Heang really wanted to do it before lunch
2013 Day 1 just put up a Wall
2013 day 1
Watch “2013 Day 1 morning” on YouTube
We’re across street from site of two years ago…
2013 Day 0 – Gary’s notes
Very tiring first day as usual. Not much sleep and the weather is warm (air is not too bad but the sun is very strong).
On the second leg of the trip from Dallas to Gulfport, I sat next to a couple from Gulfport. As I got to know them more, I found that the wife Pamela (shown looking out the window) is dealing with GI cancer. She went into ER with extreme pain and they found large tumors in liver, pancreas, gallbladder. It is inoperable and they cannot do radiation either. She is going to the Cancer Treatment Center in Dallas every 10 days for chemotherapy and they were on there way back after treatment.
I shared Donelle’s story with them and how God had planned them to sit there in those seats. I inquired whether they had a support system and they said their church was very helpful. I shared the verse I had planned for the devotional tonight which was Genesis 18:14 … “Is anything too hard for the Lord”. They were very encouraging to me even though I could see Pamela was experiencing nausea and pain.
I shared the devotional tonight about being persistent as Abraham did not give up even after 25 years of being promised offspring. The tag is “fork vs. chopsticks”. Giving up on chopsticks and using the fork.
2013 Day 0-Arrival, Orientation, Pier, Home Away From Home
Orientation
As soon as we landed, we went to Habitat for Orientation and to see old friends. Teetra, an Americorps volunteer-turned Habitat staffer, gave an excellent orientation.
HFHMGC (Our local Habitat affiliate) has received a federal grant to improve the energy efficiency of some local homes. Occupants must meet some requirements, including earning below 200% of the federal poverty level. It’s all part of Habitat’s “hand up, not a hand out” efforts to improve their clients’ financial solvency by reducing their costs, as a proactive form of providing financial assistance.
This week, we will be doing some framing, similar to our first few years, working on a new build, with our friends and site supervisors, Paul and Denise. It’s a coveted stage of building, seeing the initial walls go up. Later in the week, we’ll be working in some hot, humid attic spaces, working on the energy saving efforts mentioned above.
Lunch with Brad
Our dear friend and old site-supervisor Brad joined us for lunch at Shaggy’s. We enjoyed his fellowship and it was good to have a team meal in Mississippi.
Pier
It’s surprising how eight years after Katrina , much of the high value coastline property is still vacant slabs. Many people either didn’t return or didn’t feel it was cost effective to rebuild.
At the pier, much to our amusement, Craig re-established his relationship with the seagulls enticing them with bread (okay, cha siu bao).
A simple walk stroll down the pier turned into a spiritual encounter. Peter and Kelly spoke with a couple admiring the beautiful coastline. Surprisingly, Peter felt led to have Linda, the wife, pray for him. It turned out to be an answer to her prayer to bless someone while she was sitting there. Linda prayed for our entire team, leadership and our church. In turn, Kelly prayed for Linda and her husband.
It was another example of the teamwork that we get to experience here, with each team member depending on each other and God for taking the next step. We also learned that not only are we here to bless others, but to experience God with those we encounter.
New Life-our home away from home
We arrived at New Life, our home in Mississippi for the last few years, reconnecting with Ken, his wife Dawn and their children Elizabeth and Paul.
After dinner, we had a small devotional time, with worship (singing) led by Art and Pam. Gary did a simple, succinct and convicting devotional/teaching where he described a couple he knew that felt that chopsticks were too difficult, and had given up after a very brief attempt.
Perhaps they could have had more success with a bit more patience How often do we give up on possibilities and promises…. Abraham must have been trying to have children for almost 25 years, having children at near 100.
Finally, we were humbled as we shared impressions and prayer requests for the day.
Elizabeth, Ken and Dawn’s seven-year old daughter, had been sitting with us during the worship time, and contributed some very clear and poignant prayers in support of a family that had someone take their own life.
(Editor’s note: I was humbled, because I didn’t expect such a significant prayer to be requested by some young girl that was just hanging out with us. Later in the evening, she still contributed prayer requests for own health that were humble and hopeful. We are all learning that there is no one or opportunity great or small on this trip. Significance comes in all sizes, including by receiving as well as giving blessings)
Thanks for your support!
Our first day on site tomorrow!
2013-Sendoff
Sendoff
Thanks so much to the crowd that came to send us off. Heang, one of our two newbies, mentioned that he was surprised how many people came out to see us off and pray for us. 7 years into these trips, it’s humbling the amount of support we receive. Sometimes it’s confusing who’s actually going on the trip because there are so many previous team members intermingled with the team… and that’s a good thing.
Pastor Victor led us in a time of prayer, we prayed for our team members, took some pictures, and released our friends and family.
We went inside and chatted among ourselves, and observed the surprising number of late night travelers. Our plane boarded at 130a without incident.
Landed in Gulfport
After a bathroom stop, we prayed to return thanks for a safe arrival and the week ahead.
Meet Brad downstairs….
And took so much time that they took our luggage off the carousel… Note waiting for them to bring it over to the ticketing counter….
Waiting it out for our 130a flight
Waiting it out for our 130 flight chatting it up with each other and people we’re meeting.
Oh and if you have suggestions for things to do in Raleigh, NC post them… Someone we met would appreciate them.
We’re trying to guess who’s the most introverted and extroverted of our group…. Let us know your ideas on that too….
Layover dfw
Craig does his devotional in the corridor, Steve demonstrates a step by the sink. Craig demonstrates a large touch screen.
Craig’s devotional talks about being busy and not having time for god. Reminds us to make time for Him, the reason for our trip.
weather forecast
77 degrees with elevated humidity, chance of rain.
Sounds like a chance of elevated humility as well
There was a chance we would be working on framing, but with the rain, who knows?
And as much as we’re sure that Paul and Denise are used to the weather that is a little warm. 🙂
If you want to see off, we will be at American Airlines at 8 o’clock tonight LAX
Kuleana: A few days before departure, a note from Pam
Of this year’s two married couples on the team, Art and Pam are both returning team members. (We look forward to the opportunity of Steve and Shirley serving together, hopefully side by side)
Here’s a note that Pam wrote to some of her supporters, that we’d like to share with you..
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| Pam F |
Dear Friends and Family,
It’s been two weeks since Art and I returned from a wonderful, relaxing 10 days in Kauai and Oahu. I’m loving the islands more and more. It is paradise on earth but true paradise will be at Jesus’ side.
And here we are getting ready to leave for MS on Sunday to work with Habitat.
Listening to Hawaiian songs would bring tears to my eyes even though I have no clue what they’re saying. I just learned of a Hawaiian word, although not while we were on the islands. Kuleana. Unlike English, the Hawaiian language can say many different things in one word. Kuleana is path, posse, responsibility, privilege, concern, cause, reason…Kuleana may be those to whom or for whom you are responsible. They are your accountability system. So you are my Kuleana…I am responsible to you who are sending me out.
It is also my Kuleana, responsibility, to take the Word and love of God out to the people in MS or whoever I may meet along the way.
Kuleana can also speak of a value or way of thinking. Then the perspective changes to “what an honor and privilege it is for me to have the responsibility to take the Word and love of God out to the people.” It adds an expression of gratitude that is sometimes lacking in taking on a responsibility. If I adjust my perspective to include honor and privilege, then the responsibility takes on a new meaning. That is Kuleana. Maybe I’m totally off base. But it sounds good.
So what is your Kuleana?
Mahalo and Christ’s love,Pam