A Sign In Patios

Meet Grosse Point

Grosse Point was a BIG 60 person team from Michigan.

The first two days of their week I was away with the sea container and I think God knew I needed that. This team had some hard workers, but the maturity level and focus of the team were a real struggle for me to deal with. By God's grace we made it through, the team had a great time and talk of coming back again.

The team spent the week pouring an emergency exit way for our vocational building, doing some painting to give some of our buildings a face lift, and clearing foundations down on the farm.

Sea Container

Monday morning Chad, Blake and I took Chad's son Paul and 4 kids from the Ohio team into Mobay to help us unload and distribute the sea container

Blake, Chad and Paul getting numbers so we know how the container is packed, and the easiest way to unpack and distribute its contents
Austin, Eric, Dan, and Erin
The kids we pulled from the Smithville team to come and help us

Unloading the truck at our first stop Monday.

About 100-200 ft. from our second stop the clutch went out on the truck. So the driver ran it into the side of the road and stuck some rocks under the tire so the truck wouldn't roll the rest of the way down the hill. From there we carefully (because everything had been thrown off pallets and was in piles some that were falling out of the truck as we opened the doors) unloaded the materials for Granville place of safety. Once unloaded we started walking some of the materials up the hill, and the containers that were to heavy we loaded into the bus and made multiple trips back and forth to get all there materials delivered.

Then we sat.................................

and waited for another truck to come so we could unload the broken truck and load the new truck to continue distributing the materials.

While we waited we........

Got to know the people who lived on the street were our truck broke down. It was so fun to get to talk and learn a little of their story. They went to one neighbor up the street and got us water, then to another neighbor down the street to get us bag juices (kinda like a Popsicle in a bag).

With the long wait for the new truck to come Erin and Austin crashed on boxes that had fallen out of the truck while we were trying to find all the materials for GPS.
The new truck finally arrived but was smaller so we had to make two trips to finish our deliveries for the day. It was about 8 when the last truck was about to be unloaded and the power in Sherwood Content went out and so we worked by flashlight to unload the truck, and carry the materials into Ms. Gardeners little pitch black store room:).

Thankfully we were able to get a little over half distributed that first day and 15 hours after starting we pulled into the MoBay campus to crash for the night.

Loading up the truck Tuesday Morning to make our final deliveries.

The second day we had two more deliveries to make and the big truck was fixed again (praise Jesus!) so we only had to fill the truck once. On Tuesday we unloaded at the Falmouth Hospital and Infirmary. Since we didn't take dock workers with us this day to help unload we needed all the hands we could get to help. While I was trying to help unload the truck the Matron took me by the arm and pulled me away telling me this was not work for a lady and to let the men do it. So I obeyed until she left to attend to other work then got right back in line to help unloading again. :)

Austin and Blake putting up the last bag of soy protein at our last stop completing our deliveries for this sea container!

As you can see from the pictures it was VERY HOT, but we were able to do what needed to be done and in good time too. I love these trips and was thankful that some of the Smithville kids could join the process since a lot of them helped in making or putting together the supplies that were distributed around the island. Their eyes were opened to how without there knowing it they really are making a difference and blessing the people here in the island.

Its Here!

Today I was informed that 2 cases of Swine Flu have been found in Manchester Parish (a parish would be like a county in the states. Because of these two diagnosis ALL Manchester schools where closed A.S.A.P and graduations cancelled. So my kids are on there way out a week early and graduation that was supposed to be Thursday was postponed to a later, to be determined, date. Please be prayerful for my kiddos as they are home for the summer. I don't like breaks like these because I never know who won't show up in the fall and I have to say goodbye to the graduates whom I may never get to see again:(

But over all... God is good all the time no matter what!

Meet Briarwood Pres.

This is Briarwood Pres. from Birmingham Alabama. This was an AMAZING team in so many ways. For the most part they were left to fend for themselves since both Kirk and my Focus was on getting their family what was needed. This team was so helpful, they were hard workers, and great with the kids. I was sorry I didn't get to spend as much time as I liked with them, but with the two days I was given I was able to get to know a few but because of the size of there team not very many at all.

Linda Norton was also here with a small group helping out the team. I have gotten to work with her many different times. She was here on a P.O.T. team when we were doing our interviewing down here two years ago. She is also involved in many different ministries on the island and its always fun to meet up and catch up with her.
This has become a common occurrence. I bought a chair from the factory thinking how nice it would be to sit outside and read or just relax but 9 times out of 10 when I go out to use my chair this is what I find. Work teams, Students, Staff, Random People are always in my chair. Sometimes taking, sometimes sleeping, sometimes just hanging out. I'm thinking I am going to have to get another one for my use but know if I do that it will just end up being used like the one I have now is:)
Before the team left Yesterday Patrick one of the youth pastors on the team prayed and in his prayer he said something that really made me stop. He prayed "Thank you for the opportunity to lean on you today". He was talking about leaning on God for a safe travel day but in my mind with all the business that statement really made me stop. I know God is always there and I can lean on Him but do I see it as an opportunity? That is something I am going to have to start working on.

GSS VIDEO

Here are some video clips from the Goodfield Sunday School Trip to JDV. Sorry its taken so long to get them up. In some of the videos the wind is very strong and very loud so you can't hear much but it will give you an idea of some of the work done. I hope you enjoy!

She Made It!!!

Once again PRAISE JESUS

About 5:30 this morning Daisha and Keri arrived at OSF in Peoria safely.

Kirk and the Boys left to catch their flight in MoBay 15 min ago and will hopefully meet up with Keri and Daisha by the end of the day.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Thanks for all your prayers.