Partners on Mission

Greetings Friends

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

Martie's Health

I am pleased to report to you that Martie is doing very well in her recovery from surgery. The chronic pain is gone - PTL. The doctor told her she should be fully recovered in six months. We thank all of you for your prayers concerning this matter.

Gulf Coast Recovery

At this point in the recovery you don't see a lot of radical changes. I was talking to a volunteer early this morning who has been in Waveland during each phase of the recovery. We were talking about the fact that what you see has changed but the need for housing and hope has not. The piles of debris and abandoned homes was a visual description of the hearts and hopes of the people here. With those visuals absent, it's hard to appreciate the persistent lack of progress for so many people. That is one reason, perhaps the main reason the Lord has Martie and me here ... a voice for those who do not have a voice. Intercessors, if you will. Each week we learn of someone else in need of help. Here are a couple of examples.

Ms. Ladner. A widow in her 70's , diagnosed with cancer, given one year to live. Desperately wants to be back in her home. She needs money for concrete so the construction on her house can be finished. She will also need an elevator which will cost about $8000. She lives in her daughter's living room. Her daughter is deaf.

Mr Cantrell. A widower in his 70's. He lives in a Katrina cottage with his grand daughter. He has the funds to buy the materials but is illiterate and has no one to help him. He has been waiting for a year for help. His house must be built 18 feet above the ground.

As I talk with people here... while I listen to their stories .. I am praying ... Lord what would you have me do? We can't help everyone ... but at the same time I wonder is that what the priest said to himself as he passed the Samaritan on the other side of the road? Why did he pass by at that time and see that man lying in the ditch? Was it the providence of God or merely the "stochasm" of life - that is a chance or random meeting independent of any direction by God? That is why Martie and I pray every day for wisdom and discernment.

FEMA Trailers

You may have heard on the news that FEMA has conceded that some of the trailers people have lived in for the past 2 1/2 years emit formaldahyde fumes when it starts to get warm again .. BTW, it will be in the 80's this weekend. The want to move everyone out of the trailers by June of this year. Of course that will mean that the residents must be relocated again since apartments and hotels are sparse in this area. We have already read about some groups wanting to sue FEMA for the health problems they are already experiencing.

Feb 15, 2008, Seacoast Echo

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday it will never again use travel trailers as a means of emergency housing after results from a test conducted last December by the Center For Disease Control (CDC) found that about one third of the trailers issued after Hurricane Katrina contained a toxic amount of the chemical formaldehyde. Currently there are 7,878 trailers or cottages in Mississippi. In Louisiana, there are more than 25,000. At the peak, there were 144,000 families in travel trailers

Current Work Projects

Nelson Home.

We are making great progress on the Nelson's. A team from DeMotte is here this week finishing the siding. We have been so pleased to see God at work in this project. We were able to connect the Nelson's with a case worker who helped them apply for and receive grants which have paid for the majority of the materials needed to finish their house. We expect to have the house finished in April. We are still short about $3000 for a concrete pad that will be poured under the house which is 8 feet above the ground. BTW, the contractor that stole the money from them is in jail .. but they still lost $45,000.

Foye House.

Jack and Diane Johnson are here this week to finish upgrading the electrical system to 200 amps. For those of you who are electrically challenged, like me, that means they can run heating and air conditioning once it is done.

Dave Gillum House

Dave is Harold's brother. He has been building a new home with the help of his brothers, but reached a point where he needed help. He is trying to overcome poor workmanship by another volunteer group - not from our camp - and is very frustrated. He and his wife work outside of the home. They save what moeny they can and buy materials. A slow process.

Julia Leddy House

We are waiting on a condenser for the heat pump to help get Julia into her home. Julia has already been moved out of her trailer to a hotel room in Diamond Head, MS. Several groups have been working on her house from our camp for the past two months. Julia is a wonderful testimony for the Lord.

We will most likely be helping Ms Ladner and Mr Cantrell in the near future.

Volunteers

The Lord continues to provide volunteers. Of course we would like to see more, but He sends the ones most needed when they are needed. Take a look at our calendar on our website and pray about when you might bring another group to Mississippi. In April we have groups from DeMotte, IN, Lake Forrest, CA, Mendocino & Ft. Bragg (a city), CA, Cassopolis, MI, Orlando, FL, and Victorville, CA.

The last weekend in February, we had our third group of Air Force Sergeants from the Air Force Senior NCO Academy located at Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex in Montgomery. They, like the other volunteers, are awesome. We needed to finish the sheetrock the weekend they were here. Jehovah Jireh -- one of the men -- actually with the Coast Guard -- they called a Coastie -- was raised in a family of sheet rockers ... so needless to say, the house is awesome. Volunteers from Wesson, MS installed the vinyl siding, hung doors, and installed & painted trim. They also hung ceiling fans and fixtures.

Unexpected Blessing

Last November a group from DeMotte was down. When they went home they talked about the fact that Martie had no way to get around. Last month I received a call asking if it would be alright for the churches in Demotte to buy a car for Martie. Wow! Actually we weren't certain that we should say yes because of the great needs we see around us. I talked with a few Brothers that I have great respect for and they each said we should accept the gift and give God the praise. So we did. When I told Martie, she cried. She is such a "girl"! We went to Indiana last week to pick the car up and spoke at two churches to thank them for their kindness .. not only because of the car, but because of their amazing hearts for helping the people here. We also spoke briefly at the Rotary Club who donated the fuel for one of the Pod deliveries and $1000 toward the cost of the bunk houses. (That's us next to the car .. yes it is red .. I set the cruise on the posted speed limit on the way back to Mississippi so as not to provoke the local constabulary!)

Martie has had to lay down on the back seat of the truck because of the condition of the road and her recent surgery. Now she can sit up ... We do praise God from whom all blessings flow.

The Mission

We have twice hosted the Mississippi Center for Justice at the Mission. They are providing "pro bono" legal assistance to residents in this area. Primarily for those who were defrauded by contractors ... but most recently for any issues associated with Katrina. Next week, a lady from Demotte, IN will hold scrapbooking classes. The idea is to help folks preserve the pictures they salvaged after the storm. Demotte will provide all of the materials ... the residents need only bring thier pictures. If you recall, pictures were the one thing that all residents wanted to find, often having to scrape mud and muck off of them once found.

We continue to offer bible studies to the local residents. The growth is slow but steady. Presently we are teaching the 40 Days of Purpose study on Thursday afternoons and the Project Truth study from Focus on the Family on Thursday evenings .

Prayer Requests

Craig - Judy Faye's son who received Christ and was baptised in Picayune two weeks ago. I saw him at Lowes today ... his countenance has changed PTL!

Tim Phillips - Health

Sam Mee - work and health

Sue Lumpkin - speedy recovery from recent surgery

Patricia Nelson - that biopsy will be negative

June Ladner - healing from cancer

By His Grace and for His Glory

Charley Elgin

Pathfinder Mission

228.493.1081

Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses - Restoring Lives

	Greetings Friends We trust this update finds you well and walking in the strength of our Lord. Martie's Health I am pleased to report to you that Martie is doing very well in her recovery from surgery. The chronic pain is gone - PTL. The doctor told her she should be fully recovered in six months. We thank all of you for your prayers concerning this matter. Gulf Coast Recovery At this point in the recovery you don't see a lot of radical changes. I was talking to a volunteer early this morning who has been in Waveland during each phase of the recovery. We were talking about the fact that what you see has changed but the need for housing and hope has not. The piles of debris and abandoned homes was a visual description of the hearts and hopes of the people here. With those visuals absent, it's hard to appreciate the persistent lack of progress for so many people. That is one reason, perhaps the main reason the Lord has Martie and me here ... a voice for those who do not have a voice. Intercessors, if you will. Each week we learn of someone else in need of help. Here are a couple of examples. Ms. Ladner. A widow in her 70's , diagnosed with cancer, given one year to live. Desperately wants to be back in her home. She needs money for concrete so the construction on her house can be finished. She will also need an elevator which will cost about $8000. She lives in her daughter's living room. Her daughter is deaf. Mr Cantrell. A widower in his 70's. He lives in a Katrina cottage with his grand daughter. He has the funds to buy the materials but is illiterate and has no one to help him. He has been waiting for a year for help. His house must be built 18 feet above the ground. As I talk with people here... while I listen to their stories .. I am praying ... Lord what would you have me do? We can't help everyone ... but at the same time I wonder is that what the priest said to himself as he passed the Samaritan on the other side of the road? Why did he pass by at that time and see that man lying in the ditch? Was it the providence of God or merely the "stochasm" of life - that is a chance or random meeting independent of any direction by God? That is why Martie and I pray every day for wisdom and discernment. FEMA Trailers You may have heard on the news that FEMA has conceded that some of the trailers people have lived in for the past 2 1/2 years emit formaldahyde fumes when it starts to get warm again .. BTW, it will be in the 80's this weekend. The want to move everyone out of the trailers by June of this year. Of course that will mean that the residents must be relocated again since apartments and hotels are sparse in this area. We have already read about some groups wanting to sue FEMA for the health problems they are already experiencing. Feb 15, 2008, Seacoast Echo The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday it will never again use travel trailers as a means of emergency housing after results from a test conducted last December by the Center For Disease Control (CDC) found that about one third of the trailers issued after Hurricane Katrina contained a toxic amount of the chemical formaldehyde. Currently there are 7,878 trailers or cottages in Mississippi. In Louisiana, there are more than 25,000. At the peak, there were 144,000 families in travel trailers Current Work Projects Nelson Home. We are making great progress on the Nelson's. A team from DeMotte is here this week finishing the siding. We have been so pleased to see God at work in this project. We were able to connect the Nelson's with a case worker who helped them apply for and receive grants which have paid for the majority of the materials needed to finish their house. We expect to have the house finished in April. We are still short about $3000 for a concrete pad that will be poured under the house which is 8 feet above the ground. BTW, the contractor that stole the money from them is in jail .. but they still lost $45,000. Foye House. Jack and Diane Johnson are here this week to finish upgrading the electrical system to 200 amps. For those of you who are electrically challenged, like me, that means they can run heating and air conditioning once it is done. Dave Gillum House Dave is Harold's brother. He has been building a new home with the help of his brothers, but reached a point where he needed help. He is trying to overcome poor workmanship by another volunteer group - not from our camp - and is very frustrated. He and his wife work outside of the home. They save what moeny they can and buy materials. A slow process. Julia Leddy House We are waiting on a condenser for the heat pump to help get Julia into her home. Julia has already been moved out of her trailer to a hotel room in Diamond Head, MS. Several groups have been working on her house from our camp for the past two months. Julia is a wonderful testimony for the Lord. We will most likely be helping Ms Ladner and Mr Cantrell in the near future. Volunteers The Lord continues to provide volunteers. Of course we would like to see more, but He sends the ones most needed when they are needed. Take a look at our calendar on our website and pray about when you might bring another group to Mississippi. In April we have groups from DeMotte, IN, Lake Forrest, CA, Mendocino & Ft. Bragg (a city), CA, Cassopolis, MI, Orlando, FL, and Victorville, CA. The last weekend in February, we had our third group of Air Force Sergeants from the Air Force Senior NCO Academy located at Maxwell AFB, Gunter Annex in Montgomery. They, like the other volunteers, are awesome. We needed to finish the sheetrock the weekend they were here. Jehovah Jireh -- one of the men -- actually with the Coast Guard -- they called a Coastie -- was raised in a family of sheet rockers ... so needless to say, the house is awesome. Volunteers from Wesson, MS installed the vinyl siding, hung doors, and installed & painted trim. They also hung ceiling fans and fixtures. Unexpected Blessing Last November a group from DeMotte was down. When they went home they talked about the fact that Martie had no way to get around. Last month I received a call asking if it would be alright for the churches in Demotte to buy a car for Martie. Wow! Actually we weren't certain that we should say yes because of the great needs we see around us. I talked with a few Brothers that I have great respect for and they each said we should accept the gift and give God the praise. So we did. When I told Martie, she cried. She is such a "girl"! We went to Indiana last week to pick the car up and spoke at two churches to thank them for their kindness .. not only because of the car, but because of their amazing hearts for helping the people here. We also spoke briefly at the Rotary Club who donated the fuel for one of the Pod deliveries and $1000 toward the cost of the bunk houses. (That's us next to the car .. yes it is red .. I set the cruise on the posted speed limit on the way back to Mississippi so as not to provoke the local constabulary!) Martie has had to lay down on the back seat of the truck because of the condition of the road and her recent surgery. Now she can sit up ... We do praise God from whom all blessings flow. The Mission We have twice hosted the Mississippi Center for Justice at the Mission. They are providing "pro bono" legal assistance to residents in this area. Primarily for those who were defrauded by contractors ... but most recently for any issues associated with Katrina. Next week, a lady from Demotte, IN will hold scrapbooking classes. The idea is to help folks preserve the pictures they salvaged after the storm. Demotte will provide all of the materials ... the residents need only bring thier pictures. If you recall, pictures were the one thing that all residents wanted to find, often having to scrape mud and muck off of them once found. We continue to offer bible studies to the local residents. The growth is slow but steady. Presently we are teaching the 40 Days of Purpose study on Thursday afternoons and the Project Truth study from Focus on the Family on Thursday evenings . Prayer Requests Craig - Judy Faye's son who received Christ and was baptised in Picayune two weeks ago. I saw him at Lowes today ... his countenance has changed PTL! Tim Phillips - Health Sam Mee - work and health Sue Lumpkin - speedy recovery from recent surgery Patricia Nelson - that biopsy will be negative June Ladner - healing from cancer By His Grace and for His Glory Charley Elgin Pathfinder Mission 228.493.1081 Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses - Restoring Lives

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	228-469-0507

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