It was a good year, a good trip, and a good presentation.
Our leaders and some of our team shared of some of the logistics of our trip, but in the end, it was more about what we learned, experienced, and how we grew.
Thanks to all the team members, including Chris H from OKC, and Paul and Denise coming in from Mississippi, and of course, our home church at evergreensgv.org
Please keep our homeowners in your prayers, as we continue to pray for:
The Shipleys Josh and Sarah and Miss Susan
And thanks for your continued prayer support and interest in our efforts to try and bless others because God has been so good to us, not only in providing these growing friendships and opportunities to serve, but to let us see firsthand God trying to care for people, even when using imperfect but willing people like us (and hopefully you too!).
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone.”- 2 Peter 3:9
Kevin T started the morning with a testimony of how God proved to be faithful in his life. Growing up getting good grades, becoming an Eagle Scout (only 4 in every 100 scouts achieve this rank), and being accepted into law school, Kevin thoroughly understood success through hard work and perseverance. However, after receiving a no pass on the bar exam, everything he was sure about, he suddenly doubted. Anxiety set in. He begin to question if law was the path that God was directing him, although he had previously prayed and received affirmation in the last. Through his Mom, he was urged to listen to the song, Thy Will Be Done. Listening to the song, he felt as if God was speaking. He broke down and realized how much anxiety he had about his future and how it was affecting him spiritually.
“During lunch I listened to the song and I started to weep… [I asked God to] give me peace so I don’t have anxiety anymore.”- Kevin.
From then on, Kevin worked to free himself from the stress of needing to succeed as he focused his perspective back on God. Thus, he is leaning on God and His plans rather than by his own strength and expectations.
“Don’t be discouraged if you missed your mark. Instead embrace [the disappointment]… and let His will be done.” -Kevin.
Shirley Home Update
We had our time limited at the house because we had to help out to raise the framing for the walls for the new build site. For three hours, we quickly, but safely without cutting corners, continued to finish as much as we could. We began to prepare the restroom to install the floors. Additional windows were added along with the trim. The tail end of the ramp was added. The scrape team continued to patiently finish the east side of the house. Since tomorrow is our last day, we hope to complete the top repairs.
Finishing installing the sink, floor, toilet for the restroom.
Paint the house.
Complete the ramp.
Complete the trimming for the windows.
Saying Goodbyes
We went to the new build site to help with the walls, then we had two bittersweet farewells. First, Lorin had to return back home two days early for personal family reasons. Then, we said goodbye to Jose and Serafin because there is a possibility will may not be coming back to OKC next year. We prayed for both of them, and the new build house. Please pray for a safe return for Lorin.
Devotional
Devotionals led by Brandon and Tommy (with Chris C at guitar for worship) commenced after a tasty dinner of pulled pork and chicken.
Brandon
1 Corinthians 1:36-31
Brandon shared how God wants us to admit our weakness to Him in order for us know God’s patience, his love, and power. We are all chosen to be here to be weak so we can show God’s strength. Through that, we can bless others. However, he revealed that showing weakness was not easy for him.
“I set myself pretty high standards and sometimes when I don’t meet those expectations I ask myself-am I doing enough?” -Brandon
God revealed a lesson for Brandon through his MSG’s message, but didn’t understand it at first. But by humbling himself and asking God about his purpose during the trip, he realized the point was the willingness to be used in whatever capacity-big or small.
“It wasn’t about what I want to do but how can the Lord use me for his glory and purpose for this trip… [I asked God should I] allow you to use me .. and He (God) said ‘Yes, that’s what I want you to do.’ ” -Brandon
Tommy
Tommy shared advice on preparing ourselves to have a blurb to share with family and friends. This was tip he learned from his daughter. It will help us with being concise and having something meaningful to share with others.
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” -Mark 4:39
He also reminded us about how the Lord does not prevent bad things from occurring, but it’s what our response is that is important. On the job site, it’s easy to get hurt if we are being careless. But sometimes, bad things do happen even if we do take every precaution. However, it does not mean God is uncaring. Rather, we must remember that Jesus is always there with us at all times. We were not created by God to be happy, but to be, rather, we are meant to be holy. By this, we can find ourselves closer to God, which leads to peace and joy.
“Ask yourself, are we looking for safety or are we truly seeking after holiness as God intends…”- Tommy
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..)
Tommy’s been on all six trips we’ve made to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for this project. He’s also inarguably the most skilled of our team. Here’s something God taught him during this trip.
Straight, Square and Level
When doing construction on a house you often hear the question “Is it straight? Is it square? Is it level?” To check any of these you must have a reliable reference. For instance, to check squareness you’ll use a speed square or a framing square. But what happens when your reference is a little off? This actually happened one day as we were installing baseboards. Pam and Millie were helping me install baseboards. At first I would give them measurements and they would cut the pieces to length and then I would nail them in. Cutting is done on a chop saw. A chop saw cuts boards to length and in our case at either a 90 or 45 degree angle. After a few boards, which were perfectly cut, I had them measure and cut the boards. They would then put the boards in place and move on to the next room. Since both of them are self-described “perfectionists,” their work was very accurate. This was the beginning of a good partnership and we were all happy.
I then came to a room and noticed that there was a gap where two baseboards came together in a corner. After trying to adjust how the boards met, I determined that one of the boards needed to be re-cut. I dreaded telling Pam because I knew she would be very disappointed and would most likely not be happy with herself. I tried to tell her that it probably was a problem with the wall and wasn’t her fault, but that the board needed to be a little longer.
Pam, working on one of her windows
After a while, Pam returned, but something was obviously wrong. Her countenance had changed. Instead of a satisfied joy, there was now frustration, self-doubt and confusion. She told me she had cut two more boards and there was still a gap. I felt badly for her and was a little confused as well, as up to that point all her measurements and cuts were flawless. We then checked the chop saw and I noticed that a part of the fence (guide) was a little loose. After tightening it, I made a cut, measured for squareness and it was still off. I then measured the squareness of the blade with the speed square and determined that what was supposed to be a 90 degree angle was off by about 1 ½ degrees. After fixing that, we cut the board again and it fit perfectly. Pam’s smile came back. The Lord showed me that just as we need good, reliable and accurate references when cutting baseboards, that in life we need them too. If we rely on things that may seem accurate and may be off by only a small amount, it will lead to frustration, self-doubt and confusion. That’s why I’m so glad we can rely on God’s Word and His absolute truths. They are always straight, square and level.
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5 (NIV)
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)
