FAIR OAKS PRESBYTERIAN WANTS YOU!
Published Wednesday, November 09, 2005 by Scott Eggert | E-mail this post
It is November 9th. One day prior to our departure to Gulf Port Mississippi. We have assembled in short order a team of eight to represent our congregation at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in California. This Blog will track the travel and work progress of our group. So far our group consist of:Scott Eggert- Entrepreneur
Bob Hart- General Contractor
Steve Bazil- Former Grocer Extrordinare
Pat Orman- Name Tag Inspector
Sheila Orman- Fantastic Cook
Nick Rose- Jr High Youth Pastor
Ryan Kihm - Strapping young man
Dennis Mori - HP Genius
The task before us is to complete as much roofing as possible within our 11 day window. We will be residing at Handboro Presbyterian Church and performing work at Orange Grove Presbyterian Church. For pictures of the church and the damage sustained visit ogpcusa.org/katrina.htm
We will upload whatever pictures become available from our adventure. Thank you to Fair Oaks for their support. We travel as their ambassadors, as well as for all those within the body of Christ. It is our prayer that our work for the church will enable them to better meet the needs of those in their community.
Hey all we are here in Mississippi. There is so much damage here, just how much damage became very apparent to us while approaching the Biloxi airport for a landing. We looked out our windows we were awe struck by the sea of blue tarped roof that lay below us. It has it has been an amazing experience so far and we are only just completing the first day of our work. We are staying in the oldest Presbyterian Church in Mississippi, and I believe that the cockroach I killed last night I had been in attending church here since the beginning (he isn’t attending anymore). We are meeting allsorts of people, locals as well as relief workers. The Locals that I have had the pleasure to speak with so far have had a pretty positive outlook on things so going. Although you can see the struggle they are having with keeping there heads up. Anyhow please keep our team in all of your prayers and please spread that word to others to do the same. Our hope is that we are not just ministering to people’s physical needs but also their spirituals needs. I have an opportunity to preach on Sunday to and others in our team might be involved in the service as well. Please lift us up in prayer that God will be Glorified people will be encouraged. Yesterday alone we had a few people coming up to us asking for help. We committed to roofing two building at this one church in Gulfport. God willing, if we complete the roofs early on the roofs we will be able to prioritize the other request for help and do what we can for the remaining time. Gods grace and peace be with you all.
Nicko
Hey Nick,
We're proud of you and continue to pray for you and the team. Keep up the Bloggin'! It helps keep us connected in this awesome hurricane ministry. We love you.
Sherry, Wes, and Caleb
Thank yoy, friends of Fair Oaks, for sending this wonderful team here. They are representing you beautifully as the hands and feet of Christ to us. As a Katrina survivor, I have to say your presence here with us, even without significant skills, gives us hope and a feeling of connection, and a sense that people are good and God is amazing. But your group brings such incredible skills of the most-needed variety. Sheila, with her administrative background, is helping us get better organized for volunteers. The guys are covering our roofs, one of the most-needed tasks here. It's BLUE ROOF VILLAGE. One of the FEMA projects was covering damaged roofs with blue tarps.
Despite the devastation and the true personal loss, this has been an incredibly graced time for me. With folks like you coming to help us and sending us gifts, with nature broadcasting resurrection at every turn, with the spirit of God palpable here, we are moving toward the new life promised, resting on the promise, "I know the plans I have for you,, plans for welfare, not for evil."
Let me tell you one story of nature's resurrection: Beside my kitchen, I had/have a giant magnolia, my state's tree, taller than I had ever known magnolias to grow. It was a double tree, two trunks seeming to grow from one root system. Katrina crashed one side to the ground and leaned the other. The first band of angels who came to help with debris removal included an arborist. They cut the downed part of the magnolia and sadly told me the other one would not make it. . . . Now, growing at eye level are new leaves . . . . promising resurrection from the destruction and debris. Life is good here in Katrina land. You help to make it so.
Sandra Price, PCUSA minister retired to write
Hi to Margaret and Tom. Thanks for sending these great folks.