Community

Hope your week was a good one. You just never know what God is up to! With all the rain of last week, we are melting with the hot temperatures and humidity at 100% Mosquitos love it but that doesn't count! Again, I am very late with this update. I may have to be fired!

Both Mr Scott and Icee Joe were out of town, so mr brian had to drive the van. Ms Dawn and Mr Matt took their lives in their hand as we rode around! Had a nice treat Saturday morning. Two of my high school friends had come to town to play in our annual golf outing, Before our golf game Saturday afternoon, they wanted to come see Saturday morning what I have been talking to them about for the last several years. What a blessing to have them with us and experience God's work. As we were enjoying our supper, they were still talking about their experiences with us that morning. Awesome.

While we were visiting our friends, John Sauls had a group of people from Grace helping him finish the painting in the kitchen. They did a great job. John Williams has just about finished with all the electrical work. We now have lights in both rooms and all our electrical plugs work! We have never had working plugs in the kitchen since we have been in the center! Wow, thanks guys for all your hard work.

Summer camp continues this week, with more fun, games and learning opportunities. Music was the theme this week. Ms Patty again came most days and shared her love of gardening with the children. The children seem to be fascinated with gardening and watching the plants grow. Have you seen the mural on the wall Ms Lauren has drawn, beautiful. Can't wait to see what she will create next week! For those children who have earned enough rewards, the interns will be taking the children to the duck pond to do some fishing this Saturday. Should be a blast!

On Sunday, William suffered another mild stroke. He left his rehab and has been treated at Willis Knighton South. He has some soreness, some numbness but trying to recover. The rehab won't take him back until he is fully recovered. He was since moved in with James at the Fairmont. Matt is hoping to make time Friday, so he can take him back to rehab. Prayers are needed for William.

Tuesday afternoon, met with a friend from Airline Baptist about helping out with our restoration of the Bright House II. Did you all get that?! Ms Lisa will have to slap my hand if I am early in my announcement, but she has again worked her magic, crossing all the "T's" and dotting all the "i's" and it looks like we are just about ready to assume ownership of the house to the left of the Bright House. We have been dreaming about this becoming a reality for over 5 years!

Mr Matt led our mens Bible fellowship Tuesday evening, reading from Titus. We talked about how to live as men of God. To speak no evil about anyone, to live in peace and be gentle and polite to all people. Our actions, our deeds, our words, does it show we are men of God? Fastest hour of the week.

Wednesday, we got to experience the renewing of our kitchen make over one more time! Ms Lisa and her boys tried to get all the grim and dirt off the floor from all the work that has been done these past few months but it was a lost cause. Ms Lisa, was able to find some funding so we got us a new floor, it is gorgeous. Pictures are coming.

Also on Monday and Wednesday evenings, Ms Beth is leading sewing classes. They had so many show up, they needed more room, so they moved into the fellowship hall. We were working in the kitchen and got to see all the goings on. What a blessing to see everybody creating and working together.

Thursday is becoming a day where we experiencing God is so many ways. We dreamed of having chapel services for so many years. When we started back in December, we said, let's start out with having chapel time on the 4th Thursday of each month. Those of us with little faith, wondered if we would be able to find people to share the Word through, song and word. Joey reminded me this week, we will be able to have chapel the next 5 weeks in a row! Isn't that amazing, God is sooo good!

This Thursday, we were treated to many different forms of worship. Mr Noel, sang a song accompanied by a CD player, Gus sang and played from his new piano, Ms Abbie played and sang, Ms Dorothy and Ms BJ sang a couple of songs and then our Joey shared a few words from God. What an awesome experience. Hope to put together a short video this weekend of our chapel time. Next week, we will have our new friend Pastor Eddie and his wife bringing the Word to us.

Our meal follows chapel time and it is standing room only. Not sure why we are experiencing such large numbers, but we are. We have been able to serve everybody a plate, but not much is left over for seconds. Ms Abbie is struggling to have enough grocery bags for everybody. But as always, God provides and we seem to have just enough.

With folks gone Thursday evening, some busy with activities, Ms Dawn, Momma T, Joey and I sat around the table and visited for a few minutes. Always good to hear what is going on with everybody.

Prayers for William, prayers for Ms Sarah. She has over done it again and is sick. Prayers for Weekend of the Cross starting Thursday. Momma T will be leading a team. Ms Sarah and Mr Scott are the bosses. Prayers for Dr Phil and his family. Everybody is gathering in Baton Rouge for Dr Phil's daughter Charlotte's wedding. Prayers for Dr Phil that he does not trip walking Charlotte down the aisle! Prayers for all who are traveling this weekend. Prayers for Charley and Beth as they await the results of medical tests. Also for Pete and his wife Carrie, as they wait for the results of Carrie's biopsy. Prayers for Mr Joe. He was back in the hospital last week for fluid build up. He is home now, saw him working in the garden.

Don't forget, Joey is getting up every morning to open up the chapel at 7am for all of us to start our days. This coming Tuesday, he is serving coffee and fruit and inviting us all to come and pray with him.

The thing that has struck me this week are the hearts of all of you and how this community is becoming stronger. Help was needed for one of our brothers over the weekend and many came. Prayers were asked for, during times of struggles and you all kneeled down. During chapel time, you all shared your gifts, of song and words and lvoe. You take time out of your busy schedules to provide rides, pick up supplies for others. When some need a break, others step in to help out. You do all of this, knowing you will get nothing in return. Wow!

As we talked about Tuesday evening, we are living our lives for others not because of our pride or egos, but because of God's Holy Spirit in us. You all are allowing the Spirit to fill your hearts with such lvoe, others are blessed by your presence. One of the men in our group, said, he has seen us for many months and there is something different about us, something unique. He sees that smile, that hug, that compassion that is different than anything he has ever seen before. Now he is coming to Bible fellowship because he wants what we have! Isn't that awesome!

May we continue to learn what it is to be a child of God. To show that lvoe to others, so that God gets the glory and not us. May we continue to be bold in our walks, to speak out where needed and show mercy all the time. What a privilege it is to be a part of this community. Hope you all have a great weekend and a great week! Amen