Friday: the Homestretch!

With much of the work done, we cleaned up our host church, finished up the loose ends, and prepared for the BIG BBQ, an annual last night tradition, to have the whole town come out to the 'Island' on the creek, for a free picnic, open pool night, and clothing give away.

SarahBeth's house was completed...got a second coat of paint, now that the main fixtures were in, and as the guys moved on to repairing porch rails, leaking roof areas and other areas of concern, Lorine and Sue supplied the finishing touches to complete Sarabeth's dream of having a beachy bathroom, here in the mountains. ; ) Lorine got to spend some quality time with Mariah and her Mom, discussing matters of the heart, and college starts for both of them this fall: we will pray for them both, that Jesus would be the light unto their path, as they move into a more 'adult' level of their relationship. It's hard being a Mama losing your baby! [sniff!] We'll pray for Colt also, that the Lord keeps him, and molds him into a 'man after his own heart.'

There was much to do to prepare for the BBQ, what with moving tables, chairs, food, huge amounts of donated clothing, and more. We were pooped, after having travelled to attend a bluegrass gospel concert in a neighboring town (you might have seen the Nestor kids passed out, en masse, on Dad in last night's shots. What a moment.) Great music and ministry, and then...the annual trip to the Custard Stand!! (ice cream shop, for you Yanks!) The Kids got to go in the townpool today....and Pete, too, even if it was unwillingly!

We are contentedly tired, and happy for the new relationships we've made. The BBQ was a hit with the neighborhood, and we were SO GLAD to see, indeed, that Brooke, Carmen and Mary came to the BBQ, along with their other sister as well. Pastor Tim had a chance to meet some of the folks we had spent this week with, and we hope he'll be seeing more of them in the near future. Brooke will also be starting college up again soon...keep her in your prayers that physical therapy would be covered by insurance as her femur mends, and she can be worked on to bring her up to her best potential, overall, health-wise. Also pray for her Mom Carmen, that her health would remain strong, with no further complications of her lung transplant, and that she and Brooke would remain close.

We have packed up most of our belongings, even as Rich and George continued drilling into the night, to complete their looooong list of wiring details. We thank the Lord that he found us worthy to use this week. As for me, and this FIRST time at this with this group...I find them a humble and hard-working bunch, loving being with the kids and eager to meet the local folks and share. I hate to leave feeling like we did not do ENOUGH...how else could we feel with the work that lies before us. We know that "He who began a good work this week...will be faithful to complete it, to the day of His return." Pray with us for traveling mercies, as we leave beautiful West Virginia....over the river, through the mountains, and home again. We will be back soon, 'distant family', so keep in touch, and let us know how to continue to keep you in our prayers.

Thursday...much progress

The kids are just LOVING the basketball camp....and Bob Davis got intitiated w/a bucket of ice water at the end today! Van and Mike dumped ICE water on him, and he was SHOCKED! Bob, we love you, coach! Jeannie shared that a number of kids made decisions for Christ this week--praise God--and were happy to share what they learned this week. Pray for these baby Christians, in their new walk.

The roof was COMPLETED, on house 1! Brooke continues having health issues, and Carmen
as well. Pray that they come to our last night BBQ on Friday, and that they receive the good news. Sean is leaving tonight, and we appreciate his efforts along with the Pete, the Nestor boys, "Jessie James", Alan...and Maria and Brandi, who came w/gifts for Brooke, but found that she was sleeping. We also are grateful for George Cutillo, who drives home to NJ tonight, after crossing all the T's and dotting the i's, in the paperwork side of the ministry. (and... as John's bodyguard: our video ministry couldn't operate without him. ; )

The bathroom was COMPLETED (nearly!) on house 2! Natalie met with SarahBeth, and she was nothing less than overwhelmed and thankful for all that we've done for her family. Lorine got to meet her children Mariah and Colt, as she and Michael painted and repaired the bathroom, and elsewhere, along with Vic, and Todd.

Donna, Sue, Lisa, Natalie and Naomi were the ministers to the community, while preparing the meals both at our 'home base' and on the job. Thanks for being the kindness to the local folks, and our energy behind the scenes.


Our highlight today, was "Christmas in July" at Elk Riverview, and the residents sang, and played with us, and loved it. Natalie and Rich sang, B jammed with us on piano and shared his guide dog with our kids, graciously! We brought cupcakes, cookies and treats, and they loved every minute us, and blessed us as much as they said we blessed them. It wasn't lost on us that while these folks struggle with many physical ailments, outside in their beautiful butterfly garden, the black swallowtails abounded, reminding us that you have to start as a caterpillar...to get to be a butterfly one day. We are thankful for HIS redemption, and hope that while we brought a little temporary joy, that the eternal joy that B+J joyously spoke of, was understood by more than a few in the home.

Please continue to pray for our 'folks' here: Brandy, Carmen, Mary & Brooke, SueBeth and her children, including Mariah,who is looking to restart her college career.

George and Rich Gieske were a tour-de-force on an enormous amount of electrical work here on the Baptist church, and a few repairs out in the field. Range tops, kitchen task lighting, electrical heaters for the showers, receptacles, hall lighting...and more. The church members have expressed such appreciation after their business meeting last night. So nice to hear.

Our kids have made us proud, and have joined in the work efforts, being gracious to the older folks at the home, and helping watch each other. The Elk River continues to entice the boys, refreshing them in the hot afternoons.

John and Alexander have been busy videotaping all our events; more pics later.

Ciao, for now!! Thanks for the prayers and support, along the way.

Sunny Wednesday

From Jeany Lally: Basketball Camp update
Camp is going well, we have 2 camps each day: one here in Webster at the school in the morning, and one in the afternoon at Cowan, also. We have an average of 30 at Webster and 7 little ones and 11 older kids at Cowan. Generally, we teach some drills, basic skills and then a devotional with a message, then split into small groups. The kids are doing well, and are learning a lot this week, esp. about Jesus. We have new kids come daily, and are becoming close, as a group, with the kids at each location. There are a lot of kids that returned from last year, that we were happy to see again. Pray that as the week continues, the Holy Spirit works in their hearts, and we will see kids come to know Jesus.

Construction Group 1 continues, and nearly finished the roof on Carmen's home. They will finish up tomorrow, and hope to meet Carmen, now that she's home from the hospital. The teens brought some clothing and gifts to Brooke, but she was napping and didn't get to spend time with them today. We are happy to have Brandi return to us again this year, and she joins Maria Nepa at B'ball camp, and then visiting with Brooke. We are still praying for their broken family...that Carmen's relationship w/her sons will be restored (a mile down the road), and that she can see her grandchild; that she would give up her anger at God, receive our gift of time and labor and come to the BBQ Friday.

Construction Group 2 is working hard at Sarah Beth's house. Vic and Todd have replaced the whole bathroom, including much of the floor and new bathtub. Lorine is priming and painting today/tomorrow. Removed rotten

Some work...then BIG rain

Hi y'all! The teams were busy today, in a number of different directions.
Construction Team 1 was on a reroofing project on the home of Carmen and Brooke, local residents of the town of Webster Springs. On Monday, our team took down the rusted and rotten front railings and gave the front porch new posts and railings of new treated lumber. Brooke, the daughter, is partially paralyzed from a terrible car accident, and enjoys sitting on the front porch, however, the wheelchair needed to be protected with a reliable railing to prevent any rolling. Carmen, the Mom, has had a double lung transplant, and the air quality in the house was being compromised because the bedroom carpet was damp and getting moldy from the constantly leaking roof. The tar shingles were torn off along with the underlying lumber...when the Lord decided we needed to water the local crops...and a near monsoon set in. TARPS--QUICK!!! To be continued, tomorrow.

The ladies went to Elk Riverview to visit the residents there, shared with them, sang some music, and played Bible Trivia with them. Bill and Joyce, residents there, who are both blind, sang and blessed everyone with a touching moment shared.

Donna stayed and cooked all day for the masses....WE THANK HER for that!
The ladies had lunch, and then returned and played name that tune with the Elk Riverview folks.

Sue and Naomi went to Webster County Continuous Care Center, a nearby nursing home.
They met the director, who introduced them to some of the residents who don't often get visitors, and they visited, shared and prayed with the residents. Sue is now a babeball officianado...thanks to one of the gents: ask her ANYTHING!

The teens again led youth basketball camps...one in the morning, one in the afternoon, attended by approximately 25 at each. Skills, drills, and devotions are part of the daily program, which has a weeklong theme, which will culminate with a salvation message at week's end...and hopefully, some life decisions being made.

Vic went on spider patrol, to complete some uyrgently needed plumbing in Sarah Beth's home in town. He succeeded to get his work accomplished with no loss of blood from spiders, sheet rock knives or other. Tomorrow we'll be finishing the bathroom with spackle and sheetrock...and paint.

Electrical patrol: The Baptist church gets some upgrades. We also added showers to the Baptist church here...along with new receptacles, stove hood, lighting and locks, thanks to George and Rick and boys. They have been very busy!

We are excited to be donating (5) bicycles and bibles to one of the schools here looking to encourage biking to school...we pray that every child receiving these gifts receive the temporal AND eternal gifts within.

We had the residents of these projects join us for a big BBQ, this evening
Sean and Pete are praying for the sun to return tomorrow, so we can finish roofing.
Pray for Donna, who's leading a bible study tomorrow. for the lives we cross, that we can be the hands and feet of Christ here in Webster Springs.

So...tonight Pete and Sean pray that the rain ends tonight, to get the sheathing, paper and shingles on tomorrow; the rest of us will work indoors, and out...again.

* * *
From Naomi:
When Sue and I went to Webster CCare & Rehab, we met a man named "J" who asked for prayer because he has been having trouble regulating his blood sugar level. We were blessed by the opportunity to speak to him and pray with him. We also met Rose (an alias) who is not well physically, but spiritually she blessed us by singing "Jesus loves me" and 'Glory, Glory, Alleluia'...WHAT a GIFT to hear this older woman praise God through her struggles. She truly touched my heart. It has been a blessing to meet these people in West Virginia. We truly thank God for this opportunity. -N

Home base for the week: 1st Baptist Church, Webster Springs

1st Class accommodations for our team: showers, A/C, meals and sleeping. (Oh, and Verizon is NOT very useful here, I'm told, btw.) More later.

July 2010 / Webster Springs....Here We COME!

Welcome to the blog of our Careforce Missions Trip to Webster Springs, West Virginia. It is our hope that we would be good stewards of support from our Christian family, and that God's face be seen in us this week. We will use this space to share our activities, progress and photos from the week ahead, starting July 11. So, as we warm up the engines to hit the road, please pray for travel safety, peace and inspiration along the way!