Wednesday Morning from Tennessee

Yesterday's excursion to Sevierville was a lot of fun for us. We ate at the Applebarn restaurant and visited the shops there. We also visited an Antique store while in that area. We didn't buy anything but sure enjoyed looking at all the items available. I talked with my son late last night and he said that everyone had enjoyed a great day. I think they are ready to sleep in some air-conditioned space! In a few hours we will pick them up and head over to Nashville. Will Collins is playing and singing tonight in a concert on the Lipscomb campus tonight called UNITED (at that link click on EVENTS, and UNITED). A collection will be taken up for Hurricane Katrina victims. We will head home Thursday morning! Alan Way and a large group from Burnt Hickory Church of Christ in Marietta, Georgia recently came to Pascagoula to help with the relief effort. Below is his report, slightly edited, from their weekend on the Coast. ********************************** Extreme Home Makeover God Style Our trip to Pascagoula was grrrrreat! I just wish that everyone had the opportunity to go with us and be God’s hands for a few days. Their were seven of us that went to help, Jan Sessions, Maria Tallbridge, Debra Stephens David Reed, Jeff Randol, Lamar, Cyndi & Kevin Burnham, Andrew Way, and myself. We had the opportunity to help serve God’s people and those around us that need God’s light and Love. Jeff, Andrew & I were the first to arrive on Sunday evening. We staked out a good spot to sleep and got ready for the next day. Our first project was to make bunks for the overflow crowd that was going to be there that week. All totaled there were about 170 people descending on Pascagoula. People came from Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and the great state of Georgia. It was a full house. David Kilburn had his work cut out for him that morning getting all of those people moving in a positive direction. He did a great job. There were people hauling sheetrock to homes, delivering furniture and cabinets, painting, cooking meals, making home visits and doing yard work. Along with all of this activity he was meeting with local, state, and federal leaders trying to plan how the clean up will continue in Pascagoula. He has even been requested to go to Delaware as a consultant to help start similar projects after the floods up there. That afternoon we got our house project. This was a little four room house with a bathroom attached to the back. This poor little house somehow survived a horrific storm but it was left desolate. The owner’s name was Charlotte and she was very discouraged. She is 30ish and single with no kids. She is staying with her grandmother and has been passed over by many programs. In fact she was thinking about bulldozing the house and selling the lot. This is where we came in. With the help of David, Andrew, Jeff, Lamar, Cyndi, Kevin, Maria, Jan, and Debra, we went to work on the little house in Pascagoula. We replaced rotted siding, caulked windows, ran new electrical wiring, put down flooring and sub-flooring, hung sheetrock and insulation. But I think the greatest thing happened on Thursday. That was the day some of our kids from Burnt Hickory got to help us with the little house. Somebody came up with the idea of writing scripture on the studs before the sheet rock went up. This is what I think will lift Charlotte spirits for years after we are gone. Charlotte said “My house has been blessed!” I wasn’t there but some say that there were tears of joy in her eyes when she saw all the progress we had made this week. We didn’t leave with a brand new house in our wake, like they do on TV, but we left a house with God’s word in the walls and God’s love in the heart of a lady that needed a little light in her life. God tells us in the parable of the sower to plant God’s word. I feel that is just what we did. I ask that everyone who reads this article prays for Charlotte. Pray that God’s love will germinate in her heart, and that she will become one of God’s servants with the deep roots nourished by God’s love producing those fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, meekness, gentleness, and self control. Finally, I want to encourage anyone who wants the opportunity to be God’s hands for a day or a week to GO to Pascagoula. All you have to do is get there. They will feed you, give you a place to sleep, and provide you with the opportunity to ask God someday “Lord, when did we see you homeless and build you a home, when did we see you hurting and give you encouragement? God will answer “When ever you helped the least of these my children (like in Pascagoula), you have done it unto me.” Just let David know your coming, 228-217-8530, and he will leave the light on for you, so you can shine a little of God’s light into someone’s life. God bless, Alan Way Marietta, GA