It's the little things...

Josh Morin joined our team later than everyone else. He only learned about this trip when Steve sent him a support letter. We were thrilled to have Josh join the team and we're especially glad that he’s a light packer. When we checked in at the Charlotte airport, we discovered that 2 team members had bags that were overweight. Everything from makeup and toiletries to the first aid kit and laundry detergent were eventually stuffed into Josh’s suitcase.

Before leaving GSO, Pastor Lynn and Judy came by to pray w/ us. Pastor Lynn told us a story about a woman who gave him a hot water bottle to warm him during an extremely cold mission trip. Although it may sound like a small gesture, he vividly remembers the gesture and the lady 26 years later. He encouraged us to look for the small ways we could be a blessing to those we encounter on our trip.



Carolyn has such a God gift to comfort babies. Our flight had an abundance of young children – many of them very fussy. What a blessing she was to the parents of those fussy children as she played games w/ them and even took one little boy into her arms for a while to quiet him. Maybe in the whole scheme of things that sounds like a little thing but to those parents (and many of the rest of us), she provided the peace of Christ.


We've been SO busy here. Up early, quick breakfast, load the van and off to the job site where we stay til around 4. Then about a 30 min drive back, quick showers, dinner, debrief w/ staff, debrief w/ team, have team devotional and I'm ready to crash. But it's so rewarding getting to know Marie and her daughter Amy.

There’s still a huge need for rebuilding work here. Lots of hurting people were already living in deep poverty even before the hurricane, so you can only imagine what things are like for them now. Marie has been w/o power for 8 months. I get cranky when I’m w/o power for 2 days after an ice storm! Marie says you just have to let go of things and let God take care of you. She’s become very accustomed to doing that – and she’s obviously quite good at it. She has so little to hold onto and yet she’s able to let it all go and not worry. Compared to her, I have so many things to hold onto and I often hang on for all I’m worth. Oh, how I hope to learn from Marie! Lord, teach me to hold tightly only those things that have eternal value and to let go of everything else.

Jan, for the team

A Busy Monday...

OK, got here last night! By here I mean a relief work "camp" at the Vineyard Church in Webster, Texas. "Camp" because people camp out here as long as they can, to help however they can, in partnership with the church and a national nonprofit, Mercy Response, that has an office housed here. Great setup! Commercial warehouse-style buildings, trailor showers with hot water parked out back with seven or so RV's belonging to people who've traveled here to help longer term, cafe and kitchen area with sofa lounge and WiFi (yessss!). A Mercy Response coordinator, Diane, gave us an orientation and we have been warmly welcomed by every person here.

Right before we got here we had dinner at a locally-owned (to support the local economy) restaurant called Kelley's, where the most ridiculously large portion sizes ever were discovered. In particular the diner serves baked potatoes the size of some Thanksgiving turkeys, topped with a huge pile of barbeque and enough to feed several people. We marveled at the weight of even the take-out boxes containing the leftovers. Photo coming soon...

We had no idea what we'd really be doing until we got here last night. Turns we're working on a house for 74-year-old Marie Carman, a most amazing lady. She's been through the ringer, she's got energy to spare and joy and humor and strength, she loves Jesus, she's sugar and hot sauce. My first assignment was to spend time with Marie (this ministry is holistic) and, oh my gosh, we really hit it off. She's not one for small talk, and neither am I. She has amazing stories from her life; I can only hope to get into it more with you later. She's always busy, and kept me busy helping her try to feed a tiny abandoned kitten, check on the tomato plants, clean out rooms, and sort out sales papers (to be recycled) from newspapers (to be donated to the animal shelter).

Marie's been living in her house these entire 8 months since the hurricane, on her own, despite having no power, no plumbing, and almost nothing left intact. Luckily somebody got a toilet working some weeks back, but there's still no bath or kitchen anything. That's part of what we're doing. Also we're working on flooring; what's currently there is ancient wood planks that weathered the flood and when I walked into the bathroom today I was looking through the cracks between floor planks at sunlit grass on the ground a few feet below. Good news though, the electricity got turned on today! Marie's face lit up brighter than the bulbs.

After lunch I put down some subflooring, which means I got to use a battery-powered circular saw and pneumatic nail gun, measuring and cutting and working independently and with help from my mum. I heart power tools! Carolyn got to spend a bit of time with Marie in the afternoon, and the others carried on with substantial demolition work in the former/future kitchen. There's much much much to be done hands-on in this house and it seems that each of us will have valuable things to do with every minute of our time here. We've got a flexible game plan and full hearts because God is good like that :)

We're Here!

Well, the Texas team is in Texas!!
We looked like the Clampets (Beverly Hill Billies) on the road to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The van was FULL of people and stuff. Steve did a great job driving us down in his Dad's van. THANK YOU Mr. Hal Miller for taking the time to drive with to Charlotte and for sticking around while we went through security to make sure we got all of our stings through.
Our flight to Houston was pretty smooth and uneventful. Robette got a crick in her neck looking out the window, good thing that it was cloudy over half the way here.
We drove down to Galveston Island before we went to the church that will be our base camp. There is still evidence of Hurricane damage. (Pictures will follow.) I was amazed by the truck parked out on the damaged pier. We got closer and it wasn't parked at all. The pictures will explain.
We grabbed a "light" dinner at a local place named "Kelly's". Again, pictures will follow. Then we headed to base camp. Diane the camp director met us at the door, we had orientation part one then a tour of the church. Facilities are nice and the people are great. Marty will be our on-site leader and Mark, another volunteer, will be joining us at the work-site. Our work will include framing, flooring, dry wall, painting and other things. We will meet our family today.
Gotta go for now. Breakfast is in 8 minutes.
Thank you to all our prayer warriors, friends, family and supporters.
We are excited about what God is going to do and look forward to sharing fun stories of God with you.
Much love and thankfulness,
Team Texas

Hurricane Recovery Team

Serving May 15-24
















front: Robette Edwards, Stephanie Edwards, Carolyn Huskins
back: Josh Morin, Steve Miller, Jan Moore