Category: Paul

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2018 Day 4-Work and Community night

Wow.. we’re really in the home stretch.

Today’s a significant day, but it went long, so we’ll post info on this, especially after we get back

Today’s schedule was

  1. Work on our respective sites
  2. Return to church and shower
  3. Join Community Dinner at Grace Community Bible Church, where we dined with some of the home owners, and church members
  4. Do our field team debrief
  5. Say goodbye to Paul and Denise

Work on our respective sites

We had a team change… due to manpower needs, we moved two members from Team 2 (Nate and Patrick) over to team 1.
  • Team 1 got more supplies and was able to make significant headway on the metal roof
  • Team 2 was able to prepare the home completed the wood floors, installed bathroom kid (heater and light), cleaning up the house and making it homey and ready for them to use. Both Chris’ said they appreciated having the women on board, caring for the way it would be presented
  • Team 3 continued with paint, and removed all tile from the laundry room. But spent a lot of time getting to know Miss Susan, enjoying her poetry and a mini concert, and praying with her.

Community Dinner

Delicious Jambalaya (pronounced Johm-buh-lie-yah or Jam-buh-lie-yah depending on where you grew up) was served on behalf of the church, complete with desserts and Lorin’s famous Butter Mochi.  Ryan had us share where we saw God moving over this last week of work, or even the previous week in preparation. Homeowners, guests and team members were encouraged to share. Pastor Tim even shared from his perspective. It was very moving as people talked about a sense of community, belonging, purpose and trust.

Debrief and goodbye

Normally we do a team debrief on the last day of our trip, but since Paul and Denise were leaving tonight (they stayed a little extra just to participate in the community dinner) and Chris H leaves tomorrow afternoon, we moved the meeting to tonight.
Each team member reflected on ways they had been blessed or grew closer to God this week. The responses were varied as much as there were members, but some people said that they feel this is akin to a retreat, where you grow closer in community, but the activity is working on a home. We all tried to show appreciation to Paul, Denise and Chris H for their skills, leadership and poise during the last few days as they had the rough job of helping manage the teams on each of the three sites.
Another member said that the site leaders were akin to worship leaders (musical singing group at our church)  and each team were worship team members. So like a conductor and a band.
There is also time set aside for team members to deal with any conflicts or tensions, bringing them before the group, and hopefully resolving them, if not addressing them tonight.
We also said a goodbye to Paul and Denise and sent them home for their 2.5 hour drive home. They’re returning home for family commitments.

Community dinner and goodbye photos

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2018 Day 3-A bittersweet midpoint

Wednesday, and our last work day is Friday

The teams are settling into our assignments, and now we’re realizing we only have 1.5 days left at the homes!

Paul and Denise will be returning home Thursday Night, and Chris H, on Friday.

The week has moved by too fast. All of the teams are making great headway on their respective homes, but also building relationships too.

And as much as Ryan has been administering all three sites well, it’s still a handful. We’re very thankful that Paul, Denise and Chris H have been here to run the sites

Tonight, at our team debrief, we’re getting in the habit of showing photos from the day for each site, then commenting on what the heck they’re about.

We opened with Roz’ Devotion from Psalm 16, where “You (God) will not abandon my soul”

Okay, a summary and some photos:
Team 3 (Miss Susan’s home), 1 and then 2

Team 3 (Miss Susan’s home)

  • Removed the washer and dryer from laundry room – primed and paint
  • Miss Susan shared songs and poems she had written. The team found them incredibly articulate and moving, one titled “Chasing Rainbows” was about her neighbor’s experience during the storm. It painted strong imagery while talking about the human aspect more than the flood’s destruction.
  • Team also went to lunch at a local Po’ Boy place and learned more about Miss Susan, and she came back to the church for a mini-tour and met Pastor Tim.
  • Miss Susan has been through a lot, but not broken, and has said in recent days, “The feelings are coming out,” and “a healing has begun.” We’re hoping that she would be a joy to her neighbors.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CiYZNgvul8uKawKF2

Team 1 (Shipley’s home)

  • Bu got a guide for the screw gun, to help Pam
  • They were running a bit short on materials, it was decided that EBCSGV will cover the cost for the rest of the materials. 
  • Psalm 23:1 Ladder -Venetia helped her go up and down the ladder
  • Mr. Jeff joined closing prayer
Team 1’s Photo Gallery for today

Team 2 (Josh and Sarah’s Home)
  1. Eph 2:20 was written the last corner piece for the living room, we all signed it. 
  2. Finished the living room and the hall
  3. Had a time of prayer in the house for the family and that they would know the Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7Im56Qv5utgQX6vE2



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2018 Travel Day-Early Departure, Arrival

LAX

an early flight, and some early rising supporters met us/took us to LAX. Even Pastor Victor and Rocky joined us for prayer as we were sent off to Louisiana

Flight

On our flight, we met several folks that were curious about our cheerful and interactive group, and one flight attendant, Rayemanette, was very kind and generous with her time and cheer. We became fast friends with her and other passengers, and shared of our volunteering with Habitat and Samaritan’s purse.

Lunch and Old Friends

Upon landing in New Orleans, we thanked God for our good flight, and went to Parkway Bakery and Tavern, meeting up with Denise and Paul from Mississippi, and Chris H who drove down from OKC. Our old buddy Brad from our Mississippi days even popped in to say hi, before returning to his duties at the local Habitat affiliate here in NOLA.
We went to our temporary home away from home, Grace Community Bible Church in Denham Springs and settled in for a quick moment to settle in and meet with Ryan. We also stopped off at Fedex to print up some quickie business cards for the people we’ve been meeting.
Then off to a hamburger and hot dogs at Ryan’s home and a Craig’s devo before our maiden run to Walmart.

Time for bed

Now off to bed in our new digs!
Here’s a quick photo album, maybe some videos in the next few days!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/B8WexGTWMCJVR6dd9
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OKC 2017 Day 7 Saying goodbye to OKC and Paul

The return to LA

Hilltop and Lunch

Packing up is always bittersweet. It’ll be good to go home, but sad to leave Hilltop and our adventures in OKC.

Hilltop offered a hot breakfast that the early risers took advantage of, it was nice to spend as much time as we could with our hosts. But whether early or late risers, we all made it to worship service with Pastor Matt.

We said our goodbyes to our Hilltop family, packed up the cars, and headed to a Tarahumara’s, a Mexican restaurant, but with our ethnic point of view, sounded like a Japanese name. Food was great, and Jeff gave them a high rating on Yelp because they accommodated our large group rather well.

We said goodbye to our friend and teammate, Paul, who has been associated with our team since 2010. Hugs and pats on the back, we sent one of the cars to drop him off at the airport,

The rest of us arrived at Will Rogers airport and we got through to our gate with little problems. Most of the team were asleep on the way back, with John and Alice working a crossword puzzle in the back.

LAX

Upon landing, Craig offered a brief prayer, and we assembled per our tradition, with the (once) “newbies” in the front of our group, and we were greeted by our friends and family. We saw our teammates, who were carrying 2×6 lumber only a few days earlier, melt when they hugged their families.

Whether we like to admit it or not, it really is nice to be greeted by smiling, familiar faces.

Team member Lorin, who had flown back home two days earlier for some personal business, made a sign that read “What took Y’all so long?” 

A group photo, and that drew to an end of the trip. Some familiar and newer faces on the team, but we ended as family. Drawn together by a shared desire to bless others, in the name of our God.

A few team members might share a few more reflections over the next few days/weeks. Stay tuned.

Click here for our photo library

and your video recap for the day:

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OKC 2017-Commissioning service

Sunday, on our last Sunday before we leave for OKC, our team was commissioned during our church service.

At our church, every missionary or service team member selects a small group of friends or family to support them practically and spiritually for the trip. This allows people who are not physically going on the trip to be part of the effort.

In previous years, we flew out in the late morning, but this year, our flight is at 9AM next Sunday (4/30/2017) so we won’t be able to make it to service and get into the airport in time for check in.

Team leader, Craig experienced our church’s intimacy when we realized he didn’t have a microphone for himself, so Pastor Dan shared the one clipped to his own shirt.

After Craig announced our names, he mentioned that we will be sponsoring Miss Smith’s home, and acknowledged Mathias and Gary Murakami, our stay-at-home team members this year.



Click here for some photos from the commissioning 

Pastor Cory led us in a time of prayer, helping us to stay focused on the spiritual elements of the trip. Sometimes it’s hard with such a task-oriented trip to remember we’re trying to serve God and be open to His leading.

Please pray for our team’s preparation, and for Paul, our friend and previous site manager from Mississippi, who will be flying in to OKC a day before us. It’ll be great to reconnect with him and Chris H, our site manager in OKC.

Only a few days away!

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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!