Greetings.

Martie and I trust you are doing well in the Lord. He is faithful.

Martie saw the doctor in Montgomery last week. He is going to have her take a series of injections for now to see if we can avoid surgery. We will return to Montgomery the 5th of February for that purpose. The medication he gave her helps, but she must still withdraw each day to rest. Thank you all for your prayers on her behalf.

We want to take this opportunity to report to you that I, Charley, was ordained last Sunday as a minister of the Gospel by my home church, Gateway Baptist. This is a culmination of a process that has been churning really since 1976, when I first felt a call to the ministry as a lieutenant in the Army. I shared with the folks in our church that our journey has been like that depicted in the Chronicles of Narnia. (or maybe it's the other way around) The first step is to walk through the wardrobe, then the Lord takes us deeper and farther than we would have ever thought, so long as we are willing to take the next step by faith, turn the next corner, or receive and serve in the next place of service. Walking in step with the Lord is pretty cool, isn't it. Please pray for us, that we will not grow weary, not weary of well doing, just physically tired, that God will give us the strength we need. Thanks

This week we have folks from Tampa, West Virginia, Montgomery, New Jersey and Vicksburg. We will be bulging at the seems by Saturday night. I have been leading a men's retreat for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Please pray that God will speak to the hearts of those listening and bring revelation and more than that, life change.

We are juggling three ministry balls right now, 1) supporting the rebuilding of the church, 2) the restoration of homes and 3) construction of storage pods.

The support beams for the second floor of the church should be completed today. The steeple is ordered. A church restoration ministry in Mississippi is replacing the roof next week. Pastor Ed is personally leading that effort. The Lord is providing the resources.

The storage pods project is taking on a life of it's own. We now have over 450 requests. That's right 450. After just a week and a half. For now, we are going to cap the requests at 500. The limitation has to do with our ability to assemble them and to provide the resources (at $300 per pod that is $150,000.00). We are asking the families that if they can donate any amount to help someone else to get a pod, then to make a donation the day the pod is delivered. I do not doubt that if the Lord wants us to beyond 500, He will make the provision. To qualify for a pod, the family must be in a FEMA trailer and have not received a pod from us or another ministry. If we build 10 a day it will takes us a month and a half to build 500. That would require 5 crews of 4 people working seven days a week just to assemble the pods. Churches and individuals have been coming along side us with respect to funding, volunteers and construction. First Christian Reformed Church in DeMotte, IN is delivering 104 pre-fab pods (less the metal sheeting) Monday morning. Hightower Baptist Association in North Georgia and Orlando FBC have purchased metal for 70 pods each (140 pods total). Other churches have agreed to follow the DeMotte example. Either to build all or some of the prefab components and ship them to us for assembly. Still others are raising money to help defray the expenses. I have asked women (through the web site http://www.wavelandbaptistdisasterresponse.org/Sheds4Stuff.html ) to consider coming down in teams to work with us for one or two weeks. Generally, it takes about one to two days for the unskilled crews to build efficiency in assembling the pods. (We provide oversight with experienced builders) In addition it takes a crew of four to deliver the pods using a pickup and a 16 foot trailer. So far we have assembled and delivered 22 pods to families. We are write scripture on the door of the Pods, pray with the family and give each family a bible.

As a result of this project, we have touched many families (450 so far). They have shared spiritual needs as well as their need for help to restore their homes. One concern we had early on was that our ministry was lop-sided in that we were not receiving work requests from the Black community. The pod project has changed all of that. Not only are Black families requesting pods, they are sharing other needs as well.

We continue to work on homes in the community. The type of work is shifting from demolition to construction. As a result the skill sets needed are somewhat different. (Sheet Rock, electrical, plumbing, framing, HVAC) This will particularly impact youth groups who come here. We will need those churches to ensure not only that they have the proper mix of youth to adults (5 to 1 ratio), but the adults will need to have construction skills so they can lead their work crews. We expect that there will still be demolition and debris clearing, but not at the level it has been in the past.

Nearly every day church representatives from around the country arrive at the camp asking about the work here and indicating that they intend to send teams on a recurring basis. I am very encouraged to see that the body of Christ is not losing heart but gaining momentum in its commitment to ministry here. God is good and the Church is walking in faithfulness to its calling.

Today we are to receive the first shower trailer from Montgomery FBC. That will be huge for the camp.

A personal note: My sister, Sandi, fell in her home last week. She lives in Houston, Texas. She broke three ribs and her right wrist in 5 places. (She is right handed) Please pray for her, that the Lord who heals will bring healing to her body and the God of all comfort will attend to her through Saints that come her way. (Believers have already been prompted to call her and pray with her) Thank you for joining us in bringing her before our Lord.

BTW, I have also been posting these updates on our web site. Click on the Camp Kairos Journals Link.

Martie and I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you in all you do. We thank Him for your partnership in this work.

http://www.wavelandbaptistdisasterresponse.org

Isa 58:12…. you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.