Partners on Mission

Greetings Friends;

We trust this update finds you well, walking in the knowledge and strength of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are very busy this month and next with fairly large volunteer groups staying at the camp. I have been amazed at how quickly the homes we are working on are coming together. The Lord always sends the right people at the right time. When we run into a problem, without fail, He has already put the volunteer on site who knows how to fix it.

The Phillips are moved into their home. The Tague home is finished ... with final inspection and certificate to occupy this week. The Watson home is finished ... final inspection and certificate to occupy this week. The LaFontaine home is painted inside and the ceramic tile is down. I expect by the end of April or mid May the house will be completed inside. The Wells house should have the rough in inspections completed this week. For now that leaves the Davis, Jackson, and Clover houses to finish. We have about 40 volunteers coming this Friday and should make great headway.

I spoke to the group from Indiana last Friday night before they left for home. They shared about the week. What was remarkable about the sharing was that they spoke about the people they helped and not about the work they had done. As many of you know, the question most asked by volunteers at the beginning of the time here is "What will we be doing ... is there enough work to keep us busy" By the end of the time ... they realize that it is not really about the work ... but the people who are going to live in the homes that matter. Now that is not to say that being organized and having the materials available is not important .. it is ... but it is only a means to and end ....

Many of you have seen and commented on the transformation taking place over the past 4 years. As we approach the beginning of year 5, Martie and I have been doing a lot of thinking and praying about the direction and future of our work here. Only the Lord knows what next year will look like. What the residential reconstruction needs will be. But the personal/relational needs will not have changed. The people are in a silent struggle with the life they have here. A friend told me a business need to hire 75 people. They had to interview 300 to find 75 that could pass the drug test. What we are confident about is that the Lord still has work for us (and you) to do here.

We have been attending a small church on Sunday mornings for the past several months. This month I am helping with the music (guitar and leading the singing). We gave them some of our Purpose Driven Life books and they have a Wednesday night study on the 40 days of purpose. While I was typing this one of the people we (that would include "you") have helped, Bonnie Schertler, stopped by with a neighbor friend. They both need interior doors and I have had about 20 "slabs" (meaning no hole for door knob or hinges) that were given to me. They just drove off with them - awesome. They said that they knew other people who needed doors and would pass the doors that they didn't need to them. (For those of you who met Bonnie, she is living in her house and is doing well.) Ms Lafontaine's son just drove up. He said that his mom wants carpet in 2 bedrooms ... we have a carpet installer coming next week ... PTL ... and the cabinets will be arriving the second week in April ... we have a cabinet maker coming the following week. God is good!

Editorial Correction ... Last month I said, in error, that Camp Salvage is closing, they are actually relocating outside the city, and that Mission on the Bay is closing ... they are still open. However, Lagniappe (pronounced Lan Yap) is closing in June and Camp Gospel is closing in May. These are fairly large camps that have made a huge impact in the recovery effort here.

Please pray for

Sam Foye -recovering from surgery for intestinal blockage and perforation

Linda Bynum - in Little Rock undergoing chemo therapy

Me as I adjust my habits to accommodate the type 2 diabetes I have been diagnosed with

Martie and me as we raise our grand daughter - Jessica - for a season

That God would stir the hearts of the people on the Gulf Coast to seek Him out ... to yield their lives to Him ....

Pray for the many families, across the country, that find themselves facing unemployment - foreclosure - whatever might befall them during this difficult time. That they would look to the Provider ... in their time of need. There have been a number of volunteers who have come here to work that are out of work at home, but they are walking by faith. That is such an encouragement to us.

Pray for the military and their families that are engaged in what is becoming an unpopular war in Iraq and Afghanistan - like me, some of you served in Vietnam and know where that road leads.

We thank the Lord for all of you ....

Charley

By His Grace and for His Glory

Charley Elgin

Pathfinder Mission

www.pathfindermission.org

228.493.1081

Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses - Restoring Lives

	Pathfinder Mission
	111 Baker Street, Waveland, MS 39576
	228-493-1081

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	Greetings Friends; We trust this update finds you well, walking in the knowledge and strength of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are very busy this month and next with fairly large volunteer groups staying at the camp. I have been amazed at how quickly the homes we are working on are coming together. The Lord always sends the right people at the right time. When we run into a problem, without fail, He has already put the volunteer on site who knows how to fix it. The Phillips are moved into their home. The Tague home is finished ... with final inspection and certificate to occupy this week. The Watson home is finished ... final inspection and certificate to occupy this week. The LaFontaine home is painted inside and the ceramic tile is down. I expect by the end of April or mid May the house will be completed inside. The Wells house should have the rough in inspections completed this week. For now that leaves the Davis, Jackson, and Clover houses to finish. We have about 40 volunteers coming this Friday and should make great headway. I spoke to the group from Indiana last Friday night before they left for home. They shared about the week. What was remarkable about the sharing was that they spoke about the people they helped and not about the work they had done. As many of you know, the question most asked by volunteers at the beginning of the time here is "What will we be doing ... is there enough work to keep us busy" By the end of the time ... they realize that it is not really about the work ... but the people who are going to live in the homes that matter. Now that is not to say that being organized and having the materials available is not important .. it is ... but it is only a means to and end .... Many of you have seen and commented on the transformation taking place over the past 4 years. As we approach the beginning of year 5, Martie and I have been doing a lot of thinking and praying about the direction and future of our work here. Only the Lord knows what next year will look like. What the residential reconstruction needs will be. But the personal/relational needs will not have changed. The people are in a silent struggle with the life they have here. A friend told me a business need to hire 75 people. They had to interview 300 to find 75 that could pass the drug test. What we are confident about is that the Lord still has work for us (and you) to do here. We have been attending a small church on Sunday mornings for the past several months. This month I am helping with the music (guitar and leading the singing). We gave them some of our Purpose Driven Life books and they have a Wednesday night study on the 40 days of purpose. While I was typing this one of the people we (that would include "you") have helped, Bonnie Schertler, stopped by with a neighbor friend. They both need interior doors and I have had about 20 "slabs" (meaning no hole for door knob or hinges) that were given to me. They just drove off with them - awesome. They said that they knew other people who needed doors and would pass the doors that they didn't need to them. (For those of you who met Bonnie, she is living in her house and is doing well.) Ms Lafontaine's son just drove up. He said that his mom wants carpet in 2 bedrooms ... we have a carpet installer coming next week ... PTL ... and the cabinets will be arriving the second week in April ... we have a cabinet maker coming the following week. God is good! Editorial Correction ... Last month I said, in error, that Camp Salvage is closing, they are actually relocating outside the city, and that Mission on the Bay is closing ... they are still open. However, Lagniappe (pronounced Lan Yap) is closing in June and Camp Gospel is closing in May. These are fairly large camps that have made a huge impact in the recovery effort here. Please pray for Sam Foye -recovering from surgery for intestinal blockage and perforation Linda Bynum - in Little Rock undergoing chemo therapy Me as I adjust my habits to accommodate the type 2 diabetes I have been diagnosed with Martie and me as we raise our grand daughter - Jessica - for a season That God would stir the hearts of the people on the Gulf Coast to seek Him out ... to yield their lives to Him .... Pray for the many families, across the country, that find themselves facing unemployment - foreclosure - whatever might befall them during this difficult time. That they would look to the Provider ... in their time of need. There have been a number of volunteers who have come here to work that are out of work at home, but they are walking by faith. That is such an encouragement to us. Pray for the military and their families that are engaged in what is becoming an unpopular war in Iraq and Afghanistan - like me, some of you served in Vietnam and know where that road leads. We thank the Lord for all of you .... Charley By His Grace and for His Glory Charley Elgin Pathfinder Mission www.pathfindermission.org 228.493.1081 Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses - Restoring Lives