Sandi continued to work in the kitchen.  Her crew provided a special act of God's love for everyone by washing bath towels.  It was very refreshing to come back from a long day of work and clean up with a fresh towel.  Thank you Sandi!  The kitchen crew had this evening off.  The whole mission team (43 people) ate supper at a local restaurant.

Bill, Dave, Andy (Andy says, "Happy Birthday Dad!), and Tom P gutted a home in northern New Orleans.  They were really pleased with meeting the homeowner.  The older woman is staying with her son-in-law who was also at the house.  She is a very grateful and humble woman who was eager and willing to pray with the team lifting them up from the bottom of her heart.  The team expects this woman will be able to reconstruct her home.  It was a very satisfying opportunity to serve in the name of Jesus.

Tim, Evan, Jim, Kent, Bonnie, Gary and Kevin gutted a home in the Upper 9th Ward.  The home had been flooded with 5 feet of water.  It is a duplex which housed a mother on one side and her daughter's family on the other.  As they worked, a neighbor stopped by and told her story.  She was one of the people rescued by helicopter and transported by bus out of the flooded area.  As the team listened to this neighbor they recognized the impact of their work had little to do with the physical removal of debris.  Their discouraging work in a hopeless situation, brought hope to this neighbor who often drives to her house, parks in her driveway, and takes a nap because she longs to be home.  For pictures of this work, select house #2 below.

After working in the Upper 9th Ward, the crew drove into the Lower 9th Ward (perhaps the most heavily damaged area of New Orleans).  For pictures of this area, select 9th Ward.

Isaiah 51:15-16a
For I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar - the LORD Almighty is His name.  I have put My words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of My hand.

As we look at the destruction throughout the city of New Orleans, it is very difficult to fathom that we are still in the United States.  The magnitude of the destruction is overwhelming...numbing to the senses.  And yet, we are reminded that God is more powerful than the storm.  God is so powerful that He is able to cover us with His hand and as the passage reads a few verses earlier, God has promised that all who believe in Christ will return to the city...not the city of New Orleans or even the village of Benton Ridge.

(Isaiah 51:11- The ransomed of the LORD will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.)

All who are ransomed (those who have met Jesus and received Jesus as Savior) will one day return to the glorious city of God (Zion).  No matter what storm you are experiencing, look for the shadow of God's hand.  God is more than able to rescue you.