ready to hang some doors!

Both of these are just SOME of what goes on behind the scenes down here. It's all part of rebuilding the homes by rebuilding the lives! Feeding them, clothing them and housing them are the same ways Jesus reached the people while He was on the earth. He set the example for us - and then commanded that we do the same! It wasn't posed as a question to us, He didn't ask us if we had the time, He made it a priority and told us that when we care for the least of these we are directly caring for Him! I don't know about you but I don't want to deny Jesus by denying His children!

We once again thank Convoy of Hope for providing the supplies so desperately needed here on the coast! Please pray for this organization, pray that the help continues to come to them so they can continue to share with everyone who needs it.

Meanwhile, our Ohio team continues to work on the electrical at Jim and Cindy's. A couple of them spent most of the day up in their attic (thank goodness it was cloudy and around 70). They are making wonderful progress and are able to repair some things that needed repairing as they install the new. Cindy blessed them with a wonderful lunch today -- shrimp that Jim had grilled for them last night! I think they might be quite spoiled by the end of the week! They will continue tomorrow and will most likely be installing insulation. We are just so thankful that they are working so hard and yet building relationships with Jim and Cindy that will last a lifetime! Something about that relationship thing that God had planned for us all?!

PS I must share how happy I am that I have talked with both of my daughters in the past couple of days!!! Those of you at home know my joy and I thank you for your prayers!!!!

Until tomorrow .... Susan and Monty

Welcome Ohio (and James)

Here they are, Ohio men at work! They were up bright eyed and ready to go this morning. We also had a special "guest" volunteer working along with them today - James - the gentleman in the last photo. James is a member of the church here and took time from his own schedule to join in with this team and do some serving to others. He fit right in with Ohio and they all had fun working together, working for the Lord.

The team is, and will be all week, working in Jim and Cindy's home. They are just what we needed - God sending them in His perfect timing as usual. Two of them are experienced in electrical and that is exactly what they are doing in the home. Today was alot of running wire, installing new electrical boxes and generally trying to figure out the game plan for the week. Jim had taken the day off and was able to be right there with them, getting them whatever they needed in the way of materials. When we last left them late this afternoon, Cindy had just returned from the store. She brought back chips, candies and drinks for them all -- poor hard workers!!! :)

Our local electrician came by this morning to lay out what needed done. He knows all of the codes for this area and after having a pow wow with Art they were ready to roll. They really made alot of progress for the first day. We even brought in some sheetrock first thing this morning so if they get to it, it's there waiting for them. Jim and Cindy already purchased the insulation so they are set for the week! It's just such a wonderful blessing to have skilled volunteers, let alone ones who welcome the opportunity to teach those with them who might be less skilled. We are so thankful for James and welcome his help any day of the week!

This afternoon I returned to Mike and Faye's to pick up the paperwork they have been working on to try and be approved for a special loan. There were so many pages and they require so much documentation and Mike only has 3 more pieces of paper to gather and we will be ready to submit everything for approval. Please keep them in your prayers. Mike was going to the doctor this afternoon to see if the new surgical area has healed enough to start using it for his every other day dialysis treatments. He wasn't feeling all that well but was doing the best he can.

Monty and I also stopped in to see how Rosemary is coming along with her electrical work. It seems the electrician has all the materials inside the house and is scheduled to start work tomorrow. He says it will take him less than a week and we asked her to "push" him along as we plan on being in there next week to start insulation and sheetrock. Rosemary asked us to send her love and thanks to Pastor Mike, Jack, Sue and Trish from New Jersey!! She misses all of you so much! You changed her life in the week you spent with her! She is now sporting a new hairstyle and plans on meeting us here at church this Sunday. She is getting someone to come and care for her mother so she can be here! She is also going to meet me tomorrow to check on some of the furniture we have gotten in! She is a changed person, smiling all the time and said she now has "life" in her life! Miracles ... happening all the time ... due to the hearts of others stretching out to those in need! We thank the 4 of you from New Jersey and look forward to seeing you again --- real soon!!??

An exciting email came to us this evening. There are plans in the works for nearly 150 semi loads of furniture to be released here on the gulf! Some of the casinos have agreed to donate the furniture removed when they remodel! This is a HUGE blessing and we would ask for your prayers to help get all the wheels in motion to make it happen! Please remember Convoy of Hope and all those agencies who are working on this. The Lord has opened an enormous door and we need your prayers!

Don't forget to email for your FREE copy of the DVD Convoy put together. It's only 4 minutes long and will really open your eyes to some of the realities here on the coast, especially in our area. Just email forycindi@gmail.com and they will see that you get however many copies you would like to have.

Until tomorrow .... Susan and Monty

Stick to it!

Can you see him? Hiding on the side of the weeds -- the green feller with long antennas? Just another of God's creatures here that you see everywhere this time of year! I picked these weeds and made a bouquet with them and there he was, singing away, and it took me awhile to find out where the music was coming from. He didn't mind posing for the photo!

Monty and I were blessed to be able to attend church both this morning and this evening. This morning was at The Refuge, where we live. Pastor Rick had quite an appropriate message that really hit home for me. He is going to be teaching on "being connected" for the next few weeks but the area that really touched me was when he talked about the 4 things we need to realize in our connection with God. The first one was knowing our calling!

I KNOW my calling! It is as clear as the moon on a starlit night. There is no doubt in my mind. As I have said before, I grew up in the church but also knew I had never really been "called by God" into anything, or atleast didn't recognize it if I was. When He called me into this relief ministry I KNEW it was Him! No ifs, ands or buts, it was a direct calling from God! And I am so blessed to have been called into this relief effort and to be able to be here, working along side of my husband, day in and day out, 24/7, working for the Lord. There is nothing like walking in your calling, nothing!

Pastor Rick talked to us about sticking to your calling, no matter what! God calls us to fulfill His purpose in our lives and we are to stick to it, like "a pit bull on a pork chop". Or if you choose, like "a bulldog on a mailman". Know why the bull dog has his nose turned up so high? It's so that he can still breathe while he is clinging to the mailman with his teeth, refusing to let go, holding on for his purpose! It's our calling in life that keeps us going! I realize that on a daily basis. Some days it's the only thing that keeps me going. The politics, the distractions, the anything and everything that can pull my attention away from my calling, happen many times each day. It takes focusing on the calling itself, nothing else, that keeps me going forward. I know I was called to come here and help the people rebuild their lives through rebuilding their homes! Sounds simple? It really is, IF I can stay focused on that and that alone! If you want to pray for specifics - then pray that I can keep my focus! THAT will keep me going, and THAT will keep both Monty and I going!

Thank you! May God bless all of you and help you to stay focused on what He has called you to do in life!

Until tomorrow .... Susan and Monty

Welcome the Ohio Buckeyes

This little "critter" is something we see everywhere down here. This time of year they are out in the sun trying to soak up the warmth. I love to catch critters but know that this one has a built in defense mechanism- don't catch him by the tail or it will disconnect from the rest of his body and he will keep running. Their tail grows back -- still not a good idea! I caught this one (with the camera) as Monty was talking with a group of volunteers from the Methodist church relief effort here in town. They were working on a house just across the street from the one we were in last week. They were from Pennsylvania and also headed home this morning.

This was one of those weather days down here where we needed the air conditioning this morning and the heat by evening. When the winds blow from the north they bring in cooler and dryer air -- always a welcome change. But if you leave in shorts you may wish you had on your jeans before the day is over. Plus the time change has the sun going down at 5pm so it cools down a bit earlier than during the summer. It sure gets light early in the morning though -- makes for beautiful sunrises.

Monty and I worked in our "office" area in the back of church most of the day. We did some major reorganizing of our space and in doing so made it alot more "user friendly".

This evening we welcomed our incoming team for the week, from Ohio. There are 3 of them and we have just the house for them. Two of them are skilled in electrical work and the third in general areas of construction. They will be working in Cindy and Jim's house all week doing electrical, insulation and hanging sheetrock. As always, God sent us just exactly what we needed when we needed it. God's perfect timing again!

We heard from our New Jersey team and they arrived home safely this afternoon. It was a long drive but they made it. God sent special angels for them as they drove through the night!

Our California team leader called this afternoon to see how things are going. He said two of the men who came a couple of weeks ago went back home "on fire" and are now in Mexico rebuilding a school! What a blessing that will be, for everyone involved!

Tomorrow is our special day set aside to praise and worship the Lord. We are also invited to a church in the next city for a special music service tomorrow night. Sundays are so special to us as they are our refreshment for the week, our re-fueling and our chance to thank God for the blessing of being here. We always miss our church family at home on Sunday mornings but also have found a home here. The congregation grows each week and it's a blessing to see it growing. We hope you will be in your home church tomorrow and if you don't have a home church that you will check out one and see if it could become one for you. God designed each and every one of us for relationships and the most important relationship is our one with Him.

Thank you for following along with us on this mission of rebuilding lives through rebuilding homes. We thank you for your prayers and ask that you keep them going heavenward, we always need them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until tomorrow .... Susan and Monty

Look at Delores now!

There she is, feeling like Miss America!

Delores called me this afternoon and asked me to come and see the final results on her house. If you have been reading along you remember the teams that came and helped her and thus became family. Over the past couple of weeks she has had teams from the Methodist church here locally. Just like the other teams, they came in, met her and fell in love with her and became family! Delores not only remembers each team and each team member by name, she has photos of each person and the work they did in her home. She has written story after story and thank you letter after thank you letter! It was so wonderful to visit with her, hear her stories, see the blessings flowing from her and just being able to see a home completed! You see, we did not see any of these homes before the storm! We don't know what they looked like with the families living in them. This was a special blessing to me - one I really needed today!

Delores is writing her "testimony" and I plan to use it on one of the blogs. For those of you who came and worked with her, teams from North Carolina, Colorado and Indiana --- you know who you are and these photos are for you! YOU are the reason she called me today! She wanted these photos to be published so YOU could see the results of what you started! YOU are the ones who shared not only your work, but your lives, with Tom and Delores and YOU changed their lives! On behalf of Convoy of Hope and ourselves, we are forever grateful for everything you did, and everything you continue to do! We hear how you keep in touch with Delores and we are the ones who get to see the smiles on her face each Sunday when she joins us in church to give all the thanks and praise to Jesus!

Hey y'all --- how about making a return trip asap?!

Now - back to our regularly scheduled programming .... we bid farewell to the team from New Jersey this afternoon. They finished up their work in both Wendell and Sharon's home and in Virgil's. Both teams made powerful impacts on the homeowners and will also join the ranks of "family" with both! We thank them for their hearts of service. We pray safe travel for all of them as they have a very long drive to get them back home!

Special note to Diane ----- call me tomorrow!!!!!

Until tomorrow ... when our team from Ohio arrives .... God bless ...... Susan and Monty

The blessings of furniture

Today we were blessed with another semi load of furniture. The team started their day with the unloading of everything -- by hand! We now have complete bedroom sets and are anxious to see the faces of those blessed with receiving them.

Our deepest thanks goes to the places who donated the furniture, to the people who orchestrated all of the details in getting it here and to Convoy of Hope for being the backbbone of the project! This is a whole new venture in the relief effort and what an awesome one it is!

It only took the team a little over one hour to have the whole truck unloaded. They were a bit on the tired side but did a fantastic job.

After the unloading they headed out to their two on-going jobs. After a much needed stop at McDonald's for some nutrition. I think anything they had in the way of breakfast was used up by then!

The work at Wendell's continued and they have really accomplished alot. There are only a couple more small items to be tended to and their mission will be complete.

The work at Virgil's also continued. The sheetrock is nearly all hung and some of the taping has begun. Virgil's cousin, Anne, stopped by this afternoon to see the progress and was quite pleased. This house has been in the family for years and had never flooded! Seeing it getting put back together was a blessing for all of the family.

The comments from this team have echoed those of all the other teams - "we had no idea so much work still needed to be done!" As I have said before, we encourage you to email our Convoy representatives and ask for the FREE video telling about what has happened here on the coast and how the help is still needed. Just email them at forycindi@gmail.com and they will send you as many copies as you request, totally FREE of charge! It will touch your heart and hopefully the hearts of those God is still calling to come and help out.

Footnote: the tests being done on Monty's step father, Tony, are scheduled for next week. Things could get rough and we thank you for praying for Monty, Tony, his mother, Judy and their entire family. God is a healing God and we pray for that healing for Tony!

Until tomorrow .... Susan and Monty

She IS working!!!!

Yes, children, your mother IS working, not just "standing around." She has learned more about hanging sheetrock than she ever wanted to - and is having fun in doing so!

The top 2 photos are continued efforts at Wendell and Sharon's home. It is really starting to come together. The team installed 2 more windows, is working on the laundry room and hanging sheetrock. The women are thrilled to be learning and the men seem to be equally thrilled to be teaching. Relationships --- what God told us this world is all about!

The bottom 2 photos are Virgil's. The teams have knicknamed each other and are having a blast! All of the ceilings are nearly done and by the end of the week they just might start with the taping and mudding. When a house starts taking shape like this it really looks like a house. The biggest thing about this half of the team and Virgil's is the ministry that is going on --- INSIDE the house --- between team members. It's amazing to watch the changes going on in each of them, the bonding, the learning, the teaching and the joy! It's true joy with both parts of the team, each working with their hearts and having the time of their lives!

Monty spent the morning loading and delivering more sheetrock to Virgil's place. Thank goodness for the strong backs and energy of those young men! He then spent the afternoon working on one of the doors here at the church. Due to his perfectionism this door is perfect --- and really does open and close and lock!

We were blessed to join the team in dinner this evening. It's always a special time where people get to know each other better, not to mention enjoy the southern cuisine.

Monty and I have a very special prayer request for tonight. Monty's step father has been very ill lately and is undergoing quite a few tests to hopefully find out why. He and his family would welcome your thoughts and prayers. His name is Tony and his mother is Judy. God is the all powerful God and with Him nothing is impossible. Thank you!

Until tomorrow .... Susan and Monty

New Jersey rolls into day 2

The top 4 photos were taken at Virgil's house. You can see the insulation and sheetrock going in and the house taking shape. They got the new subfloor put in the entryway, the last of the subflooring to be done. The pieces for the bathroom have been cut but will not be put in place permanently until some plumbing has been taken care of. The women are really into the job, you can see by the one who is operating the screw gun installing the sheetrock on the ceiling. Working overhead like that isn't easy but this team is having a blast!

The bottom 4 photos are at Sharon and Wendell's. They also are putting in insulation and sheetrock. The old flooring is being removed in the last photo on the left. This is a tough job but he is getting it done and having the time of his life. Wendell was able to line out the jobs for them today, one of which was installing new windows. The women were really into the whole project, which is wonderful to see. Too many times women feel there is no place for them on a construction job -- WRONG! There is a place for everyone and there is nothing a man can do that a woman can't; she just might have to use 2 hands instead of one! :)

I want to quote parts of what we used for our opening devotion this morning. The paper was sent to us by our dear friend, Cathy, from home. It is so extremely appropriate, and right on the money, that I want you to be able to read it and give it some thought.

"Almost nothing makes friends faster and deeper than helping someone in their time of need. The Holy Spirit is the Helper, and if we are really Spririt filled people we will be there for our neighbors to help in their time of need. This is the true ministry of "helps" to be able and willing to respond to those who cry "help!" Even some of the most radical Muslims in the world started to esteem Christians in a whole new way after the tsunami disaster in Indonesia because of the way they were helped by Christian relief agencies. When someone helps you or your family thorugh a crisis, there is an appreciation and often a bonding that goes deeper than could ever happen otherwise.

This ministry of helps that arises within the church is also going to help the church more than any other ministry project in history. It will mobilize and energize the lives of Christians like few things have ever done before. There is a fulfillment and saatisfaction that comes from helping others in a desperate time of need that can change the life of the one who helps as well. This will begin to deliver many believers from the spiritual apathy and lukewarmness that has gripped them. Souls will be saved, and teachers and pastors will be raised up to take care of them and establish them on a solid foundation. Churches will swell in numbers so fast that it is going to be extremely hard to keep up with the growth."

Some pretty strong words and sheer truth. We have seen evidence of this happening already. The bonds made between the homeowners and those volunteers who come to help them are stronger than you can imagine. Both are knit together in a bond that I believe can be stronger than blood related family ties. And the churches are beginning to see the big picture, realizing where they need to step up and how and why. God is moving all along this coast. The quote that is so appropriate is: "Hurricane Katrina brought about the best and the worst in our nation"

I also discovered that the very word Katrina means to cleanse or make clean. That will be the ultimate result of this storm. This gulf coast was hit by a mega storm and is still in a state of almost unimaginable devastation and depression. Even though the refuse of the storm has been mostly cleaned up, the emptiness is palpable! That WILL change! It will be turned into good, and the same region will be the source of one of the great revivals in history! It will be a spiritual jubilee, setting many captives FREE!

Make sure you are a part of this! Become a part, if you aren't already! If you are, hang on for the ride of your life! Like I said, God is moving all along this coast and Monty and I are so extremely blessed to be a part of it! Thank you to all of you who make it possible for us to be here and thanks to ALL of the relief efforts who have come and helped and to those who are still here for the duration. Thank you, Convoy of Hope, for bringing us into this wonderful organization. And most of all, thank you to our family and home church, Vineyard Community Church back home who continue to support us with your prayers and make it possible for us to be here, allowing God to work through us each and every day!

Until tomorrow ..... Susan and Monty

New Jersey's first day!

Here they are, ready for work. Didn't make any difference that they had to work between gully washer rain showers, they were hard at it.

The top 4 photos are taken at Wendell and Sharon's house. Believe it or not, we had a team way back in March that started some of the structural on their home. With both of them working full time, having 4 children and 1 of them in Iraq (he just came home last week) they just have not been able to get much done on their rebuilding. They are located only about a quarter of a mile from the gulf and lost everything in their home, along with their 4 vehicles. They rode out the storm in their attic, never dreaming the flood waters would rise so high. The waters stopped at the opening of the attic! This team came in today and decided to do some much needed clean up around the outside of the house. Wendell has been concentrating on the rebuilding and clean up just isn't something most homeowners have the time to do. They made a remarkable difference, which always boosts the moral of the homeowner. You can see in the one photo, someone stepped on a nail and needed some medical attention. He is fine, it barely penetrated the skin. As we tell each team - a clean job is a safe job! We thank them for all the clean up they did today. This evening they met with Wendell and have the plan layed out for tomorrows work.

The second half of the team worked in Virgil's home. We also learned today that Project Recovery found a FEMA trailer for Virgil's brother, Dwight. He should have moved into it today. Virgil still needed subfloor rebuilt in a room to the front of the home that used to be an outside porch. When they removed the rotten subfloor they discovered that all of the floor joist were also rotten from the flood waters. Virgil's house sits right next to a bayou. After some good ole' putting heads together the subfloor was rebuilt and ready to be included in the rest of the house. The rest of the team was busy installing insulation and hanging sheetrock. There are a few younger men (early 20's maybe) with this team and they were excited at the opportunity to learn some construction skills. They seemed to be doing a great job with the insulation and the sheetrock.

Ministry comes in all forms down here and each team brings something special with them. This team is no different. In photo, third from the top on the right side, the lady in the orange shirt (Susie) was soooo excited at the thought of working on a home right here in Gautier. Come to find out, her son just lives up the street and when she left him a couple of weeks ago she thought she would not get to see him until next February. God had other plans! Turns out Spence (her son) is experienced in construction and was happy to come and not only lend a hand but also bring his tools! Susie was thrilled to see him and is hoping this is the ministry opportunity she has been praying for when it comes to her son. He will be joining the team as much as possible and we are so thankful for his heart of service, and the fact that mother and son can work together on such a fantastic mission!

We heard from our truck driver this afternoon. The plan is for another semi load of furniture to be delivered to us this Thursday. We are so thankful to Convoy of Hope for putting together all the pieces of this puzzle to extend the relief operation into an entirely new rhelm. This furniture will be such an incredible blessing to each person who receives it! It's our prayer that the loads continue to come so the blessings will continue to be spread all along the coast.

I have a special prayer request this evening. Hopefully you remember the story of our neighbor ladies from back home, the one who fell and broke her hip a few months back. Frances is nearly 95 years old and had been in perfect health until her fall. She has since been through her therapy and made the move to be with family in Pittsburg. When I spoke with she and her daughter, Cynthia, yesterday it seems Frances took another light fall a couple of weeks ago. Her hip is fine but one of her ribs bruised a lung enough to cause it to fill with fluid and she had to spend a week in the hospital having the fluid drained. This has been extremely difficult for her and she is not doing well. Monty and I would really appreciate any and all prayers for her! We thank you for your warm and caring hearts.

Until tomorrow ..... Susan and Monty

Goodbye New Jersey

Meet Betty from Iowa. I don't think she will mind my telling you she is 80 years young! We were told about her before they ever got here. They had a woman whose specialty was cutting insulation. She would cut to precise measurements and others would put it up. Betty is the insulation cutter --- complete with her own tools! She has waited patiently all week long, hoping for the opportunity to use them. TODAY was her day!!!

The entire Iowa team converged on Virgil's house for the day. There were those working inside, still putting in subflooring. There were those outside raking the yard, cleaning up debris, and then there was Virgil, right there with them. He was using the chainsaw and "trimming" shrubs that had taken on a life of their own since the storm. The pile of shrubbery trash was nearly 20' tall by the time they finished. It was the perfect weather day to be outside. And then there was Betty, she finally got to use her tools and start with insulation. She was a happy lady! Virgil still has some electrical to do and should have it done this weekend. We will then be ready to bring in the next team and do more of the insulation and start hanging sheetrock. The two younger girls with this team, Jess and Cassie, got to pack sheetrock today. They learned the process of getting it out of the warehouse, onto the trailer and then into the house of the homeowner. Not an easy task but they were up for it. When Monty mentioned he would take the two of them and another man they were quick to inform him that no man was needed! :) Monty took Jim anyway!

The New Jersey team headed to the airport late this morning. They had a flight to get them to Atlanta and then onto home. The ministry that this team did this week was unlike anything we have seen thus far. Pastor Mike was everywhere and doing just what God called him to do. He was just doing it under some extreme circumstances and with those who needed it most! Jack and Sue and Trish were such blessings to Rosemary; Rosemary came to devotions this morning just to say goodbye to the team. They all will be forever family! We are praying Rosemary will be able to find someone who can care for her mother for awhile in the morning so she can come to church with us! Please join us in this prayer!

New Jersey called us this evening --- they did make it to Atlanta --- and that's as far as they got! The flight getting out of here was delayed and they missed their connection in Atlanta. They are being put up there for the night and will arrive home tomorrow morning just in time to drive straight to church!! We pray God's blessings for a safe flight tomorrow. To say we will miss these 4 people is an understatement. With this being the second trip for them in less than 2 months we really!!!! feel like they are family! Thanks to all of them for coming and blessing not only the homeowners here on the coast but also Monty and myself!!! We love you guys!!!

Our newest team, also from New Jersey, arrived this evening. They drove straight through the night last night and are staying at a time share condo for this week. They are exhausted from the trip and so we will not see them until they arrive for church tomorrow morning. There are 14 of them with 2 more in route -- if they get their vehicle working! They also could use your prayers! We have 3 or 4 jobs lined up for them next week so they will need to get their rest!

Iowa is spending their evening preparing for their own departure tomorrow morning. They will be driving, a very long trip, and could also use prayer! Isn't it amazing --- we ALL need prayer and it's one of the easiest things to do --- something everyone can do!!!!!

We hope all of you will find your way to your "house of worship" tomorrow morning to celebrate all of God's blessings in your life!

Until tomorrow ... Susan and Monty

Where's the heat?

Everyone awoke this morning scrambling for sweatshirts, jackets, blankets, anything they could find. The wind howled all night and the temps fell to around 40. No one was very prepared but it didn't take long to warm up enough to realize how blessed we were to have these temps to work in! We'll take the mid 70's for as long as God wants to bless us with them!

Once again the teams were working away. One of the great things is seeing how these two teams from different states and different parts of the US have meshed together into one. You would have no idea that they weren't one big team! They were mixed together today in their different jobs and had a blast. They got to know more about each other and became family. They have also become family to the homeowners where they have worked all week. Rosemary will be coming to our daily morning devotions tomorrow morning! Relationships ---- that's what God says it's all about and He is always right!

I wish you could be here tonight, hearing what I am hearing ... the room is radiating with prayers! The teams have joined together with a couple of gentlemen from our church here and they are all praying together! It's enough to bring one to tears yet burst forth with joy at the same time!

They finished with Rosemary's house today. She will now be working with an electrician all next week and as soon as that is done we will be returning with insulation and sheetrock.

Cindy and Jim have their electrician there as we speak and they should be ready for their insulation and sheetrock come Monday morning.

Pastor Mike and team went to Brenda's for today and helped her get through most of her things, get them bagged and stored. They were also able to minister to her, which is what the effort is all about.

This evening we all joined together in dinner and fellowship. It was an incredible evening and such a blessing for Monty and I. Tomorrow the New Jersey team will be flying home. This was their second trip in less than 2 months and we have grown quite attached to them and will really miss them!

Remember when I said the teams are praying --- they just pulled out the guitars and are singing praises as if it were Sunday morning!!!!!! What a blessing to be here and hearing it all!!!

PS Diane --- it was all I could do to mind my manners and not lick the chocolate from the plate!

Until tomorrow .... Susan and Monty

My new furry friends!

This was an extremely busy day, again! In the first photo you will see just how our day began. We pulled both our teams of volunteers to head to the warehouse and unload a semi full of furniture. This is the first of many loads that are being donated all along the coast, thanks to Convoy of Hope, as usual. We didn't know exactly what to expect but what we got was awesome! There were twin and full size mattress sets, frames, night stands, desks, lamps, entertainment centers, chairs and washing machines. There is another load scheduled to arrive early next week. We are so thankful for this furniture as it will be a blessing to so many people! The teams were wonderful, laughing as they unloaded, which really is a sign of working for the Lord!

From there we divided them into groups again. The group went back to Virgil's to continue working on his subflooring. They are making wonderful progress and the danger of falling through is getting less and less each day. They will be continuing tomorrow. Virgil was going to be pulling the electrical wire this evening which will enable us to keep going on the rebuilding.

The next group returned to Rosemary's house. They have completely transformed her house this week. All of her things are now bagged, boxed and stacked. Sue was even washing dishes and glassware! Rosemary did get some rather "tough" news late this afternoon. The inspector came by and discovered that her entire house must be rewired due to the fact that there is not a ground in the house. This will require all of the sheetrocked ceilings to be pulled down tomorrow. It's okay though, the inspectors know best and we follow them to the letter.

Yet another group returned to Charles and Lynne's house this afternoon. The team from California here last week blessed this family with a load of gravel to be placed in front of their home to take care of the mud and to create a driveway for them. The gravel was dumped and Pastor Mike and the three teens were ready to get to work spreading it. It would've taken them most of the afternoon except --- another of those God things ---- a man working nearby was working with a bobcat and volunteered to come and spread it all for them. They smiled as they watched him complete the project, which allowed them time for ministry to the family! One of the family members is really struggling with Christianity but he welcomed this team praying for him and was moved to tears in the end. God just moves and works in so many ways here, through the family members, through the volunteers and then -- most of all --- through the relationships between the family members and the volunteers!!!! Amazing!!!

Monty and I went to visit another home this afternoon. Project Recovery had called us saying this was an emergency case. They were right! Brenda has diabetes and is in danger of loosing a foot. She is not able to do anything and therefore her house is more than a mess! The bathroom is filled with black mold and she has no hot water. The storm damaged her roof allowing the flooding inside the home. For the past 14 months she has been living in the home, just as it is! Needless to say we will have some team members there tomorrow morning, helping get the place cleaned up so we can get in and assess the situation and see what direction we will take next. People like this are all over the place! She didn't want to ask for help, she was ashamed that she couldn't take care of her home since the storm. We hear it all the time. We see it everywhere! If only there were more of us, then we could get more and more of these lives on the road to recovery! I guess that's where YOU come in!!! Volunteers --- the keys to this disaster relief effort!

On a lighter note --- see our new furry friends? Yes, it's a VERY large raccoon on our patio table right in front of our trailer. I left an old bag of dogfood out there one evening and awoke in the middle of the night to see a pair of the biggest raccoons I have ever seen in my life enjoying dinner on the table. All they needed was a pair of candles and they would've been all set! I decided to see if this would continue --- and it has --- for the past week. This photo was taken last night. They will sit still when we step out the door --- and they are less than 4 feet from our door! It is a joy to wake in the middle of the night and peer out my window and see them out there enjoying a meal by moonlight! Maybe I'll join them some evening --- from a distance, of course! God's little highlight for me!

Until tomorrow .... Susan and Monty

Three were baptized in the Gulf

Here they are, three kids with a new lease on life -- brand new lives actually! They were baptized in the gulf this evening and it was awesome! The smiles on each of their faces tells the story of how they felt! They each made the decision. They each are with the Iowa team (group photo) and each was baptized by Pastor Mike (dark shirt) who is from New Jersey. One of those "relationship" things that happens here! When God moves all else becomes secondary and state lines and such become non existent. The setting was perfect. It was the best way to end a work day! We are so thankful to have been included in the celebrations!

The Iowa team continued their work on Cindy and Virgil's homes. Those at Cindy's are actually done with what they can do this week. Cindy will need an electrician to come in before we can continue with insulation and sheetrock. We have one we work with and Monty will be calling him tomorrow to see how booked his schedule is. Cindy made 3 calls this evening -- to say thank you!!!

The other part of the team was working at putting in new subflooring for Virgil. You no longer have to be afraid of falling through to the ground when you walk through certain rooms. They also are still continuing some tear out and will concentrate on the kitchen area tomorrow. Virgil still can't find the words to thank them for everything they are doing.

New Jersey continued working with Rosemary and now have the entire house cleaned up and ready for some tearout to begin tomorrow. They managed to "uncover" a prized possession for her -- her turkey platter! The smile on her face shown brighter than the sun! She has a new chance at life now and is celebrating each and every day!

What a blessing to know each and every one of these homeowners and the teams who come to bless them! God really knew what He was talking about when He told us how important relationships are!

There was a bit of sad news today. One of the Iowa team members, Carol, learned that her twin sister's husband passed away last evening. She will probably be flying home in a day or so to be with her family. Your prayers would be much appreciated at this difficult time! These times are difficult enough without being so far from home.

We received another phone call referall from Project Recovery this afternoon. Another homeowner living inside her home filled with black mold. She is disabled and a senior citizen with nowhere to turn and no one to help. Monty and I will be going to her home tomorrow to look at the situation and possibly get some of these team members in there as early as Friday. Please keep us in your prayers --- pray that we will be able to help her! These sort of calls come in all the time and it's always difficult to hear the stories and not be able to rush right over and make everything alright. It does something to my emotions -- it sets them into high gear --- and makes shifting to a lower one a bit difficult. God called us here to help people and when there is an emergency case like this and we have to wait for volunteers it becomes really tough! THIS is why the volunteers are the keys to the whole rebuilding effort! THIS is why we need YOU and anyone else to come and volunteer! The stories are endless, the people are endless, God's power to help is endless ... please don't make the volunteers come to an end!!!

Until tomorrow ... which will be another day of being blessed by God to be able to be here ... working for Him..... Blessings to all. Susan and Monty