Day 2: The Work Begins
Writing this hasn't started well: its past 10 and my wireless conncection has stopped responding and I've just started writing. Not an auspicious start. Here goes. . .
The day started off early. I was up at 5:30 to help get breakfast around with Emily, Michele and (supposed to be) Christa. Christa didn't show until about 6 and then complained that we didn't get her up.
Our plans for breakfast (we are now in charge of getting all of the food together) we immediately altered due to the milk not unfreezing overnight. So, we were flexible (a word emphasized many time before the beginning of the trip), and we made pancakes and scrambled eggs. This is when we found out how valuable some experience at feeding large groups of people can be. Justin Exner and Emily Chaplin jumped in with the eggs and pancakes respectively and showed the rest of us how it is done. It went off without a hitch and we survived.
We quickly shot a welcome video that will be showed in church on Sunday morning (presuming that UPS makes it). The team was then split up into subgroups to tackle the days work. There was roofing, drywall and warehouse activities. (Pictures to come later).
Lunch went more smoothly. We made tuna fish sandwiches and grilled cheese. I know, not gourmet, but it worked and was (I think) enjoyed by all of those dining.
After lunch it was back to work for all involved. By the end of the day, everybody was pretty tired and enjoyed a hotdog and hamburger fest (along with beans, chili and fries). After we were all cleaned up, we had a short time where we got together, Barry shared a few words and then opened it up for stories.
The survival stories are amazing and I'm sure you will hear more in future. Many people are still without much materially, but more importantly, many are without hope. It is striking how so many people have mentioned that they are glad to see us and its because they find it so hard to look forward to the future. They have lost so much. The week after the storm hit, Lakeshore Baptist Church (with a then regular attendence of 80 people) met and 34 people made it. When Pastor Don asked how many people lost a friend or a family member in the storm, everybody raised their hand. Everybody.
And though we are rebuilding only houses, hopefully, in some small way, God is working through us to raise these people up. To bring them some hope and some small comfort. To see the tangible love that He has for them.
Continue to pray for safety and unity in our group. Not that we are having any conflicts or discontent. In fact, I think as a team, we are enjoying ourselves as much here as any other vacation that we've taken. The comraderie is strong, the task is great, but so is our God!
More tomorrow, pictures I promise (maybe even a moblog entry). Thanks for reading and following along.
The day started off early. I was up at 5:30 to help get breakfast around with Emily, Michele and (supposed to be) Christa. Christa didn't show until about 6 and then complained that we didn't get her up.
Our plans for breakfast (we are now in charge of getting all of the food together) we immediately altered due to the milk not unfreezing overnight. So, we were flexible (a word emphasized many time before the beginning of the trip), and we made pancakes and scrambled eggs. This is when we found out how valuable some experience at feeding large groups of people can be. Justin Exner and Emily Chaplin jumped in with the eggs and pancakes respectively and showed the rest of us how it is done. It went off without a hitch and we survived.
We quickly shot a welcome video that will be showed in church on Sunday morning (presuming that UPS makes it). The team was then split up into subgroups to tackle the days work. There was roofing, drywall and warehouse activities. (Pictures to come later).
Lunch went more smoothly. We made tuna fish sandwiches and grilled cheese. I know, not gourmet, but it worked and was (I think) enjoyed by all of those dining.
After lunch it was back to work for all involved. By the end of the day, everybody was pretty tired and enjoyed a hotdog and hamburger fest (along with beans, chili and fries). After we were all cleaned up, we had a short time where we got together, Barry shared a few words and then opened it up for stories.
The survival stories are amazing and I'm sure you will hear more in future. Many people are still without much materially, but more importantly, many are without hope. It is striking how so many people have mentioned that they are glad to see us and its because they find it so hard to look forward to the future. They have lost so much. The week after the storm hit, Lakeshore Baptist Church (with a then regular attendence of 80 people) met and 34 people made it. When Pastor Don asked how many people lost a friend or a family member in the storm, everybody raised their hand. Everybody.
And though we are rebuilding only houses, hopefully, in some small way, God is working through us to raise these people up. To bring them some hope and some small comfort. To see the tangible love that He has for them.
Continue to pray for safety and unity in our group. Not that we are having any conflicts or discontent. In fact, I think as a team, we are enjoying ourselves as much here as any other vacation that we've taken. The comraderie is strong, the task is great, but so is our God!
More tomorrow, pictures I promise (maybe even a moblog entry). Thanks for reading and following along.
posted by Park Valley Answers at 8:10 PM
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