Day one: preparation Valdosta, GA

After a sprit filled Kairos weekend in Lowndes State Prison, I was shopping for the next mission and it is the cleanup effort in Louisiana and Mississippi. I must thank the Blacks (Mike and Patsy) for their generosity for enabling the trip.

Talked with Tim Hines this morning, communication had been hindered the first day or two of the week due to a severed fiber-optic cable. They’re back on now. We discussed some of the special immediate needs. The Tammany Oaks church has only been in operation for about three weeks – and they’ve been a resource center for the community ever since they opened! They are operating as a distribution center, three or four trucks coming in per day, moving goods in, shipping the same goods back out to people still in desperate need.

I have also spoken to my friend Steve Martin, who with his wife Alia has been ministering as youth minister at the Ocean Springs Church of Christ. Steve reports about 20 families at the church are doing major renovations i.e. tearing down sheetrock and bleaching the remains in series for sanitization. They have sheetrock ready to put on walls, but are waiting for insurance people to give the final word. Three or four families experienced total losses. The church building is OK and is also operating as a distribution center. (Jack and Rachel Hayes have family here)

Tim told me that there are so many needs from Valdosta to New Orleans, if I see any people who need me along the way, don’t feel like I have to rush over (even though I have help equipment!)

Spoke to Byron Brown, elder at Central Church of Christ Valdosta, his daughter Laura and her husband Scott were also affected, but they are doing well. I learned that the church has sent help divided between Tammany Oaks, Ocean Springs, and Houma.

As of this evening at 9pm, my packing includes:

One stihl 20” chainsaw and support equipment

18 gallons of bleach

20 packages of high potency (97%) deet bug spray

20 pair safety goggles

40 pair hearing protectors

5 pair workgloves

I will also be packing much of my personal equipment for handiwork such as my drill, skillsaw, drop cords, carpentry tools, woodcutting tools, paintbrush. I will bring my guitar and some music to lighten the hearts of the workers and the people. I may bring some paint brushes to paint something beautiful—something beautiful always comes from tragedy (remember the resurrection of Christ?)

This blog is meant to be a communication tool for my beloveds, so please see the link column to get more official words on the matters. These are being filtered through my ears and eyes and mind before I put them on a page. I will be placing some personal information of the places I’m staying so everyone will know I’m safe (in the arms of Jesus) and will know how to find me and contact me.

I’m thankful for my friends and family who are making my departure difficult with our discussions of whether to worry or not – all the pleasant meals and fellowshipping. Thanks, love you, miss you already.