From Cindy's Heart

Some Pictures (and Journaling!!) From our Mission Trip to Laurel, MS for Hurricane Relief

Hey there!

I am trying to steadily get all of my "to-do's" done AND get everything ready to go back to South Mississippi (More on that later--we are planning for another trip on the weekend of October 7-10. We sent some of the things we had already with the team that went down again today. But, we had to stay behind this week to get work done with our businesses.).

I cannot express the deep need in the lives of these wonderful people. God is doing a mighty work. It is simply incredible...and overwhelming at the same time! So many needs...yet so many awesome ways that God is moving in the impossible! Just amazing!  Well, here is a small journal of our trip. I have a million things to tell you all about, so it may take a FEW posts to update! (GRIN!) You have GOT to know it all!

Getting Ready to Leave...

We had an amazing team--all guys but me and Elisabeth! (Calling WOMEN AND DAUGHTERS NEXT TRIP! ha!)

Matthew and Elisabeth fueling up the gas cans. We had to carry in gas for this trip. The last place to fuel up was Meridian. Actually by the end of our trip, gas was finally being brought into Laurel and other areas. A MAJOR ANSWER TO PRAYER! We had to have plenty of gas for their equipment for clean up and for our vehicles to get in and get back out.

We got ready to leave out at 6 AM on Wednesday, September 14, 2005. On our team we had our entire family (Harold, Matthew, Elisabeth, and me)....and the following guys...

Last call for restaurant food--Cracker Barrel in Meridian, MS

Here we met up with those from NC and Birmingham. We also got our last take-out meal before getting there!

Left back around the table: Elisabeth Rushton, Steven Torbert (from Florence, AL), Dewayne Broyles (from Florence, AL), Matthew Rushton, Michael and Alex Poythress (from Birmingham). For all of you homeschoolers...these guys (and gal!) have all been homeschooled!!!!!! AND...they are super!

This table is full of a bunch of hard-working guys! Keith is from NC, Vennis and Prentiss are twins (one from Leighton, AL and the other from Birmingham, AL), Don and Chris are from VA, and Jim is from Florence (he goes to church with us).

Notice Rich and Micky avoiding the other pics...well, here they are stopped in action! See your Mission Trip Paparrazi did not fail!

Oh! And Harold and I were even captured on camera!

One of the most amazing things to me was watching all of the STUFF come out of these vehicles. Mary Poppins had NOTHING on this crew!  God really amazed us all! Each of us gathering and doing a bit each added up to a GREAT work! Take a look at some of things coming in...imagine 16 people constantly unloading and bringing it all in...totally amazing! OH! And remember--nothing was there when we got there!!! To God be the glory!

(see Angela, I told you he was working with his gimpy arm!! hehe!)

AND...This is not all! Look at all of the work!!!!

These guys were busy bees the whole entire time. We split up into several different teams. On Wednesday there were three teams: two went out to help elderly with their yards/roofs while Elisabeth and I stayed behind with Charlotte Lofton (from Magnolia Baptist Church) to clean up the facilities and sort out all of our goodies to give out. The church was used for those evacuating during the hurricane. The whole church was upside down. It took literally ALL day to get the facilities in shape for the team to stay there safely! Great job!!

On Thursday, we split up into teams again with half working on debri and tree removal and the other half taking food, toiletries, and other basic survival necessities out to the people in Laurel and the surrounding area. We passed out over 100 boxes of groceries and other necessities and over 150 cases of water. Over 50 others came by the church to pick up boxes of groceries and clothes. We were able to feed many of them the first warm meal that they had eaten since the hurricane. Such an incredible blessing! It was AMAZING!

On Friday, we split up into 4 teams to focus on helping with debri and tree removal and securing roofs for those in need. We also took out all of the remaining cases of water and boxes of groceries, toiletries, and extras.

On Saturday, we cleaned the church facilities and headed home. Here are pics of the just a dab of the work and those that we were able to

pray with and minister to...

My new friends! Austin, Hunter, and Paige! They had arrived back home to only have to cut their way into their home for all of the damage. They were SO thankful for your gifts of games and books and groceries!

Especially the ORANGE! Paige LOVED it!

And...Austin had JUST asked for this game (that we had NO idea he wanted!)

and could not have it--until God got loose!!! Yep! God is even interested in the LITTLE THINGS!

One of my favorite treats was getting to know Mrs. Glenn Dean Cochran while the guys worked on her roof. She is my kindred spirit. Our plans are to take our bags back in to some of the families she serves there in Laurel. She decided young to step up out of poverty and welfare to get a good education. And...that she did! She now owns two day-care centers in Laurel servicing over 130 poor, single-income families. She is opening up her doors for us to minister to her families next time we go to Laurel! What an amazing blessing to get to know her and her about God's faithfulness in her life. I will never be the same after getting to know her!

This is one of my favorite moments. It was UNBELIEVABLE to hear Keith minister to this precious soul. AND...they did not even know I took the picture!! The whole week was full of precious times like this! PRICELESS!

This was one of the last homes that we were able to help before the sun went down. This guy was working all day to remove a HUGE tree off of his home. He was tired and wore out. He told Matthew and Steven that he had just been praying and asking God HOW to fix this big mess. THEN...God brought us down this very road with the very help he needed. He was in tears and SO grateful that we were there and willing to help him. Yes...he is a believer...and now he is ecstatic that God is SO willing to provide help in the very moment of your need!

Taking it to the streets!!

The following pictures are from our trips out taking groceries and toiletries to the streets. During these trips we were blessed to be able to pray with everyone we came in contact with AND we were privileged to lead FOUR to Christ! It was a blessing beyond measure! I am READY to go back!!! Ready to go?

Gearing up! We just boxed up everything in boxes to carry out. This is just one batch ready to load! They brought the vehicles up and loaded them one-by-one to go out! It was a beautiful site!

Brings a new meaning to STREET MINISTRY! We loaded groceries in their car and prayed with them for their deepest needs. What a privilege! We found many out trying to help others that needed prayer and help

themselves! Isn't God GREAT?

Back at Magnolia Baptist Church (in Laurel) helping those that came in...

My NEW Sister-in-Christ! Anita Brown and her two friends were saved at the same time!!!! HOOT! We gave them their very own Bible--marked with my favorite verse--Matthew 11: 28-30. Anita lost everything she owned in this hurricane, but came away with eternal life!!!!!!! Anybody ready to praise God????

Now to the next picture...

We had a special assignment from a homeschooled friend here in the Shoals to find the PERFECT HOME for this gift! And...my new friend here was THE ONE! Right after I gave this to her, she asked if I had anything to carry all of her friends! Isn't that how God works? When we are comforted, we then are able to go and comfort others with that same comfort! HALLELUJAH!

OH! And, YES! We had plenty to send with her as she ministers to her little friends! HOOT!

Anybody excited? OHHH! I thank all of you for being a part in making this trip sooo awesome! We are gearing up for the next trip on October 7-10. We are looking for soul-winners, care packages to carry out, and even more prayers from those who cannot come! God is at work! This IS the God's finest hour--after Calvary!!!!