And Away They Go . . .

Glen and Jerry pulled out first today and headed for Alexandria. Man, they will be missed! Glen is an inspirational sparkplug and Jerry knows how to work hard. Jerry talked last night about being here this year because God healed him last year. People prayed and helped him and now he has been able to give back. Treat others like you want to be treated. Great wordsm from him and great words from God.

Oleta, Brian, Paul and Lynn are on the plane and heading for Mo-town. We had a great discussion on the way to the airport. They are great servants of God.

I am constantly thinking of my family in MODESTO. All of your prayers keep us going here. Keep it up.

Serving him,

Buddy

Last day in camp

Packing the tent and bags. Ready to go home. I look around and see many faces of fellow workers, brothers, sisters, and friends. Many memories. Too many stories. As I think back on the week and as my tent comes down, I see in my mind snapshots, one or two word pictures of my experience here in Slidell, Louisiana.

work. devastation. trees. broken limbs. blue tarp. shovels. wheelbarrows. hammers. tents. people. Team Red. Hershey's Sours. On the road. Interstate 12. Alexandria. Pineville C of C. Don Gelles. Buddy. Talking. Box fans. hope. broken lives. shattered dreams. shared pain. laughing. team leader. team member. love. prayer. sheetrock. muck. muck. muke? and more muck. gatorade. bobcats. Jerry. bottled water. debris piles. everywhere. always. never getting smaller. Satellite internet. Blog. meals ready to eat. crew chief. the Machen family. servants.

katrina. rita. slidell c of c. how great thou art. hugs. tears. sore muscles. Jesse. emergency room. medical kit. strains. sprains. scrapes. cuts. bruises. badges of honor. rebuilding. lives. communities. families. disaster relief signs. Camp Modesto. Red Cross. Hilltop. ministry. all walks of life. all ages. faith in action.

Spirit. God. Christ. Lives touched. Lives changed.

God provides. Always.

Back on the road. Home soon.

Glen

Slidell Memorial Hospital ER

Pam McCleary is an awesome worker. She works harder than most anyone I've ever met. Lifting furniture, loading equipment into the truckbed, knocking out drywall, or whatever. She does it all and does it well. Yesterday morning she was walking around camp and of all things, she put her foot into a hole and twisted her ankle. She (of course!) went out on the job site anyway. Didn't last long as her ankle started to swell and it became more difficult for her to stand and walk, let alone carry out moldy cabinets. I made her stop working and put an ace bandage on it. "But," she said, "I came to work." My answer? "It's not your call, I'm getting you to the emergency room." I could see the tears welling up in her eyes, but she understood.

It was nice to sit in the waiting room of the Slidell Memorial Hospital ER (air conditioning never felt so nice!). After we got in to the exam room, I bet Pam one dollar that she broke her ankle. She just thought she sprained it. Talking about our bet seemed to take Pam's mind off of her pain. Her pain was intense... even still, she put on a brave face.

The physician seeing her, Dr. Dedinsky, is an Emergency physician that works at Tulane University hospital. He was one of the physicians that stayed at the hospital when Katrina hit. His description of the events that unfolded had me gripped. The commitment he had to his patients and to the community is astounding. He said "I hear that Tulane is going to open in November...I sure hope so, because I have to get back there, to the people, to the community. It's what I need to do."

After losing the bet to Pam, I paid up. While drinking coffee in the doctor's area with Dr. Dedinsky and the other 2 physicians, listening to their stories, I asked him if he would sign the dollar bill. He wrote the following on that dollar bill..."Pamela, Thanks from New Orleans. Wayne Dedinsky, M.D. Goodbye Katrina."

It was the best visit I've ever had to an ER.

Glen