Rainy Days and Mondays...Are Incredible!

The end of a long day.

Looking at the weather forecast yesterday I wondered how God would reveal Himself today. The forecast was for heavy rain Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. With 150+ people from Willow Creek Church(Chicago) prepared for a 7 house blitz build how would it play out? Well, it rained and it rained and it rained. It's still raining as I type. The teams went out in the rain at 7a.m. and worked all day in the rain. They didn't stop. They didn't complain. They didn't tire. When they pulled into LPC around 5:30 pm they were wet but content. One report after another came in how their demonstration of the gospel moved the hearts of residents. One resident living down the street from the homes came down to the construction site. A Habitat representative was fearful as the man approached, thinking the worst, that he was going to blast her for the obstruction of traffic on the street. Instead he walked up to her and just wept. I don't know what the dialogue was after that but I can only imagine. This is how the Father redeems the storms, turning possible tragedy (having 150 volunteers sitting all day in our facility) into a demonstration of unimaginable love. You can't wrap your mind around that kind of display. It is a sermon preached without words, moving the heart in a profound way, directing devotion to the Father of Glory who delights to weave beauty out of sorrow and hope out of despair. Even my heart was moved by this demonstration of love, pushing through in such despairing conditions. They were merely reflecting on a smaller scale the greatest demonstration of love, the most profound sermon preached without words, the Incarnate God suffering an dieing to make us His own. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8 ).

Some continued to work, taking donated plastic utinsels from their wrappers. A dull but important job. Thanks. A small group in an informal gathering, getting to know one another by answering some of the "table talk" questions we provide. "If you could be a dog what kind would you be?" Several of the Habitat staff. Worn out but still managing a big smile. These guys worked for months to get materials and foundations in order for this project to take place.

Dress Code and a Full House

Holly sports the casual but still cool and dressed up Andrew goes warm but not so casual Ruth shows her colors Keri is a wuss So we catch her not looking However, the best part of Sunday was a full house thanks to the Habitat volunteers from Willow Creek here for the week blitz build of seven houses. Unfortunately the weather has been rough but still they have stayed on schedule. Please thank the Lord for bringing volunteers to the Bay and pray for their safety as the weather pounds and is predicted to continue to pound their efforts. But please come and forget the Sunday best but remember those rain jackets, that is far more important to the staff and the residents here in Bay Saint Louis. We rather you be dry and busy for the week and just here no matter what on Sunday.

Wayland to Waveland: 5 days folks, 5 days

Day 1: We have stacks of woods Day 5: We have a house For Real

Mission to Mississippi

Mission to Mississippi is building 8 homes by February 1st in the Waveland, Mississippi. Lagniappe Staffer, Ryan Kalberkamp has been prepping and doing all the groundwork for this project. This week 30 framers from Massachusetts have come down and been going great guns! This framing work was started on Tuesday, October 16th- yes, you read that right, Tuesday (as in 2 days ago) the 16th. (NOTE: I can only get the video to work in Firefox, sorry- see note below)

This is a live camera feed on the 4 lots that shows the progress in real time. The camera rotates on the 4 lots every 30 seconds. See if you can spot Ryan Kalberkamp!

NOTE: You may have to install the ActiveX control to view the live video!

P.S. for some reason I cannot get this to display in Explorer, so if you are using explorer and frustrated goto- www.WaylandtoWaveland.org and link directly to the "Mission to Mississippi" website and see the cams there. If you are a computer guru and can help me, lemme know!

Up on the Big Top

Once again, a find day in the Bay and –Ladies and Gentlemen – the circus is in town! Please direct your view skyward where you will behold the daring, the limber, the fearsome kids of Covenant College – looking somewhat like a flock of seagulls – perching, hopping, and scurrying nimbly over the incredible heights of the Russo Roof!!! Believe you me, this is NOT for the faint of heart! I repeat, even the ascent – as I go up to join the Fearsome – is NOT for the faint of heart! Whoops! Note to self: DO NOT LOOK DOWN!!! I reach the peak and all is amazing, all is fantastic, all is how it should be when shingling a roof! GO TEAM!!! GO JORDAN!!! Oh, excuse me – forgot to introduce you – that’s Jordan to the left: Ringmaster, Chainsaw Juggler, Hot-Dog Eating Man of Muscle! Roof View to the Left: On the eighth day, God created college students, I’m just not quite sure what happened to these two…maybe it’s the thin air up here on the peaks…warped ‘em or something… Roof View to the Right: A scream goes up, and it is a near tragic day in the history of Lagniappe as the Talented, the Tight-Rope-Walking Bug-Eating Man of the Mind – Andrew Thompson – is found fighting for his very life!!!! The struggle is long and hard and finally comes to an end when Jordan, who frequents Dagobah in his spare time, utilizes his powers to lower Andrew back down to the ground. (Side note: I was so stunned by this sequence of events, that I totally forgot about the camera and missed the whole thing. Jordan, however, obliged me with my own little demonstration as shown below.) Yoda would be proud!!! Once again on the ground, Andrew shows no signs of his near-catastrophic end and is found here calmly discussing the pros and cons of chopping off one’s fingers. YOU GO GIRL!!!

And here it is – one final look at the row of seagulls. It’s been a fine day!

P.S. Sparky says hi – “HI!!!”

In Use...

Our long requested and hoped for hand planar John still bugs me for wheelbarrows, just not as much Never before have we been able to stock pile due to having enough supplies The sticker next to one of our donated fans sums it up well. Early September we received two pallets worth of tools from Harrie den Boer and the Geisler Company. This blog is a bit late seeing it is now mid-October and these pictures are unfortunately not a picture of the pallets received or a spread of all the tools we received. An hour after tearing into the pallet much of what was given was dispersed into the tool crib or claimed by staff for work. Ryan drove out five minutes afterwards with marking paint to lay out his foundations and Andrew stock piled his already full truck. What we got were all the essentials to keep a tool crib running, drill bits, safety glasses, sand paper, air hoses, trowels, griding wheels, marking paint, fans, etc. Our belt sander died yesterday and we got enough free sand paper for a belt sander that when we go to replace it we will base what we buy on size of the stuff we were given. We also did get some skill saws, reciprocating saws, drills, and finally a hand planar. So thank you to Eifrid and Company, United Bronze Inc, TNT Tools, Glenco Sales Company, Carborundum Abrasives, Ed Howe and Associates, Morse Cutting Tools, Titan Fasteners, R & R Marketing Inc, and Geisler Company. UPS even donated the shipping. I was especially grateful late this Saturday afternoon when we had to fix a busted sewer line and we had the nitrile gloves in the trucks to wear due to this donation.

Cammie and Kate enjoy the cooler temperatures and fun activities at the monthly downtown Bay St Louis event, "Second Saturday." Bring a team, and make sure you come during the second saturday of the month and there is a fun time awaiting you! We still have room in November and December, so why not bring a group to help some families for the holidays? (Shameless ploy, yes, I know.)

Name This LPC Staff

Hints:

1) Starts most - if not all - sentences with "Aawwww"

2) Is known around LPC as "The Doorkeeper"

3) Has often been mistaken in conversation for a a well-know country music singer

Dime Tour of the Wild And Wondrous World

Alright now, Ladies and Gentlemen, step right up for the world famous Lagniappe House Tour as presented by Their Ladyships, Lynne and Ruth.

First stop: The Russo House!!! YEAH!!!! Shown here is Vanna White demonstrating the doorframe height as originally intended in the house plans. Obviously, the builder is a short man who has a talent for bringing things down to his level!!!

"That's right, fellas - coming to Lagniappe requires great courage and the ability to not only climb UP the ladder, but also to come back DOWN!" This poor soul was found at the back of the house, the rest of the team having given up on him and gone on coffee break. (He was still there when last we checked....)

Next up: the Thayer House, where we come upon a strange sight - "Les Newsom" is rehearsing his sermon in front of a loyal following!!

"Practice your sermon on your own time, Pal!!!"

We LOVE these kids from the University of Alabama!!! And, Erin Champlin, who needs ya?!

Meanwhile, James Belonzi, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE!!!! Brainerd Pres to LPC, Brainerd Pres to LPC - "Houston, here is the problem!"

Beemmmmp! Beeeemmmmp! Beeemmmmmp! We interrupt this tour for a short battle as we are attacked by the terrifying Inspectoider Tribe. But never fear, Andrew has taught Ruth all sorts of weaponry, and she is ready!!!!!

Victory is ours!!!!!!!!!! We continue the tour.

Here is Clyde - expert builder, teacher, and poster child for "Old Guys Rule, Inc." Here he is siding the Cox Home with three stragglers from Covenant College.

(Background straggler says) "I wonder what's for lunch..."

It may have taken the whole tour, but at last we have found a house that has it all - cabinets, floors, fans, and doors of the right height!!!

Whether you're on the inside looking out or the outside looking in, progress is happnin'!! Hope you enjoyed the tour! Tips are accepted.

The Volunteers Keep Coming!

October 11-14 Ladies from First Presbyterian, Tuscumbia, Alabama

October 7-13 Whiteman Methodist from Prosperity, South Carolina

October 4-7 Grace Presbyterian from Alexandria, Louisiana

August 4 - 11 Crossroads Presbyterian from Woodbridge, Virginia

We can't say enough about how grateful we are that ya'll keep coming! We sometimes get fearful that the volunteers will quit coming, that the world will come to believe that since Katrina was two years ago, everything must be back to normal by now. Please know that it will be at least five to ten years before life here will even resemble "normal". We need you to keep coming, to keep praying, to keep giving, so that the people here will know that God is real and that He cares for them through you!

2007 Women In the Church Conference

Lagniappe recently hosted the annual Women In the Church Conference for Grace Presbytery. Over 150 women attended, new officers were installed, and a wonderful lunch was served. Kelly Moore started the meeting off with introductions.

Sarah Denton, Lagniappe's Resource Coordinator, spoke to the crowd about Lagniappe's mission and vision for Bay St. Louis.

Ruth Friant, not pictured, gave a rousing rendition of "Santa Baby" while doing the dishes afterwards. Our staff knows how to have a good time while working!

Put your money where your ART is!

Our local high school, Bay High, has approached Lagniappe because of some serious funding needs in their art department. As you can imagine the sports teams and other clubs have received lots of national funding for various needs, but the art department was totally destroyed and needs some serious help. The teacher was a bit skeptical of even asking- he said, "I've made this list twenty times and no one has come through yet..." Okay, so here's the challenge- please consider giving a gift for the total amount of their needs. The PDF file of their exact needs is available by clicking here. All gifts through Lagniappe are tax deductible. We'd love to bulk order the supplies listed, have them delivered here and then have you join us for the delivery at the local school. Help us show a little (alot) of lagniappe to the local public school! (Approx. total cost $6,000)