ragamuffin

2007-04-26T05:12:00.001-04:00

Thanks for keeping an eye on me... I've closed down new posts onto this blog, but please check out brettandalicia.blogspot.com and keep up with our ministry in Ukraine.

Blessins-- still a ragamuffin----
Brett.

Ukraine Mission Work

2006-06-20T16:35:00.000-04:00

the plan

2006-02-16T00:24:00.000-05:00

Does anybody ever read this anymore?

The plan is to go to Ukraine for a visit to scout out a live-in mission work over there, sponsored by Ukraine Mission Work, boarded out of Texas.

We are currently on a visitation tour for our folks, we have been in Valdosta, and now are in West Virginia. We anticipate moving fast once it starts, so we are in preparation.

We are enjoying the first few months of marriage, our time reminds me of the Israelites who took a year off from war to work on their relationship. We've been blessed, but we are both anxious about having a place to live, a job to go to, and a church fellowship.

PLEASE KEEP UP WITH OUR TRIP VIA:

http://brettandalicia.blogspot.com

Links from the Relief Work Days

2006-01-26T17:13:00.000-05:00

NEW!!! Building Project Slideshow

Tammany Oaks Church

Katrina Relief Update Site

Columbus Mission to Mandeville

TOCC Disaster Relief

Tim Hines' Blog

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Central Church Valdosta

January 2006

2006-01-26T16:34:00.000-05:00

We’ve been doing a lot of traveling since the holidays. We both met each other’s families. In December, we had two Christmases, two weddings, two honeymoons. Visited lots of old friends along the way. It’s been a good time.

It’s been a month now since we left Mandeville and the Relief Work at Tammany Oaks Church of Christ. We didn’t know we wouldn’t be coming back when we left, but that’s how it has ended up. They are still doing the work and still need lots of hands.

We’ve been scouting out some mission work for the month of January. We traveled to Texas to meet with the Ukraine Mission Work’s board. We are still praying for God to open doors and illuminate them.

Brett and Alicia's Timeline so Far

2006-01-02T22:46:00.000-05:00

Timeline of Brett and Alicia so far…

September, Alicia travels to Mandeville, LA where Brett is already working at the Tammany Oaks Church of Christ in the Disaster Relief.

We met working together on different jobs; moving water on pallets, cleaning the Robinsons house

Alicia returns to West Virginia, knowing she would be back

Alicia feels like God is calling her to move to Louisiana, so she begins making arrangements

We keep in touch over the phone

Alicia Returns Nov 6 – our first "date" was at Copeland’s the second hour she was back

Brett begins visiting people in their homes, Alicia partners in this ministry. It was on these visits on the road, we started "joking" about justice of the peace signs we would see along the road.
Through time spent together and alone in daily prayers and Scripture readings, we believe that God was blending us together as a couple for His purposes.

On Saturday December 3, we had another date at the Café Dumonde in New Orleans. All joking aside about justices of peace—we tried to find someone who could marry us right then, but no luck at midnight in a half-paced New Orleans.

Not even knowing much about our relationship, Mike Hensley of Oakridge, Tenn, separately encouraged us to share our love with one another and to not be afraid of marriage, because it is such a wonderful thing. Thanks Mike!

Sunday, knowing we would have to take time off, we talked to Janet Hines about our intentions. "Awww! You guys!" Word had already gotten out that we were a cute couple.
Monday, Brett closed down some of his communications in the office from after devo until 2:30.

We went to the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse in Covington to get a marriage license. While we were at it, we got passport pictures.

After getting the paper work, we called Janet and Becky and told them to start rounding people up for a wedding at the building that night at 7pm. We started calling the Justices of Peace and found the Justice of the First Ward, Wally Porter, and started calling about honeymoon options (thanks Steve and Alia Martin).

We were buying our wedding bands two hours before the wedding. Our last dinner together as single people was at Petunia’s Place—Crawfish Bisque.

Our wedding was around 7:15pm at the "warehouse" at Tammany Oaks Church of Christ, Mandeville, Louisiana, the bride and groom were wearing yellow volunteer t-shirts and blue jeans, in the company of fellow volunteers and staff members of the Disaster Relief.

Update 12-15

2005-12-15T09:54:00.000-05:00

Progress Report on the Relief work Tammany Oaks Church of Christ
Sunday, December 11, 2005 by Brett White

Special Presentation today at Assembly : Ted Jackson, a shepherd at TOCC, also Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer showed a frame by frame presentation of his journey from the evacuation from Katrina, rescue operations, lootings, fires, deaths, floods, and cleanup operations.

Herald of Truth- On Thursday December 8, church leaders from around the area met with Steve Ridgell of the Herald of Truth Ministry out of Abilene, Texas. He presented us with the exciting offer of a radio spot broadcast on local radio stations, bringing a short message of hope and invitation to learn more about Jesus. Listeners will be encouraged to call an 800 number or contact their local Church of Christ. Those attending enthusiastically embraced the idea. But we need to gear up because the "fields are white for harvest and workers are few." (B. Gilbert)

Prayer Campaign - -Next Wednesday, we plan to start a designated forty days of prayer for all the people we have met and contacted through the relief work. Of course we have always been interested in meeting spiritual needs in addition to the physical needs, so we are praying the Lord to provide a way.

BIG MOVE- The "warehouse" (i.e. sanctuary) here at Tammany Oaks Church of Christ is about to be largely evacuated of all the relief supplies. The youth group is having an all-niter at the church and they are going to be using the facility. This is preparing the disaster relief team to get moved into the new warehouse in Robert, LA (down the road from Mandeville) by the end of the month. The facility is shaping up pretty nicely with lots of skilled labor volunteers coming to help get it ready to move into.

Marriage : Alicia Shrewsbury and I got married at the TOCC Church building Monday December 5, with staff and volunteers in attendance. The bride and groom were adorned in their yellow volunteer shirts and blue jeans. The ceremony was conducted by Justice Wallace Porter. We enjoyed our honeymoon this week at undisclosed locations in LA (lower Alabama). We met and married here at the Disaster Relief Ministry. She's from Hurricane, West Virginia (no lie).

I was a little late in sending this out…I fell ill to a bug, but I'm getting better all the time… God bless, Brett.

2005-12-11T21:06:00.000-05:00

Special Presentation today at Assembly: Ted Jackson, a shepherd at TOCC, also Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer showed a frame by frame presentation of his journey from the evacuation from Katrina, rescue operations, lootings, fires, deaths, floods, and cleanup operations.

Pictures are like trying to tell people about doing this relief work/trying to explain the scope of the problem here in Louisiana. You see the image and it's gripping, but you can go out to eat and forget about it when you walk away. Ted is a GIFTED photograper. I would normally say that I wish everyone here could have seen his presentation, but really, it would just be another attempt to explain everything and not conveying it. "The pictures don't do it justice... you would just have to see it for yourself." But thanks Ted, for trying to do it justice. The images were unforgettable.

Update 12-2-05

2005-12-03T18:33:00.000-05:00

Press Coverage
It’s good when the media expose news that will remind people about the efforts here—and what God is doing. We met Bobby Ross from the Christian Chronicle who already has excellent coverage up on the website. These were pictures taken earlier this week.

A television crew from WSET ABC channel 13 Lynchburg, Virginia followed a furniture shipment from Gleaning for the World Concorde, VA down to our warehouse, and into a survivor’s home. They spent more than a day filming the operation here and interviewing servants.

And concerning the article Nick wrote, we already have had a phone call from a team from Branson MO booking a trip for January.

Also, Check out the coverage in Time magazine.

Progress on Building
The original powerpoint presentation aimed for starting work on Dec 1 and having occupation by the end of the month, but it’s starting to look a lot like occupation by Dec 15. We still need plumbers, a mason, a master electrician, and carpenters. The sooner the better! We are really looking forward to this growth move.

Expanding Capacity
Many of the churches of Christ relief groups were invited this week to Camp New Orleans in Algiers, a tent city run by Deployed. Usually a housing unit for emergency workers, currently housing contractors, home inspectors, and soon to be housing FEMA workers getting kicked out of their hotel rooms. We were given staying rights here. Carrolton Avenue and Hilltop are planning to use this facility a lot—it’s a good set up and close to the work. We could use this for overflow, virtually freeing up our capacity to basically however many people will come and be willing to stay off campus.

Appliances
Many of the appliances sent down by Churches of Christ Disaster Relief out of Nashville are being given to good homes. I’ve been very blessed to be able to visit homes for the screening process that usually ends up turning into precious moments of encouragement and prayer.

Prayers
If you are interested in praying for some of the people who have been helped in the relief effort specifically by name, I will send you a list so that you can include them in your daily prayers.

2 You From Me 4 Him
The Christmas toys have already started coming in from all over to distribute for the kids who lost their toys during the storms. Call the church or email Jessica Toyoufromme4him@hotmail.com

Greatest Needs – Our greatest need of all time is more volunteers. If you can schedule to come down, you will always be put to work.
Booking Calendar: click here
Booking a Group: send Brett an email s.brett.white@gmail.com

Update from last week

2005-12-03T18:22:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't been writing so much blog-wise (I wonder if that word has ever been used before?) So besides making up words, I've been really busy down here. I don't know if I told you, but I've been shifted from the "physical" work at the operation here to the "spiritual" work. Mostly, I've been doing visiting. Many of the visits are to "screen" for appliance giveaways via Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc., out of Nashville. They always turn into ministry opportunities.

Isn't God crafty? I thought I wasn't going to be doing full time ministry after leaving Savannah. Sure, that's where my heart is, but I feel like my buttocks were burned in the ministry game. I was sick of politics and didn't want to "play the game" that ministers do in institutional churches. But he got me in the back door by this physical work going on here with this ministry, and ends up... I'm back in the ministry side of things. I'm not really employed as a minister per se, but my role here has shifted that way. Not that God needs me "being a minister" but I need this. It's feeding me deep.

Hey, so here's an update from last week:

My buddy and brother Nick Diamantides was published in the Word Net Daily, an article on the work here. Click here for a link to it.

Thanksgiving
The staff and entire volunteer regiment served 1600 meals in Lafitte on Wednesday. We have about 40 Volunteers here for Thanksgiving holidays. The local staff from the church fed all of us in a scrumptious meal! It was wonderful.

Starfish report
Every week that goes by, a few more git-r-dun’s are taken off the big stack. But there are always more to put in their place. We have sent some crews into Chalmette which is one starfish out of many. Trucks are still rolling, supplies are still being sent to the greatest places of need.
On new building:
Volunteers from Indiana and Maryland (and other places) did a Thanksgiving Day “sweep” of the new place—organized and stacked all the building materials, did a lot of cleaning, and some electricians knocked out a portion of the wiring. One step closer to moving in.

NEEDS
For the new building project, we still need to schedule:
· Plumber – setting kitchen and bathroom plumbing, showers, sinks
· Electricians – fixtures, main panel, lighting
· HVAC- Air units and ductwork
· Carpenters – framing, finishing, decking
· Mason- office section of building (on front)
· Miscellaneous- Drop ceiling installation, sheetrock, flooring, security system

IF you are interested in helping with the new building, please keep in close contact about the progress. We can always use you for “anything that’s needed” but if you come down here for a specific trade skill, we want you to do what you came for and don’t want it to be DONE when you get here.
PowerPoint Presentation for Building Project

strange stories

2005-11-25T01:36:00.000-05:00

An elderly couple was helped by one of our crews this week. They had stayed in their home through the storms. Their home was damaged, but luckily, they were not. A tree punched through the ceiling and roof of the back of their home. Most of the time when this happens, much water comes in. In their case, the place where the limb made a hole was directly over the bathtub... all the water that came in the house went straight down the drain.

*************************************************************************
That sounded like smart luck, huh? Well there's always a counter-story...

Down in the southwestern most Parrish near Holly Beach, all but about two homes were left standing. One was a trailer that not even FEMA could explain why it wasn't destroyed. One other house actually survived outright. One habitable house out of 500! But when the cold snap came through a few days ago, the owner lit a fire in the fireplace... he didn't know that the chimney had shifted during the high winds and some of the fire jumped out from the chimney onto the roof and set the whole house afire so much that it burned the whole thing to the ground.

Dumb luck, that.

Thanksgiving picture post

2005-11-25T01:27:00.000-05:00

In the feed line

At the banqueting table

In the praise session

A thank you note from the volunteers

Happy Thanksgiving

2005-11-25T00:24:00.000-05:00

The first thing I did today was called my people in Valdosta. The family is gathered at the White House. I stayed stowed up in my little pop up trailer as much as possible. I stayed in my jammies until almost five o’clock in the p.m. Read two chapters from Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz. Played many songs on the guitar. Went running around the block beside the church building. Many people from the church supplied the volunteers a great Thanksgiving meal. We had a wonderful chapel service. I’m amazed at the intensity of spiritual highs that people get here.

My buddy and brother Nick Diamantides was published in the Word Net Daily, an article on the work here. Click here for a link to it.

Community of Jean Lafitte

2005-11-23T22:38:00.000-05:00

More things have been happening that have never happened before:

Every volunteer in at Camp Tammany went to Barataria BC for mass food distribution. We've been working with their preacher Wayne since the beginning. They are the only church helping people in the area. The barriers of religion can come down as long as people are doing things in the name of Christ. I haven't posted pictures in a while, but there will be some great ones from today.

We drove two trucks down into an area 8 miles from Texas to a church able to distribute. (again, pictures later). It was Holly Beach... used to be 500 homes-- reduced to rubble. And all this from RITA, not Katrina. It didn't look like a place houses used to be. It looked like someone had been dumping their trash on the beach; including partial slabs of concrete, truck axles, telephone poles, tanker ship trash.

I was putting bread in the meals today across from Brenda-- she's from here. She was telling me about the people down in the bayou. Her description was something like this:

We were talking about the heels of bread and I was asking why they weren't using what I thought was one of the best parts.

It's Winn Dixie bread... the middle parts aren't even too good. But these
people will be thankful... they are used to hard times. They are
resilient. They are always eager to help other people but they don't ever
want to ask for help. They will refuse help if they know someone out there
who needs it more than they do. Yes, they're used to hard times.
This area is used to being flooded ever so many years. They're tough, but
they just go on.

*******************************************************************

Bruce was wearing this shirt that "didn't look like him" today. When I asked, he introduced a term I haven't heard before: "This is hurricane clothing. I was up in Atlanta, didn't have any clothes, and I got a good deal on this one."

*******************************************************************

When Kally Wyatt and the boys were in town this weekend, I was looking for a Bible to do some daily reading on. THE MESSAGE was sitting there, a version that I haven't had much experience with. After Kally giving me a good sell on it, ensuring me that it would enhance my faith and understanding (much like I experienced when I read the LIVING BIble one time... understood nuances like never before). Read it and love it! It's a good reading version for "story" and poetry.

*******************************************************************

I've been visiting a lot of homes lately. Checking out applicants for appliance give-aways. It's been such a blessing being able to visit. Every time my job description shifts, it seems like I always end up with the best job around.

*******************************************************************

Still living, just not writing as much

2005-11-20T00:45:00.000-05:00

Ya'll who read this blog, sorry for the long gaps.

Tired and busy.

Dad has given me speeches about what to look for with depression.

I've had some tough battles with relationships that have broken our hearts.

God continues to draw me nearer to Him, and that's often through trials.

I've learned of people talking about me and criticizing without going through proper Biblical channels (offendor first, then with witnesses, then before church). But God teaches me to love and forgive.

I think I'm supposed to be resting more and taking more time with The Lord more. It's so easily justified to figure that there's so much of the Lord's work going on all about that "quiet time" is not an option. But that's a lie. It's actually a requirement-- not in a legalistic type way, but just for the path to peace that God is plowing in our hearts.

I realize that my journaling has become somewhat reflectional, but that's just where I am right now. I know pictures are "funner"

I'm starting to do more visiting with the people and that's been a huge blessing. I think maybe God may be drawing me back into "full time ministry" despite my aversion to the system. Life's just too short not to be living the way God gifted us to thrive most. Still a ginormous gap exists between the way people feel when they know they are ministered to by volunteers and by "paid ministers"

I met two men today both of whom lost family in the hurricane's aftermath. One just got his mother's body from the Feds Tuesday. There are still over 300 unclaimed bodies.

I've been learning a lot about FEMA and the whole process. Did you know that unless impoverished before the storm, everyone is required to fill out an application through the Small Business Administration? It's part of the "system" of getting help from FEMA. And you can't get anything until you make that application process happen. People are afraid of getting the loan, so they don't fill it out. But they can't get help unless they do fill it out. The gist is that the uneducated are the ones who lose because the system must be explained in the funked up way that it is, which doesn't make sense to most people.

Had an amazing presentation at a staff meeting:

I want to tell you of a group of people who were thrust into a ministry together. They were all different backgrounds, of all diverse talents, diverse strengths and weaknesses, there were some who were better at some things than others. They had a leader who would quietly pray for them and pray that they would simply just get along and do well.

Everybody knew the story was about us. We have been living together like church camp that has lasted 12 weeks. Tensions have run high. Janet prays for us and tries to hold us together. We all do different jobs. Some people click with others and some people clash with others. So then Becky flips the page on the chart to reveal the group she was talking about.

Peter
Andrew
James
John
Phillip
Bartholemew
Thomas
Matthew
James
Thaddeus
Simon
Judas

Their leader tried to hold them together. Tried to get them together on the things that mattered most: Loving one another. Sometimes they just didn't get it. There was always a power struggle as to who would be the greatest among them. But he stuck with them and stayed faithful to his own call that he had given them, not because they were deemed worthy to fulfill the task.

Simple Beauty

2005-11-14T18:36:00.000-05:00

We call it a disaster because of how it's affected us men.

But how do you explain all the beauty in the world?

Why do we always start questioning God when the things happen that we consider bad, thing that affect us adversely?

Look at the wind blowing through the trees.
Feel the warmth of a sunbeam.
Smell a soft flower.
Hear a coo of a baby with their mom

Where are the people who question God those wonderful things happen?

It's ridiculous to think of someone demanding an explanation for joy and beauty. Because when it's there, it's not questioned, but often taken for granted.

But maybe we should demand an explanation.

After being down here in Lousiana for Katrina Recovery, I have not yet gotten into even one of those conversations of WHY? with anyone-- they're just too busy trying to get back to a new normal.

And babies still coo.
Flowers are still pretty (and even growing out of MUCK!!)
A lot of trees have fallen, but most of them still stand and those that do
still wave majestically in the wind.

Instead of complaining when any event disturbs my life on a scale of inconvenience to tragedy, I pray for the wisdom to ask whether or not I NEEDed to be disturbed? or Interrupted?

Why?

Had I stopped noticing the beauty?

Or maybe I started thinking beauty is all there was and needed to be reminded of the realness of suffering?

Actually, I believe this wonderful, miserable world is a balance of both beauty and pain (example: childbirth). It's wonderful because God made it, it's miserable because it's just temporary and God has bent us to need something more than things of this earth.

I know it's too easy to let life happen as it goes, just to be satisfied...

Sometimes I don't pay enough attention to the suffering

And too often, I don't remember to notice the beauty, the things that are too good to be normal.

Normal. That's just where the middle of life is-- beauty on one side and suffering on the other.

I think God invites disiples to visit suffering often and lofty things will result:

we get the appreciation of beauty in greater intensity than before. Joy and suffering are a package deal
we get to meet people where God is-- in the face of suffering.

He wants there to be a family reunion in places of suffering...

some are doing the suffering

and some relieve suffering, share the burden

Remember Deuteronomy 15:11 "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."

Always poor

Always naked

Always hungry

Always imprisoned (big ups to Kairos LSP)

Always disaster

Always beauty

Always believe

Always hope

Always love

Joshua 1:9 . . .Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

More blessings

2005-11-09T02:43:00.000-05:00

Sunday:

Almost like a day off... good church Sunday. Carrolton Avenue Church visited with us enmasse because their building isn't fit to worship in now.
Ate at Copelands which is fine New Orleans Cuisine
Visited the Robinsons, which you may remember from an earlier post. Only Jackie Robinson was home. He reported that everyone was doing well. We dropped off some backpacks for the kids.
Cafe Dumonde. Must I say more?

Monday:

I'm sitting here in the office a lot getting things like press packages and power point presentations put together.

Tuesday:

Same thing.

Still loving it though. I really look forward to chapel. We have a small group, but singing is still good-- because we love doing it. Don McMillon is a good song leader. He and Kathy are sojourners from Rochester, MN.

I'm in the market for a laptop. Would like one of those tablet PC's because of their flexibility of use. I will be more productive on it because I can jot things down and file it away.

Gotta get back to it. It's late, but wanted to report.

Here's something fun:

Stacey Hooper is here and she named and color coded our fleet of Penske trucks as follows:

(you know, to distinguish which yellow truck is which)

The green one is Claremore
The red one is Rosenkranz
The yellow one is Clifford
The blue one is Buelah
The White one is Whitfield

thankfulness

2005-11-05T00:42:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here having been blessed. My prayer tonight is for the people out there who don't know the sheer joy of sitting in an assembley of saints who aren't thinking of or doing anything but praising God.

Our group here this weekend is larger, about 67 people (about 9 earlier this week)-- a group led by an old friend of mine Bobby Crews who also led a youth group to the church when I was preaching in Key West; another good size group from Harding all traveled down in their cars, about 27 of them. We have a group from Indiana, Columbus OH, Haiti & Illinois, Tennessee ladies who've been here many times, and a hand full of long-termers.

Went to an Solis Elementary school as agents of Nickelodeon, passing out bookbags and blessing the children while they were blessing us with their smiles and thankfulness.

Enjoyed lunch with Mike Fox, good buddy of the family, preacher at Hickory Knoll. One of our fun missions today was buying and delivering food for a blind sister from the congregation. He toured me of their building, which was insured for the damages, but they will be out of sorts for at least a year, their auditorium uninhabitable due to wind damage on the roof.

I'm reminded of the need to be thankful... so many people have blessed my life and I more often than not fail to send a card or some token of appreciation. I really hurt today for the people who don't know God's love. I pray he can make that pain grow until I'm bothered so much I'll speak up more for Christ, my Lord. He'll work a good work within me, He is faithful.

Chicken drop Belle Chasse and good family time

2005-11-04T00:36:00.000-05:00

Blue Roofs.

From the sky it looks like everyone has a swimming pool on top of their homes.

Paul and I drove a truck over to Belle Chasse today, dropped off frozen chickens to the school system. They appreciated it, they are going to feed the children with it. The lady on the right is Donna, she's in charge of the parish's school food services.

After that, we visited the church of Christ in Belle Chasse (pronounced Bell Chase) . They have an operation going on there, as well. They are doing some unique things: when someone comes in and gets assistance of any kind, they make them write out a thank you card. They have had some really sweet things written down. They also have a set of grocery carts in the building for people shopping for food and supplies. They just carry them out to their car with them down the handicapped ramp at the building.

This is Barbara. She's lived down here her whole life. All her friends are from here. She worked in the food service industry (restaurants-- waiting tables, cooking) her whole life. She finally moved on up and started her own restaurant: Barbara's. Then Katrina, now Barbara d0esn't have a way to make a living anymore.

Supplies for Hialeah Church of Christ

2005-11-01T23:36:00.000-05:00

Brett and Paul with members of Christ from Hialeah

Working hard to unload family boxes which give all supplies needed for a family of four for five days.

An hermano from the church carrying a family box for a lady from the community.

Johnathan Hines from Mandeville and Mark Herrera of Hialeah

First Response Aid to Wilma's Miami-- Sunrise Community Christian

2005-11-01T17:42:00.000-05:00

We left a generator and some food. They were having services in the parking lot the next morning and were handing out the food to the congregation. Paul and Carla Behrenberg hosted us for a break in their home.

Fluid Ministry

2005-10-27T22:22:00.000-04:00

Fluid ministry would mean that it changes all the time, like water, which matches relief from floods and hurricanes. It was a different place when I got to Tammany Oaks and I'll BE in a different place tomorrow for an extension of the relief effort down here in Louisiana.

I'm riding tomorrow with Paul Crites down to Sunrise and Hialeah, Florida, loaded with a truck of water and food, chainsaws, and gas cans for some quick relief of the Wilma survivors. So pray for travel graces.

Spoke to Mike Clark of Valdosta on the phone today, he's Blessed and he's not afraid to say so.

Met Ralph Coles from Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc. out of Nashville today. He's the Coordinator of Outreach and Follow-up on a follow up mission with one of the board members. They are staying here a few days, will be visiting with Fred Franke tomorrow. What an awesome ministry! They help people. They are sending some food boxes down to Florida, which is why we are only taking a small set. Their trucks will be leaving to get there about the time we will get there.

Fred gave a couple of elders from Woodland West Church in Arlington TX a tour today of the devastated churches of Christ and some of the other damage, much like he did for Janet, Rhonda and I on Tuesday.

I heard that White's Ferry Road has a mission to help out some of the Church of Christ preachers in hurricane effected areas with salary deficits due to familes and contributions leaving their congregations. The Texas brethren were surprised how few COC's there were in as big a town as New Orleans anyway. And now they're mostly ruined and taking many steps back.

I drove a truck to be serviced at the Penske dealership in New Orleans. Driving back, I was blessed in my time spent with Wayne Newland, a volunteer from Maine. Our discussions were focused on our Restoration Movement heritage. He came down here because he had told his church that he was already going to the Restoration Forum in Lexington KY, so he may as well go down to help with the Katrina relief effort... so they sent him. We spoke of our own journeys, Leroy Garrett (whom he wrote this article link about), and to cap off the day, he carried me to buy some pigma pens (for marking Bibles), then he went and bought me a Dr. Pepper. Good guy for that alone.

We moved a lady this morning named Kay. She has rheumatoid arthritis and had to move from her apartment to more of a retirement village. All of her neighbors seemed to love her and were taking care of her in a fine display of community. Get this: some of her furniture in her upstairs apartment were ruined by molds because the first floor in the complex were flooded! It wafted up through the floors. She can only get around good in her mobile chair and she had one of those lift chairs like my Meemaw has that got ruined. The insurance company said that she couldn't get another one because it wasn't necessary for living. They must not have family members who have one. pray for Kay.

One last thing: There's some girls from Wisconsin Tammy and Sadie who traveled down in a converted school bus/camper by the name of the blue whale. Jerry, it was awesome. I'll try to take pictures. An Airstream trailer is still my dream home, though-- for those of you who didn't know that.

A driving tour

2005-10-26T11:13:00.000-04:00

Just riding down the street, you'll see:

Trash heaped up on the sides

Appliances that cannot be used anymore

Downed Power poles

Wrecked Homes

Wrecked Church Buildings

Police Barriers forbidding entrance into former neighborhoods

Even there are local ordinances against such advertising, contractors and lawyers have cheap tacky signs posted all over the place. In these areas, an occasional contractor truck is the traffic.

Back in Louisiana

2005-10-26T00:37:00.000-04:00

Visiting Hilltop
I drove the Thing back to Valdosta on the afternoon of October 11th. Since Tim was back from Honduras, I wasn't expected to send off the "troops" in the morning, so I joined our friends at Hilltop. There I met Jerry Wyatt Trapp, an elder and go getter from the Hilltop Church in El Segundo. The mission of Tammany Oaks' Volunteer army and The Hilltop Rescue in Slidell have come to a point of planning the next phase of construction. The destruction and the "first aid" to the homes will not last forever and people will need to rebuild. While I was gone there were meetings and there are plans being made to take it to the next level. Will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, our friends at Hilltop are going through transitions with Jesse going back home to Tacoma and Rick moving to California for work. But thank God Vicki is still around and so many other great volunteers that are making it happen!

Deeper Service
Before I left, Janet, Tim and I had a conference call with Brad Hayes about making sure that the relief effort doesn't fizzle out. There is a joint effort of beefing up the web presence, see servantsunite.org The Spring Road Church of Christ and so many volunteers from there and elsewhere have been helping as much as anyone locally... that is to say that this effort has been a major uniting point for many-- as many have bore the burdens, many should get recognition. But we're all about sending the glory up to God who allows us to bless his name in serving.

While I was gone
Things change so rapidly in this fluid service. Just before I left, we phased out of serving individuals from the lobby, i.e. shut down the store.

Distribution has become focused through the schools. Backpacks are being handed out at elementary schools filled with goodies such as school supplies, other important paper products!, personal hygiene, food, and cleaning supplies. We have some partnering organizations such as Nickelodeon and the Bruce Willis Foundation who are supplying the stuff and we get to hand out the goodies and bless the children!

As I returned
today flying via Cincinnatti back to New Orleans, I was greeted Janet and Rhonda picking me up. They asked me if I was hungry... so we went to dined at Chevy's with Fred Franke, elder at the Carrolton Street Church of Christ. Fred is a dedicated servant of God who has given up his business to answer the call to help the church of New Orleans. Pray for this man. And his family. And the churches of course. There are few servants dedicated to the level that Fred has sacrificed in the past eight weeks--and for probably YEARS to come. I didn't count the number of phone calls he received while we were riding with him this afternoon where his side of the conversation was solely variants of "it'll be all right"s.

I want you to stop reading what I'm writing and go follow the link to servants unite and read
the opening paragraph about New Orleans returning to normal. Brad said it better than I can, but I'll say again... don't you believe that New Orleans is anywhere close to normal-- now or anytime in the near future. Did you see the pictures on the Carrollton Street Church website?

Well these pictures were taken just today:

The sign of the Elysian Fields Church: See that line? That's one of the sediment marks from flood waters that stood for over a week.

The stair well leading into the basement of Elysian Fields Church of Christ. The water mark is barely above your ankle on the first floor, but look what it did in the basement. You would think a couple of inches wouldn't hurt much, but there was mold in the pews... and you can't just get it off.

The SONGS OF THE CHURCH serves as a reference mark so you can see the mold spots. I wonder whose pew this was? You know how everybody has their section that they like to sit in church. Where do you think the Church of Christ's are meeting now? Have you ever thought about that?

Welcome to the Crowder Blvd Church of Christ. This is what's left of the front lobby.

Crosses over broken glass shards.

I stood on the stage to take this picture. That's the lecturn tossed up against the side of the baptistry. The orange you see are pews that were thrown onto the stage by the waters.

Look at this picture. This is the reason I'm here in New Orleans so I can show you the depth of hurt. Look at this. I tried to pick this Bible up, but it was cemented to the carpet by that brown crusty mud. It's been eight weeks and this church is still untouched. It's exposed to the outdoors, just like in the pictures above. Thousands of people have been served immediate needs like water and food. 100's of volunteers have come through who have sacrificed their time, service and vacations. But still all these church buildings that are THIS BAD! Can you stand it?!

Comfort follows pain
Some dear friends of mine are in Africa right now, four of them dedicating at least two years of each of their lives toward loving the multitude of children orphaned and often infected by AIDS. Hope For Africa

The Tim Hines family lives in Honduras building homes for poor people and feeding them, loving them. Torch is finishing up a children's home in December Lord willing. Mi Esperanza is teaching women a trade so they won't have to depend upon infidels for their sustenance. IRC

So there's sad stories everywhere and you could spend your money, time, and tears to many good causes.

I was on the plane today and this young mother was holding her baby in her arms. The baby was crying-- LOUD. She was speaking words of comfort to her in such a way that she was really apologizing to every bothered adult around her. I thought if I even looked over there it would make her feel bad, so I just stayed into my book (Blue Like Jazz). I thought about babies and how they cry--they are often so soon to be comforted. Maybe by a bottle, or a diaper change, or just the familiar ga-ga's of their mom may convince them that everything's all right. Crying their heads off one minute and cooing the next.

Crying isn't so comfortable to adults as it is to the babies. Grown men fight back tears so hard our bodies convulse from the battle. Or even worse, we believe the lie having conditioned ourselves into "real men (who) don't cry."

Well God has touched my heart so much lately that I feel like I'm always sitting on the next cry. There is so much heartache in this world and God expects me to share some of it with those who are weeping amid the fires of pain.

You know that song "GOD IS SO GOOD"? Well He is. God's whole existence is being good to people. And He's been good to ME is about the most profound theological realization of them all. I accept God's goodness. I'm jealous of it. I'm selfish of it, because I want it all!

I'm OK with crying and I long to share my tears with people who are hurting. The tears are a gift from God to those who are hurting. A God-like presentation of shared sufferings with those who are crippled by their pains. Comfort is the next thing after crying.

If you can't come to Mandeville to help, if you can't send money, then like the prophets of old, I call you heretofore hired to cry. Process the world problem of AIDS in Africa and all the lost children. Be bothered that there are people who still don't have a home in Honduras and even so in the USA. Let it cause you pain in your heart that so many people have suffered and are not anywhere near normal down here in Lousiana. The process of mourning should lead to prayer and calling out to God for an answer to this shared pain. Perhaps he will answer us. Perhaps we'll be prompted to stop crying and start doing more. Maybe our consciences may no longer allow us to accept comfort in any situation without sharing the sufferings of those who haven't found the blessing of comfort yet.

Comfort is the next thing after crying.

Walk To Emmaus

2005-10-21T11:02:00.000-04:00

I've been back in Georgia for many days, now, traveling back with the express purpose of attending South Georgia Walk to Emmaus #62. To borrow words from a worship song, it was beautful beyond description. I didn't know how God was going to bless me any more than I have been while serving in Louisiana, but He had a plan to get me back in touch with my loved ones in Georgia and also meet many new brothers. I now have a wonderful "great cloud of witnesses" whom I know are praying constantly for my fourth day mission in Louisiana or wherever God sees fit to send me by His mercies.

2005-10-12T07:02:00.000-04:00

the elders' statement

2005-10-11T03:07:00.000-04:00

A couple of the elders stood before the Tammany Oaks congregation Sunday and encouraged the church members and volunteers from all over. They gave an overview of the work that has been done at Tammany Oaks. It's been six weeks since God called them into this ministry under the darkness of Katrina. They continue to look to God for His guidance.

quote of the day

2005-10-11T03:04:00.000-04:00

I don’t want to go back to church and dress up and everything be nice and pretty. What we’ve been doing here is real church, it’s getting dirty and helping people. --Angie G.

The operation

2005-10-11T00:23:00.000-04:00

The Git r dun board.

We clear debris

We tarp roofs

We de-muck houses

While someone is back at camp cooking us dinner.

These are our showers

We do chapel twice:

in the morning to pump us up and send us out--

in the evening to talk about where we saw Jesus

Trucks come in and go out

The warehouse

Volunteers come from everywhere across the states.

All part of the same kingdom

Thursday October 6, 2005

2005-10-06T23:26:00.000-04:00

A half day of rest
They blessed me with a half day of rest yesterday. By "force" Becky took me to her home and sent me to the bathroom where this fantastic invention named "hot water" abides, then she left while I bathed and returned with a plate of a fantastic concoction of shrimp, round hollow noodles, scrumptious cheese, marinara AND alfredo sauce. Mmm. Then I was going to sit down and dig in the word, but ended up snoozing until time to get back for dinner and evening devotional.

HILLTOP
In the morning, Jason Chesser and I loaded up some appliances for Hilltop camp and took them over. If I never told you before, it's a work-camp ran by brother Machen and his son Rick. They are from Slidell and Rick's house was totaled. But he continues to help people get on their feet before taking care of his own. They are different from Tammany Oaks-- some people just won't wear a shirt with a church's name on it. So they get people from all over, from all walks of life. Their mechanic, Rich, is not a believer, though he grew up going to church said, "I've seen more true Christians since I've been working here than I've ever seen in my life." That's strong. Rich was also visibly touched and shaken when he was telling me that someone had told him that he was an answer to a prayer!

We filled up 100 gallon tank of diesel for the work crews and came on back. It was good to visit with my buddy. He mucked one day and really got his hands dirty, then I talked him into hanging with me the next day. I told him he served me whilst he was here.

JOYCE
She doesn't know this, but someone put us up to knocking on her door that day. Her dead husband's brother told us while we were there cutting down the tree on Saturday. He said that she was in denial about the condition of her home and that she was trying to do it all herself. De-mucking is not work for the timid, older folks, or for widows! We broke her in slowly, first by doing her yard work with the dream team from Saturday, plus Corey who climbed up into trees to cut down limbs. Corey was with Starr from New York. The second day, we came back and did just one room. The whole time, we would apologize for having to do this to her home... and tell her regretably that the things that she said she wanted to keep were going to have to go. When those flood waters hit anything, the whole thing is just ruined. You would think that you could get a little water and bleach and fix it, but it's too much yuck for that. We finally returned today and finished her up. A brother on the way back had a fender bender on the causeway.

The Montagut experiment
We tried something new with farming out some of our volunteers to other churches. We sent Brad Childers and the group from Providence Road Church of Christ down to Montagut to the South Terrabonne Church of Christ. Don Neyland is the preacher there (yes, sister Kelley, THAT Neyland is in his family tree!) . They de-mucked houses with lots and lots of mud and visited with the church there.

Brad walked in on Don praying in his office and he was visibly upset. When he finished, Brad asked him what was going on and Don said that out of 55 members, about three families are moving away from the church and moving to Houma.

The team worked themselves out of a job, so they, disappointed, drove back. Arriving about lunchtime, they fed and went out and did a job. The man they had to borrow a lawnmower from got to talking to them, telling how he had been a music minister for a church and ended up having bad marriage problems and leaving the church. They asked him what he was going to do and he mentioned that he may move to North Carolina, not knowing that these men he was talking to were from the same town! He took this as a sign from God bringing him back into the fold and they all promised to keep in touch.

Providing a channel of ministry
Brother Brad Hayes did the devotional message and quoted this phrase concerning the Tammany Oaks Church of Christ. That's exactly what's going on here. It's wonderful to see God working so mightily every day. I'm tired, but it's worth it.

We're looking forward to seeing Tim come back for a while, and I'm looking forward to taking some time off. I'm planning to "walk" when I get back to Valdosta. Then I'll take some time and then have a camping/canoing trip planned before I get back to Louisiana. Much love to the peoples.

Update on the Mission

2005-10-05T00:37:00.000-04:00

We got in a truckload of appliances: refrigerators, ovens, washer and dryers. To give to people.

We have made some well-needed improvements on the facilities to make them more liveable for the "residents." Remember this was a church worship hall for only three weeks before God made it a ministry center! We got some power hookups installed for pull-behind trailers. Got an industrial size cooler in the dining room-- to replace the six or seven coolers we had to trip over to get drinks. The washer is now tied into the sewer through the clean-out. I finally got my own computer in the Relief Effort office. I haven't said much about my co-workers, but they are awesome people: Janet Hines, Becky Gilbert, Rhonda, Marcus, Pat, Lana (have a good vacation), Tracy, Tod, and of course Tim-- who is not working with me but away from me! And to many others, big ups.

The operation here at Tammany Oaks is a resource center to other churches in the area who have been hit hard. We sent out a group from Providence Road "down on the bayou" to help some of the folks gut out their flooded homes, church folks from the Montagut church. They'll stay a couple of days. Also sent supplies, then the crew stayed the night at the church in Lafitte. We're sending another truck and crew tomorrow there.

about the Montagut church

An 80 year old man from the church was up in a tree on an EXTENSION ladder tied on with a CHAINSAW trying to cut down a limb by himself. He said he had to come down before he got it cut because he said he lost feeling in his back and had to lie down.
A little old lady from the church was found in water covering her wheelchair up to about 18" before she was rescued. This was just a week ago with Rita.

Most of the New Orleans church buildings have been ravaged. One of the preacher from here, an old friend of the White family told me that he wept when he visited one. It seems that forward looking churches like North Atlanta are shopping to support a church and nurture it during the re-building stages. We are sending a big crew to the Carrolton Ave. congregation first thing in the morning. Will report later on details.

Volunteers we have a capacity to hold about 100 comfortably in the building. The number fluctuate greatly and it's a constant challenge. There are churches who have made committments of regularly sending members for as long as needed. We've had some great people coming by-- some alone, some couples, and groups from three to over sixty. Jason Chesser, my college roomate is here for a few days.

I saw the Mandeville Lakefront today with Janet. I had never seen it before, but the sleepy and pretty little town of Mandeville "across the lake"-- won't be the same for a long time.

Now for a little fun. These are some names of volunteers and people we've helped who have celebrity names:

Jim Lovell

Bill Cosby

James Taylor

Joseph Wheeler

Ray Robinson

Robert Frost

and of course, Charles and Linda White

good night.

God's Team

2005-10-04T23:33:00.000-04:00

Nick from Oregon, Starr from New York, Danielle from Wisconsin via Tennessee, Melanie from Peagram, Tennessee, and Brett from Valdosta, Georgia. All children of God's.

Floyd Parker is a good friend to me and professor of mine from my Southern Christian days. We used to exchange ideas about God and sometimes we would just keep them to ourselves, because it seemed that to try to put them into words, it would spoil the sacredness of them.

I feel that way about this team God blessed me to be a part of on Saturday. The works God did in our hearts and through our hands was holy like the lips of Isaiah that were touched by the hot coals. It was not us ministering, but God through his Holy Spirit. Oh that we would stand back and let God work!

That song "If we are the Body" is being lived out here in Louisiana. I'm reminded of the Scriptures in 2 Corinthians about me being a jar of clay and the glory of the Lord abiding in here. Who am I that He is mindful of me? I rejoice that God allows us to be a part of his work. He wants every Christ-follower to know the joy of alleviating suffering, to add joy to someone's heart by taking away just one little burden that they will not have to bear alone. And blessed are those who suffer. For they will be comforted!

One of the elders at the church, Ambrose told me tonight that he wished he could be here more. And he knew the importance of the ministry happening here. He said, "We must not forget."

There are so many miracles here. I haven't used that word much before because I was taught that they don't happen anymore. But I don't believe that any longer. Because it's a miracle that God transforms sinners like me into instruments of his peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much

seekto be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Asissi

The Robinsons

2005-10-04T22:30:00.000-04:00

Friday September 30, New Orleans

This family was living in shelters since Katrina. The picture doesn't show all eight children. See that small house that they all live in? A team of us cleaned it up; we went there with them the first time since the storm. We had to break-in because a friend had locked the door with a chain to prevent looting. They didn't get flood damage but the roof had broken because it was rotten. With all respect to the family, they were poor. "Jesus said blessed are the poor... " You may say, "Brett, you didn't finish that passage correctly..." But when was the last time Jesus talked about how important THINGS were? Things get ruined by floods. Winds. By trees falling on them. But check out these pictures of these kids.

They were glad to be back home. Some of you remember being poor and what it was like when you finally got over letting someone help you. The Robinsons were keeping appliances worse than the ones we had been throwing away in other places. But Ray has his own business of hauling and he should have plenty of work coming up in the months to come.

A brother and sister from Ohio gave them their van. I told Mrs. Robinson that the way God works is that he blesses us and expects us to return the blessings to others. That any time that she sees someone that needs help, remember that her van was God's chariot, to be used for good. That's easy for me to preach when I know the value of that minivan, but often don't know the value of my own gifts that God gave me. God, I pray to be a shrewd manager of every THING, every thought, every idea, every talent, every resource you give away so freely.

I don't mean to be preachery writing this blog, but the pictures are worth many words, but not even words can express the blessings of being able to help people and ask them just to thank God in return. I wish you could all be here.

Friday Night everything's all right

2005-09-30T23:02:00.000-04:00

I've been real busy in this adminstrative stuff. In the past two days:

We got a pallet puller! If you have ever shipped freight, you know about pallet jacks, forklifts, wrapping flats. Pallet pullers look like the old ice carrying hooks with teeth! You can hook the chain onto the forklift, the other end to the puller, and the scissor-action forces the teeth to bite into the middle skid as you pull it to the lip of the truck.
We got rollers in the storage trailers! We have an old Fed Ex side loading trailer with built in rollers in the floor. We had been using pallet jacks, turning the pallets by hand inside the truck. Today with the help of the trucker James and a plumber brother from Florida, Dana, we got the air into the system enough to push the rollers up! Now we can work more than hard, we can work smart, too, letting the rollers do the work for us.
Dana also helped us get a drainage connection from the clothes washer to the clean out into the sewer instead of running out into the drive.
Some electrician brothers were able to get some camper hookups (electric) installed at the building enabling about 10 campers to park and get juiced at the building. It's not working yet, though: The breaker needed to finish the project is almost $1000.
Speaking of electricians, Jim was able to troubleshoot and fix a lot of the electical problems we were having at the building. The service needed beefing up.

A RIDE THROUGH THE BAYOUS

cattails, sugarcane, winding roads, mud, images of wader boots, floppy hats, and saggy khakis

After dropping off Tim at the airport in Baton Rouge, I took a ride down to Houma (pronounced HOME-a). I was meeting Don Neyland, the preacher at Montagut (pronouned Mont-a-gew) to give him a generator and some supplies for the church "way down in the bayou." The church was a plant from the Hollywood St. Church in Houma about 12 years ago, starting with the call to Brother Neyland and his family and two newly birthed Christian ladies. Now their membership is about 60 and about half of the people are flooded out of their homes. To put this into perspective, they are going through with Rita what New Orleans went through with Katrina. Also-- people in Slidell (a badly hit area) have gone through the same process that is brand new for these souls.

Don grew up in the Texas coast and has been in LA for 12 years. He's seen lots of storms. He described what many people don't know: IT HASN'T HAPPENED LIKE THIS IN OUR LIFETIME. This clean-up/renewal/healing era is a different thing that we've ever experienced before.

There are some people here this weekend from the Trauma Response Assistance for Children , they are from New York and they're here to help. Many of them were involved in the recovery effort after the tragic event of 9-11.

Remind me to tell you about the Robinsons. I'll send you a picture next time. Goodby

2005-09-30T01:01:00.000-04:00

Tuesday September 27

2005-09-28T00:43:00.000-04:00

Busy day. Tim Hines is leaving to go back to Honduras to see his boys and his wife for a couple of weeks before returning. He kept me around the building today priming me for watching after the operations while he's gone. They have also asked me to stick around after returning from my homecoming to Valdosta (October 12ish for a couple of weeks).

Matter of fact, if anyone is interested, that week of October 17 would be a good time for me to accompany a group from Valdosta down here if you would like to start building a team. The needs are plenty and the work is not going to run out and the ministry is more intense than many of you may be experiencing in a while. So come.

There's a group from Ohio who has posted a fantastic blog, check it out. The Columbus relief effort

Also The Spring Road Church Katrina Effort

Lot of good stories today:

There was a team out today in a fancy section of town. One brother who was the team leader from Ohio assessed the damage and they didn't think it was really that bad. They told the lady that they thought there were others who would benefit more and she said that she understood. A lady on the team had a family member up in Ohio in the hospital (father I think). After she spoke to her family, they found out that the nurse who had been taking care of her father had a mother living in Slidell. She was the daughter of this same woman! So they went back and cleaned the house.
Some of the volunteers and a local church member were trying to get a trailer hooked up and pulled to the right place in somewhat of an ASAP basis. They didn't have the correct one. They started out and the second truck pulled to the side of the road because they thought the lead truck lost something out of the back. When they stopped, it was a trailer hitch, the exact size they needed-- just dropped out there on the ground.

These things are too coincidental not to be an act of God... what do you think?

When we talk about these stories around here, they are few of many. Rhonda from the office told me that things like that have happened ever since the church took up their appointed ministry. For instance, they would be in the office brainstorming about things they needed and the would get a phone call and someone on the other end would be offering the item they just discussed. Coincidences like that happen most often to those who pray and believe that nothing is impossible for God.

I met some folks today who pulled up under the porch at the building and they said something about clothes. I thought they looked pretty well dressed for people asking for clothes. But when I came back out with information, I had misunderstood-- they wanted to give some away! They also had a sign in their window HONK FOR A FREE CAT TO A GOOD HOME. Joey was sitting in the back holding the kitty and it was Jerry and Teri up front who told me that they were being relocated to Kansas. Their home had nothing but shingle damage, but they had to move away anyway. We prayed God speed 'em

Sometimes you'll hear of people who seem rich asking for "free handouts" and it might not seem right. But there are stories that go deep that make it make sense.

There was a family of teachers from St. Bernard's parish who both lost their jobs and were keeping 23 people plus six dogs in their home. They weren't just keeping them, they were taking care of them, operating their own personal home as a shelter. And they don't know where the mortgage money's going to come from. They really dont' even know where their next meals for their 29 mouths they are going to come from. Oh... one of the dogs was one of those warmaranners-- I don't know how to spell that, but the lady said she was looking at him right in the face.
Another family was keeping 28 families. Did you read this right? I said 28 FAMILIES, not 28 people.
A seven month pregnant young lady came to the building today-- she was hauling two refrigerators in the back of her truck. She was hauling them as favors for her neighbors.
One family who came for some supplies today had an grandmother whose husband just got out of the hospital and an uncle who just died and they were going to the funeral later that day.
Dick Jones from Washington saw Ericka's house today (she's the girl with the angel wings... today she was wearing a midget tie-- OH! and she ALSO has a minature rat terrier named Jack!) . Ericka has been working steady at the church and her family is still living under a tarp. They had a motor home that was runned over by a tree. She has a couple of siblings, her parents have an adopted child, and they also have custody of two of her cousins. And they're living under a tarp. They're living under a tarp.
A lady was in the office the other day and she needed a way to boil water to clean the trache of her special needs son. We gave her a camp stove that someone had donated.

I'll be on the road tomorrow dropping off supplies and taking Tim to the airport. We have a lot of crews going to different places, we're getting into the "west bank" regions of New Orleans. Pray for us this day

Monday Sept 26

2005-09-26T19:58:00.000-04:00

My good buddies have left. Rob VanderPutten and Glenn Redmond, both of Nebraska. Separation of short term friendships is emotionally taxing. Meeting all the new people with fresh perspectives is refreshing, but a lot of people to keep up with. I've been writing down people's name and one line about them on a notebook page and I'm on page four since I got here. The quick turnover makes the time warp as well. I've only been gone about a week and a half now, but it seems like about a quarter of a month. Kidding. Seems like a full blown month. My confidence is that these moments have great influence on eternity.

Bill Green from Chattanooga and I prayed with Barbara and Fred, and she cried. I guess because we cared to pray. Maybe God just touches hearts like that. I don't know... like the lady who cried when I was telling her where our cleaning crew was from just walking down the street. People's hearts are just sensitive. They have had stress, suffering, some have lost jobs, some families are living under a tarp instead of a house.

The preacher, Tod Vogt was at his home last Thursday and a professional logging crew was cleaning one of his neighbor's yard. The tree was felled on top of one the men and Tod ran over and watched this man bleed to death. The news isn't going to report things like this as being related to Katrina, but Katrina is really just a bad word that people must use in reference to their suffering.

Since church yesterday, I've driven the forklift, unloaded cargo trucks, cut trees, moved brush, tarped a roof, registered new guests, led singing at chapel, had good deep spiritual discussions with my brothers and sisters, and posted this blog. Hope you're enjoying it. Love from LA.

Sunday September 25

2005-09-25T23:03:00.000-04:00

Mary Jo, the ladies from Snellville arrived safely.

CJ and Tara, Dick Jones from Washington is here.

There are some Tallahassee brothers here and Harry says he knows GR and Gordon.

Chainsaw crew today for a man who had only one natural leg.

good church

good fellowship

good chapel service tonight (I've been enjoying leading singing)

showered during a beautiful pink sunset this evening

going to bed early tonight (soon as I finish this) Some dudes around here can't get enough of sawing logs in the day that they have to do it at night, too.

Everyone have a blessed week.

I'm going to leave you with an update letter from Doug Hines:

The morning is calmer than yesterday as the second storm in the past 3 weeks has now passed thru. Although its impact was not as great as its sister Katrina, it still delivered more carnage in the Western part of the State and again in New Orleans and the lower Parishes. Rains are expected to continue thru the week and additional flooding is expected to continue. After 3 weeks of news reports there is little doubt that we become numb and begin to focus on our own lives and return to the daily grind.

However, for the thousands in South Louisiana, the daily grind will never be the same. We continue to rebuild in St. Tammany and we see life and commerce return in Mandeville. We also see 1,000's of refugees on the streets looking for some relief from the storms from weather and what will be the storms in their lives for a long time to come.

The work here has been amazing...Over the past weeks we have sent out over one million dollars in relief, close to two million pounds in aid consisting of food, clothes, toiletries, diapers, water, generators, frozen foods, ice and anything that could be sent out. This went to Shelters, homes, even to Military personnel who needed to get food to their troops in the field, Fire Stations, Government offices and individuals in need. Medical teams were flown in and spent 2 weeks working in the clinics, the shelters, Government offices, Fire Stations, Military and to those that were in need as walked up. Volunteers from as far as Alaska, Montreal, Washington, So. California, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Colorado, many more states responded to the call and in the past week we have managed over 500 helping hands. People came with Chain Saws, tools, cleaning equipment, trucks, trailers, mops and brooms and a shoulder to allow the hurting to cry on, God is known through the pain and suffering that we have seen and heard as we hear the tales of loss and his salvation. The teams were sent out to cut trees, repair homes, offer aid, and clean up. Through the past weeks we have been counseling and placing ministers in the front of the building to greet the people as they come up to look for aid and we offer them relief. The outpouring of love and support from you and others, the prayers that are offered up for these people in the name of God has been a tremendous comfort. The Torch Group, Whites Ferry Road and other groups have been here to help. Support from individuals has been unbelievable, from Terri Hatcher, Ute Chewning, The Stiker boys in San Diego, to Nicole Tindall.

However, make no mistake this is a crisis that will be going on for many years. So much has been lost in this area, the people have suffered greatly and healing of bodies and souls will take years. But these are a resilient people and as the shock of their losses wear off we can see the hope begin to return to their face.

This past week we finally got into St. Bernard Parish. I can tell you that the devastation that we witnessed was beyond description. 40% was completely destroyed and 50% was damaged. We saw the homes that had been searched and the mark of the an X on the side was left, one side for people found, one for those injured and the bottom for deaths. It is a horrible feeling to witness this, especially when you see a number at the bottom. We see homes in the streets as the waters picked them up and placed them there, boats everywhere, trees downed, mud up to 1 foot in the streets and the smell of death everywhere. Our medical mission was the first to visit and administer medication for the workers and it was the first time many of these men had outside contact since the storm hit. We met with Parish officials and again heard their story of how no one came for them for 9 days, they told me the story of how they found the Nursing home and attempted to rescue those that had perished, and finally we heard their pleas for help going forward. Looking at the devastation, it was if a nuclear mud bomb went off in the entire area. On the ride back tears streamed down our faces in silence and we struggled as we began to think what can one do. The one doctor left in the area was put in contact with our Gayle Davidson of Torch and arranged as Rita was approaching to transfer $350,000 of medicine to the Parish as well as committing to find more supplies and Doctors to help. Gayle has been a sent from God as what she has organized in a short time a way to save lives and give relief to lost souls.

So much to do, so much pain to heal. Our own homes have not been repaired and yet they are full of bodies here to support, the building is full of volunteers, supplies and hope. And then yesterday's storm starts all over again. Homes that were on the way to repair were flooded again, the levee break in New Orleans spilled down to St. Bernard and we have to look west to our brothers there and search out their needs. We will be putting together supplies today to take a trip west, look to get back down to St. Bernard to continue our work there and will continue his work here at our home.

We look at all that has happened and ask "How much can we take" and in this we know it is as much as God wills for us to take. We continue to pray for his strength and guidance as we work today and look at the future in this area.

Tammany Oaks in on the ground on the frontlines and needs your help. Prayers, volunteers, supplies will continue to be critical to the future of God's work here. The needs will change now as we move to the reconstruction and healing phase over the years ahead. Not just physical needs, but spiritual are critical for the people. God has called us and we are blessed to be on the front lines for his work and it is so much work. Please get the word out to all, Gods people are here in St. Tammany.

The work will now evolve and needs change and we will call upon you again and again. Make no mistake, we are devastated here, but we will rebuild and God will be glorified.

Tammany Oaks is located on the North shore of New Orleans. It is the closest church to the area that was not damaged by the storms.

Nehemiah 2.2; Why does your face look sad when you are not ill. This can be nothing but sadness in the heart. 2.5; If it pleases the King and if your servant has found favor in your sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried that I may rebuild it"

Bless you all.

Saturday September 24

2005-09-25T01:21:00.000-04:00

Our work wasn't exactly top speed today, we were still getting rain bands and wind gusts from RITA. A team from Campus Church in Atlanta went out anyway because they were leaving today and they wanted to get some MUCKING done. Mucking is what we've been calling gutting a house. Mucking and gutting.

Most of the volunteer camp stayed at the building today. I put together a wooden picnic table. We have some new fellows in charge of the tool crib, the Mcmillon brothers.

We loaded up one of the TOCC elder's truck full of roofing stuff, he has to re-do his whole roof.

I operated the forklift to store some of our food boxes in container trucks. In the rain! It was so off and on, we had to do it.

We cleaned up the building getting ready for church services tomorrow.

Some nights, I'll find a group of people to hang around in the evenings. There will be anything from music, chit-chat, laughter, poetry, ballet (when Natalie was here), massages (when Paul was here), and anything else that comes up. Tonight we had an illustrator of children's books, a harmonica player to accompany the guitar, a poet, a nurse from Tallahassee.

There's a doctor from Kentucky who brought down three guys-- Charles looks about 25. They cut trees today.

I'm still having dinner with my preacher friend from the Reformed church and a Church of Christ preacher from Nebraska City. We always have good discussions. We have been discussing the future of the church from an outreach--mission and ministry perspective. Also had a good talk with Tim about that today.

Our evening devotional was good, great singing and Rob brought a good devotional about Jesus in the synagogue healing the woman with the infirmity.

A couple of young men from New York got here yesterday-- they are both big ole dudes and both have good dispositions of faith.

Thanks for those who have been emailing me and calling ever now and then.

I was talking yesterday to the youth minister, Marcus. This is his first ministry and much of his time so far has been with the Katrina relief project. I told him that he was going to go through ministry withdrawals when church got back to "normal." Tammany Oaks has a fantastic record thusfar of the number of days spent in ministry to the number of hours spent in "church services."

Thursday/ Friday September 22/23

2005-09-23T13:06:00.000-04:00

"I'm a logger." -- Ray Stevens' Haircut song

Jerry Louis told me that lumberjacking was the #1 most dangerous job. Rob and I took Jeffry, a 16 year old local to Mike and Ann's house to clear their roof of some trees. Rob Vanderputten is a Canadian, big ole burly guy and he got strattle this one tree (about 25' in the air) and it was bounicing and he was riding it, with this big chainsaw in his hand. The guys were laughing at me because I was so cautious, but seeing all that wood in such dangerous places, I know it's more a MAN than I am until it's down on the dirt and chopped up into little pieces. That 20" Stihl is quite a MAN himself. Mike was a musician and he had a studio that missed getting hit by all the trees that fell on his 2/3 acre lot (must have been about 40).

We had that discussion about how not everyone who goes to church is a good Christian. Duh. I also asked them if they were people of faith and they said they didn't attend anywhere. I told her, "That's not the question I asked."

There were two pre-pubescent boys wandering around our truck smoking cigarettes-- just wandering. I gave them some cold waters out of our coolers-- kinda reverse psychology so they wouldn't feel free to take something else. Plus, we have these shirts on letting them know we represent Christ (you remember, the whole cold water thing).

the way God answers prayers
At church Wednesday, a local sister told me that when they had opened up their church building for "business", they prayed that their building would be well used. "This isn't what we were expecting."

We have become a supply house with the upcoming RITA hurricane. She done got people around here nervous. (We're experiencing some heavy rain bands as I write.) Some of the shelters have run out of vitals such as water and food and we have been sending out trucks to these shelters because we have what they need.

coming and going
The turnaround here is continual and radical. The staff (who wear their purple t-shirts, while the other volunteers wear yellow) are forced to give orientations daily. The 40 person team from Ohio left Thursday a day early due to Rita. Teams arrived from Chattanooga, Tallahassee, New York is coming, and some have postponed (like Sean Holton's group from North Atlanta).

quote of the day
"Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"

Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish

2005-09-23T11:53:00.000-04:00

The St. Bernard Parish has been declared a total loss. They will send bulldozers in and clear everything out. Tim Hines said there are barges that will have to be cut up and moved piece by piece, they are big as cruise ships. I don't know if you'll be able to pull up the link on the title above, but these are pictures that a 19 year old took from his dad's house. He stayed there throughout. Notice the water lines over the soffets of the homes. Sam Milazzo Photo Album Same parish, town of Chalmette. You can see why this county is a total loss. Julie is a friend of the church here and she was on the third story of the bank building taking these pictures. This is a letter from Julie herself:From: MILAZZO, JULIE A
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 7:21 PM
Subject: FW: View my photos

There were only a couple of things that I thought to take with me from the house, besides my 2 cats & 2 birds & one of those things was our cameras. We never in a million years thought things would get this bad & truly thought we would be home the next day but I had just gotten the cameras & didn't want to lose them no matter how remote the chance. So, we got the opportunity to take some pictures while we were stranded in that building. Some these are repetitious because Sam & I were both taking pictures. Although we have yet to see if for ourselves, we're pretty sure, based on the information in the pictures, that our house is underwater ;-).

To see the pictures, you have to join the easyshare thing, but it is painless. Feel free to forward the link to whomever you want. These are, of course, all from the 3-story Region's Bank building in Chalmette, taken from the third floor.

Chalmette was the place where the 40 bed nursing home was abandoned by the workers during the night. The news tells you all the bad stuff, but there's a COUNTER-story to that tragic event: There was a doctor and his nurse from the same town and parish who in over 15' of water stayed around to help when all else had abandoned. The Fire department operated a week without any outside help or supplies. When they finally were evacuated, the doctor and nurse were found in a flat boat with five patients they had saved.

Wednesday Sept 21

2005-09-22T00:06:00.000-04:00

Volunteers
Jose is from New Orleans, a young retiree from the Marine Corps (late 30's). He was geared up to run his own tree cutting business before Katrina. He had stump grinders, saws, all the gear stored in his downtown apartment and he lived on the upper floor. He and his three month pregnant wife were one of the ones rescued on the top of their roof. He said that they only had about four foot of space that didn't have water on it before the helicopter came. He sent his wife to Reno, and he has to stay here to deal with the adjusters et. al. He's been helping out at the church because he is interested in the family aspect of the team.

Erica She's 11 years old and her family lost their home completely. they've been living in a tent in a camp. Erica volunteered to help at the church after some of the volunteers dropped off some food in the camp they were staying in. She's now staying in the buildling a few nights a week, separated from her family. She jumps right in there and helps with a sweet smile-- and yesterday she was wearing a play set of angel wings.

the snake guy
a dude was bit by a snake while clearing brush. It probably wasn't poisonous, but it's taken him out of work for a few days.

A new sister in Christ
This evening after service, Evelyn, an 80 year old grandma was buried with Christ in baptism. Sunday she came forward to say that "if this is what the church is about, then I want to be a part of it." The church staff talked and studied with her and she was baptized tonight in a makeshift baptistry under the porch of the church building.

A new friend
I met Sylvia Grey, one of Cathy Malone's best friends and Linda Lawlor's sister. It was good talking to her, and discovering all the people we knew together.

THE WORK TODAY

We all wear these yellow volunteer shirts, so we stand out in a crowd. In the neighborhood today, a lady from down the street came and asked me to pop off her generator (start it). When we were walking down the street, I was telling her that our team had come from Kentucky, Nebraska, Georgia, and Ohio. She cried and said that our help was just touching. Some things we do are really small like popping off a generator-- but the connection was strong. I mean, how often can you know someone four minutes and you've already shared tears with them?
Billy was the same guy we cleaned up's house yesterday. We finished up today. Our ride was late. So we started chatting with him and Rob started probing deeply into his spiritual side. Forty-five minutes of conversation, we were discussing God's forgiveness and how he has set us free in our minds (consciences clean-- from Hebrews 8-10). Here a grown man was moved to tears because so many emotions were bottled up inside. He's lost his home but his tears were about years of bottled up emotion that comes from not being able to forgive one's self. It is for Freedom that Christ has set us FREE!
Billy's neighbor across the street, she's an alcoholic, estranged from her family, before Katrina was behind on her payments so much that her home was in foreclosure. She went into her house for the first time while we were there. I brought them some masks because they were gagging and holding their noses going in. They thanked me and told me they didn't need anything else. Her daughter came out ready to go talking about how useless it was for her to return. The lady came out crying hysterically while her daughter waited for her in the car. I walked up and gave her a shoulder to cry on for a moment, then they got into the car and rode away.

MISCELLANY

I've been assigned the housing guy. People register by seeing and signing in with me and checking out with me when they leave. Now you know how big a turn around they have if I've not even been here a week and already doing administrative stuff! And pray for all the people in administration, they are very stressed. Especially Becky, she's taken on a huge load-- she's the church secretary, but key organizer in this relief effort on the office end and believe me, she needs a secretary herself.
We went over Psalm 139:7-8 in chapel tonight. Even if we lay our bed in the bad place, He is there. And he still loves us.
There is a washer/dryer on campus now! Hallelujah cried Brett's pants.
Paul from Nebraska is leaving tomorrow. He's had a "healing minsitry"-- he's a massage therapist and people are loving him, hating he's leaving.
One of our devotionals, a "BUCKET OF HOPE" was mentioned that people have. When they talk, they share the contents of their bucket. Well, Katrina emptied buckets, and help and love have filled them up again. The feel on the gulf coast is that Rita is emptying the buckets again. So pray for the people not to lose heart because of the storms of life.
I'm thinking when I walk around this building that is being used to serve and service so many-- when it returns to being "just a church" building, will it ever see such glory as it is now?

Thanks for everyone who reads this, I know it gets long sometimes, but there's so much to tell. thanks for caring, thanks for prayer, thanks for loving.

b.

Tuesday September 20

2005-09-20T18:42:00.000-04:00

People ask me how long I've been here, and I don't remember anymore. All the days seem to blend: wake up, devotional, work detail, sweat, work (repeat last two many times), shower, eat, devo, visit, sleep.

Today, was out with a COC former preacher now counselor named Glenn Redmond from Nebraska, plus my friends Rob and Paul. We gutted the home of a man named Bobby who lives in Slidell. When we were leaving, he had his head down one hand on his hip and the other on his truck which held all of his remaining possessions. He was thankful and running to do what he could for us... a bag of ice. We gave one to his neighbor, prayed with Bobby.

If one of these houses was owned by someone you know, one of your family members maybe... it would be tragedy enough to ask your church to sponsor the family who lost their home and everyone would be talking about how the poor xxxx's family who lost their home. But this is every house in every neighborhood you can see for hours of driving in a car.

There's a strange respect and dignity in the air about cleaning this mess up. I don't really want to go into details about how nasty it is, about the exciting material objects I handled that were ruined by flood, about cleaning out a well stocked pantry and wishing I hadn't eaten this morning. It's like doing a good deed-- if you talk about it, it almost spoils it. Well, it feels like these folks need the dignity of moving on, not talking about all the stuff. The most important thing is that they just move on and leave it behind on the immense trash piles.

But I want to talk about it some because folks back home need to know the magnitude of this tragedy. I want you to smell the smells, get dirty in the grimiest grime, cry and pray with someone. Phillipians 3 has been running thorough my head the "I want to know Christ" passage. Share in his sufferings. That's what Christians are called to do here.

If you have ever considered coming down here and helping out, it's not too late. I'm afraid it's not going to be too late for months. Keep looking at the lists of need. Keep planning that trip down here. And come down, see for yourself. Send money-- if you can't-- send love somehow.

Monday

2005-09-19T23:43:00.000-04:00

Went out with two crews today, both on the chainsaw and limb cleanup detail. It was an elder from the church's house. I imagined how nice it was going to be for them to return to their clean yard that hours earlier had been strown with limbs, debris, and trees. We even cleaned their pool... after we took a dip. We were praising the Lord for pools. It's over 90 degrees here. and humidity like a sauna.

The second crew, we were directed by Dan, the preacher from Slidell. I rode with an elder from the Karns congregation in Knoxville name Don Denton. He and his wife are down helping. He knows my dad, Brett and Melanie, and the Hamlens of course. We had a terrific conversation about elder's and their relationship to the congregation. I asked him how do they show love to all the congregation and he just said that the elders must smell like sheep. We picked up some limbs from the yard of an elderly elder from the church in Slidell. He looked like Colonel Sanders. He had a concrete angel in his yard who managed to not get smushed by any trees.

For dinner tonight, three preachers; Rob, Paul and Brett dined at Petunia's. I enjoyed a fried eggplant with a crawfish sauce sided with dirty rice. A worker is worthy of his wages. When preachers get together we minister to one another.

The evening devotional was fantastic singing.

I got my Hepatitus A shot today.

A group of 22 from California left this morning, and a group of 40 came in from Ohio.

One of the brothers on crew 1 today grew up with Don McLaughlin and goes to the church he used to preach at in Indiana.

Special prayer request: a team of four from Northwest Church in Seattle are moving to Africa for two years on Wednesday. They are going to study to be AIDS counselers in Kenya and to minister to the churches and the people there. Their names are Greg, Kelly (guys) and Alita and Carrie (girls).

The Tammany Oaks church is about to start another website to update more regularly and it should be up starting tomorrow. The address is to be: tokre.org Tammany Oaks Katrina Relief Effort.

Sunday Work Crew

2005-09-18T21:19:00.000-04:00

Went out with some guys from Oklahoma today. They are here for a week and they brought their own Bobcats! We went to a neighborhood in Slidell-- hit really hard. Trees were fallen on just about every house we saw. Have you ever seen a tree go through a house? You can see plywood splinters, 2X4's, insulation, the backyard through the hole, stuff it fell on, it's really ugly. The ugliness is everywhere. Trash piled on the roads like baricades.

The lady's house we worked on wasn't in town, so we didn't meet her. But we cleaned her yard in a couple of hours except for the oak tree that went through the house. She kept it on the house because the insurance hasn't seen it yet. People are really careful about the insurance people because they are treating people really bad in these times. They don't want to pay... it's good business to collect premiums, but not to pay out!

The neighbor Thomas and his son Dustin were out cleaning their yard as carpenters were on the roof. Thomas is a barge worker and they are calling him out, but he can't go to work with his house all open to the elements with his wife and children there. Once he goes out, he'll be there a while. So we helped them too. And prayed with them.

A neighbor named Gary, we discovered grew up in the COC, got out because he couldn't do music in it. He owned a Model A Ford that had been crushed by a pine tree. No more parades for Gary. We prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for the safety of all his family. He asked if we could pray and heal his Model A. I said I would have to practice faith mechanicing on my '79 VW bus!

There's another organization Hilltop Rescue is being headed up by Richard and Rick Machen. We were greeted also by Jesse from the Orchard Street Church of Christ in Tacoma Washington. They run this work camp in relation with Rick's home church Tammany Oaks. They purposely have a separate (but partnering) organization so that non-Christians can help with the work and not feel like they are bolstering any religion (even though they are promoting social gospel!)

One thought about the work end of T.O.'s operation: They have a "GIT R DUN" board of jobs to be done, a "BIN DUN" board for completed jobs. I've BIN DUN tonight, good night.

Sunday Morning

2005-09-18T13:34:00.000-04:00

Church this morning. So many stories to tell. Thanks for the prayers from back home at Central.

Get this: this isn't just a Church of Christ ministry-- I ate breakfast this morning with UCC, Reformed-- sang last night with Calvary Chapel and Baptists. Many people of faith are banding together. Thank the Lord that this congregation was able to step up and organize.

Had gumbo for supper last night.

Tim Hines met the new volunteers this morning: there are lots of chain saw crews, cleanup crews, delivery crews, medical crews. But most of all, there are ministry crews and the main ministry is prayer. With people who are hurt-- pray. That's the main thing. A "talker" is sent with every work crew.

Now for some people stories-- as accompanies suffering, some tragic, some victorious :

There are lots of wealthy in this area. A crew were passing through and saw a $50,000 RV pull up to a multi-million $ home and figured they didn't need any help. But someone in the group said, "We'll ask anyway." All the people said they needed was some bleach, so they gave them 2-3 jugs. As the crew was leaving, they said, "By the way, do you know anyone who needs a home? We've got an RV loaded to the gills coming down from up north." A home for a needy family for a few bottles of bleach.

One of the young men I worked with yesterday has a dad who they just found out has advanced malignant melanoma. He stayed here to work. His name is Nate. His dad is Terry Reeves. Pray for him.

Yesterday, a crew found out about a man and his family who have been separated since Katrina. He was determined to get the trees up and his daughters were afraid he was going to die trying. And his chainsaw busted, they figured he would do it by hand. The crew walked up asked him if they needed help; he answered, "Not unless you have a chainsaw" They had five. They helped him until the trees were up and the family shared dinner together that night.

Jerri Lyn was separated from her husband John during evacuation. She lost touch for many days. After she finally heard from the family, John had traveled to his sister's house and died unexpectedly overnight. They didn't have money to enbalm him and she and Donald had to rush to Texas for the burial. They were here at church this morning getting hugs and sharing tears.

At Tammany Oaks

2005-09-17T20:21:00.000-04:00

I'm finally here. the travel was speedy interstate travel... even the causeway to New Orleans is operable again. Some of the veterans here have been going into New Orleans proper.

It's like a refugee camp here. Environmental conditions pushing people to live in a way that they normally would not or could not for long. They're very organized. I'll bet churches like Ocean Springs would/could do more, but their building's dont' hold as much STUFF as this one. One point for big churches who use their properties well. The ideal would be the church that never sleeps.

I got here at noon and David from Nashville re-directed me in the parking lot toward the back. There were RV's, temporary showers, signs for those receiving help, a tool crib, trucks loading and unloading, heavy equipment, gas cans, pallets stacked up-- it was humming. All the volunteers are wearing yellow shirts all with the same printing. I met the welcome coordinator and he signed me in, de-briefed me on operations, and presented a project. There's a fellow from church who has been volunteering a lot and his fence was fallen over. Went out with a crew from some fellows from Florida. Mark, Nate, and a brother named Myers who has people from Valdosta.

Is that all I wrote for today? I'm so tired.

Heading to Mandeville

2005-09-17T11:27:00.000-04:00

leaving Oceans Springs in the morning about 10:30 after re-arranging and packing

stayed with Steve at his home last night, it's been gutted and cleaned and some folks from Mayfair have probvided industrial de-humidifiers. Someone has to stay with the equipment for security

The church here is steadily getting supplies and sending them out to those in need (check their website for updates)

Met Todd Hayes last night and visitied a while.

They are well stocked in food and clothes around here, but it seems that the greatest need are cleaning supplies.

Brother Berry is taking a load to Picayune and he's leading me to I-10, so I've gotta run.

I answered an email from Mandeville and they have me on their housing list. I'll be staying at the church there.

love,

a great big mess

2005-09-16T13:45:00.000-04:00

I'm lunching right now, I'm at Paul's house gutting out all the sheetrock and all the damaged goods, they had about 3 foot of water in their home. Messy, stinking, sweaty hot job. Paul worked at the Beau Rivage as a painter. His observation was that the churches and the casinos are the only groups that are helping people. That's just an illustration of the definitive battle between good and evil. Let's just make sure the Christ people are giving more than the gamblers!

Now-- I'm not a reporter, but I realize that those people have tried really hard, but sometimes a task given is a lot bigger than the ability of the person to perform. So their task was to explain the devastation, to get the picture across to listeners across the nation... but it cannot be done. They don't have that many words and the cameras just aren't that good. The governements are not big enough to make a dent in the efforts to rebuild. I can't even begin to imagine what the world looked like after Noah and them's flood. So that's where I'll leave it.

Ocean Springs

2005-09-15T17:56:00.000-04:00

Arrived at Ocean Springs about 10 am, The church is a ware house teeming with life and many volunteers ready to help the next people coming in. The pews look like a Walmart. A team from Kentucky brought several pickups and trailers full of food supplies. The church warehouse seems to be well stocked and they are serving people all day long. They have a welcome center both for volunteers and another for those needing help. They are holding services on Sunday in the yard.

After the initial shock of seeing "the war zone" of the remnants of Katrina, I knew that the focus would begin to shift from the PHYSICAL to the PEOPLE. Let me tell you about some of them... remember, these are just the people I met or heard about today, just at Ocean Springs:

I finally reached Todd Hayes, son of Jack and Rachel of Valdosta. They were hit really hard but he said he was very thankful for people from all over who are teaming together to help everyone get back on their feet. He is staying with his in-laws.
I met Terry Adams and Sarah-joe from Wicksburg, Christian Home; they are Amber Gross' cousins. They told me to tell you Hi, Amber. So Hi. They are going up to GulfCoast Bible Camp where the Hunter Hills Church of Prattville AL is coordinating a home clean up camp. The church there brought 4-5 pickups full of stuff and about 12 UHaul trailers. This is the church's second trip.
The two "point men" at the church have been the preacher, Al Sturgeon and an elder Gene Logan. They have a LOT on their plate. Al's home was wrecked pretty bad so he's staying on the church lot in an RV.
Lebanon Church of Christ from Sedulah KY sent a team of stuff and people
The Creekwood Church of Mobile AL sent a team of stuff and people-- They have a special link for the hurricane effort
Bartlett Woods Church out of Memphis brought in truckloads of fans and cleaning instruments and a team of about 40 people willing and ready to work
Great Oaks Church also had a team, they came with Bartlett Woods
The Mayfair Church of Huntsville AL came in last weekend and HOOKED UP the Ocean Springs church with a media center including wi-fi, a computer so people can check their email and also view the new website they created for the church
One sister named Jenn came all the way down from New York-- Long Island Church of Christ. She's got some contacts with Orange Grove Church and will be traveling all around in a rented RV for indefinitely--as long as she has something to do .

Many of the work crews are arriving to work through the weekend. May God bless them all with safety, energy, and good travels.

It was good visiting with church folk, but also to meet some of the "victims" (there's got to be a better word). As you can imagine, there are many hurts going around and the opportunity to meet people where their needs are should be the Christian's specialty.

I met a lady whose brother is stationed in Valdosta at the base as a fireman; the rest of the family is around here and fared really bad.
The cross the street neighbors to the church buidling was an older couple who were watching the church saying, "ya'll are doing a good work over there." They were thankful that their grown children were safe even though they had varying levels of damage to their homes.
I visited the Red Cross shelter at Cristus Victor Lutheran Church. It was a full fledged mass care facility. The nurse who gave me my tetanus shot flew from California to help... she had grown up around here. There were so many people there who looked tired, distraught and needing a friend
The couple my friend Steve has been staying with are the Berry's. When I met Chryste (pronouned Kristy), I recognized her from working with her at Georgia Bible Camp back in 1996! I was at Dasher Church and she was from Lipscomb then.
Some of the sisters from the church were in the parking lot discussing their losses. I hugged them both and told them I came all the way from Valdosta to do that.

I'm sitting down while I can to write this... as you can imagine, there is way much to tell. I was in touch with Tim Hines today and he said that they have plenty of help but the workload is so large to come on when I can. Denham Springs is my next stop.

The Drive Over

2005-09-15T11:06:00.000-04:00

Just east of Milton FL, vegetation started to show tilt to the NW You start seeing broken trees

In Jay, some rooftops had total damage-- I couldn't believe it was that bad so far away from New Orleans!

business signs were damaged all throughout town

Gas is only about 2.50/gal here

starting to see trash piles EVERYWHERE-- dumpsters and haulers

Sunrise was about 6:45 Central Time

around Pensacola, for every tree you see down, the next one is in sight

In the Mobile Bay, I started noticing that all the foliage on ALL the trees were a fiery red/ traumatic brown

The Mobile Civic Center was SLAM FULL of people and cars standing in very long lines early as 8:20 am

Lots of army convoys traveling east, out of the damaged areas -- water trucks, bridges (engineers) , support, Humvees

Lots of law enforcements were also making exits, I saw Leon CO FL and a bunch of highway patrols from other states

airports at Moss Point had very heavy air traffic with small crafts

as I entered Mississippi, right behind the state welcome sign a huge steel billboard was folded up in a pile like the end of a Jenga game

The I-10 bridge East bound was out so all the traffic was going on the west side. ONe part reminded me of the old bridge section beside the seven mile bridge in the keys where it has that big section chopped out

when I was pulling into town, some dude yelled at me for the traffic being backed up. It prepared me that people are really stressed out here and the devil is loving it. But there is so much love being offered people.

THE SMELL
oh buddy.
The stench started around Pascagoula... and all my windows are off on my car.
It smells like that side-o-the-road dead animal where you speed up just to get past it
it smells like that overdue milk carton where you stuck your nose in it, but you can't get the smell off.
Smells so bad you wonder when you'll get your appetite back
you breathe really shallow

the smell is only in sections in Ocean Springs so far-- someone said you could break wind around here and no one would notice

2005-09-15T01:43:00.000-04:00

Day Two packing and preparation

2005-09-14T18:30:00.000-04:00

It's taken longer to prepare for the journey than I thought it would.

I will be heading out in the seven o'clock hour this evening. The THING is loaded down; I look like I'm ready for the Yukon Trail.

Thank you Lora and Valdosta Tech for the masks.

Thank you mom and dad for the cleaning supplies you haven't discovered missing yet.

Spoke to Jason Chesser today, youth minister at Prattville Church of Christ. Prattville has contacts they are taking care of at the churches of Christ in Pascagoula and Gulf Port. The churches are small and struggling and the tragedy is overwhelming to them. They have trucks of supplies that have been donated, but are short people to distribute to those in need.

Some businesses are up and running again, so some have people have their jobs... but some don't have homes to stay in. Some have homes to stay in, but don't have jobs.

There are places in the highway that are impassable in some areas, I've been told. And traffic is terribly congested, especially near the towns.

I added a "Donate" button to the blog connected to my Pay Pal account, which is connected to my personal bank account. This is so that my family could give me money without having to Western Unionize it or mail it. Anyone is welcome to give, if you do give, please indicate what you wish me to do with it... whether it's for my personal expenses or to give it to someone else. It's always a good idea to give directly to churches like Tammany Oaks, Ocean Springs, or the American Red Cross or any other reputable non-profit.

Blessins

Day one: preparation Valdosta, GA

2005-09-14T04:20:00.000-04:00

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.