Month: May 2012

Busy busy day.

Started a bit late due to praying with Ken. (See previous post)

Worked all day with many SeaBees, one airman, one habitat employee, one ex Americorps friend of Brad’s

The Seabees came with all their construction knowledge and helped knock out a lot of work. It was humbling how hard they worked, whether the task was great or small. We painted, stained, sanded, planed, hammered, connected, sawed various aspects of the house. Truthfully, there were so many aspects running concurrently, maybe the videos will help you understand.

We were able to bring the house to a considerably advanced state, finishing the all the stairs, their railings, the beams over the porch and the supports for the eventual screening for the porch. Indoor hardware was finished

But here’s the interesting stuff.

This morning, Brad welcomed us, introduced the various teams and left time for us to pray or give any inspirational words. No one said anything. At first I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to speak, bless, etc., but no move by any of our leaders

okay.. truth is? i’m pooped. everyone’s been in bed for at least half an hour, and it’s our last day.

I’ll update this post later, but I wanted you to see the video of our last day.

Not sure what’s on there, but after meeting a bunch of people on the site, we prayed for the home, prayed with some of our colaborers, hopefully some will join us at church tomorrow. Tommy and Peter made Mabo tofu, “winging it,” as Tommy said. We saw our old friend Loren, prayed for her and her life and then had our debrief meeting. We’re all packed up (except for the computers), we’ll load up the car, go to church, grab a goodbye lunch with whoever can join us, then on the plane, then back home to our loved ones.

Thanks so much for your support, even for the vets, we’ve grown as men. Our heart came to Mississippi and part of it will always be here. It’s a strange coexistence having your heart in several places, back at home, here in Mississippi and the whole time, God is supposed to have our whole heart.

But we’re mortal, we’re mortal men.. and very imperfect…. As the years have rolled on, I’ve heard more and more honesty from each of the men. Sometimes about fears and phobias, sometimes about struggles and failures, sometimes about being really happy about something that would sound odd to someone who didn’t share their faith. This trip, for some reason, I heard several men speak humbly and candidly about not always hearing God as distinctly as some others. The reason why I found it fascinating is that they still have a strong faith, experience God quite vividly, yet, are open to “hearing” God in their prayer life even more. What I’m trying to say at this late hour and I ramble is…

I’m surrounded by good men. Godly men who put their faith first, marriage second, family third, then ministry and job later…and if they’re not perfect at it, they’re trying to. They have the support of each other in their triumphs and less-than-triumphs. We love each other, even in our differences and sometimes lack of understanding each other. These men will pray for each other the same way they’d pray for a stranger, or friend and at the drop of a hat at that.

It’s been an honor to serve with them as each grows into a more authentic and passionate for God.

Well, here’s what you’ve been waiting for… 🙂

Tomorrows schedule:
Breakfast,

Last morning, last drive and we’re late..

Second to last day….

It was a long and full day, with a beginning reminiscent of a movie: An inspirational devotional by two people (Chris and then and impromptu addendum by Ken), a morning charge by Jim, ending with a rounding, dancing chorus of “Amen,” then rain, sun, and a goodbye to Jim and Shirley. We continued finishing work on the home, which could be finished within a month, then returned home, washed the grit, splatter and sweat off and had our evening devotional. Peter spoke from Acts 1:8-9 and that we never know when Christ will return, and we will never know when our last moments with anyone or anywhere might be, to sense the immediacy. Just like our time in Mississippi… we never know when we’ll be back, when we might have the opportunity to meet the people we do, and we should act on it.

Craig had us reflect on our time here. We write down the names of anyone that we felt had an impact on us or we on them for the several years each one of us has served. The lists varied: some short, some long, some focusing on people we touched, some on people we served with. It was a significant exercise.

Brad and Paul and Brad (Paul’s friend) where there for our whole devotional time, and it was…natural… We talked as friends, we talked as brothers, we spoke of casual things, we prayed with them. No agenda other than just being Christ, and being brothers to them. If anything has developed during these years on these trips, I think it is being comfortable in knowing God, and sharing God in tangible ways to all those around us. Immediacy, yet peace..

Jim and Shirley Collins spent their last day with us, staying through lunch.

Brad asked for her to give a devotional, she politely declined/refused/redirected. Jim stepped in…

We hope you enjoy this as much as we did…

Editor’s note: I love this team. I had to work on something this morning, so I turned around and handed my laptop to Gary M. and asked if he wanted to write something for the blog, giving the morning update. Without a blink, he picked up the laptop, starts typing away. I wish you could experience the natural ease with how this team can operate. We’re not perfect, but we’re focused on serving God and serving others, and trying to get our agendas and quirks out of the way of those goals. Thanks Gary!

Good morning from Biloxi, MS.  We’re on the way to another day at the site.   The weather reports show a possibility of rain mid-day, but after Chris’ tearful devotional this morning, we are reminded to leave things to God’s plans.

Chris shared about the one year he missed coming to Mississippi (2010).  He was sure that God was telling him that he needed to stay at home and minister to his family after his father-in-law had a major injury the Wednesday before he was to leave.  Although he did not understand it at the time and had deep disappointment with not going on the mission trip, later on he came to understand how important it was minister to his family after his father-in-law passed the day he would have left.
It is a comfort to know that God has plans for us that will sometimes precede our own plans,  and work out for the better of His will in ways that we sometimes may not realize until later and sometimes much, much later.

Ken, the director of New Life Disaster Relief where we are staying, chimed in after Chris’ sharing on how the problem with PK’s (Pastors’ Kids) is so prevalent because pastors have their priorities mixed up.  It should be (in order) personal worship of God, immediate family, church family, then the rest of the world.  He shared about a decision he made to cancel a week of speaking engagements in order to minister to his wife after a traumatic ordeal.  How incongruous it would be to go and speak to all these groups about how their family had been terrorized while he had left his family at home.

Our fellow laborers, Jim and Nannie continue to be an inspiration and example to us.  We will miss them as they leave today after lunch.  Nannie gave us each a big hug this morning before breakfast and then later apologized if she had inadvertently offended anyone’s sensibilities.  She went on to share how we have been the best group they have had the pleasure to work with.  God is glorified.

Heads up.  We drove past the bank that showed the current temperature at 77 degrees now at 8 AM.  Radio just said the highs might be in the low 80’s . We’ll see.