A quick note from Art/Tom
Pray for Moore. Tornado hit today!
http://www.weather.com/storms/severe/news/severe-thunderstorms-oklahoma-kansas-arkansas-missouri-texas-impacts
Tommy’s Reflections on our previous trips-Part 2
 |
| Tommy, team fixture |
This is part 2 of Tommy’s reflections on previous years. Part 1 can be found here
2009 – The Brad Holland story. The first two years we had a team of ten
guys. This year we expanded to 21 guys. We also said goodbye to Yankie Stadium, a
Biloxi city football field with concrete bleachers on either side. Days before hurricane Katrina struck in
August, 2005 escrow closed on the stadium as the Salvation Army had purchased
the property with the intention of converting it into a neighborhood youth
center. Instead they enclosed and sealed
each concrete bleacher and built dorm rooms, showers, meeting rooms, a mess
hall and brought in their 18 wheeler mobile kitchen. They contracted for two years with HFHMGC to
provide housing for the many volunteers who came to the Gulf Coast. We spent our first two years at Yankie
Stadium and had many fond memories of the place and the other volunteers we met
there. Now we were staying at SUMA –Seashore United Methodist Assembly – great location – let’s leave it at
that. I remember being somewhat excited
to see that one of the other volunteer groups that would be staying at SUMA was
Mandarin United Methodist Church from Jacksonville, Florida. However, when we went to the orientation
meeting we didn’t spot any other Asians.
At dinner Gary went and asked a group from the Mandarin church if they
had many Chinese in their congregation.
After a few puzzled looks it was finally discovered that their church
name came from their neighborhood in Jacksonville – Mandarin neighborhood in
Duval County, Florida, named after the Mandarin orange.
guys. This year we expanded to 21 guys. We also said goodbye to Yankie Stadium, a
Biloxi city football field with concrete bleachers on either side. Days before hurricane Katrina struck in
August, 2005 escrow closed on the stadium as the Salvation Army had purchased
the property with the intention of converting it into a neighborhood youth
center. Instead they enclosed and sealed
each concrete bleacher and built dorm rooms, showers, meeting rooms, a mess
hall and brought in their 18 wheeler mobile kitchen. They contracted for two years with HFHMGC to
provide housing for the many volunteers who came to the Gulf Coast. We spent our first two years at Yankie
Stadium and had many fond memories of the place and the other volunteers we met
there. Now we were staying at SUMA –Seashore United Methodist Assembly – great location – let’s leave it at
that. I remember being somewhat excited
to see that one of the other volunteer groups that would be staying at SUMA was
Mandarin United Methodist Church from Jacksonville, Florida. However, when we went to the orientation
meeting we didn’t spot any other Asians.
At dinner Gary went and asked a group from the Mandarin church if they
had many Chinese in their congregation.
After a few puzzled looks it was finally discovered that their church
name came from their neighborhood in Jacksonville – Mandarin neighborhood in
Duval County, Florida, named after the Mandarin orange.
Because our group was so large we were split up into
two. My group worked with Irving Spikes,
a local man who starred as a running back, went to the University of Alabama
and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and played for them for 4 years. He told me that he learned to be fast by
chasing and catching rabbits in the open fields around his home. The other group worked with Brad
Holland. Brad, a yankee from
Pennsylvania finished college and came to the Gulf Coast like many young
idealistic people to help out with the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast after the
devastation of hurricane Katrina. He
eventually hooked up with HFHMGC and became one of their site supervisors. These site supervisors oversee the volunteers
who work with Habitat. He left a very
favorable impression on the group under his charge and even though I didn’t
meet him that year there would be a growing partnership and friendship in the
years to come.
two. My group worked with Irving Spikes,
a local man who starred as a running back, went to the University of Alabama
and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and played for them for 4 years. He told me that he learned to be fast by
chasing and catching rabbits in the open fields around his home. The other group worked with Brad
Holland. Brad, a yankee from
Pennsylvania finished college and came to the Gulf Coast like many young
idealistic people to help out with the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast after the
devastation of hurricane Katrina. He
eventually hooked up with HFHMGC and became one of their site supervisors. These site supervisors oversee the volunteers
who work with Habitat. He left a very
favorable impression on the group under his charge and even though I didn’t
meet him that year there would be a growing partnership and friendship in the
years to come.
There were a couple of takeaways from this third year
Katrina relief team. First, that even if
you have 21 dissimilar guys, if you’re all trying to bring glory to God there
is much unity and joy. Second, if you’re
trying to be a servant of God that people notice. We don’t try and do things for recognition or
our own glory. More than a few times
others commented to Craig that they really appreciated our team’s willingness
to do anything that was asked and their helpfulness in cleaning up and
volunteering for any and everything. No
one really felt they were doing anything unusual, just doing what seemed
normal. It was truly a blessing to
witness this servanthoodness, which isn’t a word but conveys the meaning. “If you want to be great in God’s Kingdom,
learn to be a servant of all.” Matthew
20:26 – (paraphrased)
Katrina relief team. First, that even if
you have 21 dissimilar guys, if you’re all trying to bring glory to God there
is much unity and joy. Second, if you’re
trying to be a servant of God that people notice. We don’t try and do things for recognition or
our own glory. More than a few times
others commented to Craig that they really appreciated our team’s willingness
to do anything that was asked and their helpfulness in cleaning up and
volunteering for any and everything. No
one really felt they were doing anything unusual, just doing what seemed
normal. It was truly a blessing to
witness this servanthoodness, which isn’t a word but conveys the meaning. “If you want to be great in God’s Kingdom,
learn to be a servant of all.” Matthew
20:26 – (paraphrased)
2010 – First Coed team, Paul & Denise. After three years of hearing good reports
from the Katrina Relief Teams, four women wanted in on the action. Mo and Carol led that first coed team and it
was quickly learned that having females on the team made for a much more
engaging group.
from the Katrina Relief Teams, four women wanted in on the action. Mo and Carol led that first coed team and it
was quickly learned that having females on the team made for a much more
engaging group.
All future Gulf Coast
relief efforts would have at least one coed team. This also marked the first time multiple
teams were sent to the Gulf Coast. The
11 person coed team went first followed two weeks later by 15 guys. We also invited our sister church Lifesong to
join us. Their team of eight added much
life to our time, not to mention height. We were also housed at another
different location; Camp Victor in Ocean Springs. Once again we bumped into a group from
Mandarin Church who happened to be volunteering the same week as us. Once again we worked on some new houses in
Connor’s Garden, a new housing tract that HFHMGC was building in Gulfport. Once again we worked under Brad and Spikes. This year however, I mostly stayed on the
ground working on a subfloor as opposed to last year doing roofing. I like the ground.
The biggest difference this year to me was meeting two new
HFMGC staffers, Paul Waters and Denise Rybak.
Denise, from Ohio, after graduating from college was planning on a
teaching career. Before doing her
credential work she decided to do an AmeriCorps stint and eventually ended up
in the Gulf Coast. Paul, originally from
the Gulf Coast, went off to Florida to pursue higher education and perhaps a
higher life (pilot). He felt called to
come back to the Gulf Coast and eventually found his way to a position with
HFHMGC. I remember sitting down with
Paul one day at lunch and having a really heartfelt conversation about life,
faith and destiny. I think he thought I
was much younger than I was and I thought he was older than he was. The fact that he was the same age as my
daughter didn’t really matter as we connected quite easily. Only God knew at the time that five years
hence Peter and I and two others would travel to Cleveland in mid-August to
witness and celebrate the wedding of Paul and Denise. One of the theme verses for our relief teams
has been Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who
builds it.” We’ve seen many houses being
built over the years, but the houses of friendship and fellowship that the Lord
has built during these trips have been the most beautiful and worthwhile.
HFMGC staffers, Paul Waters and Denise Rybak.
Denise, from Ohio, after graduating from college was planning on a
teaching career. Before doing her
credential work she decided to do an AmeriCorps stint and eventually ended up
in the Gulf Coast. Paul, originally from
the Gulf Coast, went off to Florida to pursue higher education and perhaps a
higher life (pilot). He felt called to
come back to the Gulf Coast and eventually found his way to a position with
HFHMGC. I remember sitting down with
Paul one day at lunch and having a really heartfelt conversation about life,
faith and destiny. I think he thought I
was much younger than I was and I thought he was older than he was. The fact that he was the same age as my
daughter didn’t really matter as we connected quite easily. Only God knew at the time that five years
hence Peter and I and two others would travel to Cleveland in mid-August to
witness and celebrate the wedding of Paul and Denise. One of the theme verses for our relief teams
has been Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who
builds it.” We’ve seen many houses being
built over the years, but the houses of friendship and fellowship that the Lord
has built during these trips have been the most beautiful and worthwhile.
2011 – Two week team
2012 – LEEDS Platinum House
2013 – Renovation
2014 – Oklahoma!
2015 Team Encouragement from Shirley
 |
| Shirley returns to the team, this time it’s OKC |
To understand our trip, you should know our hearts.
It’s a mission. To help. To be part of the caring heart and hand of God.
Part of that role has been filled by Shirley, who’s helping us stay focused as our unofficial Team Prayer Leader/Prayer Reminder person . (no, it’s not a title, I’m just making it up)
Recently we on the team got another encouraging letter that we’d like to share with you:
Hello Fellow OKC Relief Team members,
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, He shall not be moved. GOD WILL HELP HER WHEN MORNING DAWNS.” Psalm 46: 1-5
I cannot imagine what it would be like to live through such a horrific disaster such as Moore, Oklahoma experienced. Those of us, who went last year, may have an inkling of an idea. I just reviewed a report of the tornado of May 20, 2013. I also recalled the 1995 domestic terrorism bombing in Oklahoma City, not far from Moore. I don’t know about you, but there are many times, I have thought about the “Big One” here in the L.A. metropolis. I beg for God’s mercy. I can imagine Christian Oklahomans, living in tornado country, doing the same thing – asking the Lord to spare them from a tornado.
It has almost been two years, since that tornado broke the hearts of many in Moore. I’m asking the Lord, that we be able to minister His love and bolster faith in those affected. I’m thanking Him for all the spiritual and structural recovery, He has brought to this area in the past two years and even the past 20 years, since the bombing of the federal building in downtown OKC.
As I wrote: “I can’t even imagine.” May the Lord help us minister in His Holy Spirit.
God bless you, my fellow teamers.
Shirley
Here’s your 2015 Team!
Evergreen SGV Oklahoma Relief Team April 26 – May 3, 2015
 |
| Your 2015 Team Row 1: Chris, Gary, Peter, Tommy, Craig, Lorin, Shirley, Pam, Art Row 2: Tom, Frank, Jeff, Matthew, Virginia (Kelly not pictured) |
Here’s an excerpt from our Support Letter, which you can access by clicking here
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11
Once again, we are investing a week of our lives to share the love of Jesus with those affected by the devastation of an EF5 tornado, that caused loss of life and property in Moore, OK, in May 2013. We will partner with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity to do whatever construction or refurbishment work is needed.
If God is calling you to support us, please consider our prayer requests:
(1) team unity
(2) safe travel to and from Oklahoma City, as well as safe travels while we are there
(3) protection from injury and illness
(4) protection for our families while we are away
(5) most of all, that God would provide opportunities for us to grow in faith in Him and to share that faith with others we encounter.
Thank you for taking time to consider this opportunity to partner with us.
In His service, Members of the Evergreen SGV 2015 Oklahoma Relief Team
PS: Before, during and after our mission trip, we will be recording reflections on the Team blog at http://sgvhabitat.blogspot.com
Tommy’s Reflections on our previous trips-Part 1
 |
| Tommy’s been on all the trips |
Tommy’s been on every one of the nine Relief Teams (he started without any grandkids and more black hair)… we asked him to take a look back …
Peter asked me to write about the previous nine Relief Teams. I decided to try and do it by memory. You can go back and fact check yourself by browsing back through the previous entries. Peter started this blog back in 2007 as we were preparing for our first trip. He specifically named it SGVHabitat.blogspot.com so that there would be a permanent record of all the Mississippi Gulf Coast (at the time) relief teams working with Habitat For Humanity. Little did we know at the time that we would return to work with Habitat For Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast (HFHMGC) for seven years, then in 2014 work with Central Oklahoma Habitat For Humanity (COHFH) and return there this year.
2007 – The first year. Steve Ogata, one of the ten members of that inaugural team, in describing that first year experience said, “You can only do something for the first time once.” In many of ways that perfectly summarizes what most of us experienced that first year. First time on a mission trip. First time doing relief work. First time in the South. First time at Waffle House. First time going to Wal-Mart every day. First time building a house. First (and last) time building a house with the wrong plans. I’m probably forgetting many “firsts”, but you get the picture. The blessing and take away for me was the incredible joy of working together with nine other brothers with the common goal of being a loving servant and whole heartedly doing whatever was asked and experiencing God’s pleasure. As 2007 goes further and further into the past, the joy of that first year gets fonder and fonder.
2008 – The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project (JRCWP) pre-build. Although Jimmy Carter didn’t start Habitat for Humanity (HFH), he did help bring it to the mainstream of America. For many years he and his wife Rosalynn would head a Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. One year it would be at a local HFH in the U.S. and the following year it would be at one of the overseas HFH. People who want to “volunteer” at one of these (JRCWP)’s would contribute quite a bit of money for the privilege of working alongside the Carter’s. This helped raise funds and awareness for HFH. Little did we know that the week we arrived in Biloxi, Mississippi was the week prior to the JRCWP. Our task for the week was not to build any houses but to precut all the lumber needed to frame 60 houses for the following week. We were set up on a parking lot next to the beach by the Biloxi lighthouse. We were somewhat disappointed that we would not be building any houses but seeing that we would be instrumental in getting 60 houses framed the next week was somewhat gratifying. By the end of the week I was humbled by four young women from Ohio. These four had just finished their college term in Ohio, drove nine hundred miles to Biloxi, and paid for their own food and lodging. Here I thought that I had sacrificed a lot, but I had been sent and supported by my church. God told me it’s not about the sacrifice, it’s about obedience. “To obey is better than sacrifice” 1 Samuel 15:22
2009 – The Brad Holland story…. (Part 2 coming soon..)
2015 – OKC, Here we come!
We’ll be returning to work with COHFH again this year, as they continue their rebuilding of Moore and the surrounding area…
This will be our second year in OKC, and we’re grateful to your participation and prayerful support in helping Moore recover.
We’ll be travelling from 4/26-5/3/2015
Mo(o)re details to come..