I just realized that we had such a fast trip home, I totally forgot to post a blog on us doing SP work in Mississippi!!!
We were in eastern Tennessee at the Cumberland Gap National Park at the time. We had already seen what we wanted to of the park, so Dad was starting to map out our route home when Mom said " Ya know, a tornado just ripped through east Mississippi yesterday and SP's on their way". Silence... "Well? what are we waiting for!" was the answer. :)
It took us a day and a half to get there (drive time, but really all weekend!). When we arrived in MS, we got our paper work done at the church, and took the camper out to a church camp that said we could use one for their full hook-up RV sites since we were working with SP!!!
We (Dad, Eli, Jake, Thomas and myself) had breakfast at 6:30am at the church each morning, starting on Tuesday; we got to the first work site at about 8:00am. This site was the only one that we worked on for the first day because the destruction was so bad - it took all day to clean up.
The mud was really bad at the first house, and the only mud boots they had were size 13!!! I wear a 9 1/2, but it worked out fine. Thankfully the first day was the only day we had to wear them.
The second day we arrived at a new work site; a huge tree had blown over and had to be cut up and moved to the road. It took about 3-4 hours to get it all cleaned up. In this picture we are trying to get a limb that was shoved into the ground when the tree fell; it was buried at least 8 feet into the ground. We never did get it out, try as we might, so the homeowner said to just dig down and saw it off about a foot beneath the ground and cover it up. :)
That job took longer than it should have, we had to wait on a news crew that was coming in to do an article on Samaritan's Purse and the work everyone was doing!
We always pray with each homeowner and present a special Billy Graham Training Bible after we have finished with each job, no matter how big or small the devastation was.
Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The next and last site we went to that day, we had to clear another big tree that had blown over. Yes, the work was very hard and strenuous, but then... Jake has always been a ham for the camera, LOL!!!
We had two guys cutting with chainsaws all the time, so the work got done very quickly! ...and thankfully no one got hurt.
The saying "many hands make light work" has never been so true! We had about 12 people on our team; there were several different teams that did different types of work (tarping roofs, etc...) It really makes a difference when everyone has a servant's heart and wants to help others. I never heard anyone complain...ever! You were, however, always bound to hear some one crack a joke, or in some way make you smile.
Whenever you put anyone else in your life first, with a thankful and willing heart, and think about what THEY need and not what you want or feel like you need, can really make a difference in their life, and it ends up being a huge blessing in yours.
Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
John 3:17
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
Psalms 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Once again I did not get any pictures of the inside of the DR (disaster relief) unit! The boys got a big tour and all, but I still did not end up with any!
I think I was helping in the kitchen at the time :)
On Wednesday night we got to have dinner with the church body. All the people were so welcoming and friendly! I was SOO glad that I got to work in the kitchen every night after work. The cooks have to work long hours and do not get a lot of sleep, so working in the kitchen was a wonderful blessing for me to be able to help and ease up their work a little.
I got a pretty bad sunburn the first day of work, and then burned again the next, so my neck is really red (and sore) in this picture :)
We ended up leaving on Friday and started to head home; it was a very sad day for all of us Ticknor volunteers!
We always have a great time whenever we work with Samaritan's Purse, it gives you the greatest feeling of fulfillment and peace, knowing that you made a difference in someone's life, and that through our work several people have come to know Christ as their savior!
Whenever I hear about a new project, look at the blogs on SP, or go to their website, I always feel an inward longing to be there again and helping someone. Each time is an experience that I'll never forget!
1 John 3:16
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all that you do be done in love.
