We are here!!!

It is currently Sunday afternoon and we are just now settling in at Robinson Road Baptist Church. As you can imagine, most of us are tired (except for Sharon Whitehead and Kathy Neely who show a never ending engergy). This trip comes with much anticipation and excitement. Thanks to all of you back home at Niles Ferry who are praying for our mission trip this week.

Today we attended church services at Robinson Road and at Stable Baptist Church (the place where we are going to be doing the Backyard Bible Clubs). It was a very humbling experience for me listening to the church members offering praises to a holy and just God. It is even more sobering when you realize everything the residents in this area have been through since Katrina almost 3 years ago.

Since we left last June and October, progress has been made. The foundations we completed now have homes setting on top of them. The lot we cleared out, now has a house on it---yet the weeds and brush have all come back! However, despite the great progress much still needs to be done. Some places have not been touched since Katrina, as the eye catching red x's on some buildings tell a story.

Currently some are at Wal-Mart (imagine that), some are sleeping, some are being teenagers doing teenage stuff (yikes!), and some are getting ready for tommorrow---construction and Bible clubs. Me....well I'm taking it all in right now and reflecting.

I am reflecting on seeing an elderly lady that we had helped last year with her house, who was overwhelmed with joy when she saw familiar faces from Niles Ferry. She invited all of us into her house, so she could show it off. As we left, she stood from her deck and waved and waved with a huge smile on her face. I believe God sometimes rewards us in life for our efforts. Seeing that woman smile and wave to people who had touched her life was indeed one of those times.

Then there is JD. Last year JD was saved through the witnessing of our students. We tried to track JD down today, wondering what he would be like and if he would remember us. We learned that JD was not at home because he has gone to Montgomery and is participating in the Job Corps program while finishing his GED. Knowing that you had an impact on someone's life is a gratifying feeling. But no credit to us, ALL GLORY to the God of the universe who desires for us all to be used in HIS Kingdom despite our failures.

I anticipate a great week and I hope you will continue to pray for us. We will update the blog daily and hopefully post some pictures; stay tune. We know God is with us and that He will bless our efforts. Our hope this week is the same as the Southern Baptist Convention's this past week in Indianapolis, May God "LET IT RAIN" (That is let His Spirit rain down upon us)

sola fidei

Jeremy