Amazing Grace

Since we arrived, Lori, the camp manager, has been talking about moments of grace. Tonight at our evening devotions, we sang Amazing Grace. After the second verse, a few people started singing the harmony, and more joined in. It was an unspoken moment of the grace that has become part of this particular group of volunteers; yet one more sign of people working together to do the Lord's work, becoming our own community through grace.

As people shared, it is evident that the people of this area, whether it is Gautier or Pascagoula or Ocean Springs or Moss Point, have experienced God's grace and it is God's grace that has seen them through such difficult times.

Ken, Kenny, and Tom were working at a house, trying to help the woman there sort through the things still left from the hurricane. Some are salvageable and some are not; they hope that by doing some of the little things for her that it will make doing the big things easier. During the flooding, the woman watched her car burst into flame when the salt water shorted it out.

Barbara was a woman who needs so much work on her home. Terry, Nina, Ruth, and Wes were working with Jean and Kathy (mother and daughter from New York and North Carolina). Barbara put her house on hold until her mother's house was taken care of. Now that it is her turn, the work is overwhelming. Ruth said that when they first walked in she couldn't even imagine where to start. Barbara's home had 4 feet of water--and she is five miles from the beach, in what an insurance agent said was a no flood zone--zero percent chance. Her daughter and dog went to the roof, but her mother refused to leave, so they finally got her to sit on the table and the rest of the family came back down, stood around the table holding hands and praying. The water rose; the refrigerator floated by. But they survived and are now trying to reclaim their home and their lives. Her entire house needs to be redone. Kathy and Jean helped sort through clothing and other things that have been piled in the middle of the room, and are still damp. In one of the bedrooms they have hung a flag and written God Bless Our Home on the wall. The faith of the people here is amazing.

After dinner this evening, prepared by Ruth with help from Nina and Kenny, and Kathy (fabulous--I'd tell you what it was but don't know how to spell it), some of our group and some of the California group gathered in the Administration tent while Lori was preparing the devotional. They were negotiating how to combine their efforts to finish several jobs tomorrow, and assess the needs of another, possibly start the work. For Lori, that was one of those moments of grace that she has seen. We all arrived on Saturday evening as two separate and distinct groups. We really are now one, working together, laughing together, sharing God's love.

So hello and good wishes to all of you from all of us--Tom, Nina, Ruth, Ken S., Kenny L., Wes, Terry and Pat.

Peace and love to you all. God bless you all.