4th of July Week

Many people choose to spend the week of the Fourth at a lake or on the beach.  This group came all the way from Ohio to spend it serving GOD in Jersey. They mudded, sanded and painted sheet rock,  repaired shingles, installed doors and hung vinyl.  They also helped out at a food pantry and thrift store and helped paint a church.  Best thing they did was share God’s love. The St Bartholomew team help move sand and clean yards and visited the seniors in the rehab center across the road. They were a true blessing for the seniors who enjoy company especially when it is youth.

Region 1 feeding team returned with 6 members.  Being we had such large teams they did not get time to work in the field this time.

Tony Treat also returned to help us catch up on some office and assessment work.

We have been here in Jersey serving GOD for 5 1/2 months now and have enjoyed every moment.  However we would like to take the first week of August off and go visit North Carolina along with spend a few days at Lake Gaston.  If you would be willing to help out and relieve us PLEASE contact me or Bill Martin.

One Team But They Worked Hard

1-Billy with Ms. Florence (one of the women here that thinks Billy is a saint); 2-Central Baptist Church, Dunn; 3-Region 5 Feeding Team-Rob, Kay and Mervin; 4&5-Billy and Ann working on Susan’s house in Seaside Park.The Central Baptist team split up and worked on several jobs.  The bags of tear out material from Union Church in Seaside Heights were too heavy for the trash truck so some of them rebagged the material. Another group went to Joan’s house to paint trim work that had been installed.  We had a few dry days so several of them finished filling in the dirt under Susan’s home.  The rest of the team worked on moving a wall and running some water lines at Jayne’s

July will be a very busy time for NCBM in New Jersey and New York so PLEASE pray that we will follow GOD’s guidance and share his grace with the ones he has sent us to serve.

A Trip to The City for Ann

We only had one work teams this week, Drexel Baptist Church.  Our Region 4 feeding team was Martha Ann and Tom from Clayton. We were able to celebrate Austin’s 19th birthday with him. 

On Thursday afternoon most of the Drexel Team went to New York City.  I saw this as a good opportunity to go (they had a big bus) since Billy will probably never take me.  We took a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.  When we got off the ferry we were entertained by a group of street performers.  They were very gymnastically talented.  Then a group of us walked to the 911 Memorial.  It was very moving and the group even saw the name of someone they knew that died at the Pentagon.  We had supper at a Panini shop and headed back on the ferry just at the right time to see a beautiful sunset. 

On Wednesday I started working with the kids in Grace Scouts.  ~Ann~

The Drexel team split up into several groups.  They spent the week painting, installing cabinets, installing sheet rock installing doors and putting up trim work.

A Welcome Visit From Home

1-Colonial Baptist, Cary;  2-Momeyer Baptist (our home church); 3-Austin Grove Baptist, Marshville; 4-Riverview Baptist, Pactolus;  5-Benson Baptist;  6-Feeding Team Region 1-Edenton Baptist;  7-Conerstone Christian Fellowship, Sparta. I think you don’t realize how much you miss your friends from home until you see them again.  We really enjoyed having the Momeyer team here. They were on a roll this week.  They picked up their rollers and brushes and painted for Florence and Joan.  They also took time to stop and talk with the homeowners when they would come in to visit.  It was a  joy to see home folk. The Colonial and Austin Grove teams hung and finished sheet rock as well as doing trim work.  The Cornerstone group started their week with a complete tear out.  Then some moved sand while others installed insulation.  During all the rain on Thursday they did another tear out on a church building.  On Friday night they did two skits for their devotion.The Riverview and Benson teams installed floor decking, repaired walls and cleaned old tile grout so new tile could be installed.

With the large number of volunteers a lot of work got done.  However thanks to the teams, I saw where 5 different homeowners received the blessing from GOD, “I will provide for your needs”.  Thanks to the volunteers who have helped open the doors of sharing the love of GOD by volunteering in New Jersey and through out the world.

Four States Serving God Together

1-East Fork Baptist, Kentwood, Louisiana;  2-Steven, Yorktown, VA;  3-Feeding Team Region 7, Denise, Barry and Louise;  4-The Self Family, Milledgeville, GAFour teams with the same goal “SERVE GOD“ where needed.  Several families were so grateful this week for the work done on rebuilding their lives and homes.  Sheet rock was finished. Painting was done. Trim work installed. Tools gathered and a porch was even raised.  What simple task of work each of these were, BUT they were the task that GOD called this group to do in New Jersey this week so HIS GLORY could shine through the work and workers. On Sunday Ann wanted to go touring so Louise and I joined her.  Our first stop was at Deep Cut Gardens where we saw some beautiful flowers.  Then we went on up to Mount  Mitchell Scenic Overlook which is said to be the highest point along the eastern coast.  There was a great view of New York from here however it was a little overcast which caused the view to be a little hard to see.  There is also a monument there in remembrance of 911.   

On Saturday I asked Ann to ride with me as I made my weekly check-up rounds and meet a few home owners to go over a few details.  We went by Joan’s so she could explain to Ann what colors she wanted her walls painted and I could measure for interior doors.  Then we went to Jayne’s to met her and her mother. Jayne, her daughter, a big dog and a cat have been living with her mother since the storm in a one bedroom town house and she is looking forward to being able to move back home.   Richard was also there waiting on this group that would help him rebuild his home and all he had to do was ask. 

GOD has been so good here in Jersey since Sandy made a visit that will never be forgotten by the residents.  We have seen and heard GOD at work in their lives.  As the work North Carolina Baptist and others continues I ask you to take a moment and pray that we listen to GOD’s calling and respond in the way HE is leading us.  Here in New Jersey our biggest need now is for N J licensed electricians to step up to the calling.  Please join us in prayer that the need will be met.

Are you following GOD’s call where ever it may take you ?

Billy

Faithful Workers

Teams:  1-Anthony, Steve and Mark-Corinth Baptist, Elizabeth City; 2-Denise & Barry-Reg. 7 Feeding Team;  3-East Fork Baptist-Louisiana; 4-Alan-Conway Baptist; 5-David-Bethesda Baptist, Durham.The Corinth team finished sheet rock in three homes.  They were supposed to leave Saturday but decided to work one more day and leave on Sunday. The East Fork group came in on Wednesday night.  They hung and finished sheet rock in one house,  removed foam insulation from crawl space of another and did mud work and trim work on a third home.   Allen Harris spent the week hanging doors and installing trim work.  David worked on a tearout job.  For fun on Sunday, Ann & I went on a walk around the Manasquan Reservoir.  A long five mile walk.  Ann saw the ducks and their little ones on another three mile walk around Carasaljo Park Lake. She went on this one without me. Billy

Billy’s Birthday Week

Teams: 1-Region 8/7/9 Feeding Team-Herb, Louise & Paul; 2-University of FL-BCM; 3-Westwood Baptist Church, Cary;  4-Steven Jones & Ted Hawkins, Sneads Ferry Baptist Church.

On Monday the Florida team started a tear out.  The rest of the home will be done once the owners move their personal stuff out.  Kris and Maggie did the devotion for us on Monday night. On Tuesday, their last day here, they joined Ted & Steven as they removed foam insulation from under a home.  It has been seven months since Sandy visited New Jersey and there is still water in the foam.

The group from Cary split up into three teams.   Team one cut hung and started finishing sheet rock.  They also did a little yard work.

Team two spent the week in Seaside Park rebuilding what use to be a fishing shack before they were all converted to homes. They rebuilt walls, reworked sheeting, hung three pocket doors and installed vinyl along with hanging insulation.  Team three did trim work.

Monday we went to the grand opening of the Lavallette boardwalk.  The whole Lavallette Elementary School was there to see Gov. Christie.  I managed to get close enough to get a picture made with him.( if I would have bent down a little you could have seen Billy) It’s been a good week for walking and I saw this beautiful porch in the town of Manasquan.

Thursday was Billy’s birthday so I decided I would spend the day with him.  I helped him fog a house which was a first for me. I rode around with him most of the day checking on jobs.  I made it back to the kitchen in time to make him (and everyone else) banana pudding for supper.

Ann

College Week Again

Teams: 1-Alliance Bible Fellowship, Boone; 2-Grady and Danny, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Fayetteville; 3-University of FL Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Gainesville, FL; Region 1 Feeding Team lead by Hollis and Billy Williams.

Another week of both tear out and rebuild.  Billy W. & Gerald put down laminate flooring in two homes when they were not cooking.  The Florida college team put in sub flooring, installed insulation and hung sheet rock. On Saturday they did more tear out.  Looks like David pulled seniority and supervised duct work removal.

The Alliance Fellowship college team  & Mt. Pisgah team spent their week doing tear outs. Tearing out sheet rock, pulling insulation, clearing crawl spaces, pulling nails.  Well lets just say “ complete gut out jobs.”

Ever since Sid and Betty Anne were here and we hiked on the trails in the state park I have been eager to do some more.  On Sunday I talked Billy into hiking another part of Allaire.  On Thursday Hollis and Louise and I went for a walk on the boardwalk in Lavallette. On Friday we explored the trails at Manasquan Reservoir. It was a beautiful place with lots of wildlife. Saturday Louise and I went to Allaire Village for their opening celebration. Ann

Another Productive Week and Welcome Back Louise

Teams: 1-Region 5 Feeding Team lead by John Johnson;  2-Mitch and Mary Lou Byrum-Center Grove Baptist, Ahoskie;  3-Ray Graham Team-1st Baptist, Matthews;  4-Richard and Carl-1st Baptist, Salisbury;  5-Tom Leeper Team-Biltmore Baptist, Arden.

On Monday the Biltmore team tackled a large tear out job.  It had been on hold due to Ms Tillie had been ill.  However it is now gutted and treated so the rebuild can began.  You would think after 6 months the floors would have dried out but NO there was still soaked insulation and water between layers of flooring.

The rest of the week they hung sheet rock and started finishing it.

On Tuesday The 1st Baptist group installed cabinets, doors and trim on Joseph street. Wednesday and Thursday they installed sub flooring, Then on Friday before they left they installed laminate flooring and window trim.

Everyone looks forward to dinner, debriefing and devotions at the end of the work day. The cooks did a great job this week.  Some of them helped unload materials at homes as well as did mold treatment.  Louise did a good job with her devotion getting the volunteers to help with a lot of answers. Carl and Chad gave a from the heart devotion.  God laid some verses on me to use but I got lost and couldn’t find the meaning to express.  After a long days work many volunteers have taken advantage of the youth lounge while doing a little internet surfing.

A Few Random Things: 1-We are happy to have Louise back with us doing her shower/laundry/cleaning thing; 2-Friday night seafood; 3- John got caught doing the dishes; 4-Cookie in one of his favorite spots; 5-Billy hauling off another load; 6-Paul and his best friend, Rosie-We are helping him rebuild his house; 7-Mitch working on sheetrock.

A Great Week for Working and Adventure

Teams-1-Sid and Betty Anne Shearin, Littleton Baptist Church; 2-Elkin Valley Baptist Church, Elkin and Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, State Road; 3-Theresa Baptist Church and Olive Branch Baptist Church, Roxboro; 4-Region 7 Feeding Team

The Theresa team went behind other organizations and cleaned up the homes after tear out had been done so the mold team could do their job.  They also painted two houses.  Something tells me Chris needs a little more work to do.

The Elkin/Mt. Pleasant team finished hanging sheet rock in two homes and started a third.  They also did the most important – they spent time with home owners ( and dog) and shared God’s love. Mary, the only woman on this team was our shower/laundry lady for the week.

The ladies on the feeding team had the kitchen covered so the two guys joined the Shearin work team after breakfast each day.  They moved furniture back into a completed home, pulled nails out of floors,  pulled out insulation plus reinstalled insulation on two homes.  Sid & Betty Anne did mostly mold treatment and assessments.  However they also moved furniture, painted and helped with sheet rock. Don (center) was our lone sheetrock finisher.  Billy was able to work on sheetrock some in between meeting with homeowners and talking on the phone.

Much work was accomplished this week.  It was great to have teams that were so flexible.  Their desire was to share God’s word along with doing what ever was needed.

On Saturday I went on a historical outing.  “A Weekend in Old Monmouth” is a yearly event and has forty-four stops.  Of course there is no way to visit all of them in one weekend.  First I visited MacKenzie House in Howell (top right). Then I went to Allaire Village (no pic) where they were having a craft show.  Then I traveled on t0 Wall to see (on the left) The Allgor/Barkalow Homestead and The Blansinburg Schoolhouse Museum-a one room school build in 1855.  The guide standing on the front porch actually attended the school as a child and was a delight to talk to. Then it was on to Ocean Grove, a camp meeting community founded by the Methodists in the post-Civil War religious revival.  They held their first prayer meeting here on July 31, 1869.  The Great Auditorium was built in 1894 and is the largest wood frame building in NJ. They also constructed a tent city for these meeting.  Families have been spending summers in these tiny tent city structures for over a century. The end of my tour was the Centennial Cottage (bottom left) and the Ocean Grove Historical Museum.

I have been doing a lot of walking this week.  The weather had been pretty nice and there have been volunteers here that like to walk. We have a state park almost across the street and since Sid used to be a park ranger he was interested in hiking some of the trails.  So Sid, Betty Ann, Doris, Ted and I headed out on Wednesday after dinner for a hike in the woods on a well marked trail.  Doris and I walked fast for exercise while the others must have been looking at the scenery.  Anyway we stayed way ahead of them.  The trail was a loop and Doris and I did not realize when we got back to the beginning. I was using the GPS on my phone but the battery was almost dead so I was trying to conserve it.  I checked to see how close we were to the end and realized that we had gone about a quarter mile too far and were looping around again.  We turned back and thought we were headed back to the parking lot but somehow had made too many turns.  Every time I checked the GPS it seemed we were getting further away instead of closer.  I was concerned that my battery was going to die and it was starting to get dark. Sid called and wanted to know where we were. I told him that I guess we were lost.  We finally got going in the right direction and found our way out before dark by the grace of God. It was a great adventure.

Ann