Sunday, July 8, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Last Day....
Today (Friday) was our last day in D’Iberville. All of the kids worked really hard to finish their sites. Jen and Lorraine were leading a group that worked all week on a home that was in pretty bad shape, for a family of three, both parents are disabled and unable to work. The disability payments per month are $700 and the mortgage payments are $700. They are struggling to make ends meet and are living in a FEMA trailer on their property. Our group of six were the first people to come and work on their home. They came by the camp tonight with a handmade card on construction paper for us (I’ll scan it and upload it when we get home) to thank the group for working. The father gave each of them a hug and he was crying. Those of us around to witness this were all crying too. He said he had been in church on Sunday praying for someone to come and work on his house, that they’d get moved up enough on the list for help and Monday our group showed up.
The group led by John, Linda, and Mike were working on a home next to one of the rivers that runs through town. Our kids helped the homeowner clear out her attic today and in the midst of many wet and falling apart boxes they came upon her wedding dress from about 30 years ago. It was faded and yellow, but she held it up and was so happy to see the dress again (her husband has died since the hurricanes). She and some of our girls had a really fun time going through her memories of that day and of that dress. Our work helped her unearth a happy memory in the midst of her pain and loneliness.
The group that Deb and Sue led worked on the home with the picture that is earlier in the blog of this little girl. She lived through the hurricanes at 4 years old. She is a lively, energetic little girl, but she struggles with her family and lives with her grandmother. She bonded with our kids and we saw her smile and laugh and play.
Bob and Jan led up a group that worked to restore a home to beautiful condition. The home is not done, but their group worked so hard on grouting and tiling work and completing the tiling of a kitchen and a utility (laundry) area. All of the kids on their crew learned new skills of carpentry and tile work and have grown in their self-confidence. They also put railings on a porch making it safe for that homeowner.
Tonight we held our final worship service in the new camp tent. The previous tent that housed volunteers here for the last year and a half was destroyed just three weeks by a microburst. Last night we dedicated and blessed the new tent which we helped to raise, and tonight the cross was hung in the center part of that tent. We are all blessed to be here and to be a part of this work. Ed and Irene are an inspiration, and their words remind us of why we were here, “Many years ago God knew you would be here, it is your purpose.” We each feel that way and we each have had our lives and our spiritual journeys enriched beyond measure by this experience.
We’ll continue to upload photos and content onto this blog throughout the summer months…keep reading! Shannan
Friday, July 6, 2007
Friday and Saturday Devotions
Friday July 6, 2007
Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. James 1: 22-25
Morning Devotion
“In our era, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action.” -Dag Hammarskjold
Q: Do you think you are holy? What about the person next to you? Are your actions holy? Why is this?
Friday July 6, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says—he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners—he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. God loves good people, protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked. Psalm 146:5-9
“Perhaps only a smile, a little visit, or simply the fact of building a fire for someone, writing a letter for a blind person, bringing a few coals, finding a pair of shoes, reading for someone, this is only a little bit, yes a very tiny bit, but it will be our love of God in action.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Q: What small task did you do today that is your love of God in action?
Saturday July 7, 2007
Morning Devotion
Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. John 13: 3-17
Saturday July 7, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry,inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' Isaiah 58-1-9a
“It is very important to realize that our vocation is hidden in where we are and who we are. We are unique human beings, each with a call to realize in life that nobody else can, and to realize it in the concrete of the here and now. We will never find our vocations by trying to figure out whether we are better or worse than others. We are good enough to do what we are called to do. Be yourself!” -Henri Nouwen
Q: At the end of this mission experience, where do you feel God calling you to go? How can you do this and love yourself and your God-given gifts at the same time?
Saturday July 7, 2007
Evening Devotion
Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?" He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?" He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself." "Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do
Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. James 1: 22-25
Morning Devotion
“In our era, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action.” -Dag Hammarskjold
Q: Do you think you are holy? What about the person next to you? Are your actions holy? Why is this?
Friday July 6, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says—he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners—he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. God loves good people, protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked. Psalm 146:5-9
“Perhaps only a smile, a little visit, or simply the fact of building a fire for someone, writing a letter for a blind person, bringing a few coals, finding a pair of shoes, reading for someone, this is only a little bit, yes a very tiny bit, but it will be our love of God in action.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Q: What small task did you do today that is your love of God in action?
Saturday July 7, 2007
Morning Devotion
Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. John 13: 3-17
Saturday July 7, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry,inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' Isaiah 58-1-9a
“It is very important to realize that our vocation is hidden in where we are and who we are. We are unique human beings, each with a call to realize in life that nobody else can, and to realize it in the concrete of the here and now. We will never find our vocations by trying to figure out whether we are better or worse than others. We are good enough to do what we are called to do. Be yourself!” -Henri Nouwen
Q: At the end of this mission experience, where do you feel God calling you to go? How can you do this and love yourself and your God-given gifts at the same time?
Saturday July 7, 2007
Evening Devotion
Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?" He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?" He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself." "Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Jenna and Shelby
Happy 4th of July! Today was only a half day of work. When we arrived at our work site, we immediately began working. We touched up the kitchen floor that we had grouted the day before. Then, Jenna grouted a small utility room and cleaned the excess grout off the tiles. While Jenna was working on that, Shelby helped to put up the front porch rails. After completing these jobs, we finished up odds and ends jobs, such as painting the window trims. Today Rita, the homeowner, bought our work team po' boys, which are just like subs, for lunch. She had also bought us lunch yesterday, and will bring us lunch once again on Thursday. She has also offered to make dessert for the entire camp for Thursday. So far this week, we have accomplished a lot throughout Rita's house. As aforementioned, we have grouted the kitchen floor and utility room, and trimmed the windows. We have also began to put up the front porch rails, the basic outlets, and painted the walls, doors, and window trimmings. In addition, we cauked and puttied the window trimmings, after Carolyn and Bob installed them. For the rest of the week, we plan to put up the air vents, finish the porch railing, and seal the grouted floors after buffing them. Once the kitchen floor is sealed, we will be able to move her cabinets from her bedroom into the kitchen. We desire to do this so that the next work team can work on her bedroom, so that the house will be that much closer to move-in day. We plan to finish her chairs on her front porch as a gift of gratitude for all her kindness towards us. See you soon, Jenna and Shelby
From Riley and Olivia
So far this week my group primed and painted a house. This house was owned by a family who donated it as well as other houses to the program to create houses for low income families. -Riley
I have been working on the same house every day this week. Rita, the home owner, is living in a FEMA trailer outside the front of her sister's house while she anxiously waits for her house to be finished. This week so far, we have grouted her kitchen floor, tiled her laundry room, framed almost all the windows and doors, finshed painting the walls and doors, and began installing her front porch rails. She has offered us lunch every day and loves watching the progress on her house. -Olivia
I have been working on the same house every day this week. Rita, the home owner, is living in a FEMA trailer outside the front of her sister's house while she anxiously waits for her house to be finished. This week so far, we have grouted her kitchen floor, tiled her laundry room, framed almost all the windows and doors, finshed painting the walls and doors, and began installing her front porch rails. She has offered us lunch every day and loves watching the progress on her house. -Olivia
Thursday Devotion
Thursday July 5, 2007
I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. Philippians 4:10-14
Morning Devotion
Thursday July 5, 2007
But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get.
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it. "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. Luke 6, selected sections
Mid-Day Devotion
“Joy is a net of love by which we capture souls. God loves the person who give with joy. Whoever gives with joy gives more…We wait impatiently for the paradise where God is, but we have it in our power to be in paradise with Him, right now; being happy with Him means: To love as He loves. To help as He helps. To give as He gives. To serve as He serves.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Q: What act of service today is giving you the greatest joy? What act of service that you are doing today is giving joy to another person?
I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. Philippians 4:10-14
Morning Devotion
Thursday July 5, 2007
But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get.
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it. "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. Luke 6, selected sections
Mid-Day Devotion
“Joy is a net of love by which we capture souls. God loves the person who give with joy. Whoever gives with joy gives more…We wait impatiently for the paradise where God is, but we have it in our power to be in paradise with Him, right now; being happy with Him means: To love as He loves. To help as He helps. To give as He gives. To serve as He serves.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Q: What act of service today is giving you the greatest joy? What act of service that you are doing today is giving joy to another person?
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
More Photos, etc.
I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July. The staff and volunteers here in D'Iberville have talked a lot to us about the miracles they experience since the hurricanes, all the things that amaze them about how God continues to provide for them despite such a horrible disaster that they have lived through. We are all in awe of the strength of faith that people here possess. We're celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks (if it will stop with these afternoon thunderstorms!) and a BBQ here at the camp. Some more photos of what we are seeing and experiencing to share....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)