Friday, November 09, 2007
Dear All,
We leave for home early tomorrow (Sat.). Lynn and Roger are talking about taking an all-nighter onBourbon Street before leaving early from New Orleans. The rest of us will leave from Gulfport. The week has been even more amazing than even my earlier trips. Dr. Roger, Gabriele, and I (Barb) were lucky to be able to work at one home - painting the outside of the home. By Wednesday we were beginning to wonder if we would be able to finish the three coats of paint that were needed. We helped the owner stack debris and a city truck stopped to ask if they could cart it away (with our loading help). We said, "YES!" The next day a crew of volunteers arrived at the house asking if they could help and we said, "YES!". Small miracles happened each day.
Another house was completed by another group of volunteers. That makes over 700 for the D'Iberville Volunteer Foundation. Several more homes, such as the one we were working upon are close to being done. There is a sense of great energy to complete as many homes as possible by Christmas.
HI there, Gabriele here.
I don't want to go home. Yes, I miss my husband, my family, my kitties and my church family, but... what can I say? I'm having a wonderful time, here, being God's instrument.
'Nuff said!
love,
Gabriele
We leave for home early tomorrow (Sat.). Lynn and Roger are talking about taking an all-nighter onBourbon Street before leaving early from New Orleans. The rest of us will leave from Gulfport. The week has been even more amazing than even my earlier trips. Dr. Roger, Gabriele, and I (Barb) were lucky to be able to work at one home - painting the outside of the home. By Wednesday we were beginning to wonder if we would be able to finish the three coats of paint that were needed. We helped the owner stack debris and a city truck stopped to ask if they could cart it away (with our loading help). We said, "YES!" The next day a crew of volunteers arrived at the house asking if they could help and we said, "YES!". Small miracles happened each day.
Another house was completed by another group of volunteers. That makes over 700 for the D'Iberville Volunteer Foundation. Several more homes, such as the one we were working upon are close to being done. There is a sense of great energy to complete as many homes as possible by Christmas.
HI there, Gabriele here.
I don't want to go home. Yes, I miss my husband, my family, my kitties and my church family, but... what can I say? I'm having a wonderful time, here, being God's instrument.
'Nuff said!
love,
Gabriele
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Hello POP,
Roger S. here in D'Iberville. Today started off learning about the hidden talents of Roger W. he is a very talented photographer and has met and photographed many famous people sort of, just ask him. It has been tough adjusting to my new career in the the medical field (read the last blog) but I am handling the fame. We (Gabrelle Barb Roger) continue to paint the outside of house that definitely needs it. The Spirit is with us as we take on this task even the homeowner was moved to start moving debris that has set two years. Roger W. and Lynn P. are keep the camp running doing the office administration and logistics. I heard that Lynn might also look into working at the Clinic.
Roger presented Prince of Peace's check. It is fantastic that a church our size could give so much you all are a true blessing.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Jamiesons with the passing of Stephanie father.
All for now
Roger
Roger S. here in D'Iberville. Today started off learning about the hidden talents of Roger W. he is a very talented photographer and has met and photographed many famous people sort of, just ask him. It has been tough adjusting to my new career in the the medical field (read the last blog) but I am handling the fame. We (Gabrelle Barb Roger) continue to paint the outside of house that definitely needs it. The Spirit is with us as we take on this task even the homeowner was moved to start moving debris that has set two years. Roger W. and Lynn P. are keep the camp running doing the office administration and logistics. I heard that Lynn might also look into working at the Clinic.
Roger presented Prince of Peace's check. It is fantastic that a church our size could give so much you all are a true blessing.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Jamiesons with the passing of Stephanie father.
All for now
Roger
Monday, November 05, 2007
Hi POP Church,
Greetings from Gabriele (this is me writing), Barb Gross and Roger Shull, M.D. (who has earned the nick name "Doctor Roger"!! He helped someone and is having some fun with the experience. He's even rubbing elbows with our resident orthopedic surgeon!
This is a wonderful experience. I've soaked up everything Roger and Barb have told and described to me. We've driven round and they are impressed with the progress since their last visit. Others volunteers have said the same - good progress since spring of this year.
We are working on the exterior of a house. It needs a coat of paint, some fascia board replacing, and there's still storm debris that needs to be cleared. Today we had to reassess our task schedule because as we attempted to get down to our work, we discovered a few things (such as gallons of interior paint left for us for an exterior job!) and had to go to the hardware store and get some additional opinions from some other volunteers. But we got a lot of caulking and scraping (Barb and Roger) and painting done (me).
I have experienced God's grace and enlightenment these past two days: I held the (now ridiculous seeming) opinion that too many residents of the area stayed here when obvious and imminent catastrophe was coming. Why didn't they leave? Why didn't authorities make the people leave? I have learned how arrogant and wrong my attitude has been. There were many reasons why some folk didn't leave, couldn't leave. I also learned how many people did go to what they considered a safer area or to be with elderly parents who couldn't leave and managed to survive the storm itself. And then came the aftermath. I recall Reverend Fregger's sermon and words of experience: it's what happens afterword that is when you really need to reach out to people. It's afterwards that you really must "walk with Jesus" and demonstrate you are a Christians by our love.
At tonight's devotional, we began with a song that is unfamiliar to me, but it's Biblical reference is one that I remember "And they'll know we are Christians by our love
By our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other
We will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other
Weill walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news
That God is in our land."
Yup. Especially here, in D'Iberville.
I have been humbled. And as God has so many times in my life, He enlightened me, taught me without slapping me upside the head. He did it with gentle discovery by way of my brothers and sisters.
Thank you, God. As said in devotional tonight, God's economy is one that the Giver also receives.
We are missing Stephanie and John, Stephanie's nephew. We were saddened to learn that Stephanie lost her father today. Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Deats family. Irene and Ed, the camp directors, also miss Stephanie and hope that she and John can make it here in the spring.
Greetings from Gabriele (this is me writing), Barb Gross and Roger Shull, M.D. (who has earned the nick name "Doctor Roger"!! He helped someone and is having some fun with the experience. He's even rubbing elbows with our resident orthopedic surgeon!
This is a wonderful experience. I've soaked up everything Roger and Barb have told and described to me. We've driven round and they are impressed with the progress since their last visit. Others volunteers have said the same - good progress since spring of this year.
We are working on the exterior of a house. It needs a coat of paint, some fascia board replacing, and there's still storm debris that needs to be cleared. Today we had to reassess our task schedule because as we attempted to get down to our work, we discovered a few things (such as gallons of interior paint left for us for an exterior job!) and had to go to the hardware store and get some additional opinions from some other volunteers. But we got a lot of caulking and scraping (Barb and Roger) and painting done (me).
I have experienced God's grace and enlightenment these past two days: I held the (now ridiculous seeming) opinion that too many residents of the area stayed here when obvious and imminent catastrophe was coming. Why didn't they leave? Why didn't authorities make the people leave? I have learned how arrogant and wrong my attitude has been. There were many reasons why some folk didn't leave, couldn't leave. I also learned how many people did go to what they considered a safer area or to be with elderly parents who couldn't leave and managed to survive the storm itself. And then came the aftermath. I recall Reverend Fregger's sermon and words of experience: it's what happens afterword that is when you really need to reach out to people. It's afterwards that you really must "walk with Jesus" and demonstrate you are a Christians by our love.
At tonight's devotional, we began with a song that is unfamiliar to me, but it's Biblical reference is one that I remember "And they'll know we are Christians by our love
By our love
And they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other
We will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other
Weill walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news
That God is in our land."
Yup. Especially here, in D'Iberville.
I have been humbled. And as God has so many times in my life, He enlightened me, taught me without slapping me upside the head. He did it with gentle discovery by way of my brothers and sisters.
Thank you, God. As said in devotional tonight, God's economy is one that the Giver also receives.
We are missing Stephanie and John, Stephanie's nephew. We were saddened to learn that Stephanie lost her father today. Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Deats family. Irene and Ed, the camp directors, also miss Stephanie and hope that she and John can make it here in the spring.
