THANK YOU (Feb 1st – Mar 5th)

Due to administrative and technical problems, we were unable to update our blog for the past month.  So we would like to send out a huge thank you and God’s blessing to the following groups for helping Futures For Families rebuild, restore, and address the needs of families throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast:

The Johnson Party, Redeemer Lutheran, ST Michael’s Lutheran Church, The Simmons Group, First Pres. Church, Fry, North Dakota Moravian Mission Society Group, Sloan’s Hallow WMC, TLC Lutheran Disaster Response, Concoy United Methodist Church, Bank of America, Trinity Lutheran Church, and The Nilsen Group.

Now that we are back on track, we will continue to update the blog on a weekly basis.

DON HARRIS 14 – 19 FEBRUARY

 This is Don Harris’ tenth trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina.  During this trip,  he assisted Don Cary with installing  cabinets and counter tops.  Normally materials are donated, which means they do not always fit properly or imperfect.  But with Don’s determination to finish the kitchen for Mr Cary.  He made several modifications to the cabinets and got the job done. We would like to thank Don Harris for his commitment to helping rebuild people lives on the Gulf Coast.

WEEKLY REFLECTION – TRUE SERVANTS

My favorite aspect of my week with the Mission group: The affirmation. From the daily Bible devotions, to the church services, to the interactions with others attending Camp Victor, there was the affirmation that we were in the service of the Lord, at the right place and at the right time of our lives. The Mission group from Harlan was exceptional, could not imagine a more supportive, caring group of individuals. True servant’s hearts to the core.

SWPA Synod

South Western Pennsylvania Synod

Thank you from all our hearts to the South Western Pennsylvania Synod for their continuous support – On this journey to the coast they assisted Ronald Jones repair his home.   

Work Completed

• Ceramic Floor Tile was installed in Kitchen, Dining Room and Living Room
• Installed a Closet Door in living room/fabricated an access door and fresh air vent for the furnace/Heat Pump
• Installed windows and door Trim (casing) – 4 Interior Doors and 2 Interior Windows.
• New Seth and Receptacle Covers
• Installed new splash pan behind stove.
• Installed Ceramic Tile on Kitchen Floor – Put wainscoting on Walls

Thank you Again and let god be with you.

Lytle Group (31st January – 6th February)

 

On Wednesday, February 3, Doug’s case worker stopped by the house while we were working on it and we were asking questions about Doug because we knew so little about him.  With just a phone call, he stopped by during his lunch hour and we were able to share lunch and conversation which made us instantly bond as friends.  Apparently, Doug enjoyed our visit as much as we did so he again joined us on Friday, and we were not only able to eat a meal with him, but we put him to work for a short time on the house.  We have been invited back to see him at any time.
 
We were also privileged to work with Jim Kayser, from Denver, CO all week.  Jim was fixing a lot of the electrical problems in Doug’s house and had to step over and around us all the time.  He was always good natured about it and we formed a friendship solidified by hard work and fun.  We hope to cross paths again in the future.
 
Many of us learned new skills, and strengthened previously learned skills as we worked on the house.  We all agreed that our least favorite job was mudding the dry wall but it was great fun to put down laminate flooring and see what a difference that made in the house.  We also were able to ready the front of the house for siding after repairs were made.  There is never enough time to get everything that you want to done, but we feel very good about where we left the house for the next team.  We are praying for Doug and his family to be able to return to their home soon. 
 
God has richly blessed us through this ministry.  We feel we have received much more than we have given.  God bless all of you from Camp Victor who are working so hard to rebuild homes and lives, one client (or maybe I should say many) at a time.

Picasa Photo Album – http://picasaweb.google.com/FuturesforFamilies/LytleGroup#

Nebraska Synod (Feb 7th – Feb 13th)

Nebraska Synod also assisted with painting and doing final touches to Obie Forrest- bringing this project to a near close – the amount of time given by volunteers and their good spirit has converted a house into a wonderful home, where her family can live and enjoy life.  Thankyou to everyone – The house blessing will be soon and we will post this time and date on this blog so frequently check back.

Nebraska Synod (Feb 7th – Feb 13th)

 

We would like to give our gratitude to Nebraska Synod for their continuous support to the Mississippi Coast – They increased from 8 people last year to over 50 this year.  During their stay they helped to continue the work of C Lewis -

1. Installed laminate flooring, trim in the sitting room.
2. Repaired exterior door by replacing door frame
3. Installed lights in the living room
4. Demolished the wall between the bedroom and living room
5. Primed wall of the living room
6. Moved C – Lewis into rooms on the west side of the house.  So the bedroom could  be repaired
7. Installed door sweep on the doors. alternately making the house more secure and weather tight.

 Photo Album – http://picasaweb.google.com/FuturesforFamilies/NebraskaSynod#

Salem Lutheran Sunday 31st Jan. – Saturday 6th Feb.

Twenty Five people from 10 churches, representing five denominations came from Central PA to aid Camp Victor in rebuilding homes in Jackson Country Mississippi – Eight of these people worked at Mrs Corrine Lewis House to repair a floor damaged by water and termites. 

• Whilst the crew demolished the floor they discovered floor joists on 24 ” centers – these were later moved to 16″ centers to come under construction code.  the ceiling rim joists had suffered the same fate as the floor, the termites had eaten through them- new joist – insulation, primary painting accomplished.

On Wednesday, while part of the crew was still mudding the room the rest of the crew started working on Ms Corrine living room, they met the same problem as the previous room, all the joists and flooring  removed, through their hard work, several evenings they worked until dark securing the house every night to prevent unwanted animals from entering.

On Thursday/Friday the crew installed, insulation, sheet rock, laminate flooring in the living room and dining room.

While the crew from Pa was working a Ms Corrine,  a lone Volunteer (Jim from Denver Co.) with electrical skills installed an exhaust fan in the bathroom, the ceiling had de-laminated due to moisture in the bathroom, the team installed sheet rock 

Donations

Sherril Calloway of North Mission Builders donated some most needed extra materials(Sheet Rock/Joint Compound) he had to camp victor.

Jim donated a smoke alarm/carbon monoxide detector over concerns about the propane gas heater.

Air condition Unit

Words are never enough to explain the work achieved, we were blessed again thankyou

Please View the Picasa Album – http://picasaweb.google.com/FuturesforFamilies/SalemLutheran#

Newsletter Post

Starting over the next week we are asking the volunteers during their stay on the gulf coast to write a small paragraph describing their highlights and any humourous experiences they have experienced during their service to the coast,  the purpose of this is to enrich the blog as a whole as well as document the history of the good work achieved by the different groups.

Also several ideas have come forward via communications with staff /volunteers – one in particular we are going to adopt is to take the photos of the mural volunteers paint on the walls – this symbolizing the group.  Over a time this will become a beautiful gallery of art.  Keep posted. 

Thankyou and God bless

Dave

Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod 24th-30th January 2010

 We would like to thank the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod for their continuous support given to the gulf coast – we are forever grateful for the their hard work and more importantly their presence at the camp.  Please take a few minutes to observe the extensive work accomplished by this and previous groups in our picasa photo album.  Please press the following link -

http://picasaweb.google.com/FuturesforFamilies/MrJesseJoshaPhotoAlbum#