Hi again,
At the bottom of this page are some pictures that are from Galveston. The last picture is an amazing sunset that God painted and I was priveledged to capture it on my camera.
God has a funny sense of humor, I have been praying for snow for several months now and some of the people discouraged me saying "We NEVER get snow" or "Why do you pray for snow?" But God having the funny sense of humor He has, He gave us SNOW!!!!!! I was awoken at 6am by a friend presenting me with the first snowball of the year. No, he didn't throw it at me either, he came into my room and very casually said, "Open your hands" being groggy and not quite fully awake I did and to my surprise I beheld a snowball. After breakfast and duty assignment, a few of us had a 5 minute snowball fight. PRAISE THE LORD FOR SNOW!!!!!!!
For Christmas there will be a crew of about 10 of us on the ship. We will be doing various duties around the property and ship. So in saying that, most of the crew is leaving for Christmas vacation as you could have guessed. If you would all pray for me during this time, this is my FIRST Christmas away from home in 22 years. I know God is with me and I will be with my family in spirit but I sometimes get homesick and during the Christmas season it is especially hard.
A question I have is why do we call it a season. Shouldn't it be in hearts ALL year long? The feeling of Christ coming to the earth to save us and to take away our sins of the world. Maybe I heard a sermon on this somewhere and if I did I'll give credit where it is due, but it was placed in my heart today. We call it the Christmas season and when it is over we go back to our busy lives and we sometimes forget what Christ did, I am guilty of this. We need to have the same joy we have at Christmas time all year long. I know that it is hard to be a good christian to those who are a pain in the butt, but Christ loved them and His disciples were a pain in the butt sometimes. It isn't easy to love those types of people, but Jesus loves us and we are a pain in the butt quite frequently.
Ok enough of a newsletter for now, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Back from Galveston
Thank you for all your prayers on our most recent adventure of going to Galveston, Texas. We are now back in Port Mercy Louisiana. It was good to help the people and God helped our team grow closer in many aspects. It feels awkward not being on security and finally getting to sit down with the whole crew and eat a meal and have fellowship, which we on security really missed. It is also good to have green vegetables and fresh milk available in the mess hall along with having chicken as a meal option.
I am especially grateful for my good friend Peter. We had a lot of fun on security and he made the nights just seem to fly by quicker. Some nights when it was slow, we would often quote the movie, The Princess Bride and that made us both laugh hysterically. One night he almost gave me a heart attack which now we can both look back on and laugh. It was a windy night and I was in my shorts and t-shirt and he had decided to catch a few more winks of sleep (since our shift started at 2 am) and I had found a citronella candle and used it to warm my hands. I sat down and put it between my knees and warmed my hands around it. Being as it was windy; he was bundled up in a sweatshirt and a few wool blankets. He is so quiet I didn’t hear him come back on shift. I had just gotten up to make another round of the property when I saw him. My heart raced about 200x its normal heart rate and apparently the face I made was priceless picture of utter terror. Such a good friend I have found.
On one of the houses I got to work on, it had not been touched since the hurricane. There was mold 5 feet high in every room and on all the furniture. We all wore masks and gloves so not to get the mold us or to attempt to keep it off. The renter of this house was a woman in her 50s and was disabled. She wanted us to take out all the furniture and the possessions of the house. She called the city and when we came to help her she cried tears of happiness that people would come to help her. After working for 6 hours we had lunch then finished it up in the same day. The smell was horrible because of not only the mold but because of the food that was spoiled. Just like the smell of the mold was pungent, so are our sins to God the Father. He wants to come into our moldy house and do a clean out. He wants His love to permeate our every being and radiate from us. Some of us are crippled or bound to sin and He wants to take off those burdens if we will just surrender. We should always remember what the price of this freedom is. He sent His Son to help us, even when we were lost and desolate but by His love, He has given us eternal life. So just as the lady wanted us to pile all her junk on the street to be taken away, we need to pile our junk and let the Father take it away.
I am especially grateful for my good friend Peter. We had a lot of fun on security and he made the nights just seem to fly by quicker. Some nights when it was slow, we would often quote the movie, The Princess Bride and that made us both laugh hysterically. One night he almost gave me a heart attack which now we can both look back on and laugh. It was a windy night and I was in my shorts and t-shirt and he had decided to catch a few more winks of sleep (since our shift started at 2 am) and I had found a citronella candle and used it to warm my hands. I sat down and put it between my knees and warmed my hands around it. Being as it was windy; he was bundled up in a sweatshirt and a few wool blankets. He is so quiet I didn’t hear him come back on shift. I had just gotten up to make another round of the property when I saw him. My heart raced about 200x its normal heart rate and apparently the face I made was priceless picture of utter terror. Such a good friend I have found.
On one of the houses I got to work on, it had not been touched since the hurricane. There was mold 5 feet high in every room and on all the furniture. We all wore masks and gloves so not to get the mold us or to attempt to keep it off. The renter of this house was a woman in her 50s and was disabled. She wanted us to take out all the furniture and the possessions of the house. She called the city and when we came to help her she cried tears of happiness that people would come to help her. After working for 6 hours we had lunch then finished it up in the same day. The smell was horrible because of not only the mold but because of the food that was spoiled. Just like the smell of the mold was pungent, so are our sins to God the Father. He wants to come into our moldy house and do a clean out. He wants His love to permeate our every being and radiate from us. Some of us are crippled or bound to sin and He wants to take off those burdens if we will just surrender. We should always remember what the price of this freedom is. He sent His Son to help us, even when we were lost and desolate but by His love, He has given us eternal life. So just as the lady wanted us to pile all her junk on the street to be taken away, we need to pile our junk and let the Father take it away.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Galveston
We are heading to Galveston tomorow. It was supposed to be today but it is MOST LIKELY tomorow. No definite concrete dates yet. We have been told that we could be there anywhere from 1 month to 3 months and then yesterday they said it could be anywhere from 2 months to 6 months. I will not have my laptop there, because the ships we are taking do not have routers. I will be in contact with those that I can be and I will have them relay the message. Thank you all for praying. I do not get to sail, which is a bummer due to new stipulations from the coast guard. We will be driving and 16 members of the crew will sail, but we will sleep and shower upon the ships. I'll update you when I get back.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
God is the same God of the storms as of the calm
Just like the song says, "Through the calm and through the storm You never let go, Lord you never let go of me." it is especially true for us while we go through hurricanes and tropical storms and whatever else nature throws our way.
I sliced my finger deep but God has protected me from infection. Also we weathered through all of the various storms very good. We have been working for 10 days straight so I am extremely tired, yet God continues to take care of me. We have been giving away free vinyl and felt to people to help them patch up where there are leaks and it is backbreaking work. Again God is taking care of me by having a chiropractor come aboard with us.
Thank you all for praying. I will add more pictures soon.
Love you all
I sliced my finger deep but God has protected me from infection. Also we weathered through all of the various storms very good. We have been working for 10 days straight so I am extremely tired, yet God continues to take care of me. We have been giving away free vinyl and felt to people to help them patch up where there are leaks and it is backbreaking work. Again God is taking care of me by having a chiropractor come aboard with us.
Thank you all for praying. I will add more pictures soon.
Love you all
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Praise The Lord
Thank you all for praying for my safety. We all survived and fared well. By the time hurricane Gustav hit us, it was a tropical storm so there was only rain and wind. No damage to ANYTHING! Everything was protected and we all kept our spirits high. I know God had a plan and I am priveledged to be a part of it. Thank you all for praying. We had people all around the world praying for our safety. Prayer moves the hand of God.
On a side note, today after lunch we were broken up into teams and we got to go into the neighborhood and help the community and pray for people. It was amazing! So many people are willing to let you pray for them. I was constantly reminded of our outreaches in Bozeman and how so many people didn't want prayer but God used my experiences there to reach people here. My fear of man has greatly diminished and I was a usable vessel of love for these people which I share God's love with. If I had a fear of man, I would shrink back and not pray for people but I was able to be a light and also salt, just as the Word says. I suggested that we make it a part of our regular week, to go out and help the community and help those that need help. Those that are in leadership said they would consider it. I am reminded of John 4:35,
"Do not say four more months and then the harvest, I tell you, lift up your eyes and look, the fields are white with harvest."
So thank you all for your prayers and support. Included are some pictures of my small yet cozy room.
On a side note, today after lunch we were broken up into teams and we got to go into the neighborhood and help the community and pray for people. It was amazing! So many people are willing to let you pray for them. I was constantly reminded of our outreaches in Bozeman and how so many people didn't want prayer but God used my experiences there to reach people here. My fear of man has greatly diminished and I was a usable vessel of love for these people which I share God's love with. If I had a fear of man, I would shrink back and not pray for people but I was able to be a light and also salt, just as the Word says. I suggested that we make it a part of our regular week, to go out and help the community and help those that need help. Those that are in leadership said they would consider it. I am reminded of John 4:35,
"Do not say four more months and then the harvest, I tell you, lift up your eyes and look, the fields are white with harvest."
So thank you all for your prayers and support. Included are some pictures of my small yet cozy room.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Hurricane
As all of you know, Hurricane Gustav is approaching where I am living. Please don't be scared but rather just pray for God's protection and His will. If it is God's will that this hurricane will dissipate then it will or if it will hit, it will hit. He will do whatever brings Him the most glory. I will keep this updated when I have time and will be in God's hands no matter what.
Here is a website that will help you track the hurricane better than the news.
www.skeetobiteweather.com
Love you all,
Here is a website that will help you track the hurricane better than the news.
www.skeetobiteweather.com
Love you all,
Friday, August 29, 2008
First day of work
Today was my first day of work. IT IS HOT!!!!!! THE HUMIDITY IS HOTTER!!!!
First things first, I don't have a roommate as of yet, but I expect to soon. I also have one of the hottest rooms on the ship, as my room is located right by the laundry room and all the dryers! UGH!!!! God is really stretching me in this, as you all know I am already hot blooded. I have a great room and it is small and cozy. I will add pictures soon but I have to figure out how to first.
Anyways, on the first day of work, I have met a lot of people but their names just haven't stuck yet. I met and worked side by side with one of the RAMP kids. He is from Washington and we have alot of the same interests. Everything from watersports to motorcycles to wrestling to snowsports, etc... Everyone here has asked alot of questions about Montana. Kinda funny but I guess that's just the way it is. Today for work I was placed to snip wires from a chain link fence and fold up the tarps which the wires were holding. I know that doesn't sound like to tough of work but there was about 2.5 acres. My right hand is blistered good but it's a small price to pay.
I will keep you updated as time permits. Thank you all for your love and support on this wild adventure. I love you all.
First things first, I don't have a roommate as of yet, but I expect to soon. I also have one of the hottest rooms on the ship, as my room is located right by the laundry room and all the dryers! UGH!!!! God is really stretching me in this, as you all know I am already hot blooded. I have a great room and it is small and cozy. I will add pictures soon but I have to figure out how to first.
Anyways, on the first day of work, I have met a lot of people but their names just haven't stuck yet. I met and worked side by side with one of the RAMP kids. He is from Washington and we have alot of the same interests. Everything from watersports to motorcycles to wrestling to snowsports, etc... Everyone here has asked alot of questions about Montana. Kinda funny but I guess that's just the way it is. Today for work I was placed to snip wires from a chain link fence and fold up the tarps which the wires were holding. I know that doesn't sound like to tough of work but there was about 2.5 acres. My right hand is blistered good but it's a small price to pay.
I will keep you updated as time permits. Thank you all for your love and support on this wild adventure. I love you all.
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