Partners on Mission

Greetings!

It has been a very productive week here at the camp. Last week I shared that as a result of our interacting with the city of Waveland, we have established relationships with other volunteer camps in our area. These faith-based camps are housing volunteers but don't often have work for them. The permanent volunteers we have at Pathfinder are very skilled at identifying and organizing the work that must be accomplished in the community. So the camps are sending the volunteers to us so we can send them out into the community. On Friday, we had 87 volunteers working out of the camp. we have organized and equipped the camp for a maximum of 35 - 40 volunteers, so our cup was running over! This is a new paradigm so we are looking at how to manage the process most efficiently. God has shown us favor with camps, the local government, and with the residents. Our challenge is to walk in obedience on the path that He has set our feet upon.

Last Sunday, Martie and I went to Metairie, LA to worship at Celebration Church. Jim and Lisa Shaw, the couple who hosted us when we went to the Purpose Driven Church Conference, and other Saddleback members were volunteering with Celebration Church this past week. After the service, we caravanned back to Waveland so they could visit the camp and get a different perspective on Katrina.

We held our praise and worship service on Wednesday this week. We are moving the days around to find the most effective time to reach volunteers and the community. There were about 40 folks there, primarily high school and college age volunteers from Ohio. The service provides a great opportunity for me to cast the vision of fulfilling the purpose of the church by volunteering on the Gulf. I always encourage them to go home and tell others to come and see and serve. I also spoke to the volunteers we had on Friday. They were from Knox Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. That is the same town where my brother Rick is associate pastor at Naperville Evangelical Free Church.

The meeting between the Waveland mayor and the people of "middle-town" last Saturday was well attended. It was a good first step. There has been a tension between the two for some years. We seem to have an opportunity to bridge the gap and ease the tension. One way we plan to do that is to make certain that we do what we say we are going to do. We committed to help clean up the roadways the last week. The Lord provided the volunteers and we were true to our word. Some of the younger volunteers were talking about one of the home owners they had helped .... his lifestyle was miles from their own. I told them that it is hard to hug a porcupine, but the Lord loves that man as much as He loves us. I shared a bit from Matthew 25 ( the least of these ) encouraging them to show the love of Christ .... and not let what they see quench the Spirit.

Our bible study is growing. We added another person last week and have a commitment from another next week. Frankly, I am trying to guard against putting a lot of numbers in these updates. Numbers are not necessarily a validation of God's favor. It is not about how big something is, but about how faithful we are. We know that as we live and walk in faithfulness that He will bring the increase, whatever that looks like, for His glory and for His purpose.

As you know, hurricane season is here. The Hancock County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) holds meetings every Tuesday for volunteer groups and local government to discuss issues and disseminate information. Kathleen Johnson, from our camp, attends for us. At the community meeting last week, I asked the mayor about the plan to ensure everyone knows they must evacuate. He told me that the police and fire departments would send people out to ensure people knew. I asked one of the citizen's who attended, "If there was a hurricane tomorrow, would you know what to do?" They said, "Not Really" I discussed a concept with our team that is similar to the Neighborhood Crime Watch ... call it Neighborhood Hurricane Watch .... establishing block captains in the neighborhoods .... involving the community in the preparation for and effective execution of hurricane evacuations from the Gulf Coast. Kathleen shared that at the EOC meeting, and we were asked to develop the concept for possible use in the county. I wrote a concept paper which I hope will spark other ideas and mitigate the problems this area has ensuring people are informed and ready for evacuation.

I was contacted by Betty Byrd, Bellsouth, and the Bellsouth Pioneers are sending a team down to build a network for the computer classes and build pods in July. PTL.

Received a call from the folks who lent us the shower trailer. They are coming to pick it up next week. So we go from 4 to 2 showers. We are thinking and praying about an alternative solution ... I suggested lining everyone up against the wall and using the pressure washer ... but the group "nixed " that idea .... :o)

One last thing, some friends of ours surprised us with a visit while on their way to their next assignment at Randolph AFB in San Antonio. John and Maggie Vaughn attended Gateway Baptist Church while John was a student at the Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery. We had to do a double take when they walked into the tent. They brought the newest addition to their family - their daughter -- 5 day old Rowan -- We put her picture on the web site as the youngest volunteer to come to Pathfinder Mission. Please pray that John and Maggie's transition will be smooth and that they will find a church quickly.

We want to thank you for your support ... prayers and financial support. As our friends, I can tell you that asking for financial support is difficult for us. We see such a great need in the community. Our needs pale in significance. But be that as it may, we do have financial needs .. both personally and for camp operations. Please prayerfully consider what the Lord might have you do to help us minister on the Gulf. Thanks

Blessings

Charley

Charley & Martie Elgin

Pathfinder Mission

Waveland, Mississippi

^{http://www.pathfindermission.org}

^{(228) 493-1081

Isa 58:12…. you shall raise up the foundations of
many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the
restorer of streets to live in.}

	Greetings! It has been a very productive week here at the camp. Last week I shared that as a result of our interacting with the city of Waveland, we have established relationships with other volunteer camps in our area. These faith-based camps are housing volunteers but don't often have work for them. The permanent volunteers we have at Pathfinder are very skilled at identifying and organizing the work that must be accomplished in the community. So the camps are sending the volunteers to us so we can send them out into the community. On Friday, we had 87 volunteers working out of the camp. we have organized and equipped the camp for a maximum of 35 - 40 volunteers, so our cup was running over! This is a new paradigm so we are looking at how to manage the process most efficiently. God has shown us favor with camps, the local government, and with the residents. Our challenge is to walk in obedience on the path that He has set our feet upon. Last Sunday, Martie and I went to Metairie, LA to worship at Celebration Church. Jim and Lisa Shaw, the couple who hosted us when we went to the Purpose Driven Church Conference, and other Saddleback members were volunteering with Celebration Church this past week. After the service, we caravanned back to Waveland so they could visit the camp and get a different perspective on Katrina. We held our praise and worship service on Wednesday this week. We are moving the days around to find the most effective time to reach volunteers and the community. There were about 40 folks there, primarily high school and college age volunteers from Ohio. The service provides a great opportunity for me to cast the vision of fulfilling the purpose of the church by volunteering on the Gulf. I always encourage them to go home and tell others to come and see and serve. I also spoke to the volunteers we had on Friday. They were from Knox Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. That is the same town where my brother Rick is associate pastor at Naperville Evangelical Free Church. The meeting between the Waveland mayor and the people of "middle-town" last Saturday was well attended. It was a good first step. There has been a tension between the two for some years. We seem to have an opportunity to bridge the gap and ease the tension. One way we plan to do that is to make certain that we do what we say we are going to do. We committed to help clean up the roadways the last week. The Lord provided the volunteers and we were true to our word. Some of the younger volunteers were talking about one of the home owners they had helped .... his lifestyle was miles from their own. I told them that it is hard to hug a porcupine, but the Lord loves that man as much as He loves us. I shared a bit from Matthew 25 ( the least of these ) encouraging them to show the love of Christ .... and not let what they see quench the Spirit. Our bible study is growing. We added another person last week and have a commitment from another next week. Frankly, I am trying to guard against putting a lot of numbers in these updates. Numbers are not necessarily a validation of God's favor. It is not about how big something is, but about how faithful we are. We know that as we live and walk in faithfulness that He will bring the increase, whatever that looks like, for His glory and for His purpose. As you know, hurricane season is here. The Hancock County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) holds meetings every Tuesday for volunteer groups and local government to discuss issues and disseminate information. Kathleen Johnson, from our camp, attends for us. At the community meeting last week, I asked the mayor about the plan to ensure everyone knows they must evacuate. He told me that the police and fire departments would send people out to ensure people knew. I asked one of the citizen's who attended, "If there was a hurricane tomorrow, would you know what to do?" They said, "Not Really" I discussed a concept with our team that is similar to the Neighborhood Crime Watch ... call it Neighborhood Hurricane Watch .... establishing block captains in the neighborhoods .... involving the community in the preparation for and effective execution of hurricane evacuations from the Gulf Coast. Kathleen shared that at the EOC meeting, and we were asked to develop the concept for possible use in the county. I wrote a concept paper which I hope will spark other ideas and mitigate the problems this area has ensuring people are informed and ready for evacuation. I was contacted by Betty Byrd, Bellsouth, and the Bellsouth Pioneers are sending a team down to build a network for the computer classes and build pods in July. PTL. Received a call from the folks who lent us the shower trailer. They are coming to pick it up next week. So we go from 4 to 2 showers. We are thinking and praying about an alternative solution ... I suggested lining everyone up against the wall and using the pressure washer ... but the group "nixed " that idea .... :o) One last thing, some friends of ours surprised us with a visit while on their way to their next assignment at Randolph AFB in San Antonio. John and Maggie Vaughn attended Gateway Baptist Church while John was a student at the Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery. We had to do a double take when they walked into the tent. They brought the newest addition to their family - their daughter -- 5 day old Rowan -- We put her picture on the web site as the youngest volunteer to come to Pathfinder Mission. Please pray that John and Maggie's transition will be smooth and that they will find a church quickly. We want to thank you for your support ... prayers and financial support. As our friends, I can tell you that asking for financial support is difficult for us. We see such a great need in the community. Our needs pale in significance. But be that as it may, we do have financial needs .. both personally and for camp operations. Please prayerfully consider what the Lord might have you do to help us minister on the Gulf. Thanks Blessings Charley Charley & Martie Elgin Pathfinder Mission Waveland, Mississippi ^{http://www.pathfindermission.org} ^{(228) 493-1081 Isa 58:12…. you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.}

	Pathfinder Mission, P.O. Box 3313, Bay St. Louis, MS 39521

	228-469-0507

	contact webmaster