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Lessons of the Day

Today instead of posting a boring summary of what we did today, which was mainly finishing the work we started yesterday. Everyone on the team completed the sentence, “Today I learned…”

  • Mathias

    • to put up scaffolding without falling.

  • Helen

    • how to use a jigsaw and circular saw. It was pretty fun. At first, I was really afraid of them, but I’m thankful for my teammates who encouraged me to try it.

  • Yosh

    • to use a power drill, how to be patient and learn to follow directions from Joel. (supervisor)

  • Daryl

    • that it takes a heck of a lot of nails to nail a roof down.

  • Hilda

    • that even I can use a saw.

  • Steve

    • what takes me 3 minutes at home, takes me 15 mins here.

  • Mo

    • that I could be on a roof that is two stories high.

  • Carol

    • that PE=1/2Kx^2 is the formula for the velocity of the hammer head.

  • Ron

    • the Lord has taught me about focus regarding working and on Him.

  • Frank

    • how to skin knuckles…its easy!

  • Joy

    • how to use a palm nailer and that the round thing is called a bolt.

As you can tell we have a variety of different things that we each have learned in the last 24 hours. The Lord has blessed us with a very diverse team. It has been a blessing working together an seeing everyone use their unique talents to bring glory to God.

We have been enjoying Mo’s daily challenges and our morning and evening devotions. We have been exploring together various aspects of God in small groups. The women have been much more faithful to meet together than the men.

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Job Site Day 1

First day on the job. Our construction supervisor is named Jamie, we also have three Americorps assistants: Joel, Steve, and Mike. We are working on three houses, all of which are in various stages of construction. The job site is located just east of the 110, for those of you who have been before. For those who haven’t its about 5 minutes from the beach, just east
of the Biloxi lighthouse. All the houses are on 10 foot stilts.


Steve, Jamie, Mike, and Steve

Today we split into four sub-teams:

Mo, Mathias and Daryl worked on attaching hurricane straps to keep the roof attached to the rest of the house in the event of a hurricane. They also put up scaffolding around the outside of one of the houses. They worked with Mike, who is from New York and is a second year volunteer with Americorps. Mike is in charge of getting the House roofed. He promised to catch anyone who is about to fall off the roof, including Daryl.


Mathias and Mo setting up scaffolding.

Helen, Hilda, Ron, and Yosh, worked with Joel on the stairs and deck leading into the back door of one of the houses. They are becoming experts in decking and stair building, they learned about smiling and frowning wood, among many other interesting facts. Pastor Ron was the guinea pig of the group, he had to try everything first before anyone else would do it.


Helen and Yosh working on the stairs with their supervisor, Joel

Frank and Joy, worked together to straighten out some of the beams holding the house up. They worked tirelessly to bend the warped boards back in to alignment.


Frank and Joy straightening out beams.

Carol and Steve were part of the window hanging crew. Steve took over the palm nailer for the bulk of the day. He and Steve, the Americorps assistant, hung windows while Carol taped the weather stripping on the outside and assisted the other teams with their tasks. She has became quite adept at moving up and down on the scaffolding.


Carol with her weather proof windows.
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First Day on The Job

Back safely from the job site. Everyone is showering, we’re all safe, just a little dusty. Weather was awesome, thanks to the Lord for providing. Steve barely broke a sweat, that was mainly because he was King of the palm nailer, but also because the it was cool and overcast all day with only very very light rain. More to come once we all clean up. Over all very good day. Praise the Lord.

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Lunch at Cafe New Orleans




We found it! We found the Cafe New Orleans, it was the place that last years men’s team went for lunch on their first day. We really enjoyed having some “Country Cajun Cooking”



The greeter



Joy was one of 6 team members who had the sampler



Carol and Yosh had the Po Boys



Frank had a shrimp salad



Shrimp Po Boy



Pork Chops and red beans and rice

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Wheels

When we got to the rental place there were only 4 cars left, so we got the leftover cars. As you can see the drivers were very un-happy with what we got.




Ron got his very own Cadillac Escalade!
(Steve thinks that Ron will want his one when he gets home)


Daryl is riding secret service style in a black Chevy Suburban


Mo is racing along in a Cadillac CTS

All joking aside we are very blessed that the Lord provided so much space for us. The Lord truly provided some awesome cars for us.

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Coed Team is En Route!

Coed Team at LAX

With all 11 team members and their respective MSG (Missionary Support Group) members in attendance, the first-ever Coed team met at LAX.

Pastor Kyle prayed over, and then encouraged each of the team members, reminding them that this is not necessarily about putting up walls with hammers and nails, but a time to bless others with their efforts. Each person was encouraged to stay focused on trying to “listen” to God throughout the trip not only for opportunities to share the love of God, but also to experience it for themselves as they serve.

Men from previous and the upcoming Katrina trip were present to bless, encourage. Chris, who will be returning to Biloxi in a few weeks with the men’s group, said he was not there in an official capacity, but remembers how encouraged he was when he was sent out for his own trip. It was important to him that this team knew how much we supported their efforts.

Returning team members are Team Leader Mo (All previous trips), Steve (all previous trips), Mathias and Frank (both returning since the first Men’s trip)

Helen, Hilda, Joy and Co-Team Leader Carol will be going for the first time. Daryl, Yosh and Pastor Ron will be going to Biloxi for the first time as well.