Partners on Mission

Greetings!
Let me start this update by saying - THANK YOU!. Thank you all for your prayers over the past month specifically for Martie and her surgery. As many of you know already, chronic pain is very wearing on the spirit and body. What you might not know is that Martie has been bearing up under significant pain for the past four years. Now, the pain is gone. We give God the praise for that. Martie is looking forward to the freedom to participate in a much greater way than she has during the past two - plus years ... and what she has done in spite of the physical limitations she has had -- has been awesome. So again - thank you all.

Something to Think About

As we enter into another calendar year, I have been busy trying to come up with something that is profound and memorable to say. What I discovered in my searching was that what has been most profound and most memorable about this last year is the same as the year before .... and what is that you ask?  God is good all the time ..... and He will provide when and where He guides. An interesting spiritual truth .. frankly one I didn't really understand the significance of until I walked in it.  I had heard about Jesus but it was not until I acted in faith and placed my trust in Him did I really understand the truth of what I had been told about Him. In the same way, I had heard many times about how God acts on others behalf, but it was not until Martie and I stepped out in faith did we understand that He does indeed provide when and where He guides.

I have been privileged to talk with so many of you as you have stepped out in faith and seen God's hand move on your behalf. In the study, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby said we should look to where God is at work, and go there. He also spoke of a "crisis of belief". A place that He brings us to - like the shores of the Jordan River at flood stage for Joshua and the nation of Israel-- and says "Step into the water" All we have to do is take the step. I don't presume to know where God is leading you or what He is asking you to do - but I want to encourage you to do it, whatever it might be. In the book "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe",Susan asked Mr. Beaver about Aslan. She said, "Is He safe?" To which Mr. Beaver replied "No, He is not safe ... but He IS good." God will take us to places that are outside of our comfort zone ... or where we don't feel it's "safe" but we can always be confident of this, that He is good all the time and He will be our shield and protector no matter where He leads us.

I recently read an article about the Red Cross .... concerning their struggle with meeting budget ... here is an excerpt .....

Facing a $200 million operating deficit, the American Red Cross is preparing to cut as much as one-third of its headquarters staff, up to 1,000 employees, and pare regional management.

........ the lack of a major disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the organization raised more than $2 billion, has crimped fund-raising, former and current executives said. Last year was a case in point: The organization responded to myriad small and midsized disasters, like the wildfires in California, that did little to attract the attention of donors.

While Hurricane Katrina, and other disasters, may be the opportunity for service and giving, in my view, they (disasters) are not the motivation for so many believers to serve and sacrifice. I believe that motivation came, and continues to come, from obedience to the Word, prompting of the Spirit and a heart committed to the Lord -- not CNN or other news media. Transparent, and untold to the people who live here, are the many sacrifices that volunteers make in order to come to the Gulf Coast.  Vacations, savings, time with family, and so many other things have been laid down to serve .... to cross the road and help the "man in the ditch".  I have not met one volunteer, not one, who has gloried in what they had to give up to come here. But I have talked with so many who were sorry they could not do more.  I know that the Lord is pleased when the saints lay their lives down in service ... Romans 12:1-2 ....  I want to encourage you to consider this truth. God is the source and He will provide. That is His part. Our part is to walk in that truth and place our trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5,6) ... Wherever that might lead us.

Recovery Progress

It has been been 2 years and 5 months since Katrina swept across this area. There has been much progress but there is still much to do. Most of the "easy" work has been done. [Easy meaning the resources (money, people, materials) are there to resolve whatever the issue might be] The debris is gone - mostly - services are restored - mostly - and the people have returned - kinda sorta - estimates are anywhere from 50 to 70 percent are back in this area. The initial estimate from FEMA was that the recovery period was 7 to 10 years. As I have said before, I didn't see how it would take that long, but that is because I didn't understand the process well enough. As more people get back into their homes more want to see the vestiges of the recovery removed from the landscape. They would like to see life here return to some form of "normal". That would be without empty lots, abandoned homes, dirt for yards, temporary septic tanks in their driveways, paved streets, the absence of the constant background noise of track hoes, bull dozers, dump and cement trucks . Unfortunately that will take years. People still need help with their homes - rebuilding or building new ones. Chuck Swindoll wrote a book entitled "Hand Me Another Brick." He used Nehemiah to address how to motivate people and overcome discouragement.  One thing volunteers want to know most is -- "How long will we (Martie and I) be here" ... my answer ... "When we have laid the last brick."

Rebuilding

We have been working on the Nelson house as our major focus for the past two months. (Recall a contractor stole over $40,000 from the Nelsons) The volunteers have been wonderful -- of course :o)   In the past I had resisted building new houses ... not because I didn't know how .. which I don't ... but because I didn't think I could get the right skills here when they were needed ... confession is good for the soul. Remember what I said at the beginning of this update? Well, we found ourselves once again faced with acting on what we knew the Lord wanted us to do or saying "No". Guess what .... the people we need to do the work have been there when we needed them and the city inspectors have praised the quality of work. God is good!

We completed the rough in wiring on the Nelson last week with volunteers from Clanton, Alabama.  (They also worked in the mission house, some and began the electrical service upgrade at Sam and Marie's house.) The rough in plumbing was completed by to plumbers sent from Montgomery, AL (I'll share that story next time) the week prior. Volunteers from High Desert Church in Victorville, California framed the house the week prior to that. This week we will have about 30 volunteers from Farmersville, Texas. We hope to make good progress on the Nelson house (roofing, insulation, sheetrock) as well as work on Julia Leddy's home and several other projects. We are also helping other Disaster Relief Organizations with rebuilding and new construction. Bottom line, there is still plenty of work for volunteers to do.

Prayer Requests

That as the Lord continues to call laborers to the field (not just here), they will say "yes".

Sam needs a job.

That the funds needed to complete the Nelson house will be approved. I have been working with a case worker to help the Nelson's obtain grants. We have enough for the work scheduled the rest of this month.

We are hosting a free legal clinic to help victims of contractor fraud, conducted by the Mississippi Center for Justice on February 21st.

We will have 15 - 20 sergeants who are attending the Air Force Senior NCO Academy volunteering the weekend of the 23rd of this month.

For our 40 Days of Purpose study that begins this Thursday.

For an un-named volunteer for wisdom as he decides if he should continue serving here.

That God will continue to be glorified in the work here .. not just through Pathfinder but all of the ministries putting their hands to the plow on the Gulf Coast.

That Martie's health will continue to improve and mine will be preserved for the sake of His service.

That we will have great wisdom and discernment as we carry out the mission we have been given.

That the Lord will continue to meet the needs of this ministry for both operations and personal support

By His Grace and for His Glory

Charley Elgin

Pathfinder Mission

228.493.1081

Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses - Restoring Lives

	Greetings! Let me start this update by saying - THANK YOU!. Thank you all for your prayers over the past month specifically for Martie and her surgery. As many of you know already, chronic pain is very wearing on the spirit and body. What you might not know is that Martie has been bearing up under significant pain for the past four years. Now, the pain is gone. We give God the praise for that. Martie is looking forward to the freedom to participate in a much greater way than she has during the past two - plus years ... and what she has done in spite of the physical limitations she has had -- has been awesome. So again - thank you all. Something to Think About As we enter into another calendar year, I have been busy trying to come up with something that is profound and memorable to say. What I discovered in my searching was that what has been most profound and most memorable about this last year is the same as the year before .... and what is that you ask? God is good all the time ..... and He will provide when and where He guides. An interesting spiritual truth .. frankly one I didn't really understand the significance of until I walked in it. I had heard about Jesus but it was not until I acted in faith and placed my trust in Him did I really understand the truth of what I had been told about Him. In the same way, I had heard many times about how God acts on others behalf, but it was not until Martie and I stepped out in faith did we understand that He does indeed provide when and where He guides. I have been privileged to talk with so many of you as you have stepped out in faith and seen God's hand move on your behalf. In the study, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby said we should look to where God is at work, and go there. He also spoke of a "crisis of belief". A place that He brings us to - like the shores of the Jordan River at flood stage for Joshua and the nation of Israel-- and says "Step into the water" All we have to do is take the step. I don't presume to know where God is leading you or what He is asking you to do - but I want to encourage you to do it, whatever it might be. In the book "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe",Susan asked Mr. Beaver about Aslan. She said, "Is He safe?" To which Mr. Beaver replied "No, He is not safe ... but He IS good." God will take us to places that are outside of our comfort zone ... or where we don't feel it's "safe" but we can always be confident of this, that He is good all the time and He will be our shield and protector no matter where He leads us. I recently read an article about the Red Cross .... concerning their struggle with meeting budget ... here is an excerpt ..... Facing a $200 million operating deficit, the American Red Cross is preparing to cut as much as one-third of its headquarters staff, up to 1,000 employees, and pare regional management. ........ the lack of a major disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the organization raised more than $2 billion, has crimped fund-raising, former and current executives said. Last year was a case in point: The organization responded to myriad small and midsized disasters, like the wildfires in California, that did little to attract the attention of donors. While Hurricane Katrina, and other disasters, may be the opportunity for service and giving, in my view, they (disasters) are not the motivation for so many believers to serve and sacrifice. I believe that motivation came, and continues to come, from obedience to the Word, prompting of the Spirit and a heart committed to the Lord -- not CNN or other news media. Transparent, and untold to the people who live here, are the many sacrifices that volunteers make in order to come to the Gulf Coast. Vacations, savings, time with family, and so many other things have been laid down to serve .... to cross the road and help the "man in the ditch". I have not met one volunteer, not one, who has gloried in what they had to give up to come here. But I have talked with so many who were sorry they could not do more. I know that the Lord is pleased when the saints lay their lives down in service ... Romans 12:1-2 .... I want to encourage you to consider this truth. God is the source and He will provide. That is His part. Our part is to walk in that truth and place our trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5,6) ... Wherever that might lead us. Recovery Progress It has been been 2 years and 5 months since Katrina swept across this area. There has been much progress but there is still much to do. Most of the "easy" work has been done. [Easy meaning the resources (money, people, materials) are there to resolve whatever the issue might be] The debris is gone - mostly - services are restored - mostly - and the people have returned - kinda sorta - estimates are anywhere from 50 to 70 percent are back in this area. The initial estimate from FEMA was that the recovery period was 7 to 10 years. As I have said before, I didn't see how it would take that long, but that is because I didn't understand the process well enough. As more people get back into their homes more want to see the vestiges of the recovery removed from the landscape. They would like to see life here return to some form of "normal". That would be without empty lots, abandoned homes, dirt for yards, temporary septic tanks in their driveways, paved streets, the absence of the constant background noise of track hoes, bull dozers, dump and cement trucks . Unfortunately that will take years. People still need help with their homes - rebuilding or building new ones. Chuck Swindoll wrote a book entitled "Hand Me Another Brick." He used Nehemiah to address how to motivate people and overcome discouragement. One thing volunteers want to know most is -- "How long will we (Martie and I) be here" ... my answer ... "When we have laid the last brick." Rebuilding We have been working on the Nelson house as our major focus for the past two months. (Recall a contractor stole over $40,000 from the Nelsons) The volunteers have been wonderful -- of course :o) In the past I had resisted building new houses ... not because I didn't know how .. which I don't ... but because I didn't think I could get the right skills here when they were needed ... confession is good for the soul. Remember what I said at the beginning of this update? Well, we found ourselves once again faced with acting on what we knew the Lord wanted us to do or saying "No". Guess what .... the people we need to do the work have been there when we needed them and the city inspectors have praised the quality of work. God is good! We completed the rough in wiring on the Nelson last week with volunteers from Clanton, Alabama. (They also worked in the mission house, some and began the electrical service upgrade at Sam and Marie's house.) The rough in plumbing was completed by to plumbers sent from Montgomery, AL (I'll share that story next time) the week prior. Volunteers from High Desert Church in Victorville, California framed the house the week prior to that. This week we will have about 30 volunteers from Farmersville, Texas. We hope to make good progress on the Nelson house (roofing, insulation, sheetrock) as well as work on Julia Leddy's home and several other projects. We are also helping other Disaster Relief Organizations with rebuilding and new construction. Bottom line, there is still plenty of work for volunteers to do. Prayer Requests That as the Lord continues to call laborers to the field (not just here), they will say "yes". Sam needs a job. That the funds needed to complete the Nelson house will be approved. I have been working with a case worker to help the Nelson's obtain grants. We have enough for the work scheduled the rest of this month. We are hosting a free legal clinic to help victims of contractor fraud, conducted by the Mississippi Center for Justice on February 21st. We will have 15 - 20 sergeants who are attending the Air Force Senior NCO Academy volunteering the weekend of the 23rd of this month. For our 40 Days of Purpose study that begins this Thursday. For an un-named volunteer for wisdom as he decides if he should continue serving here. That God will continue to be glorified in the work here .. not just through Pathfinder but all of the ministries putting their hands to the plow on the Gulf Coast. That Martie's health will continue to improve and mine will be preserved for the sake of His service. That we will have great wisdom and discernment as we carry out the mission we have been given. That the Lord will continue to meet the needs of this ministry for both operations and personal support By His Grace and for His Glory Charley Elgin Pathfinder Mission 228.493.1081 Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses - Restoring Lives

	Pathfinder Mission, P.O. Box 3313, Bay St. Louis, MS 39521

	228-469-0507

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