Hey y'all! (That's Mississippi for "Hello").

We are home, and have probably begun to get back to normal, what ever that is.

I wanted to post these pictures and let you know that I am praying for all of you, and your service this weekend.

You are a great group, everyone of you an amazing child of THE LIVING GOD! Never forget whose you are (HIS), and what He did for you.

We have absolutely fallen in love with one of our homeowners!

"Duc", the lady who owns houses Jim's team is working on, has lived such an amazing life...
She escaped into North Vietnam from communist China with her father and niece in 1951, escaped into South Vietnam in 1953 when the Viet Cong came into power in the north, met her husband Rayburn in Saigon, escaped the fall of Saigon in 1973 and moved into the US and married her husband in Mississippi before being stationed in indiana, moved to Mississippi when her husband retired after 23 years in the Army. Then came Katrina!

Duc has ministered to everyone of us in some way. We are finishing the drywall in her home, and spending time with her as we can. The BUMY kids are amazing! They have not only listened, they have truly connected with Duc, and she will remember them for years. Every day she prays for us as we leave!

Our other teams have all impacted the community in many ways - Emily's team today was the first help their home owner has received since Katrina. She cried as she watched the kids jump out of the van and start clearing her yard. We ended the day praying for her, and we're going back to finish tomorrow.

CJ's team (dubbed "The Wanderers" because they are walking from home to home to clear yards and help people), got to watch a home video of the storm's effect on one house, very real and quite effective in showing the power of Katrina. They cleared several yards, prayed with everyone they met and had a great day!

Suzie's team started at Brenda's home painting her "flower room" and laundry. They did a great job, and Brenda was thrilled to have her rooms painted. Ask Nichole about the massage she and Savannah gave Suzi.
Then they went to Ocean Springs, a town about 5 miles east of D'Iberville, and cleared a yard for Earl, and 80 year old man who had trees down in his yard. We met Earl's neighbor Mitchell, and spent a great afternoon helping them and praying with them. We have to go back tomorrow to finish, a couple of the trees were too big to move, so we have to cut them up!

The weather is hot and very humid. Everyone is doing a great job of eating, drinking water and staying healthy. Mas aqua is the buzzword.
We are excited about tomorrow, our last day in the field. God is working in profound and amazing ways, and we cannot wait to see how He shows up tomorrow!

Everyone has put in a lot of hard work and today got to meet someone that made it worthwhile! I had the opportunity to meet the owner of the home our team is working on. Its an experience I don't think i could forget. This woman has the best attitude I've ever seen and when she's talking she gets so exciting that it draws you in . I don't anyone coluld NOT connect with her. It amazed me that she's been through so much but can still stay so positive.
Tiffiny Kerr

Currently my group is working on on Duc's home. I feel that today we as a group came together more and we workied to achieve a common goal which was to get as much "mudding" done as possible. I believe we achieved that goal today.Duc came in to see us and to tell us to take a break. Duc has a lot of patience. She is more worried about our welfare as a group and as individuals than she is about her personal situation. She puts her own situationand past tragidies aside. As long as the volunteers who are helping to rebuild her house stay healthy she is willing to sacrifice the comfort of her own home.
Brennan

Hello Family and Friends-

Jesus is amazing! Do you remember M.A.S.H. the TV show? Picture that and you have the best idea about what camp looks like around here. We have hot water and good food. We awoke this morning to a great breakfast and temperatures that were greatly in our favor. Today has been in the 80's with a great breeze and some rain. We are praising God for being faithful and providing us what we need.

We got our work assignments this morning. We broke into three work teams. My group helped work on a ladies home that needed dry wall finished and lots of mudding. We had a great day and were really blessed to meet Duc our resident. We worked hard and are very dirty.

Suzy's group went and cleared yard debris for a local resident. They met many great friends in the yard, including some tree frogs, spiders, and a walking stick. They did lots of cut back and hung out with John and Sebrina. What a story they shared with us.

Jim's group headed out to be lost in the community for a while today, due to some map confusion. Once on site, they dry walled, painted, dry walled, painted and repeated the cycle again. They had a great day and did really well together as a team.

Praise Jesus for a safe day with no injuries. Praise God for great weather. Tonight we get to meet Miss Irene who runs camp and hear her story. We will worship, shower, and get to bed really early. It has been a long great day. Please continue to pray for us daily.

Lots of Love-
Miss Emily

Today our team had the opportunity to see first hand some of the devastation brought about by hurricane Katrina. Computers on sidewalks and couches laying in the middle of what looked like warzone ravaged areas brought a deep sense of reflection to our leaders and students. We all wait with eager anticipation for tomorrows work assignments.

Ryan Conrad

We are here! David Meysembourg (CRM trip leader) and Ryan Conrad (Our CRM worship leader, remember him from DC?) met us at the airport. After some logisitcs opportunities we all made it to CiCi's on the beach in Biloxi at 8:35, 25 minutes before they closed. (We were hungry! Dinner at the camp was over and we hadn't eaten since 11:00 a.m.)

Tomorrow we have an early day - Breakfast at 7:00, church at 10:45, lunch, then touring the area then dinner. Our day will be finished with worship and some debrief time. We will debrief each day, so we can all see Jesus working in the lives in our group and in the community.

Miss Emily wanted me to say that Shawn didn't get sick on the plane! See you tomorrow!

This is what you have to look forward to - hours of slaving for Jesus in extreme heat, followed by short durations of rest. Sounds great doesn't it?

I will meet you at the airport tomorrow, and we will go get the van(s) we'll use all week. Then we'll eat, stow our gear and have a little free time.

Sunday we'll worship, tour the area and eat pizza, our last great hurrah, because on Monday the fun begins!

I have arrived in Mississippi and you will be happy to know that it is still hot and muggy!

The temperature is a balmy 91 degrees, and the humidity is hovering around 85%, but there is a nice breeze out out of the south west, and it is bearable.

The CRM group from First Christian in Canton is doing their final debrief right now! They hung insulation in a home for most of the week, and spent today working around the camp for the D'Iberville Volunteer Foundation.

It looks as though we will be hanging and finishing drywall, and clearing mud from a house as well. There is also a yard or two to clean and mow...

We'll post regularly, so keep checking back. Pictures too.

I just returned from D'Iberville, Mississippi, and I am psyched about your trip!

God is moving in such amazing ways there, and Paul tells us in Ephesians that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for works of service, which God has prepared in advance for us to do." God is aware of your individual situations, and He has prepared a work for you that will help you grow into the person He has made you to be. He loves you that much.

Bring your gloves, your boots and your bug spray. Long pants are required for the construction and debris clearing, so pack them too.

I'll see you there! I'm going down on Friday, and I will meet you at the airport to help guide you in. It is going to be great!