Notifications . . .

One of the least favored times of ministry as a chaplain is when you are called upon to perform a death notification. These notifications can happen for a variety of reasons, sometimes the deceased has been killed in an auto accident, or something of that nature. Ocassionally we are called upon after homicides, or police involved shootings to go with an officer or deputy to tell a family they have lost a loved one.
Last night I was called upon to deliver a message from another agency in a different part of the state that a man had died. Rather than a cold telephone call law enforcement agencies perform mutual aid avtivities such as this to make a hard message have a softer edge. Telling this father that his son had passed was not easy, but I am glad that he heard the message from a person and had someone with him as he steadied himself from the shock of the news.
My prayer today is that this father can have peace and comfort from God to work through this loss.

Buddy Gray

Spencer Ave. Fire. . .

A couple of nights ago I was awakened at 4:15 a.m. by a call from the Red Cross. Calls in the middle of the night for a chaplain are never good. . . This call concerned a housefire on the West Side of Modesto and involved several families. I was called because one of the ladies was having a difficult time with the loss. Loss by fire is rough on individuals, a few hours earlier pictures and memorablia were secure and in the spot where she could grab and hold them when she wanted, a little while later they were incinerated beyond recognition. I have not experienced this type of loss, however, I could empathize with her in that moment. She was outside, 39 degrees and a little mist in the air. The only clothes she had to her name were on her back and they were her flannel pj's. The coat she was wearing was the camo jacket out of my truck. Her shoes were some deck shoes from the fireman who carries extra shoes for times like these.
One of the little known facets of the Red Cross is that they take care of needs like this initially to help people back on their feet. The Red Cross team provided her with two nights in a hotel, some provision for food and an allowance for clothes.
I have been volunteering with the Red Cross for five years and I am still amazed that this is a service they provide. It still baffles me with the "Christ Resources" we have in the United States that there is no coalation of Christians meeting this need. Granted the individuals that do much of this work for the Red Cross in Stanislaus County are Christ followers and I am blessed to work along side these indiviuals.

Buddy Gray

Winter Storm Warning in the Sierras. . . Standby as this dvelops

From the National Weather Service . . .

STRONG AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ARE FORECAST.
FOR THE SIERRA RIDGES...WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 80 TO 100 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 145 MPH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES AND WESTERN NEVADA...WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 25 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON. GUSTS IN WIND PRONE AREAS ALONG HIGHWAYS 95 AND 395 MAY EXCEED 80 MPH. WINDS WILL ALSO CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WHICH MAY LOWER VISIBILITIES BELOW 1 MILE AT TIMES.
WINDS OF THIS MAGNITUDE MAY DOWN TREES....UTILITY POLES...AND DAMAGE FENCES AND ROOFS. HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES MAY OVER TURN IF ATTEMPTING TO TRAVEL IN AREAS OF STRONG CROSS WINDS.

For Full information follow the link marked severe weather warnings on the this blog.

Pray that the conditions lessen so that the intensity decreases.


Buddy

Happy New Year . . .

Well 2008 has rolled in and now we have a new year before us. God has given us 365 days of new year to work with. I am excited about a lot of opportunities that we will have in this new year. I just hope we can embrace the moment when opportunbity stares us in the face. Many times it seems I am looking the other way when opportunity brushes by. I am going to try to live with eyes wide open.
Today a lady came by that we had helped a few months ago. She came by to say thank you to the congregation for helping her restart her life. She was homeless and we helped her get into a home. She now has a job and is providing for her two children nine and ten years old. It was encouraging to have someone come by to say thank you.
I hear a lot of stories about bad experiences when we interact with people in our benevolence ministries. Usually, around the holidays the bad experiences seem to be multiplied because we are giving out at a much faster pace than we ususually are giving. Many of us have been surprized that there are people who take advantage of the system at "Christmas". I wish I had a good answer to this issue. I do know that we do alot of good despite the people working the system. The family that I partnered and helped were in great need. It was a blessing to share with them.
Laura and Cindy did a great job on both of holiday programs this year. If you have a chance thank them for taking on this huge responsibility.
Hilltop officially shutdown there operation on the first of January, if you link to their website form the bottom of the page you can see that we did a large percentage of the projects completed by them in Ramona.

Buddy Gray

Where has the year gone?

We have a great year of opportunity and a great year of exciting projects in 2007! Now we have a new year staring us in the face, and I believe we can have an ever greater year in 2008. Some of our bright moments included a comedy night with Adam Christing, it rained cats and dogs and we still had over 700 people in the building for the event.
Facing the Giants and Flywheel were two great movie events and lots of popcorm and coffee filled our guests and members who watched these family movies.
Our two outdoor events, Back to School Bash and Harvest Festival aka Trunk or Treat were wonderful atteneded by the community and our own members.
Our Holdiay food baskets helped hundreds of individuals in dozens of families.
Our newest outreach effort, a book titled, "People of the Park" has been given out to hundreds of individuals city wide. It is a book that demonstrates the power of Jesus to help and heal us through the hurts that the world tosses our way. The book is offered to anyone who wants one free of charge, no shipping or handling. In the book seven of our members tell their story of redemption through adversity.
The Response Team Trips to San Diego were bright moments for Christ. Several families were lifted up by the working hands of the people of Davis Park. Our hands represented the savior who has given so much to all of us.
Thanks to all who have made our outreach possible.
I will write about the coming opportunities later.

Buddy

Merry Christmas. . .

I hope all is well with you as you read this message. I would like to go to San Diego one more time but I am unsure of the need at this time. I will contact the folks at Barrett Junction and see what is happening there. I may need to survey the work area there to make an informed decision. Keep this in your prayers.

I am into my second day on call as an MPD Chaplain. I am praying for a quiet holiday week. I pray for our police officers to be kept safe during this time.

I am thankful we were able to go to San Diego this year and look forward to the opportunities presented in the coming year.

Buddy Gray

Interview with Shelley. . .

Sorry to wait so long to post this but I wanted to use it in my sermon today.

Shelley helps us understand the importance of Disaster Relief work. Disaster Relief allows Christians to be the hands and feet for God in this world and bring His love and care to the world.

San Diego Wildfires Relief 2007 Volunteers

Rincon Video

This is an ad hoc interview with Debbie, the owner of the property we were working on. Debbie is working on getting through this life event and our hope is that through the efforts of Hilltop and Davis park Community Response Team we have been able to bring the light of Jesus to her life. Seeing her daughters face light up made my heart warm on a cold day. Watching Debbie's spirit's raise over the couple of days we were there was powerful. Thank you God for letting us work for you in this world!

More Rincon Goatshed pics

David Martin on the fence post crew along with Zack Newman and Jordynne Newman.
Corky teaching the crew how to set a fence post without concrete.
Debbie's family, Corky and I talking about life after the fire for the family.
Debbie and her children.Debbie saw the rainbow as a sign of hope for her family. The were touched by us helping them and the rainbow seemed to add another dimension to it for her.

Rincon Reservation Project Pictures

Jordynne having fun.
Jordynne and Lanae posing for the camera.
A photo of the group and Christie in a sink hole.

Brett and Jordynne goofing off!

Jordynne really was a hard working, all kidding aside!


I am beaten down by the work and a cold. I will save more pictures and comments for later.

Buddy

On the Blog Again. . .

We stopped for church at the Hilltop CofC in El Segundo,CA, LA area. Next we went to lunch in Malibu at Jack in the Box. It is crazy to think of all the places to eat in Malibu and we ate where we did. After church I was standing talking to friends from past relief work, when I noticed something cool. Hilltop is a mobile church, all the chairs have to be packed up and moved. Our teens without any direction from Aaron or I were helping take the chairs down. Again it is so nice to have teens like we have had on the trip.

We have enjoyed it all. More pics tomorrow.

Buddy Gray

Blogging on the Road Home. . . .

Last night I slept well except for the noise of Brett and Aaron getting sick in the middle of the night. Exhaustion tooks its toll on Aaron, he could not warm up last night and then his body decided not to except the steak he had for supper. Brett felt bad but looks ok the morning, Aaron is doing ok and driving, I am riding with him in case he becomes fatigued. Right now we are on the 405 coming up on the 605.

I will blog more later . . .


Buddy Gray

Job Complete/ Coming Home in the Morning!

The Rincon job was completed today at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon. Today was a day of misfires, I forgot tools that were job critical, the propane bottle would not let the propane flow for the camp chef stove. We finally microwaved the two gallons of Dinty Moore Beef stew. No one complained about the hot stew. The weather was cold and rainy with wind. We could see it snowing on the mountain about 3000 feet above us.

The teens were incredible, again. Point them in the direction of a task, give them a little instruction and they would take off. The girls used power tools today. They had one word for it, awesome!

We spent more time with the family today. The fire has taken much of the joy of their life away. Right now the tribal council is putting them up at a casino hotel. It is hard for me to imagine, one day life is rolling your way, the next your life is upside down, instead of living out in rural setting you live in a high rise hotel.

Debbie and I talking about life after the fire. . .
I asked Debbie what it meant to her for us to come and build the two small structures, her comment was that it had renewed her faith somewhat to see people come in from so far off and help her family. Her youngest daughter, 6 years old, lost two pygmy goats in the fire. She had vowed not to have pets again. Today while we were talking to her she is excited to see a new home for the goats she will be purchasing in the future. One of our Davis Park members donated money to replace some of the goats lost in the fire. These goats cost between 200-300 dollars. In a few days the child will be able to have her own goats to take care of again.

This is Debbie and her two daughters looking at a completed "kid pen". In the background is the completed goatshed.

Thanks to everyone for praying for us. Thanks to all who contributed money to our Community Response Team. Thanks for letting us be the hands of Jesus and God on the Rincon Indian Reservation.

Tomorrow is a travel day. I will post more pictures and comments on Monday. If you visit the site please make a comment. It will be appreciated. . . .

Buddy Gray

Pics form Rincon

What a great project for the kids to learn how to build a barn. We are working on two small structures, one a goat shed, the other a "kid"pen.


Debbie is the home owner, she and her husband had been living in andbuilding their house for three years before it was totally destroyed. These are Debbie's children who were out at the site today
The rainbow was on the mountain behind us. What a great sign of Hope!

We could get a few more people in this area if we tried!

Pictures of some of the hardest working teenagers I have ever seen.

Tomorrow weather permitting we will finish the project.

Buddy Gray

Trip Two Update. . .

We met the homeowners today and it was a sad feeling to walk their site and the most level place on the lot was where the house formerly sat. The teens are awesome. . . No wasted effort, lots of hard work and a lot of laughs. We were able to get the foundation of the buildings we are building completed today, and we have 21 one holes to knock out tomorrow in addition to putting the sides and roofs on the buildings. Parents if your kids are here stick your chest out and be proud. They gave a great effort today.

I will post pictures later.


Buddy

The Teenagers Made it Safely

The Teenagers made it in safely last night at 2:00 a.m. They are up and eating breakfast. Soon we will head out to the Rincon Indian Reservation to build a barn in the rain. I gotta go eat breakfast.

Buddy

Ramona at last. . .

WE FINALLY MADE IT! We pulled in a little after 8:30p.m. and ate supper then made it into the camp at 9:15 pm after having a fine meal at Moma Rosa's Italian Restauraunt. It was a great meal.

The rest of the group is still traveling they will be in later, much later. Pray for there safety.

My bunk beckons me to it. I cannot wait for tomorrow's adventures.

Buddy

Blogging on the road . . .

Max is behind the wheel, Christie is in the back seat with Brian and I have shotgun. We are 131 miles into a 430 mile trip. It's foggy and cool. It is like this throughout the state today. We are watching the weather, hoping the weather pattern will break so we won't be completely miserable as we work.

David Martin has not missed a day of school in the last eight years, tomorrow he is going to break his streak by coming with us to do relief work. Six others have chosen to miss school to come with us. Lanae Kuensinger hs rescheduled her finals at JC to come on the trip. We have a bunch of Good Hearted people that want the message of Christ to go forward.

Thanks to those who donated to the cause. Your money makes it all possible. A special thank you to the Lakewood congregtion, they have providing funding for this trip also.


Bakersfield is 72 miles away and its 11:45 am.

I will check back in later.

Buddy Gray

San Diego Trip is ready to roll . . .

The load trailer takes off tommorrow at 9:00 a.m. We have14 going on this trip and it should be an exciting trip. We havc seven adults and seven teenagers. We are greenlighted to the goat farm to build a goat shed. Additionally, we will do some fence repairs, our intent is to help rebuild this family's living (income) so they can find life(Christ). Pray for as we travel tomorrow. Pray for good weather and for God to bless this work.

Buddy Gray