Church was awesome today as we heard testimonies from all the team. It was truly a rich experience serving with all of them.
Looking forward to being home and the tasks at hand - a marriage workshop at the Y the next 3 weeks, the start of the Men's Fraternity on Tuesday night - and all the rest that goes with being a pastor.
The mission video is now posted on youtube. You can also watch it here.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
It's A Party Day!
Our team snuck around last night getting all the supplies needed to celebrate Marcia's birthday today - "Sweet 16" (at least that's what she told us). She loved the Snikers cake and Biloxi hoodie she got from the team. We were split in two groups today - Lenie stayed at Jewels home to do finish work and the rest of us went to Darlene's house to see how much we could get done before the dedication of her home at 4:30pm.
The list was exhaustive - door knobs, door jams, doors, rehang doors that weren't right - hang closet rods, build laundry room cabinets, touch up paint in numerous locations, pick up refrigerator and stove at Lowes, install them, then load up all the garbage from weeks of construction and haul it away. BTW, the stove was a gift from the Grove!
They really were hopeful we'd get a lot of it done - WE DID IT ALL! At 4:25 I was tarping the trailer full of debris and they let Darlene into her house at 4:30. I was privileged to be asked to say a few words and pray over the home - Darlene shared that her home was 96 years old and the last 6 generations have all been Christians. She was planning on leaving it to her grandson, also a Christian. It was the most moving time as you can see from our pics.
Tonight we were invited back to Craigs home for a great meal, fellowship nd each team member had the opportunity to share the most important lesson learned this week. Can't wait for you all to hear them on Sunday.
Too much to tell right now and I'm exhausted - time for bed - will talk again tomorrow.
The list was exhaustive - door knobs, door jams, doors, rehang doors that weren't right - hang closet rods, build laundry room cabinets, touch up paint in numerous locations, pick up refrigerator and stove at Lowes, install them, then load up all the garbage from weeks of construction and haul it away. BTW, the stove was a gift from the Grove!
They really were hopeful we'd get a lot of it done - WE DID IT ALL! At 4:25 I was tarping the trailer full of debris and they let Darlene into her house at 4:30. I was privileged to be asked to say a few words and pray over the home - Darlene shared that her home was 96 years old and the last 6 generations have all been Christians. She was planning on leaving it to her grandson, also a Christian. It was the most moving time as you can see from our pics.
Tonight we were invited back to Craigs home for a great meal, fellowship nd each team member had the opportunity to share the most important lesson learned this week. Can't wait for you all to hear them on Sunday.
Too much to tell right now and I'm exhausted - time for bed - will talk again tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
We're Mudding Fools
Day 3 found our team finishing what we started. The drywall hung throughout the house -was now time to tape it and mud it. Craig - our leader gave us a tutorial on the proper way to mud. It was quite a sight to see all 10 of us - (6 Grovers and 4 HopeForce) working to get it done. A propane heater got the place warm so it would dry properly and we filled the nail and screw holes on the ceiling and walls. Finished by lunch with first coat so they sent Beth and I outside to caulk around the windows and doors to get it ready for paint on Monday.
Susie went with another team to dump a bunch of leftover drywall pieces - you should have seen her hefting all that junk!
We were blessed when Jewel, the 80 year old homeowner stopped by unexpectedly. She said she wanted to cook us all a big pot of gumbo - but instead she's taking us out Friday before we leave at her favorite local restaurant.
Our word for today was comfort- Beth read the devotion before we started the day.. The scripture we read was 1 Thes 5:11. The team has been very attentive to each other, great example of team work. Once again we were told how our team was probably the best they've had.
Thanks for your prayers and comments - can't wait to see you all Sunday. Enjoy the new pics.
Susie went with another team to dump a bunch of leftover drywall pieces - you should have seen her hefting all that junk!
We were blessed when Jewel, the 80 year old homeowner stopped by unexpectedly. She said she wanted to cook us all a big pot of gumbo - but instead she's taking us out Friday before we leave at her favorite local restaurant.
Our word for today was comfort- Beth read the devotion before we started the day.. The scripture we read was 1 Thes 5:11. The team has been very attentive to each other, great example of team work. Once again we were told how our team was probably the best they've had.
Thanks for your prayers and comments - can't wait to see you all Sunday. Enjoy the new pics.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Team Divided
Not what you think! Divided in that Susie was put on waivers and ended up on the Darlene Huff team . She spent the day finishing the home that we'll participate in the dedication for on Thursday.
The rest of us completed the hanging of all the sheet rock - what a mammoth job - but we did it!
We are even more aware of muscles we didn't know we had. A strange thing happened while we worked inside. Someone driving by decided to throw a beer bottle at Tom and Marcia's van - breaking the small window on the drivers side. We'll be on a hunt for Plexiglas tomorrow. Marcia was right when she acknowledged that the enemy is working overtime to discourage us - but we will not allow these kinds of things to slow us down.
Lots more pictures today - enjoy them! We get to finish what we started by taping and mudding tomorrow. We'll all be pretty experienced but don't get any ideas.
Keep praying for us because we haven't stopped praying for all of you.
The rest of us completed the hanging of all the sheet rock - what a mammoth job - but we did it!
We are even more aware of muscles we didn't know we had. A strange thing happened while we worked inside. Someone driving by decided to throw a beer bottle at Tom and Marcia's van - breaking the small window on the drivers side. We'll be on a hunt for Plexiglas tomorrow. Marcia was right when she acknowledged that the enemy is working overtime to discourage us - but we will not allow these kinds of things to slow us down.
Lots more pictures today - enjoy them! We get to finish what we started by taping and mudding tomorrow. We'll all be pretty experienced but don't get any ideas.
Keep praying for us because we haven't stopped praying for all of you.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Just Hangin
Day 1 with HopeForce took us to Jewels home. She is 80 and lost her entire home. Our job today was to put up all the 12', 5/8" drywall on the ceilings. You wouldn't believe how our team worked together! Most of us have no experience and yet Susie was holding up sheets, Beth was using the rotozip and cutting sheet rock like a pro. Marcia took the measurements and kept Tom on the ball hanging drywall in the bathroom and putting up the blocks in order to eventually hang cabinets.
Lenie of course is the pro and I tried to keep up with him ( a nice way of saying I was his lackey).
Craig, the leader of the group said he had never had a more productive group hang drywall or had he seen as much accomlished in one day! Tomorrow we finsh the entire house and the other team will go to another house. Well, a good shower, dinner and a handfull of Ibuprofen and we're in great shape. Enjoy the pics - keep praying for us and we'll talk again tomorrow.
Lenie of course is the pro and I tried to keep up with him ( a nice way of saying I was his lackey).
Craig, the leader of the group said he had never had a more productive group hang drywall or had he seen as much accomlished in one day! Tomorrow we finsh the entire house and the other team will go to another house. Well, a good shower, dinner and a handfull of Ibuprofen and we're in great shape. Enjoy the pics - keep praying for us and we'll talk again tomorrow.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
On The Coast
Well we're here - and we're freezing! Came out of the restaurant and it was only 52 degrees!
Sorry to rub it in, but you could be here too! Met Craig Snow who directs the projects for HopeForce and he showed us the home we will be installing drywall tomorrow. Jewel is 80 years old and here home was completely destroyed. A Mennonite group called Christian Aid built a new home in 3 weeks and now we get to add our touch. then we will work on Darlene's home and finish it for her before we leave.
Caught up with Tom and Marcia who arrived in their trailer - had a chance to hear their unbelievable testimony of what they had to go through to get here. Can't wait for them to share it with you all.
Pray for us that our ibuprofen will not run out and that we truly make a difference here. Craig told us he had made a 2 week commitment to HopeForce one year ago - the devotion here is humbling. Hope to share some pics tomorrow.
Sorry to rub it in, but you could be here too! Met Craig Snow who directs the projects for HopeForce and he showed us the home we will be installing drywall tomorrow. Jewel is 80 years old and here home was completely destroyed. A Mennonite group called Christian Aid built a new home in 3 weeks and now we get to add our touch. then we will work on Darlene's home and finish it for her before we leave.
Caught up with Tom and Marcia who arrived in their trailer - had a chance to hear their unbelievable testimony of what they had to go through to get here. Can't wait for them to share it with you all.
Pray for us that our ibuprofen will not run out and that we truly make a difference here. Craig told us he had made a 2 week commitment to HopeForce one year ago - the devotion here is humbling. Hope to share some pics tomorrow.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
First Stop Music City
Hello Grovers!
Our small team arrived safely in Nashville tonight. (Beth Johnson, Susie Lendzian, Lenie Pitsenbarger and myself) Tom and Marcia will meet us in Biloxi tomorrow. Our conversation was great and the time passed quickly. We will be attending Harpeth Community Church in the morning for their 9am service - then on to Mississippi!
We are praying for all of you - pray for us.
As we embarked today each team member was given a word and scripture passage for our focus. Today's word was "Serve" and our scripture was from Galatians 5:13.
Will be keeping you updated on what God is doing in us and through us this week. Will try to post pictures as I can. See you tomorrow.
Pastor Jeff
Our small team arrived safely in Nashville tonight. (Beth Johnson, Susie Lendzian, Lenie Pitsenbarger and myself) Tom and Marcia will meet us in Biloxi tomorrow. Our conversation was great and the time passed quickly. We will be attending Harpeth Community Church in the morning for their 9am service - then on to Mississippi!
We are praying for all of you - pray for us.
As we embarked today each team member was given a word and scripture passage for our focus. Today's word was "Serve" and our scripture was from Galatians 5:13.
Will be keeping you updated on what God is doing in us and through us this week. Will try to post pictures as I can. See you tomorrow.
Pastor Jeff
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