Saturday, March 18, 2006

WOW!

Team 10 breezed back through Columbus complaining about the cold. It as in the 80s this week where they were working, but it'll be colder still when they roll into Buffalo tonight :-) I don't remember the teams I've been on having so much energy when we got back. They hit Westerville at 7:00 where we had some grilled burgers waiting for them. They were still excited and telling each other stories over dinner like Laura who dreamed the church they slept in last night was flooded and they had to demuck it :-O

I asked them all to spend a little time in the next few days to write those down and send them in to share with you including the top 11 sayings of the week. I pirated what Pics were available off of people's cameras and will be posting them in the next couple of days.



Bill Niess who led them down headed for home and so did all the UB students and staff. They decided to continue on to Buffalo tonight since they got in at a reasonable time. Bill said it was a great group, no problem, and he really enjoyed them. I saw some tears shed by students when they had to tell him goodbye too.

This is great work when you can just go with a bunch of strangers for Him and come back family. What a Lord we serve!

Friday, March 17, 2006

Team 10 on the way home

8 houses demucked - $15,600.00
One semi trailer of furniture unloaded and pet cages relocated - $2,300.00
Getting dirty and helping people - Priceless

Bill Niess and the students from the University of Buffalo are on their way home after a hard week of work. They left Chalmette around 2:00 after a half day Friday. Homewood Church of Christ in Birmingham will host them on the way home for tonight and they'll return to Columbus tomorrow evening. Some are heading on home to be back for Sunday morning, and others will be staying at Westerville Christian Saturday night.

I'll be collecting pics and stories from our UB volunteers when they come in Saturday to share with you on the blog and hope to hear from the Ohio State crew during the week next week. Also keep track of the whereisawjesus.blogspot.com for stories from other groups working with our partners in Louisiana!

Something else to pray for. We had one volunteer for the team leaving Saturday. Fortunately Matt McVey's group from Ohio State Ag Science has a slot open and James Harworth will be going with them. Also fortunately, they have a place to stay with our friends in Chalmette since FEMA closed the volunteer camp they were to stay in south of town in Plaqemines Parish. Will the FEMA insanity ever stop?

Our next trip is made up presently of a group from Xenia Church of Christ led by my mother-in-law Nancy Michael. We'll keep you posted on that one too!

Teams are also leaving April 8 and April 16. Get a full list of planned trips into the summer months at www.servantsunite.org by clicking on the "trip dates" link.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Team 10 in the Field, Tuesday

Just talked with Bill Niess down in Chalmette with the University of Buffalo students. He was out of breath, but you wouldn't believe the excitement in his voice! They have over 400 people at the school and are hitting it hard this morning. There are crews working 5 houses at the same time on the street he is on. They had an upright freezer to remove walked three doors down and came up with a dolly. "Thank you Jesus!" Bill said.

Now I really am jealous I'm not there.

More from them later. He doesn't have network connectivity so will be dictating a report to me on the homeowner they worked for/with yesterday. Pictures may be in short supply, but we'll see what we can do.

Sounds like they are all representing our effort VERY well and having an incredible time.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Team 10 has Landed

They got into Chalmette late last night. Today's an off day and they are going to see the lower 9th ward and the French Quarter this afternoon.

Also welcome home Jim Inbody from Findlay who spent last week building on the electrical system at the Tammany Oaks warehouse in Hammond and wiring up stoves to handle the volunteer load this week.

Stay tuned here for updates as the team works in New Orleans this week!