Ready, Set, Go

This weekend promises to be a wild one! Over fifty volunteers will converge upon Central to help us minister to this community. Some are skilled, some are unskilled, some are just along for the ride! I feel like we're on a roller coaster, slowly going up that first hill, and we've kind of stopped at the top before we go plunging down the rails on th ride. About twenty college students from Mississippi State University are already here on the Coast. Almost thirty folks from University Church in Conway, Arkansas are on their way. Another church down the highway has a spillover of volunteers, and will be sending twenty more over to help us tomorrow. It's all very WOW! Today I did some necessary but mundane things. I went to Staples (talking all the while to Al Sturgeon and Danny Dodd via cellular connection!). The other thing I did was vacuum, clean, and mop several of our classrooms that are being used as hotel rooms. Jacob from Kentucky helped bring in mattresses, and my Maggy helped with some cleaning and straightening up. One thing I did not do today was say goodbye to Donna! Goodbye, Donna! We loved meeting you and I'm so sorry that this hectic ministry was pulling me in several different directions. Our brother from Tupelo, James Simmons, headed back home today. He believes he will return. Tomorrow's going to be a big, busy day. I think I'm sleepy and ready for bed! CURRENT NEEDS: *Padded Chairs ... we are going to have an overflow crowd Sunday and not enough chairs for them to sit in! *Money is always a vital need. Our ability to purchase needed supplies as available is always a blessing. Also, we will need to purchase sheetrock, nails, mud, and tape supplies for repairing homes. These needs are ongoing, and will be for at least two years, as we see it now. *Manpower is always a vital need. Volunteers are keeping this operation running. Keep up with times when we need extra help by looking at the Hurricane Relief Work Crew Calendar, linked in the left hand column of this blog. Volunteer workers, both skilled and unskilled. Carpenters, plumbers, roofers, electricians, sheet-rock hangers, and painters can all be kept very busy! We can use ladies and those who are older to sort clothes, load the bus for bus runs, and go with us on the bus runs. *Ministers who can give up several days to come and pray with the community members, conduct Bible studies as available, and fill in on work as needed. *Youth ministers who can bring their teen groups (mature teens willing to serve, please) for one or two days on the weekends. *Small electric heaters *Towels, Sheets, Pillows, Blankets *Deodorant (mens and womens) *Laundry Detergent in boxes or bottles we can give away easily. (Note: The big 5 gallon buckets of detergent are nice, but we would rather have smaller quantities to spread it further!) *Plastic tableware (forks, knives, spoons) and napkins. The FEMA trailers come with no items such as these. *Snacks, drinks, and other foods that can be kept in our Dining Hall for workers as they labor here on a volunteer basis. *Cleaning supplies (pine sol, dishwashing detergent, disinfectant wipes, mops, brooms, buckets, etc.) – small sizes of cleaning liquids are better / easier to handle and distribute. We haven’t had mops in a while. *We currently do not need diapers or pull ups, clothes, personal hygiene supplies, or food. *Don’t know what to send? Send Wal-Mart or Lowes gift cards. They can be used to purchase a wide variety of items as needed - and can be passed on to needy people on occasion. All of my contact information is to be found at http://www.123jesus.com/ My picture page is located at: http://community.webshots.com/user/jedobber Jay & Mark hang our dining room light fixture! Thanks, Guys!