It's Later Than I Think

Charlie asks in a comment if I got the paperwork done on that grant, and the answer is YES. I actually felt like I had kicked a field goal. It was a real accomplishment! One of the challenges was getting a letter from the Secretary of State that says that we really are a church. A wonderful lady let me fax in the information. She then got to the legal department in doubletime, and in just an hour or so my information was e-mailed to me in an attachment (and mailed in hard copy). Hopefully our paperwork will arrive on time in the office in Pennsylvania where it belongs on Monday morning - the deadline. Really, this is the product of procrastination, but kindly let's not point that out. After the storm one of our first partners in outreach was the Prattville Church of Christ in Alabama. They have a great pictorial of the work in Pascagoula from the early days located HERE. They were with us in big ways in our neediest hours. One of the ways they offered a great assistance to us was by donating a 15 passenger van. I think that van has seen more action in the past eleven months than most of it's life. Unfortunately, what is commonly known as "the Prattville van" has bitten the dust. We ran the poor thing ragged. We did have a mechanic work on it a few weeks ago and we thought we had it all worked out, but today it broke down on some workers who were returning from Gautier. First, I want to say THANKS to Richard and all the fine folks at Prattville. Then I'm wondering if there are any other churches out there that would like to follow in their footsteps? With the number of workers we have in town at any given time, we are truly strapped for transportation. We do not need anything new, just reliable people movers. The weekend is always a bittersweet time for me. Tomorrow three of the groups that have been here for a week will head back to their homes. They have grown to love us, and we have grown to love them. The homes that they served are occupied by people who stand amazed at the heroes who came to their rescue and did it in the name of King Jesus. Homes are closer to being fully restored. And tomorrow there will be tearful goodbyes. We may never see one another again, even if there are plans for future trips. We all hope to see one another in that beautiful resurrection morning, but we would like to see one another sooner. In the morning about 4:30 a.m. I will be picking up the crew from Tri-County Church of God in Pennsylvania and delivering them to the airport in Mobile. This group had a terrible two-day trip down facing lost luggage, cancelled flights and tickets, and other obstacles. I pray they have a safe journey home. This is a second trip down for some of them. Later in the morning we will take the crew from Hillside Christian Church, also in Pennsylvania, to the airport in Gulfport. The Church of Christ at South Yukon, Oklahoma will begin their long journey home in the morning. The group from Edgemere Church of Christ in Wichita Falls, Texas should be home now. The folks from Robinson Avenue Church of Christ in Springdale, Arkansas are also now home, safe and sound we hope. In all of these sad goodbyes we realize that all of this work, the many providential meetings, the factors that fell into place were all the work of God. Nothing but divine providence could explain the way impossibilities became possibilities. The two greatest impressions I have from the time Katrina came ashore until now are: God Has a Big Family That Cares and God Has Orchestrated His Will Magnificently Through Tragedy. And even as people head home, a new group is here from Brentwood Hills church of Christ in Nashville. Also a couple is here from the Starkville, Mississippi Church of Christ. More are on the way for next week's outreach. One of the couples that came from Pennsylvania spent their entire week visiting people we have served. I think I have 50+ reports of the visits made - in one week! They have some stories to tell, I'm sure. George and Gloria touched some lives in special ways, I know. Perhaps some of you retired couples would like to come down and just talk to people and pray with them? This is as vital a ministry at this point as carpentry and electrical. At this time I'm having some initial e-mails with a brother from Hillsboro church of Christ in Nashville about doing some of this kind of work in November. This coming week will be a fairly heavy one with 120 + workers here to help out. After that, the volunteer group size is much smaller for the rest of the year. This is a good time to begin planning trips to the Coast, if you've been thinking about it. Well, I have to get up about 4:00 a.m. ... and it's after 11:00 p.m. ... it's later than I think! I better get some shuteye. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your comments.