Hurricane Matthew Rebuild–January 22-28, 2017

     1- Bill & Bill, our accessors this week; 2-The three electricians, Dean, Cary & Robert-Leicester; 3-Hickory Grove, Charlotte & Ebeneezer Baptist, Durham; 4-Reg. 4 Feeding Team, Michael, Eunice, Hoarce, Richard & Paul; 5-Lloyd & Sharon from California. This is their last week with us. They have been working with us since November. We are really going to miss them.     6-Westwood Baptist, Cary; 7-Shiloh Baptist, Monroe; 8-Fishing Creek Baptist, Wilkesboro; 9-Eunice taught Michael how to make sweet potato pies.  He was so proud.  I bet his wife is going to be impressed; 10-Parkwood Baptist, Gastonia.  We had many groups working this week so lots got done.  Westwood Baptist, one of the teams that have worked with us on several different sites are teaching their youth what it means to serve God.  The girls really worked hard and all had a good time too.     Billy helped accept a check for Hurricane Matthew relief from the Scotland Memorial Foundation. It was divided three ways between NCBM, United Methodists and United Way.

Hurricane Matthew Lumberton Rebuild–January 8-14, 2017

     1-Front Street Baptist, Statesville; 2-Mike & Cindy Wilhelm; 3-Charlie Stroud & Al Percy; 4-Adam Bacon, Crossroads Baptist, Raleigh; 5-Paul & the Region 3 Feeding Team (RW, Don & Earl); 6-Salisbury Baptist Church. Not pictured: Help Robeson-Chapel Hill, Monty & Beth Rogers, Bill Martin, Ed Coltrane.      With the skills and abilities of the teams this week we concentrated mostly on rebuilding. Volunteers worked on roofing, framing, floor decking, insulation, vapor barriers, electrical, plumbing and mold treatment. Next week we should be able to start requesting some rough ins and then start sheet rock hanging.

The number of requests for help is already at 73 and with the help of Al, Charlie & Bill most have had a scope of work done and many already have permits.  However God is good and many volunteers have signed up for the next couple of weeks.  If you have not signed up go to ncmissions.org or give Ann a call 910-685-3061.  The need for the gospel to be shared is great here.

Hurricane Matthew Lumberton Rebuild–January 8-14, 2017

     1-Tony Treat-Hickory Grove Baptist, Charlotte and IBM Missionary; 2-Grandin Court Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA; 3-Hope Community Church, Raleigh; 4-Beech Grove Baptist Church, Louisville, TN; 5-Ed Coltrane & David Fuss; 6-Bethania Moravian Church, Bethania; 7-Olivet Moravian Church, Winston-Salem; 8-Elkin Valley Baptist Church, Elkin; 9-South Eastern Baptist Seminary; 10-Dry Ponds Baptist, Granite Falls; Not pictured-Lloyd & Sharon, CA, Adam Bacon & our feeding team Paul, Vickie & Richard.     Lots of volunteers this week, young and old, but all had a heart to serve and willing to do whatever.  Teams cleaned up crawlspaces, put down vapor barrier, installed insulation and floor joists, built walls, laid floor decking and did plumbing.  Getting several homes closer to rough in inspection ready. Teams also worked on two tear outs.  Tony Treat is home on from serving on IMB and came down to help out spray some homes for mold.  Work starts early and Billy was able to catch God’s beautiful sunrise one day.

In need of many volunteers over the next couple of years to help rebuild Lumberton and the surrounding area.  At present time we are in big need of people with electrical and plumbing knowledge as well as roofers to install shingle and metal roofs.

Welcome David Fuss to the Lumberton team.  Right now he is working on finishing up recovery jobs which keep coming in and will also be helping Billy with the rebuild operation.

A New Adventure–Hurricane Matthew-Lumberton Rebuild

     As of January 1, 2017 we have a new assignment with NCBM.  We are on site coordinators for the Hurricane Matthew-Lumberton Rebuild site.  Our volunteers this week: 1-The Monroe Guys (Ricky, Gene, Sammy & Mark) with Bill, Ree from GA & Dan from VA; 2-Lloyd & Sharon from CA; 3-Billy had a busy week; 4-FBC Bryson City; 5-Homeowner Lois getting some hugs from the volunteers; 7-Paul & the Region 1 Feeding Team fed us great meals. No picture-Al Percy from Cary.

     Lumberton rebuild is off to a great start. Most of a roof damaged by Matthew has been replaced. Subfloors and sheeting installed. More tear out and mold fogging done along with site clean up.  That’s right a little bit of everything to be done here. Looks like we will be here for at least 2 years or longer. There is lots of need for plumbers, electricians, HVAC and duct work installers, carpenters, roofers, insulation installers, sheet rock hangers and finishers, trimmers, flooring installers, painters and the list goes on.  With all this work a lot of helpers will also be needed.  So start signing up now for your many trips you will be making to Lumberton to help us rebuild and share His word and love.

There are also more fogging & tear out job requests still coming in

In case you don’t want to come to Lumberton, rebuild sites are also open in Winsor, Warsaw & Black River. Recovery is still going on in Tarboro.

Happy New Year 2017

    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:1

2016 was a wonderful year for us. We spent most of it in Johnsonville, SC doing rebuild, recovery and sharing HIS love with others. This was made possible by the doors God opened and all the many volunteers who responded to His call to go and serve. Thank you to each and every one who responded and those who were not able to respond but still prayed and supported the NC Baptist Rebuild in 2016.

2016 also brought some changes in our family.  We welcomed our newest grandson, Walker William Andrews, on April 30 thanks to Matt & Tanya.  We are head over heels in love with him. On a sad note they lost their beloved Ellie.  She was the golden retriever they got before they got married and was the inspiration for naming their bakery, Yellow Dog Bread. Our oldest son Josh has turned a new leaf in the pages of his book. Our daughter Kim’s husband, Brandon, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 was declared cancer free this year. Kim also went back to school and is now a CNA-1 and has a new job. Thank you for all your prayers.

Over the past months we have been able to spend some time with family and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. We have also been doing some prep work for our new call. NC Baptist asked us to serve again as rebuild site coordinators, this time in Lumberton following Hurricane Matthew.  As of January 1 we have 10 homes ready to start rebuilding.  The work will not only be in Lumberton but also the surrounding 30 miles which includes around 4000 affected homes. Many had insurance, some had savings and some will apply for SBA loans to get their homes livable again. We believe however there are roughly 500 to 1000 that will need some kind of help so they can return home.  This opens the door for NCBM and others to help those in need and share His Gospel as we work.  At the present time NCBM will continue to be set up at Hyde Park Baptist in Lumberton.  We are working to obtain a building which we can relocate in.  This will allow Hyde Park to have their facilities back so they can continue to grow.  The new location will allow us to better serve the volunteers and home owners needs.

We had two teams come to serve in rebuild this week.  We look forward to seeing each of you soon as we all continue to answer the call.

Specific ways you can pray for us: A new building for us to move into; more volunteers to accept the call; the lost in the area to accept Christ.