Back in the other Louis -- ville

Cammie and I arrived back in Louisville with good news. We have found a house in the Bay, and we are working on details and hope that it will all work out. I'll be back down there early next week to work on some business issues, and try and get these trucks from the dealership to the work site. We've got groups coming in, I believe it's a group of 80 coming in this weekend. We can't wait to hear about Jordan, and the homeowner that took him on his crab boat. Keep us all in your prayers, with Jean on the road, and our travel next week and so much else going on, fatigue has become an issue, at least with me. We all need strength, we need to be encouraged in our work, we need God's blessings every day.

No late fees....

Although most of our Blogging is serious TAKE NOTE OF THIS 'LESS THAN SERIOUS' PHOTO: this dog's owner had him leashed up with an unwound spool of VHS video tape. The dog and owner were taking a walk outside of Morrell while washing clothes. At one point the Chiuaua (sp?) made a run for it and the white spool fell to the ground unwinding let's say, 28 minutes of the video. The owner 'paused' the tape, 'rewound' the dog and life went back to 'normal'. I took the picture with my phone trying to look inconspicuous as if I was on a call. Funny thing is that down here living under blue tarps, eating miscellaneous food and clearing all types of debris- they acutally didn't look that out of place. They say that "necessity is the mother of invention", we say "GIT 'ER DONE!"

Burger King marquee

Not your everyday Burger King marquee. This one reads: "ALMOST BACK TO NORMAL AND GETTING BETTER." This underlines the surreal nature of life on the coast right now. Although the news stories have died down there is still an present reality to the storm south of I-10 that cannot be put into words. Conversations revolve around sheetrock, insurance, living conditions and 'progress' however that is defined. Concurrently there is a resolve among the people that is inspirational, almost a divine optimism. Pray that the 'strength' of the Coast might be found in a greater foundation than new building codes.

Cattle on a thousand hills

After posting a note on the blog and web site and putting some other wheels in motion, We recieved a call about the trucks that we need to fully implement the work here on the ground. 2 days later, we have commited from Charles Irby, Irby Invesments, LLC money to purchase BOTH the F-150 and the F-350 that we will need to do the construction projects. Cammie and I have been looking for houses, and have one in mind, and have lots of things that need to be figured out and Jean came out on the porch and told Cammie "you still worried about finding a house?." We all laughed. God is good, and he must be selling a few of those cattle because he is providing in ways that stun and humble us. I'm learning my lack of faith is pretty bad. Wow.

Thursday on the Road

It's Thursday morning on the coast and I am slated to speak at a Mission's conference in Athens, GA this weekend at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. I am working on details to get to Athens via Memphis, not as the crow flies, but where my heart flies- corny, but true. What a blessing to have Jordan, Jocie, Andy and Curt as the hands and feet of the relief work. I have heard that the mark of a 'strong' ministry is the 'walk away' factor- "Can you be gone and the ministry still function?" Funny thing is that it seems to function without me even when it's here- what a blessing! Please pray for travelling mercies and clarity of speech at the Mission's conference. Side note: I blogged a couple of days ago that our house sale in Memphis fell through. As I talked with my Dad yesterday he remarked about the 'providence' of Kim and the kiddos not having to move 'twice'. Providence is a funny thing- so clear in the rear-view mirror and so foggy in the windshield. Psalm 61:1-2, "Hear my cry O God, be attentive to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I cry to you. I call to you as my heart grows faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Go Ahead and Leave

Again, this week we have another set of teams. Again, it is a whole new set of names to learn, Chris, Tristen, Tim, Karl, Lilly, and Tony, or atleast that is what I think all the names are. Right off the bat Monday morning Tristen asks as we are starting our roofing project if I will get attached, if I like their team. I respond, if you get this roof done quick and well I will. Of course we have seen hundreds of volunteers and hope to make that number thousands and they all have two things in common. The first is that they leave, the second is that they make an impact. Tristin, I do get attached. I love to see ya'll back after a day of work hearing about how the man you helped didn't wany you to leave beceause he enjoyed the company and was comforted. I am grateful when Tony and Karl jump in the truck to help me deliver sheds. Chris and Lilly make me smile as they do the rough jobs of cleaning up and cutting shingles. Every week new teams come in and the Lord uses them to make an impact. Please teams, keep coming because with the heartbreak of seeing ya'll leave at the end of the week atleast I know a new team is coming in to serve the Lord, continue the work, and fellowship with us. Ya'll make it happen down here, keep coming and come back.

YMCA Bible Club April 10-14

Through a partnership with the Gulf Coast chapter of the YMCA children are being ministered to. Several children already know Christ as their Savior, others are sitting under the ministry of the Word and are hearing of the Savior. Oldes Baptist Church, an MTW team, is coming from Canada to build sheds of hope, homes of hope, and lead a week long Bible club at the YMCA. Please be in prayer for their upcoming work.

Bring a Skill, Learn a Skill

A group from the Madeira Silverwood team up on a roof. The homeowner had 12 plus feet of water in his house and had to swim 4 hours to stay alive. Jordan Sikma, MTW intern, from Chattanooga is leading this team as they roof this home. A tree fell across the side of the home and the team has had to repair several trusses. A very impressive work. Bring a skill, learn a skill. You never know what you'll come away with. You're guaranteed to make a big impact.

In the news...

The next issue of byFaith Online will feature a story about the work here in Bay Saint Louis. Click here to be taken to byFaith Online.

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Tuesday morning in paradise.

High-Speed is here

We are happy to annouce that the LPC offices are now connected to the internet via DSL. The wireless connection is up and we are excited about being better connected to the outside world. Work will go much faster now, and updates will be easier to make to the blog and the website. Teams who need to have internet access to check email will be able to come to the office ( dubbed "camp Larroux" by my family) and use the high-speed connection.

The Usual Suspects

Great weather. Great fellowship. And great need. Ryan Meecum (right) is team leader of the Madiera Silverwood team, an MTW group currently serving the community of Bay St. Louis/Waveland. These guys and six others are learning the art of shed building. Soon they will be Zen Masters and lead their own teams this week. The sheds they built today are for Ralph and Erin Henton and their son. You can check out the Henton's bio on the Lagniappe site under, "Adopt a Family." Thanks guys!!

A Beautiful Day to Serve

The Madiera Silverwood team assembled this morning and received their assignments for the day. One team is being trained in shed construction. These 'skill-in-training' folks will be the group leaders/foremen for shed building throughout the week. Team #2 is roofing a home 1 mile north of the beach. The homeowner's story reveals that the elderly resident had water into the attic. He had to swim for 4 hours to stay alive. Imagine your neighborhood and your house in 12 feet of water. A tree fell across the house and the roof is being repaired by the team. Jordan Sikma is heading this team. His mother and father are also on site. We welcome them from Chattanooga. Team #3 is drywalling. Weather is high 60's with clear blue skies. Thanks for your prayers.

Keep those prayers coming

We are in need of 2 heavy-duty trucks to move equipment and pull trailers with supplies. Pray that God will provide these as he has done with so many other needs. Anyone have connections to a car dealership? 

Welcome Madiera Silverwood of Cincinatti

It is Sunday evening and I have just received a call from the team leader of the Madiera group. They have driven for several days and pulled into Morrell around 8:30pm. They are 35 strong and ready to build sheds and do WHATEVER. Words to remember, "Semper Gumby," always flexible. It will be exciting to witness how the Lord uses them this week. Stay tuned. I'm at WKRP in Cincinnati!

Lord's Day- March 26, 2006

Psalm 62 NIV (New International Version) For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. 1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. 2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. 3 How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence? 4 They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Selah 5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God [a] ; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah 9 Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. 10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. 11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. In verse 1 of this Psalm David states in the declarative- "My soul finds rest in God alone." It is worth noting that in verse 5 the verb changes to an imperative "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone..." There are days on this earth when we must tell our souls to believe in the "imperative" what we know to be true in the "declarative." Find rest today in God ALONE.

Good Saturday morning...

It is cool, breezy and beautiful on the Gulf coast this morning- there are 4 mission groups with us today doing everything from drywall to roofing. We also have a group from Hattiesburg who are completing sheds for families today. Please be in prayer for all of us- there have been some incredible events falling in place which can't be 'public' yet, but many are beyond our ability to even pray for. Also pray for our staff- when God begins to work Satan is not far behind--- pray for protection, peace and unity in the staff. Note: you might send Jocie an e-mail today as well- it has been one month of non-stop, NON-STOP people and projects. She is doing a marvelous job. Note #2: We got a contract on our house in Memphis- wonderful and a big hurdle. It should close on April 17, 2006.

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RUF University of Arkansas at the end of a great week.

Thanks to Rotary!

This morning I am going to meet with representatives from Rotary who have donated $20,000 toward the purchase of this skid steer for use in our work! Thanks Rotary and thanks to Windscapes Landscaping in Byron Center, Michigan who have made this purchase possible! Very exciting!

Redeemer Athens guys at the weekly crawfish boil

Keeping the bugs away!

Group From Gainsville RUF

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Taking a break from the work

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Cutting sheetrock

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Grace from RUF Gainsville laying on sheetrock mud.

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RUF gainsville with Mrs. Edna

THANKS!

Special thanks to the anonymous friend who donated a $400 gift card to LPC this morning for a Multi-function printer/fax/copier- I had been literally calling down curses on the day my current printer was manufactured and then this e-mail pops up- "A Gift for You!" Thank you so very much. Soli Deo Gloria.

Great Photo

A man named Tom Bennett was in town shooting some photos for an article that will appear in By Faith magazine. Tom saw the sign in this photo and told me to stand right in front. I look like a real rebel!

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Start of the day

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Wake Forrest RUF roofing sheds

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Daily reminders. I was going to pick up some printing and there in the gravel was the Waveland city limit sign.

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RUF Wake Forrest campus minister Kevin Teasley building a storage shed

Sunday the 5th

This morning I have the privilege of standing with Courtney Fair back at IPC in Memphis while she makes her profession of faith. Courtney and I met together for 12 weeks and today she publicly professes her faith, a profound moment. I will be on the road to the Bay IMMEDIATELY after that portion of the service- we've got 3 groups- University of Memphis, Wake Forrest and William-Mary all at Morrell tonight- thanks Jocie for all the details you are covering!

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Hannah Grace and Ann Elizabeth get trophies after the last game a 13 to 13 tie.

"Biggest" contribution yet!

Last week our family was talking about the church and praying for the specific needs of the coast and the new plant. One of the items we prayed for was fundraising. Several hours passed and Hannah Grace (who turns 9 tomorrow) walked in the den and handed me the note above. It reads: "DADDY TAKE 100 DOLLARS OUT OF MY SAVINGS FOR THE LANYAP CHURCH. LOVE HGL" She is our 'saver' and has had that money from last Christmas and allowances saved up. I told her at first that I couldn't take it- she was saving for an American Girl doll. Hannah got these big alligator tears in her eyes and I realized I was stifling her gift to the church. I told her I would take it and I will do so. I imagine in the big scheme of things this will be our 'largest donation.' Humbling.

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In memphis today for Hannah Graces 9th birthday party NOTE the olympics theme

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Bunkhouse #2 going up

Travelling to Crystal Springs, MS

Sorry, for the lack of posts in the past couple of days- here's a rundown. On Monday RUF- Davidson College, Furman and Southern Mississippi came to the coast along with a group of carpenters who are building bunkhouse #2- the RUF'ers worked on storage sheds and helped with the mucking out of some homes- 5 p.m. left the Bay and drove to Jackson, MS, spent the night with Trey and Kathleen Biggs 4:30 a.m. left Jackson on Tuesday a.m. to be in Southaven for a Crown on my left Molar- fun, fun, fun- AND a replacement filling! But on the brighter side- got to see the FAMILY! We went out to dinner and I woke up in my home this morning. Check out www.31maryanndrive.com and see the new paint job on the house- Kim did all the contracting, got the painter, hired the carpenter- I couldn't be doing this without her! Presently, we've checked the children out of school early and headed to the church where all 3 were baptized while we were in seminary. I'm speaking at the Wednesday night supper and then we're all going to the coast tomorrow- skipping school and then back to Memphis tomorrow night. I'll be in Memphis til Sunday where I'm going to do a profession of faith with Courtney Fair and then to the coast to meet the RUF group from Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon. Whew. I'm tired even typing that. I'll post some photos a.s.a.p.