Peaceful Turtles the anti skunk blog

I woke up this mornin

sitting on the porch

with my dog and coffee to be

birds singing non stop

like  chatter in Starbucks

semi warm and absense of sunshine

makes the day melancholy for me

It happens to be

that I love this day

the warmth of friendship

makes it all worthwhile

it happens to be

that I love this day

the glow of  His Love

makes it all worthwhile

eggs sizzlin in a hot grill

toast burning to a crisp i like

singing an early song of worship

is like the butter on that done toast

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Though I am home now in Colorado the home of my choice, I still lament. I had such a wonderful experience in North Dakota. I loved the camaraderie and general up building of each other. It was like a kind of grown-up summer camp. Our mission was clear and determined each e came back dead tired ready for a hot shower and dinner after which was a time of testimony and story telling. This was the highlight of the day! I sort of became a site supervisor thinking that if I can build it, I can tear it down. But nothing got done at all with out the volunteers, myself included. The work was brutal and tiring but ever so faithful were the workers that gave their time and travel to be there. The town came together and all churches and city government came together. Operation Blessing was set up at St. Anthony’s Church and we used their school for a bunk house and they turned over the basement kitchen to us. The Methodist Church invited us for meals and services. In fact, all churches in town were working together with each other and the city government to coordinate efforts! In fact, the Red Cross came to town to provide temp housing but soon left because every one had an alternate place to stay. There was separation of  “church and state” in this town, for they needed each other.

Why does it take a disaster for this to happen? Ken from the Billy Graham Association told me that he feels that disaster relief is the new evangelism. That could be; for many hear the gospel by your actions alone. I also grew to a small understanding of the resources to manage this effort. Samaitan’s Purse showed up on the same lot with a fully outfitted 50′ tractor/trailer full of tools and equipment.

It’s no secret that I loved this experience and it fulfills an inner need for me in service. I want to do more but I need financial support to do so, or I need more disposal income to afford just the travel expenses. I sometimes feel lost in God’s direction for my life now. But I am willing and am listening. Please pray for me.

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no place like home!

Home at last as of 2 am today.

Still resting and catching up on sleep.

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After a week of some really back breaking work partially gutting flooding homes, I am homeward bound, back to Colorado. New pics uploaded. Enjoy them and please make comment. I have included a PayPal button on the left side bar if you can donate to my travel expenses. I plan to go back! This type of project seems to be in my blood!

Rada, Marge and me

two exhausted boys laying in pews singing hymns

Ken, chaplin and Peter from Manitoba

just one of Bobcats

Samaritan's Purse tractor trailer packed with tools

Lunch room courtesy of St. Anthony's Church and kitchen

crew I led at one project/ awesome people

mask required, do ya think? ey

vulunteer ladies from the bank

wall of muddy boots

rip 'em up boys/ removing hardwood flooring

typical 2 foot and down gut/ everything goes

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see Operation Blessing on twitter http://twitter.com/operationbless

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Today, I got sick. Monday I was draing from my nose and sniffles. I think it was just a typical head cold that takes my by storm and I don’t get over it but by going to the dr. and getting an antibiotic. So, I went at 3:30 pm to ge patched up. But I am still miserable now. I wonder if if was affected by mold and flood water, even though I tried to wear the mask but it makes my glasses fog up. Pray that I will sleep well tonite and begin healing.

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Carl, today's foremanPictures of today I hope:

OB crew in Richard's house

Joe Hosea OB foreman

OB Bernadette and Paula

prayer in morning before going out to jobs

the best resturant in town

Bonnie frm Florida/ has a Harely

Bonnie and Rayda

working crew

last house of the day

more trash piles

just a few feet from the hiway

Jim from Driscol, ND

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I slept much better on a single sized air mattress last night. But I am carrying around a sore throat today. I pray that I am not getting a cold. Yuck! It is too miserable to slop around in the mud and getting wet to have a cold.

Let me tell you about a volunteer couple from Tracy, Ca, Phil and Pam Rhodes. Phil is a retired peace officer in the Californian prison system. He used to council inmates and screen new ones when they came in to see how dangerous they may be. Phil has a commanding presence but is a huge cheerleader to our faith. He constantly encourages our mission here and knows how to fight off discouragement. Pam, his wife, is the sweetest servant to all. She and Phil plan and prepares meals for a crew of about 30 folks, and we eat very good! They are both fully retired and are in their mid fifties and love what they do. His stories of the prison system are amazing! Pam just walked across the lunch room  to hand me a fresh cup of coffee. See what I mean!

We had a group devotion and talked about being sent. Who is sent and who just came? If we are here, the odds say that we were sent. This is our calling today!

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I have been wasting a lot of time trying to get a mp3 file upload for you all to listen to. I’ll come back to that later.

As I explained earlier, there are several disaster ministries working here in Linton. But what is more amazing is the hospitallity and the community at large. The local Catholic Church is headquarters. We use their basement hall for a lunchroom and meeting room. The parish priest gave up all of the rooms in the rectory except his own bedroom, plus, they closed the small school on the same grounds to use as “bunk house.” There is a shower trailer for us to use and cots to use. The school house has a game room with a pool table and a foosball table.

Saturday night a couple of cowboys from Montana broke out their guitars and sang classic gospel like “The Old Rugged Cross,” and another song that Lloyd and Gary had written. That is the audio I wanted to post, but there is so much to write. More pics coming as well. The Catholic Church, St Anthony’s, arranged for us to have a wonderful Easter Dinner at one of the three resturants in town. The Harvest Resturant, opened one week after the flood hit but was not damaged. They even have their own chef and it was fabulous! The other places are pizza fare and throw in 4 or so bars and you have a town on the plains of North Dakota. I met the local female pastor of the Methodist Church, Corrie. She asked me what I felt about the culture of this small town. I said that I thought that the hospitality and friendliness was intentional and very refreshing. She agreed as she thanked us for coming up.

I just met aparty of three women who drove up from Florida and had worked in the Katrina Disaster. In fact, most of these folks have valuable experience and a heart of service.

A few moments a met another group who drove over 1000 miles from eastward to get here.

This week-end most folks left for time with their families, so mostly staff was here. I talked to them and wrote their names down and will try and get contact information.

Just one more note. A volunteer from Minnesota was surprised that the family they helped for 2 1/2 days did not seem to be very thankful. We talk about these things and create a dialouge. It seems that the homeowner was overwhelmed with the loss of her stuff. You know, we all have useless stuff sitting around that we don’t want everyone else to know about. These folks come back home, after they are allowed back, and walk around in a daze trying to find something left of their lives. A flood, according to Joe Hosea, my foreman, said that a flood destroys everything but the building is still standing. They still have lost most of their stuff and will not be back in those water soaked dwellings for months to come. But most have a place to stay. The 1,300 people of this community opened their arms and homes. In fact the Red Cross was here to provide temporary housing and left because everyone had a place to stay, including volunteers. I have so much to share but not enough time now. Please pray for this little town as it is raining and the water is rising! Also, please comment on these post and tell us how this affects you.

Keith

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