They're Here . . . .

They’re here!

The rest of our team arrived late Monday night, finally getting to bed by 1am. Our hard working folks hit the ground running working a long day in the tropical heat without the benefit of a good night’s rest. Great spirits continued through the day as the reading team continued to work with their readers and the construction crew worked at digging footings, hand mixing cement in wheelbarrows, and pouring new footings. Walter’s house is a crowed, chaotic, wonderful hub of all kinds of activities. I am happy to report that Shelia and Gertrue have successfully invaded the kitchen. The bad news is that we are now two days SPAM free, already we have the shakes… perhaps we can sneak out and get some SPAM. We continue to ask for your prayers for the work here and the people we are touching.

Mike Crowley

MLK Kaiser Lunch Project. . .

The feeding project went wonderfully yesterday. 300 + volunteers from Kaiser and various other organizations were fed lunch yesterday by 25 great volunteers from the Community Response Team. The Beans and Potatoes were nice and hot, plus tastey. A lot of hard work to make sure these volunteers had a good hot meal. It was a great day and a lot of fun. Thank you to all the volunteers that made the day a success.

Second Team Arrives in Panama Safely . . .

Here's the picture of the second Team arriving at the airport to make their way to Panama.

More Pictures from Panama . . .Monday January 19,2009

Construction Project Pictures

Picture of Walter's House

News from Panama . . .

The Warden


We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the rest of our team. Lord willing we shoud be re-united tonight at about 10:30pm tonight at the airport to cheer their arrival. Already we veterans have some words of advice for the new arrivals to experience a smooth transition to tropical living. First of all, it is very important that you make friends with the Warden. Our first Monday here in Panama we discovered that Walter is the Warden of the house. I got up early to attempt to go for a run before the temperature rises to the typical suffocating humidity. As dawn was breaking, I prepared everything I needed for my trial run, “wick away clothing,” proper shoes, extra water etc. The other thing I was missing was a loud horn to blend into the typical Panamanian traffic, maybe next time. So… I was ready to embark. However, I discovered that each door is double dead bolted, each with their own individual key. The most important thing was that these deadbolts are key access only, whether from the outside or the inside. So there I was, already dressed up and ready to run, but no way to get out of the house! Bars secure the windows, steel double dead bolted doors, this place was locked up like a prison! Rather than wake Walter and Delores I just decided to pass on the run. With nothing else to do, Jack and I brewed some coffee in preparation for breakfast. By this time Terry and Taylor walked up to the door from the house where they are staying each night. Jack and I started laughing as we could not yet open the door, Walter was singing away in the shower! What could we do??? We opened the side windows by the door and handed them coffee to drink while we waited for Walter’s aquatic concert to end. So there was Terry and Taylor, sitting on the front steps drinking coffee while we visited with them through the iron bars of the window. Who knows, if we are especially well behaved, the Warden may let us out early!

Mike Crowley

Habitat For Humanity, MLK Day celebration and build

Today the Community Response Team is teaming with HFH to feed the 300+ volunteers at the Hope Village work site. Hope Village will eventually be home for 20 families in South Modesto. The taters are wrapped and ready to placed in the oven. The supplies are all purchased. We will hook up the trailer and leave within the hour. Whether its Modesto or Panama God will be served today by Davis Park. Pray for the team of individuals who are on their way to Panama today.

Grace and Peace,

Buddy

God can do anything . . . Report from Mike Crowley, 1-17-2009

“God Can Do Anything”
As many of you know, we are in Panama City, Panama in a neighborhood called Brisas de Golf to assist our missionary, Walter Leonard, in reaching out to the lost in Panama. The approach that we are using is providing free opportunities for Panamanians to practice their conversational English skills. We are using “Let’s Start Talking” or LST materials which have selected passages from an easy to read version of the Gospel of Luke. Our task is to help bring out the theme, or “seed thought” in each lesson. The main “seed thought” for the entire series is “God Can Do Anything!” We have seen this truth displayed powerfully every day here in Panama! For example…
One of my early readers is a man named Edwin Garcia. The first day he was very skeptical of our program. He questioned Taylor is Spanish very intensely, continuing to ask if the program was really for free or if there was a “catch.” He left very skeptical and I honestly thought he would not return. To my absolute amazement he returned the next day, after leaving me on pins and needles by being about 20 minutes late. The next two days saw incredible discussions of infant baptism, and self-flagellation. By Friday I was opening my Bible and we were exploring English verses together!
Edwin brought his wife and children to our Friday night fellowship. Our party went well, providing many bridge building opportunities between us and our new friends, there’s nothing like a spirited game of bi-lingual Pictionary to create a lot of fun and laughter! After the clean up the entire team sat down with a fulfilling sense of exhausted contentment. Walter began to tell us an amazing story. It seems that Edwin has a degree in Psychology and Law. He has put his education to use by creating and leading a preschool with 6 teachers and about 45 students, including a summer program and after school daycare. He talked to Walter in an animated way as he explained that he was so excited about what he has been learning that next time we come, he wants us to use his school facilities for free! Air-conditioning, YES !! He has been telling his teachers and all the parents about the program. In fact, he invited one of the parents to our next course while he was giving us a tour of the facilities today! We immediately stopped last night upon hearing this news and bowed our heads in prayer in amazement and thanksgiving. God turned our greatest skeptic into our greatest recruiter. God Can Do Anything!

Menu for next week provided by Sheila Smith

Sheila sent me the following info, I have added a small amount of commentary.

On the SPAM website, I found some “exotic” recipes that I think will
make the team very happy. My mouth is watering already.

MENU:

Breakfast
SPAM & Cheese Quiche

This is an all time favorite of every missionary.

Lunch
SPAM California Rolls

This is kinda like sushi, only its not freshly dead.


Dinner
SPAMALADAS

By now the team is desiring some good old fresh Mexican food. Spamaladas always hits the spot.

Just in case Mike cannot wait for the spam and apple cake we are including the recipe.

Dessert:

SPAM and APPLE CAKE

Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan. Cut SPAM into several pieces and place in a food processor or blender. Process to a paste consistency. In a large mixing bowl, combine SPAM and next 4 ingredients and mix with an electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add flour, mixing well after each addition. Stir nuts into batter just before pouring into pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool for about 15 minutes before turning out onto a plate with deep sides to glaze.

Glaze:
In a small saucepan, heat whipping cream and brown sugar until brown sugar completely dissolved. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar until thick, but still pourable. Pour evenly over warm cake.


INGREDIENTS

Cake:
• 1 (12 ounce) can SPAM® Low Sodium
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups chopped apples
• 3 cups self-rising flour
• 1 cup chopped or broken walnuts or pecans
•
• Glaze:
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1-1/2 to 2 cups powdered sugar

For more info on Spam please go http://www.spam.com/eatspam/recipe_detail.aspx?Id=188to this website:

News and Pictures from Panama, January 17, 2009

Mike has some comments on his cooking adventure

“This Mystery is Great…”
We have been to the outer rim of sanity and peeked over the edge. This morning marks the fifth day of the exploration of bacon flavored spam. We launched into our week with a fairly prosaic presentation, fried eggs with fried spam on the side, rounded out with toast, jam, coffee, and orange juice. We chose the path less taken Wednesday morning with some “stay-with-you-all-day” spam omelettes. Yesterday the tropical sun rose over the enticing smell of breakfast spam burritos. This morning we boldly went where no man has gone before with “I-hope-this-doesn’t-stay-all-day” spam quesadillas without the cheese, we were out. It continues to amaze me of the multitude of sins that can be covered with Panamanian hot sauce! What’s next, spamcakes, rotisserie spam perhaps, or the perennial favorite, spam on a stick? Things could be worse… right? As you no doubt have heard the famous legend of the pizza run through the gauntlet of the intersection of certain death last Wednesday, you will be surprised by the accurate accounting of the “day after.” Some pizza was left over Wednesday night and sadly left out on the counter. Our unflappable Gringo Beacon, Jack Hairston, padded into the kitchen for an early breakfast. Apparently he wanted to rev up his metabolism in preparation for another onslaught of “spam surprise.” In the early morning gloom, he reached into the pizza box and begin to enjoy a piece of Panamanian combination pizza which had been aged to perfection. About half way through his slice of “if I can’t see it, it won’t hurt me” pizza, he suddenly felt the uncontrollable urge to brush off a host of “crawlies” from his arms. With lightening swift resources Jack switched on the kitchen light to discover that the pizza he was eating was covered with swarming ants! Jack reports that ants taste a little like chicken!! The team is anxiously awaiting Sheila Smith’s arrival this coming Tuesday to rescue them from the “spam purgatory” that their great chef Mike Crowley has led them into. Is it Tuesday yet??!!


Jack has some text to add to the blog today.

What’s New
Panama City, Panama, Friday, January 16, 2009

At breakfast today, after a week of working with Spanish-speaking readers, all four of us burst out laughing when we realized that we were speaking to each other like we speak to our readers—slowly and distinctly, with much arm-waving and gestures to illustrate each word. After we stopped laughing, I started to say something that had the word “little” and made a small square with my fingers before I realized what I was doing. [more laughter] I wound up sitting on my hands.

Last evening was the regular Bible study for the Christians that meet here at Walter’s house. Walter asked me to prepare a thought for discussion. I suggested to the group of fifteen or so that faith has three parts, and that there is no faith unless all three parts are present.
1. Truth For example, God exists.
2. Agreement I agree that God exists.
So far there is no effective faith. “Even the demons believe, and shudder.” (James 2)
3. Surrender Only after surrender will I obey God, and trust him to take care of me, especially when I am frightened by events.
Walter translated into Spanish, after which the discussion was spirited indeed among the Spanish-speaking members. Afterward, Walter said that I must come up with something equally good for next Thursday’s meeting. I fear I might have set the bar too high.
Jack Hairston

Comments from Terry Hoffman about the mission trip . . .

Terry Hoffman makes the following comments:

It is natural before any trip to be a little apprehensive, especially if the destination is somewhere we have never been. The apprehension increases when you know you are staying with people you do not know, and almost reaches the “uh oh” point when the goal of the project is to bring non English speaking people closer to Christ.

We are happy to report that the apprehension was short lived. We were welcomed with the utmost excitement, love and hospitality. The readers we are blessed with helping to learn, have been an inspiration to all of us. We learn as much from them as they do from us.

We have already become accustomed to Walter singing hymns in the morning shower. Mike is well on his way to breaking the record for different ways to cook SPAM. Taylor is the life saver and comes to the rescue when we get ourselves in Spanish trouble. We thank God daily for our successes and that Jack only packed one pair of camoflage shorts to wear with his dress shirt and white Panama cowboy hat. Delores has been more than patient with us rummaging her kitchen and hanging our semi clean laundry on her line.

We look forward to next week’s arrival of the rest of the Davis Park team and another week of bringing another group of readers closer to God.

More Pictures from Panama . . .

More Pictures from the classes being taught in Panama.

Panama Pictures

More Pictures from Panama.

A picture of a baptistry, Jack reading with some students and Jack sharpening a knife.

Panama Pictures

These pictures show the materials laid out for the construction team which will be leaving for Panama on Monday, January 19, 2009. Mike is standing by his new best friend, a continuous flow hot water heater.

Panama Mission Team Report from Mike Crowley

Here's some babbling text for your enjoyment...

I hope you have an awesome day today. We are truly seeing the hand of God, we are doing His work in the clearest way I have ever seen. The blessing is beyond description... Can't wait to just explode with information and joy when we get home, can't wait for the rest of the team to get here and join the fun!

I had wonderful readers today, 7 ! One is a CFO of an architect firm, another is a university student! Taylor had a new reader who is a lawyer, whose husband is a Petroleum Engineer who works internationally for Texaco !!!! We have architects, lawyers, university professors, house wives, psychologists, businessmen/women, artists, college students, high school students, jet mechanics, airline call center trainers, managers, Who's next????? So far we have read with about 36 readers!! Each story is more incredible than the last, how can this be possible? Are we exhausted after 10 hours a day? Are we having fun...

I drove our team to get pizza tonight!! What fun! We had 30 minutes to get it and get back before our next classes. Why order in when you need a little adventure out of the house? So...

I backed out of the driveway, threaded my way through the street of destruction and gunned it for the intersection of certain death. I pulled up to the busy four way intersection where two major roads cross with no lights or stop signs and put on my game face. With nerves of steel I moved to the center of my two lane street, claiming the right of way by sheer force and bravado. Suddenly cars were everywhere, other, lesser drivers trying to assert their strength in this Panamanian wolf pack. Undeterred, I aim for the gap in the center of the melee and accelerated, panicking a lessor driver into yielding. With that gap consolidated, I swerved to the left, forcing a competing vehicle onto the median, then suddenly, deftly shifting to the right to confuse my enemies. I laughed at the success of my clever ruse, traffic being distracted did not anticipate my calculated move, allowing me to gain at least four feet on the dump truck coming through from the other side. Victoriously I cut in front of the bus, fearlessly brandishing my brake lights as I slowed into opposing traffic, in one final, daring, breathtaking maneuver swerving across opposing traffic, humbled and subdued by the sheer ferocity of my approach, I triumphantly took possession of the finest parking place. I delighted in the absolute genius of signaling a right turn while I brashly claimed the spot on my left!

Ah, another peaceful night in the Panamanian tropics begins as the melodious sound of diesel trucks gracefully gives way to barking dogs and screaming children. Already my eyelids droop at the anticipation of the gentle slumber accompanied by a raucous blend of salsa and samba music pulsating through the concrete wall against which I sleep. Perhaps tonight the fan will not seize as it did last night, allowing us the pleasure of bathing in our own sweat as we slept.

submitted by Mike Crowley
from

Happy New Year . . .

I hope you all are having a good start to the new year. 2009 should be a doozie of a year for all of us. It definately is going to be a year of faith. Uncertainity seems to be on every corner in every aspect of our culture and country.

Most recently I have made a few calls for local law enforcement. The calls were juxtaposed in that one was a person who passed was elderly and the other was an infant. Death seemily know no boundaries and does not ask permission before happening. It happens much like Jesus describes the end times. It is like a thief comes and takes the perosn away. Regrets are usually commonplace in the notification process. Everyone wonders what they could have done to make the outcome different. Many times they ask me why these happen. I always tell them that I wish I knew. I always try to affirm that we all try to do our best with the time we have with our loved ones. The only thing I have to offer most of the time is a listening ear. Many times this feels extrememly inadequate. I certainly am glad God knew what he was doing by letting Christians be His hands and feet in this world. May we praise him and worship him forever.

Merry Christmas

God has blessed us more than we can be thankful for. I want to continue to reach out to those in need in 2009. One more project in 2008 . . . Feed the Hungry at the D street shelter. Everyone is welcome to help. Share the blessings you have recieved with those who for some reason or another seem to be lacking in a lot of ways. I cant wait for this adventure. See ya at the building at 2:00 pm on 12/ 27/ 2008.

News . . .

I apologize for not sharing any news lately. I have been lax in updating the blogg which is evident by the the lack of posts. There has been a lot going on here in Modesto and even more things are planned for the future. On the near horizon the women of Davis Park are having a time of fun and fellowship with our neighbors at Parkview Christian Estates. Our family outreach for Christmas is gathering steam. this year we have chosen ten families to bless with food, clothes and the word of God.
Our two weeks of Family Promise went very well. The best gem in the two weeks was the relationship between the Padilla family and one of the families. Lee and Selena are studying and mentoring this family, pray for fruit from this bible study.

After Christmas on the 27th we are scheduled to feed the folks at the "D" Street Shelter. We are partnering with my fitness instructor and friend Don Harris on this project. We will feed in the neighborhood of 200-250 people that night. Volunteers are needed for all kinds of tasks related to this project.

In the near future I will be on call with the local law enforcement chaplaincy program. One week with Modesto PD and one week with Stanislaus County. Pray for peace in our city and county.

Take a look at the Church of Christ Disaster Response Team website and blog by clicking on the link at the botton of this page. Work continues in Bridge City, TX. Pray that this good work can continue and impact people for Christ . . .

Family Promise Day 2

Thanks to the Higgies, Calibros and others for helping out last night as we have taken on an additiional week. I know that the families are glad to be here and it gives us a special touch with other local groups that help with this program. I believe this is the best program for those trying to get back on their feet from homelessness. I will publish more as the week progresses.

Buddy

Ike Relief Trip Pictures - Bridge City, TX

Pictures are from one of the first houses we worked on. Brian is sweeping, the Cowan Brothers are making quick work of demo sheetrock. Cindy Fox is working on taking sheet rock out.

Ike Trip concluded. . .

We had a great trip to the coast(Texas) doing storm relief. All of us are back and most of us are well. I will give an update on our only injury after I talk to the injured party today.

Wow! that's how I would describe the trip. Church of Christ Disaster Response Team is the finest organizations to work with. They are volunteer friendly, in that they have jobs lined up, supplies, shelter and tools. These folks are the real genuine people God wants them to be.

Mucking Houses, Distribution of Supplies, Moisture Testing, Warehousing, Counseling, Worshipping, Praying, Interviewing, Cooking, Food Service, Transportaion of Supplies, First Aid, Clothing Distribution, Ice Distribution and Bobcat operation.
These are the jobs that were undertaken by the Community Response Team and I am sure there were others.

I know that God allowed us to touch lives in Bridge City. He allowed us to work everyday from dawn to dusk.

It is good to be home. Thanks for helping us help others. I will start posting stories about people that we met along the way as I have time.

Ike Relief Day 6

Sorry for the lack of posts. ATT does not have good coverage here. Right now I am in the middle of a parking lot, posting this post. Its 50 degrees and humid. We had another great day. We moved a thousand pounds of hamburger meat today, all in one pound plastic wraps. Brittney went out with a group from Freed Hardman University and mucked a house. Lynn has found his niche moving ice. Oleta kept things in order around the camp. Pictures will have to wait till I am home.

Buddy

Bridge City Work Day 3

Today at the Lovelace house our crew took on a large muck job. This house had over 5 ft of water in it. The floors were oozing moisture it had gotten so wet. The house was filled with a lot of odor, especially when the toilet was taken off of the wax seal to be moved to the trash pile. The debris pile was as big as any I have ever seen at the end of a job. We put in 64 man hours to finish the job. Its an honor to be able to start the process of drying out a house for a family that needs the help. We drove to the Gulf today after working all day. We saw all the usual sights in the wake of a hurricane. Boats in the wrong places, houses flattened, lives changed forever. There was a serenity at the Gulf at sunset. It is hard to believe that it can get so angry and do so much damage. Pictures will have to wait, I am too tired to continue . . . Keep praying for the people of Bridge City.

Buddy

Bridge City

I am posting this while sitting outside of a community center building. an endless stream of cars are coming by looking for food and water. Today is a day of respite for the Disaster Response Team, so though the crowds of people are coming by we are not distributing goods. Mark and Laura are moving today. When they first arrive they show up in an older class a motorhome. Once they determine they will be somewhere for a longer period of time they move in their fifth wheel trailer. The two units are 150 feet apart.

We have three crews working right now. Group 1 is working at home base cleaning it all up. Sweeping, moping and all that goes with detailing a public building that is serving hundreds of people a day. Group 2 is going to Lake Charles, La with a cargo trailer to pick up donated goods from a church. Group 3 is at a house trying to move a 15 x 25 deck that floated away from a house, back to the side of a house. This deck is the means of entry for a disable man who is in a semi vegative state. His wife presently is paying for his care away from home until they can get him back into their house. Moving this deck is going to be no small feat. I hope to upload photos later today.

things are progressing well

Buddy

Ike Relief, First day in Bridge City

What a great day we had today in Bridge City, TX. If we were wondering if there was a need before we arrived, the questions were answered for us today. 3800 homes total in this town only twenty eight without damage. Most homes had three feet of water or more in them. Water in houses means mud on the floors. Most of the mucking is done, thank goodness, but there is much sheetrock to be torn out. Glen V. continues to show his prowess with a sledge hammer. He has a talent for tearing things up. If you are worried about the teens who are beginning to mature, do not worry the teens we have on the trip are awesome. They are strong, willing to work and untiring. Our two homeowners today were thankful for the work we were doing for them. You could see the relief on their faces as we completed the jobs. Jesse and Shirley were fun to talk to while we were working on their houses. Its bedtime more info tomorrow.

On the Way to Texas . . .

We have cleared security and are sitting at the gate waiting to depart from Oakland. A lot of nervous anticipation as we get ready to work in an environment that we are not used to. Bridge City, TX will be our home away from home for a few days. We cannot wait to see what God wants us to do while we are working for him on the Texas coast. So far it has been uneventful and all is good for the moment. Pray that God is preparing someone to hear the gospel while we work in Texas.

grace and peace,

Buddy

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team . . . Newspaper Article

Dateline: Oct 8, 2008 - - - Orange County Leader


A Church of Christ Disaster Response Team has moved into the Bridge City Community Center, and won’t be leaving anytime soon.

There, residents can get hot meals, cleaning supplies and more.

Being a temporary office, it may seem a bit chaotic inside as people move about doing various jobs. But just ask someone at the door or in the kitchen, and they can get you to the right person.

Dorleen Bickley, a volunteer from Beaumont, said the operation could be in effect up to a year.

“We won’t stop until Bridge City is back to normal,” she said, adding that volunteers include Church of Christ members from Vidor, Beaumont and Port Arthur. The Bridge City operation is directed by Laura and Mark Cremeans of Ohio.

“Right now we are serving just Bridge City residents, but that may change in the future,” Laura Cremeans said. “We will soon have volunteers coming in from across the United States for long-term recovery and rebuilding. We will have skilled laborers that can help with home repairs; and will have a mobil kitchen serving hot-cooked meals.”

At the Community Center, she said, about 700 meals a day are going out to residents.

Clothing donations are needed, she said, but only new clothes can be accepted.

“We started out in Beaumont about two days after Ike hit,” she said. “Then we came down and had a meeting with [City Manager] Jerry Jones and we’ve been here since. We can offer cleaning supplies, baby supplies, boxed nonperishable foods and some bedding. The options change as we get each shipment in.

“We soon plan to put banners around town to let people know we’re here,” she said. “We will be here as long as it takes and want to help in any way we can.”

For more information, call Laura Cremeans at (937) 308-2259.
The Disaster Relief Team (called DRTs) office is headquarted in Melbourne, Fla.

The Bridge City DRT opened Sept. 24 and has about 35 volunteers.

Churches of Christ’s mission is to bring the “Good News of the Gospel” to communities affected by flooding, tornadoes and other natural disasters; as well as human-related disasters such as fires, explosions and terrorist activities.

DRTs have served with relief efforts in states such as Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri.

Ike Relief Trip Plans Moving forward

The relief trip team will have a meeting on Wednesday Night at 6:30 pm in the MPR at Davis Park. We will go over last minute details such as what time we will leave the church on Friday morning, dress code for the trip. We have a good size group going, we will need to coordinate rides to and from the church. It appears that their is still much work to be done on the coast of Texas. I am eager and excited that we will have a presence of Christ's body doing work for him there.

Ike Response Fund raising . . .

A special thanks to everyone who contributed to the Ike Response Trip. We are getting close to covering the transportation costs of the trip. God is great! He keeps providing so well.The disaster response team continues to work dilegently in Bridge City, TX go to their blog for an update at http://www.disasterresponseteam.blogspot.com/. Hundreds of people have been helped so far and many more re waiting to be helped. I cannot wait for our group to get on the ground and work there

Buddy

Ike Relief Trip Team Set and waiting to go

We have confirmed a team of fourteen to go to Bridge City, TX. The team will leave Modesto on October 17th and return on the 26th. I communicated with Laura from Church of Christ Disaster Response Team today and they are ready for us to be there. They have not been advertising there feeding location and they have been feeding 400 people per meal at their site. Presently they are set up at the Community Center in Bridge City. Laura tells me there are not many groups active in relief work in Bridge City, where most of the houses in the community sustained some type of water damage. The disaster response team is in dire need of workers for this relief effort. We are glad that God has placed us in this work. Many of our workers are going to the field for the first time. We are approaching this trip differently because we are not taking many of our resources with us as we have in the past. We can have more boots on the ground for a longer period of time by flying. Not to mention the cost of gasoline to pull the trailer to the Texas Coast. I am anticipating a great 9 days of work in Texas.

Ike Response Planning going full steam ahead . . .

The team is just about set for our response to the Texas Gulf Coast. We will leave on 17 and then all arrive back in Modesto at various times until Oct 26, 2008. We are excited about this trip. Pray that we can touch lives and souls . . . Pray for COC Disaster Relief Team here us the most recent update. Octhttp://disasterresponseteam.blogspot.com/2008/09/we-see-it-taste-it-smell-it-and-yet.html I am in Austin TX on vacation. I will be posting every day. I hope to run over to Bridge City on Thursday. More later

Buddy

Fireproof The Movie

Fireproof the movie is now in theaters across America. It is a great movie about the redemption of God and the power it brings to peoples lives. In this movie Kirk Cameron does a wonderful job of potraying the fireman who is trying to show his love for wife and family through working hard at his job. This is one great movie. Join us today at the the Brendan Theater downtown Modesto. We have purchased all the tickets for the 440 pm showing come and be our guest.

Buddy

Family Promise Hosting . . .

Our hosting week is just about over for this cycle. It has been a good effort with 9 individuals from 3 families being hosted. Our Church is awesome in that the people really enjoy living here for the week. We have a reputation for our hospitality, thank you to all who have helped in some way.

Buddy

Ike Response Info . . .

After Sunday morning services at Davis Park Church of Christ there will be an informal meeting of those interested in going on the relief trip. The meeting should last less than 1/2 hour. I have talked to the COC DRT and there is much work to be done. I can not wait to hit the ground running in Texas.

Ike Response Info Outlined. . .

Ike Response
Partnering With Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Team
Golden Triangle Area of Texas
Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange
Galveston (possibly)
October 17-26, 2008

Workers Needed for:

Kitchen Help

Mucking Houses

Chain Saw Work

Demolition

Assessors

Distribution

Distributing tools to volunteers, etc.

Office Help

Financial Assistance Needed:

Budget Condition

Money Not Available

Special contribution

Do not want to harm future contributions (rob Peter to pay Paul)

October 5, 2008
Money raised through this special contribution will go for transportation of individuals to the Storm ravaged area, transportation for workers, food for workers.
Cost per person will average $700.00

Ike Response Trip Date Set . . .

The Community Response Team is recruiting team members for a trip to the Texas coast. We will leave Modesto on Oct 17 and return Oct 26. These dates are approximate and fluid, but we believe this will be the best time for us to make the trip. Most infrastructure issues should be taken care of by that time and the area should be somewhat safer for us to work. We will try to make the trip similar to the Katrina Trip in that we will try to work with individual homeowners to clean up and get them on the road to recovery. We have not pinpointed where our work camp will be at this time but the area we are prayerfully targeting is Galveston County. There will be a special contribution to help fund this trip on Oct. 5. We will be detailing the costs of the trip on Sunday to help us better understand the scope of the project.

Ike Response . . .

Dr. Glen called and asked me if we were going to deploy to Texas. I want to deploy, I just don't know where we would do the most good. Pray, for God to give us direction on the best way to help. We are still looking and assessing the situation. With Katrina I spent the first few weeks in LA(Lousianna) right after the storm. This time I am far removed, however, I know God has plans for His glory to be seen in this storm. Anyone, interested in deploying for Ike Disaster Relief can let me know by responding in the comments section or by calling the church office at 209-522-7226.

waiting to hear from God,

Buddy

Ike hits Texas Coast . . .

The peak of the hurricane season is upon us and to know one's suprise Ike hit the Texas coast head-on. Right now I am not sure how to respond. We have decided not to deploy with the Red Cross. Usually we would take advantage of their generosity that allows me to go and volunteer somewhere in the disaster. We have decided to take a wait and see approach to this storm. We have several response projects locally that are coming to fruit in the next few week. Our Family promise week is coming up and we have our Fireproof event also before us in two weeks. If the situation calls for us to deploy, we will. As of this moment we will wait and see where the need arises from the largest storm to hit the coast in 50 years. FYI, we heard from Oleta that Christi has deployed with the Red Cross and is staging in Fort Worth with a few thousands of her friends :)

Fireproof the Movie . . .

We have stepped out on faith one more time and purchased a theater showing. We have purchased the 4:40 time slot on Saturday afternoon. Now is the time to start inviting friends, family, and neighbors to this movie. This movie is concerned with a couple who is having relational problems and the resolution/solution that they use to make their marriage work. I believe this movie is good for all couples to see (together). Start praying for this outreach event, and for the people you are inviting. More about the movie later.

Gustav. . .

As of this moment we are not planning any response to the Gulf Coast. We will watch, wait and see what happens in the coming days. The storm proved to be somewhat predictable while being unpredictable at the same time. The major response needed at the moment is shelter workers. I can only imagine the contolled chaos of housing and caring for all the people taken away from there homes by planes trains and buses. My hats off to our local Red Cross folks who waded into the shelters in various states to help those in need.
Now we wait and see, what Hanna, Ike and posibly Josephine have in store. Pray for those who have a disaster looming over them in the coming days.