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From Bay St. Louis, MS December 9, 2005 |
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Greetings! We trust that this update finds you well and
walking in step with the Lord. We have just completed our 8th week at Shoreline Park and our 14th week at the Gulf providing disaster relief. We want to express our sincere thanks for your support …. both, material and spiritual. Martie and I have learned that in order not become weary in well doing, we must trust in and call upon the strength that the Lord provides. You know strength is something that is not seen until it is tried and is not established without testing. God is teaching us many things as we walk in His calling. We count on your prayers, as well, as a means of shoring up this ministry. Each week it seems that new churches join us in the “fight” to restore the homes and lives of the people who call the gulf coast home. The devastation is so great here. One can’t help but share in the great loss and pain that the people of this region have experienced. More than one volunteer has shared how overwhelmed they feel as they “wade” into the ministry here. But I remind them that we serve a God of all comfort who has comforted us in our affliction so that we might comfort others. Isn’t God good! He established the “Church” to be His messengers and source of practical ministry to those in need. The church is being obedient to that truth and He is being glorified because of it. Hardly a day passes but I am told by a local resident that it is the church that has been there in their time of need. One man, Buddy Lester, told me that he didn’t know there were good people like us who would help someone like we helped him. He said “ You people saved my life!” Praise God from whom all blessings flow. The camp has matured in the past few weeks. The volunteer projections are steady over the next several months. We are encouraged to know that so many want to serve .. and more than that, so many are telling others and are encouraging them to join us here. This week we had folks from Joplin, MO; Escambia County, AL; and Montgomery, AL. Tomorrow volunteers arrive from Michigan. At some point in the near future we expect to begin the “building back” phase. During that phase we will help those who need help to begin to re-establish their homes to make them livable again. Let’s camp out here for a minute. Imagine that you are living in a 28 by 8 foot trailer next to your home. Your home, by the way is only studs, outer walls, and a roof. For many, their homes have not even been gutted yet. You don’t have any room for clothes, dishes, even food beyond what you need for three or four days. You are dependent upon two propane bottles to heat your water, cook your food and keep you warm. By the way, the temperature is dipping into the low 30’s and high 20’s at night. That friends is what most folks whose homes were flooded are dealing with. There are long lines at the propane refilling stations. The people in line hope that the tank doesn’t go empty before it’s their turn. When we talk about building back, many of you may be thinking of someone sitting in their living room, on their sofa clicking the TV on. What we will be doing is roughing in electrical circuits, putting in insulation and sheetrock, and then in only in a limited number of homes. That is a long way from sitting on a sofa. Most of these people didn’t get insurance money, the FEMA money is about to run out, they still are paying a mortgage, many have lost their jobs. They have lost every possession that could not be stuffed in their car when they fled from Katrina. They are heartbroken as they watch us gut their home and toss everything they held dear into the ditch to be hauled to the dump by the Corps of Engineers contractors. The most frequent request we receive is, “Can you see if you can find my pictures?” Sometimes we can and sometimes not. I share this with you to refresh your vision and to stir your compassion. My concern is that the intensity of the fire you once had is dying. I trust this update will rekindle that flame. On a final note, the storm destroyed many trees along the Gulf coast. Two nights ago, our trailer began to shake, there was a bright light, and a deafening roar. No, we didn’t miss the rapture :o) NASA builds the engines for the space shuttle at Stennis about 5 miles north of the church. They were testing a shuttle engine. Pretty cool! We will be in Montgomery the 16, 17 and 18 of December for a brief rest from the battle. We look forward to seeing our friends at church and if anyone would like to stop by the house for a visit, please let us know. We miss all of you. Our dear friends, Robert and Sue Lumpkin from Eclectic, AL are coming down to relieve us for those days. They are the same couple that are letting us use their trailer while we are in Mississippi. Be blessed and be faithful to your calling. Charley
Charley & Martie Elgin Katrina Disaster Relief Mission Team Bay Saint Louis and Waveland, Mississippi (228) 493-1081 Charley (228) 493-1272 Martie Matt 25:35-36 …… for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me …. |
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228-493-1272 |
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