End of Mission trip 2014

This is the end of our mission trip blog to Brigantine, NJ.  For some it will be back to work and the "same old routine".  We give God thanks for His blessings-as we all have arrived safely back to our homes and perspective churches.  In the meantime, it has been great rekindling "old" relationships and hopefully the beginning of new and long lasting friendships.  I am sure there will be more photos that we can and will share with one another!

Each mission is unique in and of itself.  Each mission involves its own challenges, whether it be logistics, skills needed, feelings of "lost" time and uselessness at times.  But, in the end-know that God has given us all talents and abilities to use, share, learn, use and re-use as needed.

As we all get back to our homes and perspective churches, there will be many memories, experiences to share-the good, bad, and the ugly.  And "let it go" to God for unexplained "stuff".  AND don't forget about the witnessing (whether it be from YOU-or someone else).  We can do (only) so much for the short time we have participated, but give God ALL the honor, glory, and praise to Him.  He has blessed us all -whether it be participating in this mission OR by those other persons who have shared with us in any way, shape or form-from helping out financially or helping others to share their skills and expertise, teaching, or directing our paths. 

I think I can speak for all of us (as we regain our strengths back)...Thank you and we praise God.  Thanks again to all who have given their time, talents, money, sharing, or witnessing, OR prayers!  Personally, I want to say thank you to all who have read and or shared this blog.  Until next year, God speed, and thank you, Jesus!!!

Last day of Mission Trip

Today is the last day for our mission trip.  We really did get a lot of work done today, laying block almost all day at Russ's house.  At Deloris's house-painting was completed and some other work was accomplished there as well.  All in all-a very productive work week.  Everyone (or at least the adults here in this work group) is exhausted.  As exhausted as everyone is-we have already discussed next year's mission, and how we can improve upon it for next year!  We had fun together and as always, the camaraderie was great.  Relationships were rekindled and we got to meet some other folks that are also on mission trips, but more important than that was meeting the owners of the houses that were worked on. 

Laughter, and devotions (in addition to the work days) were shared on a daily basis.  Lots of pictures were taken and I am sure stories about this mission trip will be shared with the perspective churches that were involved in on this mission.  God blessed us with perfect weather this week, so we were able to work and get the block work done.  He also (again) blessed us with the opportunity to serve God and His people.

Tonight earlier Kelly and Rev DeVries played guitar and sang songs.  Most of the group sang along to the tunes that they were familiar with.  After that we went for ice cream.  There was a trio playing music (oldies) at the ice cream plaza. I don't know which we enjoyed more-the ice cream OR the music. 

Tomorrow will be the long ride back to the Pittsburgh area.  Please keep us in prayer as we travel.  Also, please continue to pray for Deloris, for Russ, and for the other groups that come after us doing more work-so that these folks can get back to their homes safely -AND soon!  May God continue to add his blessings to the Brigantine area as they rebuild their lives and homes.  Thank you for your prayers and for taking the time to read this blog.  Hope you enjoyed reading it.  Take care.  God bless!

Day 5

Today is Thursday, Aug 7, 2014.  Today started with Bible reading, a devotion, and then coffee with God this AM on the beach.  What another magnificent sunrise it was.  All that went thru this writer's mind was part of a song, Majestic is your name on all the earth.  I was thinking of in Genesis when God created His world, yet He was thinking of us (yes, you and I ) when he created the foundation of the earth.  As we were working on the concrete blocks today, and laying the foundation around Russ's property, all I could think of is what God must've been thinking when he formed the earth.  The beauty of the earth, the roaring of the waves in the ocean, blue sky, sunshine, and us! 

We are all imperfect.  We are all His children.  What we may perceive as imperfections to us, God already knows our blemishes and our faults.  He knows our weaknesses and He knows our strengths.  With so many problems facing today's world, with all the troubles we have as individuals, what are we to do?  There is another song out there that has a part of its lyrics is "God created you"!.  God created you to problem solve, he created us to be carriers of His word, His message, and to spread the Gospel, the Good News to all whom we meet and come in contact with.  Again, we are not perfect.  But as in yesterday's blog about teachers and mentors, we as Christians have our own jobs to perform.  Love others as He loves us.  It is up to US to do something!  What are you as a Christian doing?  Are you making this world a better place?  What are you teaching your children?  And what are they learning about God?

Part of the verses in Isaiah 43 (18-19)-"Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing.  Now it springs up, do you not perceive?" 

As we complete our mission work for this week (only), there have been accomplishments, blood, sweat, and maybe even some tears.  (Don't worry, just superficial cuts and callouses).  Thru some adversity and some logistical problems, overall, God has blessed us with meeting the owners of the perspective houses we have worked on.  We have met other people here in this little community of Brigantine, even shared part of the church here with another groups from Crafton Heights (close to home).  We shared in communion in the church here with the "locals".  The owners of the houses we are working on are really appreciative of the work we are doing.  They can see the progress and if I can say, some of the results that have been made this past week.  Several people have remarked tonight, that we can't believe it is almost Friday already.  We will continue on working the houses as best we can.  Again, please continue to keep us in prayer and also for this community as it rebuilds.  May God continue his blessings upon us all.  Thank you for reading this blog and keeping us all in prayer as well. 

Take care and will touch base again tomorrow!

Day Four (Wednesday)

Can't believe this mission trip is halfway over, already!  I do have one quick correction from yesterdays data.  I called what we are doing at the one house brick work.  It is not-we are doing block work.  So I stand corrected and apologize for my own shortcoming at this!  A couple of other items I neglected to put in this blog is that we have had two sisters, Laura and Diane joining us in this mission as well this week.  They have also been doing a variety of different jobs, painting and helping to lay down block as well.  Excellent workers of, by, and for the Kingdom of God.  They are from Mechanicsburg, PA.    We also have another addition today to add to our mission folks.  Donna Jean, one of our team members daughters has joined us and she also is a great asset to our team.  She has gone on other mission trips, some internationally as well. 

Last night after finishing up our blog, one of the guys had asked me about maybe having some of the older gentlemen from our congregation mentor some of the younger guys at the church.  Great idea and it will be brought up at one of our next mission meetings.  I thought to myself-we have three of the members of this particular mission team that are teachers.  They share their knowledge with their students and test them on the knowledge they pass on.  Then I thought-aren't we all mentors to others around us?  There are leaders in this team who are mentors to others here.  They teach us the ropes and then we get to share this knowledge and "expertise" with others.  Then I think to myself-even more simplistically, we are all teachers/mentors in one way or another whether we like it or not.  We teach our children things by not only what we teach them, but also in the way we act or react.  Think about that car who "cut" you off in morning or evening rush hour traffic.  Think about what you said OR did... "Someone" teaches us how to walk, tie our shoes, ride a bike, read and write, drive...Okay, maybe that last one, some still need help!

Psalm 143:8 says, "let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. "

Sometimes we need to let go of what our shortcomings are and just turn them over to God (like worries, concerns, and other things-only YOU know what these are).  Like one of the popular children songs from a recent movie, "Let it go"!

People on the mission trip really want to complete the tasks that we are performing and do it to the best of our abilities.  We really do want these folks back in their own homes again as soon as possible.  With the help of God and in His timing, this will be done!

We thank you all for your support and ask for your continued prayers for safety and the knowledge, wisdom, fortitude and the abilities to get this done for not only these people, but for God's kingdom as well.  We give all the honor, glory, and praise to Him who has given us life-AND-grace!

Want to thank all who have taken the time to read this blog.  Take care, and again, please keep us all (and Russ, and Deloris) in prayer as well!  Thank you!

Day 3

God always answers our prayers.  Maybe not in the time we want, but in His time and in accordance with His will.  We were awaiting supplies for both houses this AM.  The supplies arrived and work got started at Deloris's house.  We all pitched in and then we received a phone call that supplies for the other house would be there by 12N.  Again, about half the team went over to the other house to start the laying of bricks, or so we thought.  We had laid the bricks out according to "our" plan but needed the approval of the powers to be to ensure we were going to do the job in accordance with proper procedures set up by local officials.  So, while awaiting the folks to give the approval for what we had planned, the owner of the house showed up.  Her name is Russ.    In addition to losing her home, Russ has some health "issues" that she is struggling with.  She wanted to see what was in her shed as she had not opened the shed since Hurricane Sandy.  Russ is into animal rescue and had several items from that in her shed and she wanted to see if she could possibly use the shed for possible storage of some items.  She has been living in a hotel for the past 18 months, and just received word that she could not longer live there.  This is the second day in a row that we have actually met the owners of these properties we are working on.  God's timing has allowed that to happen.  We wonder in awe sometimes as why people are displaced such as in the cases of Deloris and Russ.  (AND countless of others literally in the same situation.  Insurance may or may NOT pay for certain disasters.  Or it may pay only a part of the damage.  And then homeowners are responsible to pay for the difference.  These are only two of many people who have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy.  I can only hope (AND PRAY) that we truly are making a difference in these people's lives.  As the song title says, "They will know we are Christians by our love".  (And maybe a little hard work as well).  Everyone here is a little bit sore and tired, but it's a "good" tired-if there is such a thing).  Everyone here is working as a team.  It is NOT about us.  It's about helping others and keeping faith through it all. These folks need a lot of prayers as well as they struggle through this process.

We just received word that one of our team members had an emergency situation and will be heading home tomorrow AM, a few days into this mission, and a few days shy from the end.  We will miss her dearly as she has been cooking supper for our team and she has been a real asset to this mission.  We will wish her well and keep her in prayer as well (and her husband as well). 

Please continue to keep all us in prayer for safety and to continue on with God's mission as we strive to help those in need.  Thank you.  Signing off today-take care and God's speed!

End of day (2)/August 4

OK, So today our mission team had two separate houses to work on.  One team went to a house where we are painting, doing electrical work, and some flooring.  The house has more electrical needs and plumbing updates as well.  We met the home owner, Deloris.  She is so very much appreciative of the work that we are doing.  Her husband passed away in 2005, prior to Hurricane Sandy, and she has had a kidney removed (robotically as she told us) and is living elsewhere while her house is still being worked on.  Displaced and disheartening  to say the least.  Throughout all these trials and tribulations she has not lost her faith.  God is good-all the time is her attitude.  We prayed with her before she left the premises.  She took a "tour" of her house-newly being renovated and worked on for her to enjoy a long and prosperous life!  Hopefully, it will NOT be too long before she will be back in the comforts of her house.   We will continue to work on her house, completing the painting, and electrical work for the rest of the week there.  Please keep Deloris AND us in prayer as we continue this work on her house this week.
The other house is nothing more than bricks, having to be rebuilt literally from the bricks up.  Tomorrow we will be doing brick work for that house.  Today, that house had to be leveled off at ground/brick level.  If it is in God's will-tomorrow-we will be doing more brick work on this house and it will probably be at least a two day project to complete this particular work.
This evening, the group went to the church service that is rooming us for the week.  We sang a song about "Part of the Family".  Great song-and great lyrics.  This mix of people and churches on this mission trip remind this writer just how important we all are to God's kingdom, and how we all are a mixture and flavor in working with each other AND getting His mission done.  The minister gave his sermon out of Genesis 32, where Jacob wrestled with God.  And how we as Christians all have our struggles in life, whether it be waiting for supplies to perform a mission, or loss of a loved one, or loss of a home.  Our lives are not perfect.  But we are all a part of God's family-Christians who strive to get the job done in spite of our own obstacles, obsessions, or possessions (or lack therefor).  Just because we are not perfect does not excuse us of trying to get the job done to further His will and His way.  AND how we really need to strive to make blessings out of (sometimes) traumatic situations.
Again, please keep us all in prayer for safety, for blessings, and to continue on doing His work!  Thank you!