Friday Night
We have finally hit the true Mississippi summer weather these last two days. Once the sun goes down it's tolerable, but until then, we have to either shower when coming back into camp and sweat putting on clean clothes, or try to wait until things cool down a little. They did run the air just enough in the evenings to cool down the tents so that we can sleep. Miss Fanny's team made it back after their longest day ever. They were able to accomplish many things at her home. A few more pictures have been uploaded today, with some showing work at Fanny's home. Others show Joe & Clara and work being done at their house. There is even a picture of the wonderful Cajun shrimp boil made by Clara and Joe. http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8UaM2Lho4YvU We had a very nice visit with Joe and Clara at the end of the day. We allowed them to express their feelings about what they and others had been through. Their outlook is so incredible. They were so grateful when we left. She said we were able to put them months ahead in just one week. Since Joe is disabled, their progress had been almost nothing. Contractors and sub-contractors are so hard to get right now. Even if you do get a commitment, they start many jobs and just are not able to keep up with them. Two of the most important things we were told before arriving here and right when we got here were: 1) be flexible, and 2) keep an open mind and heart. There are many different things to process when you get out to a site and start to work. It has been so important to be compassionate and let people tell their stories--such a huge part of the healing for them. There are things that make it seem difficult to keep an open mind. Each situation is different. Are there those who have taken advantage of the help they have received? Yes there are. There are also many others who are struggling just to re-make a life for themselves and their families. There are people who work, people who don't work, people who had insurance and people who did not have insurance, and people who lived in what some would consider nice homes and others who lived in poverty. Hopefully, no one is here to judge. Our job was to show compassion and lend helping hands. If we leave the place better than we found it, we've done our jobs. If we listen and visit and bring some relief--and some smiles--that is all we or all the other volunteers can ask. Tonight, we served dinner and it was our turn to run devotions, which we gratefully turned over to Pastor Myers. We heard a very fitting message about how we have come together to form sort of our own community here. As in communion, we are called together as strangers and also friends, and have shared many things. We've broken bread together, shared tents, showers, sinks, little johnnies (outhouses), etc. We were reminded to think about what we have given to the people we have served while here, what we'll be leaving behind of ourselves. Also, we were encouraged to think about what we will be taking with us. What we were given from others here. There is so much work to be done tonight. We are beginning to pack up. There is a wonderful supply tent located here, in which everything is there for our use. We have found and used many things in there, and will now be leaving some things for others to use. This seems to be the ultimate symbol of the circle of giving and love we have experienced while here. We'll pack as much as possible tonight. Then in the morning, we have camp clean-up duty. We've divided all the chores, and will get them done as quickly as possible. We plan to be on the road as early as possible tomorrow.Our plan was to stay in Memphis; however, we may try to push on further to be closer to home on Sunday. Please pray for our safe trip home, as well as the volunteers who will be arriving shortly after we leave, for the camp managers, and all those still waiting for someone to come along and make their home a better place.T hanks so much for all your support, we could not have made this trip without it. God Bless!
Your Faith Team
We have finally hit the true Mississippi summer weather these last two days. Once the sun goes down it's tolerable, but until then, we have to either shower when coming back into camp and sweat putting on clean clothes, or try to wait until things cool down a little. They did run the air just enough in the evenings to cool down the tents so that we can sleep. Miss Fanny's team made it back after their longest day ever. They were able to accomplish many things at her home. A few more pictures have been uploaded today, with some showing work at Fanny's home. Others show Joe & Clara and work being done at their house. There is even a picture of the wonderful Cajun shrimp boil made by Clara and Joe. http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8UaM2Lho4YvU We had a very nice visit with Joe and Clara at the end of the day. We allowed them to express their feelings about what they and others had been through. Their outlook is so incredible. They were so grateful when we left. She said we were able to put them months ahead in just one week. Since Joe is disabled, their progress had been almost nothing. Contractors and sub-contractors are so hard to get right now. Even if you do get a commitment, they start many jobs and just are not able to keep up with them. Two of the most important things we were told before arriving here and right when we got here were: 1) be flexible, and 2) keep an open mind and heart. There are many different things to process when you get out to a site and start to work. It has been so important to be compassionate and let people tell their stories--such a huge part of the healing for them. There are things that make it seem difficult to keep an open mind. Each situation is different. Are there those who have taken advantage of the help they have received? Yes there are. There are also many others who are struggling just to re-make a life for themselves and their families. There are people who work, people who don't work, people who had insurance and people who did not have insurance, and people who lived in what some would consider nice homes and others who lived in poverty. Hopefully, no one is here to judge. Our job was to show compassion and lend helping hands. If we leave the place better than we found it, we've done our jobs. If we listen and visit and bring some relief--and some smiles--that is all we or all the other volunteers can ask. Tonight, we served dinner and it was our turn to run devotions, which we gratefully turned over to Pastor Myers. We heard a very fitting message about how we have come together to form sort of our own community here. As in communion, we are called together as strangers and also friends, and have shared many things. We've broken bread together, shared tents, showers, sinks, little johnnies (outhouses), etc. We were reminded to think about what we have given to the people we have served while here, what we'll be leaving behind of ourselves. Also, we were encouraged to think about what we will be taking with us. What we were given from others here. There is so much work to be done tonight. We are beginning to pack up. There is a wonderful supply tent located here, in which everything is there for our use. We have found and used many things in there, and will now be leaving some things for others to use. This seems to be the ultimate symbol of the circle of giving and love we have experienced while here. We'll pack as much as possible tonight. Then in the morning, we have camp clean-up duty. We've divided all the chores, and will get them done as quickly as possible. We plan to be on the road as early as possible tomorrow.Our plan was to stay in Memphis; however, we may try to push on further to be closer to home on Sunday. Please pray for our safe trip home, as well as the volunteers who will be arriving shortly after we leave, for the camp managers, and all those still waiting for someone to come along and make their home a better place.T hanks so much for all your support, we could not have made this trip without it. God Bless!
Your Faith Team
posted by WCM at 11:24 AM
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