Greetings!

We are trusting that this update finds you are well both in body and in spirit.

Each day we continue to see progress, but it is slow. Volunteers who come here see the destruction and loss, but had they been here two weeks ago, they would know there has been improvement. The spiritual hunger is strong here. I was reading a BLOG by Dr. Joe Mckeever, the Director of Missions for the Baptist Association in New Orleans. (www.JoeMckeever.com) He was referencing a sermon given by the pastor of the Celebration Church in Metairie, LA -- Dennis Watson. Pastor Watson referenced speaking with a representative from the Franklin Graham organization. Here is the quote ….

"A representative from the Franklin Graham organization asked me how I thought we were going to get the gospel to the world." Dennis answered, "I suppose through the media, through great crusades." "No," the man said, "Through disaster relief. When catastrophes strike around the world, disaster relief teams are able to get into countries that would never receive our missionaries, because we go to help them and minister to them in their hour of great need."

The Graham worker continued, "After the tsunami hit Southeast Asia, in one small country in that part of the world, a group of Muslim leaders approached our workers and said, 'We want to apologize to you. We have attacked you and fought you and even killed some of you. But when disaster struck, you were the only ones to come help us.'"

He is suggesting disaster is a "spiritual portal", if you will. It sensitizes people to their mortality and stirs the "God shaped void" in each of them and its desire to be filled by the One who created them. It is the Church that God is calling to the spiritual battle that is raging. It's the Church that has been equipped by Him to labor in the fields that are white for harvest. God is calling us from the pew to the plow. There is a song that says "Rise up O men of God. Have done with lesser things. Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of kings. Rise up the Lord is calling. Rise up THIS IS THE DAY."

Everyday we meet more people who live in the Gulf region suffering from the same great loss. We journeyed to New Orleans on Wednesday. There we met with Joe McKeever and in the course of the meeting were pleasantly surprised to see a good friend, Chuck Lowman. Chuck and Cindy Lowman were our friends and neighbors in Enterprise, AL while Chuck and I served at Ft Rucker. Chuck retired and went to seminary. We moved to Montgomery. Needless to say we were thrilled to see him again. God has a wonderful way of bringing believers back together, but it is never an accident or coincidence, it is always for His purpose. Our challenge is to be ready when that purpose is revealed. While in New Orleans, we visited the Celebration Church ministry. Wow! They are so kingdom minded and doing such a great work for the Lord.

This week we have had folks from Atascadero, CA; Hesperia, CA; DeMotte, IN; Selma, AL; Escambia County, AL; Montgomery, AL; Gainesville, GA; Douglas, GA; and Barnesville, GA. We peaked at about 60 volunteers plus staff, so suffice it to say we have become very close :o)

We are making significant strides on the church building. Our list of families to help with their homes grows each day. We have delivered 77 of the 500 Storage Pods we are committed to building. We had hoped to surpass 100 delivered by week's end. Don't know if we will make it. On Wednesday we were made aware of a woman living in a tent, alone. She is waiting for her FEMA trailer. Pastor Ed redirected a Pod and had it placed on her lot. We gave her food, a cot and air mattress. She is sleeping in that Pod where it is warmer and dryer until she gets her trailer. There are many more like her. Unseen and unsung. Without hope or help. But God … don't you just love those two words together! He has other plans. He knows each one of us and wants His Church to be His hands and feet. This has been a good week. I told a young volunteer from England, Oliver, that he could go home today satisfied knowing that God had used him to be a blessing. He isn't going home today, by the way, but is staying for another month. He is a crew lead for the Pod assembly.

Martie and I will be in Montgomery the week of the 5th of February. We both have appointments with Doctors … a sign of our season of life I suppose. Martie is still dealing with back pain. She has camped out in the trailer to work during the day so she can avoid the stress of the operations shack … it gets a little crazy in there from time to time … ok …. From 7:30am to 8:00pm Anyway she is doing somewhat better.

Thank you all for your support of our ministry whether it be through monetary support or prayer. Both are critical to the continuance of our work and both are appreciated more than you know.

Until next week.