Partners on Mission

Greetings Friends

We pray this finds you doing well and continuing to trust in the Lord for His provision and blessing.

Something To Think About

You don't have to look far to know that there is a lot to be concerned about these days... Not just for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but the whole nation ... well, not just the nation but the whole world .... it seems as though the world is running away from the Creator as fast as it can ....   the result .... turmoil. It seems the more our culture rejects the One who can bring peace and hope to our lives, our homes, our communities, our nation, the world .... the worse things get. I think I read about that somewhere! In the 1960's there was a song sung by a group called "Peter, Paul, and Mary" a refrain in the song asked ... "How many times" and "When will we ever learn..." Good questions, don't you think? The world needs to know Jesus. You might wonder if God can use you to show Jesus to the world .... the answer to that question is "Absolutely!" I have to be careful that I don't limit God by looking at my weaknesses. They can become giants in my eyes and reasons for not doing what I know the Lord is leading me to do. In fact the Paul said he would boast in his weakness .... The Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I (Paul) will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV)

Hurricane Season

The 2009 hurricane season is upon us. It runs from June through November. The National Weather Service is predicting (5-7 Tropical Storms, 4-7 Hurricanes and

1-3 Major Hurricanes). As a point of reference in 2005 (When Katrina made landfall) there were 27 Tropical Storms, 15 Hurricanes and 5 Major Hurricanes.

Major Hurricanes are Category 3, 4 and 5 which is any hurricane over 110 mph or 90 kts. The cruising speed for a UH-1H helicopter is 90 knots which means the if I flew into the wind of a category 3 hurricane at cruising speed in a Huey, I would not be flying forward but sitting over the same spot on the ground or I would be going backwards.

I just spoke with Pastor Stuart Givens from Sylvarena Baptist Church in Wesson, MS. His church hosted us during our Hurricane Gustav evacuation last year.  Sylvarena is prepared to provide shelter again this year. They have just completed a building that will be used for the church for most of the year and as a shelter during hurricane evacuations. That is most likely where we will be headed should we need to evacuate again. If you recall, there were nearly 40 people from this area that went to Sylvarena to escape Gustav last year, in large part because some of you called them to encourage them to evacuate and to go to Sylvarena if they needed some place to go.  We will be making calls again this year.

Volunteers

We haven't had many volunteers this month but we do have a team from Tennessee helping us this week. They were here last year about this time. They worked on a church and finished some cleanup up at the Wells home as well. Next month we are going to California for two weeks. We will be attending a conference at Saddleback and visiting folks from churches in the Laguna Hills area (near LA), Victorville (on the High Desert), and Mendocino (Redwood Forest). So we will be busy, to say the least. It will be a nice break though and we are really looking forward to it. We seldom have volunteers during August ... which shows the great wisdom you have ... it is really hot that month, so it's the best time to go! The next volunteers are due in October.

If you don't already know it, the volunteers that have come here have become more like family to us than friends. We are always blessed when we see you again ... and like family, we are sad to see you leave and miss you greatly when you are gone. I was just thinking that had we not said "yes" to God when He called us here, we never would have known the joy of serving along side you in ministry on the Gulf Coast. As I type this I wonder what other blessings I have missed because I resisted the leading of the Lord.

Recovery Status

In Pathfinder's Articles of Incorporation (Why the ministry exists) it says,

The purpose for which the corporation (i.e., Pathfinder) is formed and the powers to be conferred upon the corporation are as follows:

To insure that Pathfinder has a positive impact upon the residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

To spread the message of Christianity and to bring relief to those harmed by Hurricane Katrina;

To assist the residents of Hancock County in rebuilding their lives;

To hold events in Hancock County that will spread the message of Jesus Christ in the community;

There is a principle that I call the "worst pain theory"? A person may have several things that are causing them pain, but all they feel is the one that is the most painful. But once that pain goes away, they become "painfully" (sorry) aware of the next "worse pain". Such is the case with the work here on the Coast. The "worst pain" for the residents for the past four years has been the need for permanent housing. Many of you have had a major role in helping ease that pain. Although there remain a number of homes that must be repaired or rebuilt, other "pains" are making their way to the surface -- the need to know Jesus as Lord, indebtedness, addictive and destructive behaviors, and the list goes on. We believe that the Lord has us in Waveland to do more than build houses. He also wants us to minister to other needs ... the most important being the need for salvation.   "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36 (NIV)  We can build houses, and help with other problems in a person's life to ease the pain, but unless they have the promise of eternal life, it is really all in vain.   I'll have more to say about this in my next update.

Prayer Requests

Patricia Nelson - Having tests done to determine medical problem

Robert Wells - problem with stomach and diabetes

Linda Bynum .. In Little Rock for Cancer Therapy

Joe Tague .. his chemo therapy continues

Gertrude Toomey ... she is retraining for a job ... she is in her 70's

Sam Foye ... continues physical problems

Jeffrey Phillips ... graduated from high school ... needs a job ... Other issues

Continued support for the ministry ... camp support and personal support

Charley

By His Grace and for His Glory

Charley Elgin

Pathfinder Mission

www.pathfindermission.org

228.493.1081

Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses - Restoring Lives

	Greetings Friends We pray this finds you doing well and continuing to trust in the Lord for His provision and blessing. Something To Think About You don't have to look far to know that there is a lot to be concerned about these days... Not just for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but the whole nation ... well, not just the nation but the whole world .... it seems as though the world is running away from the Creator as fast as it can .... the result .... turmoil. It seems the more our culture rejects the One who can bring peace and hope to our lives, our homes, our communities, our nation, the world .... the worse things get. I think I read about that somewhere! In the 1960's there was a song sung by a group called "Peter, Paul, and Mary" a refrain in the song asked ... "How many times" and "When will we ever learn..." Good questions, don't you think? The world needs to know Jesus. You might wonder if God can use you to show Jesus to the world .... the answer to that question is "Absolutely!" I have to be careful that I don't limit God by looking at my weaknesses. They can become giants in my eyes and reasons for not doing what I know the Lord is leading me to do. In fact the Paul said he would boast in his weakness .... The Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I (Paul) will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV) Hurricane Season The 2009 hurricane season is upon us. It runs from June through November. The National Weather Service is predicting (5-7 Tropical Storms, 4-7 Hurricanes and 1-3 Major Hurricanes). As a point of reference in 2005 (When Katrina made landfall) there were 27 Tropical Storms, 15 Hurricanes and 5 Major Hurricanes. Major Hurricanes are Category 3, 4 and 5 which is any hurricane over 110 mph or 90 kts. The cruising speed for a UH-1H helicopter is 90 knots which means the if I flew into the wind of a category 3 hurricane at cruising speed in a Huey, I would not be flying forward but sitting over the same spot on the ground or I would be going backwards. I just spoke with Pastor Stuart Givens from Sylvarena Baptist Church in Wesson, MS. His church hosted us during our Hurricane Gustav evacuation last year. Sylvarena is prepared to provide shelter again this year. They have just completed a building that will be used for the church for most of the year and as a shelter during hurricane evacuations. That is most likely where we will be headed should we need to evacuate again. If you recall, there were nearly 40 people from this area that went to Sylvarena to escape Gustav last year, in large part because some of you called them to encourage them to evacuate and to go to Sylvarena if they needed some place to go. We will be making calls again this year. Volunteers We haven't had many volunteers this month but we do have a team from Tennessee helping us this week. They were here last year about this time. They worked on a church and finished some cleanup up at the Wells home as well. Next month we are going to California for two weeks. We will be attending a conference at Saddleback and visiting folks from churches in the Laguna Hills area (near LA), Victorville (on the High Desert), and Mendocino (Redwood Forest). So we will be busy, to say the least. It will be a nice break though and we are really looking forward to it. We seldom have volunteers during August ... which shows the great wisdom you have ... it is really hot that month, so it's the best time to go! The next volunteers are due in October. If you don't already know it, the volunteers that have come here have become more like family to us than friends. We are always blessed when we see you again ... and like family, we are sad to see you leave and miss you greatly when you are gone. I was just thinking that had we not said "yes" to God when He called us here, we never would have known the joy of serving along side you in ministry on the Gulf Coast. As I type this I wonder what other blessings I have missed because I resisted the leading of the Lord. Recovery Status In Pathfinder's Articles of Incorporation (Why the ministry exists) it says, The purpose for which the corporation (i.e., Pathfinder) is formed and the powers to be conferred upon the corporation are as follows: To insure that Pathfinder has a positive impact upon the residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. To spread the message of Christianity and to bring relief to those harmed by Hurricane Katrina; To assist the residents of Hancock County in rebuilding their lives; To hold events in Hancock County that will spread the message of Jesus Christ in the community; There is a principle that I call the "worst pain theory"? A person may have several things that are causing them pain, but all they feel is the one that is the most painful. But once that pain goes away, they become "painfully" (sorry) aware of the next "worse pain". Such is the case with the work here on the Coast. The "worst pain" for the residents for the past four years has been the need for permanent housing. Many of you have had a major role in helping ease that pain. Although there remain a number of homes that must be repaired or rebuilt, other "pains" are making their way to the surface -- the need to know Jesus as Lord, indebtedness, addictive and destructive behaviors, and the list goes on. We believe that the Lord has us in Waveland to do more than build houses. He also wants us to minister to other needs ... the most important being the need for salvation. "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36 (NIV) We can build houses, and help with other problems in a person's life to ease the pain, but unless they have the promise of eternal life, it is really all in vain. I'll have more to say about this in my next update. Prayer Requests Patricia Nelson - Having tests done to determine medical problem Robert Wells - problem with stomach and diabetes Linda Bynum .. In Little Rock for Cancer Therapy Joe Tague .. his chemo therapy continues Gertrude Toomey ... she is retraining for a job ... she is in her 70's Sam Foye ... continues physical problems Jeffrey Phillips ... graduated from high school ... needs a job ... Other issues Continued support for the ministry ... camp support and personal support Charley By His Grace and for His Glory Charley Elgin Pathfinder Mission www.pathfindermission.org 228.493.1081 Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses - Restoring Lives

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