Partners on Mission

Greetings Friends!

Martie and I trust this update finds you well and strong in the Spirit.

Recently, FEMA workers cleared the mass of fallen trees (about 2 acres) that were strewn like toothpicks in front of the camp's entrance. Last week, while standing in front of the office tent, I could children waiting to board a school bus. Watching those kids romp around while they were waiting for the bus to arrive and then get in line to board the bus gave me a warm feeling inside. It's that same feeling you have when you return home after a long trip. ... Much like the leaves that begin to sprout on the trees in the spring, it is an indication that positive change is coming ... life is returning ... something new and good has begun. I was driving on Central Avenue the other day ( that's the road that runs next to the tracks). I saw a garbage truck picking up trash on a street that had trash cans neatly lined up along a neighborhood street. It looked so out of context from the disorder that we have grown accustomed to. Disorder that was lurking only one street away. As simple a thing as that was, it made me smile ... things are getting better! The rate of recovery on the Gulf Coast varies from city to city and county to county, but there is progress.

Last weekend Martie and I traveled to northern Indiana, the Demotte - Crown Point area to be more specific. That community has about 7000 residents. Our purpose for going was to thank the churches there for the wonderful support they have been to the relief and recovery in Mississippi. On Sunday, Bob and Arla Gabrielse arranged for us to speak at 5 churches and to meet with other folks for dinner and then speak at a general information meeting that afternoon. What a joy it was to see those who had come to the Gulf Coast and to meet those who have supported the ministry from the home front. While we were at the Gabrielse' church, members that had either come to the Gulf as volunteers or helped build the Pod components which they shipped to us were asked to stand . It seemed like more than half of the church members stood to their feet. Wow! The Demotte and Crown Point churches have sent over 650 pods sets to Mississippi over the past 10 months. ( A pod set consists of the wood components: the floor, the front and back walls and the center support. Each set costs about $150.00 to build. You can do the math.) Over the past twelve months they have sent 11 work teams to Mississippi and have begun signing folks up for more trips beginning with the week after Thanksgiving. Their contributions and sacrifices are a wonderful representation of what so many churches and groups have done in response to Hurricane Katrina. Once again today, a couple told me that it has been the churches that have made the difference here. Praise God for your faithful witness.

Thinking back, I can't recall a need that has not been met over the past 14 months that we have been on the coast. The Lord is the Provider... and we just thank and praise Him for His loving kindness as well as for your generosity and faithfulness.

Computer Class

An update on the computer class we started. We had our second evening class last week and it was full, so we adding an afternoon class. We are very encouraged knowing that we are helping local residents. We appreciate Brian Roe, a local resident, who is doing a great job teaching the classes.

The Elgin's Katrina Cottage

Martie and I closed on the property that camp's tents are on this week. The Lord provided the funds we needed to purchase the property through the sale of our home in Montgomery. As I shared in the last update, the lot is 50x170 and the house is 20 by 24 ( or about the size of a double stall garage). After a year of living in less than 250 sq ft, I am excited at the prospect of my knuckles not hitting the ceiling when I take my t-shirt off! When we got our building permits, the clerk mentioned that $95.00 (the total cost of our permits) was the least amount she had ever charged. Martie and I had talked about down-sizing before we left Montgomery. I guess the Lord heard us talking. This is a picture of the house as it is today and the trailer we have called "Home" for the past year.

Purpose Driven Life

Friends from California have sent 150 copies of Purpose Driven Life to us. We are distributing them with the Pods and to others as the opportunity presents itself. I intend to teach 40 days of purpose. We plan to contact those we have given the books to when we are ready to start the class. We flew into Chicago when we went to Indiana so we stopped by to see my brother Rick and his wife Nancy in Naperville. Rick is an associate pastor at the Evangelical Free Church there. He gave us about 80 -- 40 days of purpose handbooks. Jehovah Jireh.

New Bunks

Robert Lumpkin and I built 19 bunks to replace the cots we were using. Wednesday George Beardsley and I are going to Montgomery to pick up the mattresses. I believe that these beds will be so comfortable, you won't hear the trains as they pass in the night:o)

Case Work

We have begun Case Management as we transition from "relief" to "recovery". The process is slower in that it requires us to dig deeper into the finances of the clients. But we are beginning to some successes in getting folks additional financial assistance to purchase materials for their homes.

Pod Project

We have about 65 pods yet to build. Each one has been committed to a family. We expect to have these pods delivered by the end of the month.

A Call to Fast

As you know, we use verses from Isaiah 58 in our e-mails and on our web site. In fact it was Arla Gabrielse that shared the verses with us last winter. I want to take a moment to share some thoughts about those verses in the context of ministering on the Gulf Coast ... or really anywhere else for that matter.

In verse 6 the Lord asks: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

"Fast" means to cover your mouth .. or simply to deny yourself. When volunteers come to the camp, I challenge them to think of their time here as a "fast" from their "normal" routine and life. This is the fast that the Lord calls us to. God wants us to be more than "hearers only" but "doers" of the Word.

And when our volunteers step away from "life" to minister to others by coming to the Gulf Coast ... they are walking in obedience to the 2nd greatest commandment in Matt 22 .... "love your neighbor" ... and the Lord goes on to say in verse 8 ....

⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Jesus said that we are to be salt and light. (Matt 5;13-16) When we step out in ministry to those in need, we are walking in obedience to the Lord's command. You bring healing .... both physical and spiritual. The glory of the Lord will be our rear guard ... How awesome is that ????

¹¹ The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

When we walk in obedience the Lord will give us strength ... we will be like a well watered garden. What a beautiful picture. You know the best place to be in this life is to be in the center of God's will and purpose. Although this, in part, is a plea to consider volunteering here, it's more than that ... I am asking you to consider God's call on your life and to let what you "do" be a active testimony of your faith in God.

In chapter 2, James wrote" ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ¹⁸ But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

You see, our life is not to be merely about praying that all will go well for others, but it's about taking action towards them which is a visible demonstration of our faith. For some reading this, the Lord is not leading you to volunteer here in Mississippi ... if not, that's OK ... my encouragement to you is beyond Mississippi... it is that you would seek the Lord and walk in the purpose that He has established for you and shaped you for, whatever and wherever it is.

In the 21st chapter of John, Jesus asks Peter .. "Do you love me more than these?" When Peter said "yes" Jesus said ... "Feed my sheep" in other words ... do what I have purposed for you to do. Be like Jesus ... do what He did ... make His priority ... your priority.

Philippians 2: 1-7 ^"1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in very natureGod, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, ....."

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for the people here on the Gulf Coast. That the Lord will continue to prompt the "Church" to answer His call to service.

We will close this update to say that we are "wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." (Colossians 4)

Be Blessed ....

Charley & Martie

Charley & Martie Elgin

Pathfinder Mission

Waveland, Mississippi

^{http://www.pathfindermission.org}

^{(228) 493-1081

Isa 58:12….
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you
shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of
streets to live in.}

	Greetings Friends! Martie and I trust this update finds you well and strong in the Spirit. Recently, FEMA workers cleared the mass of fallen trees (about 2 acres) that were strewn like toothpicks in front of the camp's entrance. Last week, while standing in front of the office tent, I could children waiting to board a school bus. Watching those kids romp around while they were waiting for the bus to arrive and then get in line to board the bus gave me a warm feeling inside. It's that same feeling you have when you return home after a long trip. ... Much like the leaves that begin to sprout on the trees in the spring, it is an indication that positive change is coming ... life is returning ... something new and good has begun. I was driving on Central Avenue the other day ( that's the road that runs next to the tracks). I saw a garbage truck picking up trash on a street that had trash cans neatly lined up along a neighborhood street. It looked so out of context from the disorder that we have grown accustomed to. Disorder that was lurking only one street away. As simple a thing as that was, it made me smile ... things are getting better! The rate of recovery on the Gulf Coast varies from city to city and county to county, but there is progress. Last weekend Martie and I traveled to northern Indiana, the Demotte - Crown Point area to be more specific. That community has about 7000 residents. Our purpose for going was to thank the churches there for the wonderful support they have been to the relief and recovery in Mississippi. On Sunday, Bob and Arla Gabrielse arranged for us to speak at 5 churches and to meet with other folks for dinner and then speak at a general information meeting that afternoon. What a joy it was to see those who had come to the Gulf Coast and to meet those who have supported the ministry from the home front. While we were at the Gabrielse' church, members that had either come to the Gulf as volunteers or helped build the Pod components which they shipped to us were asked to stand . It seemed like more than half of the church members stood to their feet. Wow! The Demotte and Crown Point churches have sent over 650 pods sets to Mississippi over the past 10 months. ( A pod set consists of the wood components: the floor, the front and back walls and the center support. Each set costs about $150.00 to build. You can do the math.) Over the past twelve months they have sent 11 work teams to Mississippi and have begun signing folks up for more trips beginning with the week after Thanksgiving. Their contributions and sacrifices are a wonderful representation of what so many churches and groups have done in response to Hurricane Katrina. Once again today, a couple told me that it has been the churches that have made the difference here. Praise God for your faithful witness. Thinking back, I can't recall a need that has not been met over the past 14 months that we have been on the coast. The Lord is the Provider... and we just thank and praise Him for His loving kindness as well as for your generosity and faithfulness. Computer Class An update on the computer class we started. We had our second evening class last week and it was full, so we adding an afternoon class. We are very encouraged knowing that we are helping local residents. We appreciate Brian Roe, a local resident, who is doing a great job teaching the classes. The Elgin's Katrina Cottage Martie and I closed on the property that camp's tents are on this week. The Lord provided the funds we needed to purchase the property through the sale of our home in Montgomery. As I shared in the last update, the lot is 50x170 and the house is 20 by 24 ( or about the size of a double stall garage). After a year of living in less than 250 sq ft, I am excited at the prospect of my knuckles not hitting the ceiling when I take my t-shirt off! When we got our building permits, the clerk mentioned that $95.00 (the total cost of our permits) was the least amount she had ever charged. Martie and I had talked about down-sizing before we left Montgomery. I guess the Lord heard us talking. This is a picture of the house as it is today and the trailer we have called "Home" for the past year. Purpose Driven Life Friends from California have sent 150 copies of Purpose Driven Life to us. We are distributing them with the Pods and to others as the opportunity presents itself. I intend to teach 40 days of purpose. We plan to contact those we have given the books to when we are ready to start the class. We flew into Chicago when we went to Indiana so we stopped by to see my brother Rick and his wife Nancy in Naperville. Rick is an associate pastor at the Evangelical Free Church there. He gave us about 80 -- 40 days of purpose handbooks. Jehovah Jireh. New Bunks Robert Lumpkin and I built 19 bunks to replace the cots we were using. Wednesday George Beardsley and I are going to Montgomery to pick up the mattresses. I believe that these beds will be so comfortable, you won't hear the trains as they pass in the night:o) Case Work We have begun Case Management as we transition from "relief" to "recovery". The process is slower in that it requires us to dig deeper into the finances of the clients. But we are beginning to some successes in getting folks additional financial assistance to purchase materials for their homes. Pod Project We have about 65 pods yet to build. Each one has been committed to a family. We expect to have these pods delivered by the end of the month. A Call to Fast As you know, we use verses from Isaiah 58 in our e-mails and on our web site. In fact it was Arla Gabrielse that shared the verses with us last winter. I want to take a moment to share some thoughts about those verses in the context of ministering on the Gulf Coast ... or really anywhere else for that matter. In verse 6 the Lord asks: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? "Fast" means to cover your mouth .. or simply to deny yourself. When volunteers come to the camp, I challenge them to think of their time here as a "fast" from their "normal" routine and life. This is the fast that the Lord calls us to. God wants us to be more than "hearers only" but "doers" of the Word. And when our volunteers step away from "life" to minister to others by coming to the Gulf Coast ... they are walking in obedience to the 2nd greatest commandment in Matt 22 .... "love your neighbor" ... and the Lord goes on to say in verse 8 .... ⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Jesus said that we are to be salt and light. (Matt 5;13-16) When we step out in ministry to those in need, we are walking in obedience to the Lord's command. You bring healing .... both physical and spiritual. The glory of the Lord will be our rear guard ... How awesome is that ???? ¹¹ The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. When we walk in obedience the Lord will give us strength ... we will be like a well watered garden. What a beautiful picture. You know the best place to be in this life is to be in the center of God's will and purpose. Although this, in part, is a plea to consider volunteering here, it's more than that ... I am asking you to consider God's call on your life and to let what you "do" be a active testimony of your faith in God. In chapter 2, James wrote" ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ¹⁸ But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You see, our life is not to be merely about praying that all will go well for others, but it's about taking action towards them which is a visible demonstration of our faith. For some reading this, the Lord is not leading you to volunteer here in Mississippi ... if not, that's OK ... my encouragement to you is beyond Mississippi... it is that you would seek the Lord and walk in the purpose that He has established for you and shaped you for, whatever and wherever it is. In the 21st chapter of John, Jesus asks Peter .. "Do you love me more than these?" When Peter said "yes" Jesus said ... "Feed my sheep" in other words ... do what I have purposed for you to do. Be like Jesus ... do what He did ... make His priority ... your priority. Philippians 2: 1-7 ^"1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in very natureGod, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, ....." Prayer Requests Please continue to pray for the people here on the Gulf Coast. That the Lord will continue to prompt the "Church" to answer His call to service. We will close this update to say that we are "wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." (Colossians 4) Be Blessed .... Charley & Martie Charley & Martie Elgin Pathfinder Mission Waveland, Mississippi ^{http://www.pathfindermission.org} ^{(228) 493-1081 Isa 58:12…. you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.}

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