My Train Ride

We did not have any work teams this past week so we did not get a lot done.  Of course George and Louise were still there with us plugging along.  We are having some site issues with the local township so please be in prayer for those issues to be resolved quickly.  Ann took the train home on Sunday and will be gone for a week.  She has several appointments and will be attending the Region 1 training  on March 1 and 2 in Murfreesboro.

Ann’s Thoughts on Riding the Train

I was excited for my train adventure but a little nervous too since I had never ridden Amtrak before.   I wasn’t sure of the boarding procedure.  While I was waiting a lady sat down on my right.  I hoped she was a veteran train traveler but no, I found out it was her first time too.  After I chatted with her for a few minutes a man that had been sitting across the room from me but was now sitting on my left spoke to me.  He had seen my NC Baptists Builders coat and wondered if I was in NJ working after the hurricane.  He was a highschool principle from Williamston, NC and said his dad used to do work with them when he attended the Baptist Church.  I told him why I was here and we chatted awhile about mission trips.  I invited him and his church to come help us in NJ. This was his first train ride too.

When it was time to board the train it was very easy.  They don’t search you or your luggage, take your picture, make you take your shoes off or even look at your ticket before you board.  It’s very different from airplane boarding.  You need to be ready though because the train only stays in the station for about 5 minutes. Once on the train they come by your seat and scan your ticket.  The seats were very comfortable with lots of leg room and a foot rest.  The views were good.  I got a glimpse of the Washington Monument. The best thing is that you can use all of your electronic devices and you even have a place to plug them in.  My favorite thing was looking at the map on my phone with the GPS on and being able to see exactly where we were.  I sat beside Jackie, a nice young girl on her way back to school (ECU) from her home in New Hampshire.  On the down side there was a guy one row up and across the aisle that talked on his phone the whole time except when he was asleep.  That got a little annoying.  I took my own food and drink but they have a dining car and a lounge car where you can buy food and the prices didn’t look to unreasonable.

My trip took eight hours (scheduled for 7 1/2) which was longer than flying but about the same as driving.  For one person the ticket cost less than gas and the trip was more relaxing. All in all it was a good trip and I would do it again.

A Valentine Surprise

Our teams this week-1.  Richard and Carl came with the feeding team but worked as a fogging team.  2.  Region 5 Feeding team members Brian and Tom were helped by our full time cleaning lady, Louise.  3.  Brad Johnson from Cool Springs Baptist in Sanford.  4.  Still here from last week is Paul Gallaway from Fayetteville.  5.  Diane from right here at Grace Tabernacle came in and unboxed and labeled tools all day long.

Richard and Carl spent the week spraying and fogging for mold treatment.  During their waiting time they also shared the gospel.   Brad and Steve (a local church volunteer) spent most of the week going behind other teams and cleaning up so others could fog.  Brad spent Thursday building shelves in our temporary storage unit.

Each Monday we share the church/school with a home school group.  Louise and Ann enjoyed joining them in their opening worship time in the gym.  Later that day Ann was surprised with Valentine cards and heart candies with bible verses attached for our volunteers.

A Snow Day in New Jersey

We did not have a lot of volunteers this week, but the ones we had worked hard in some very cold weather.

1-Phillip and Martha Heavner, Admin, from Valdese  2-Lynn Baker from Beaufort  3-Region 7 Feeding Team led by Terry Barnes  4-Raleigh First Baptist led by Gerald Dudak  5-Charles Aultman, Recovery Bluehat and Don Gallimore, our favorite sheetrock man, from Roxboro.  6-Paul Gallaway from Fayetteville.

The Raleigh team spent the week tearing out and cleaning homes getting them ready to fog for mold.  On a few homes they removed the insulation from the crawl space.

Don road up up Charles to help us with sheet rock finishing. The ladies helped him one day sanding.  Charles went with Don on Saturday to help sand.

When we came to the camper last night it was cold but still just raining. However when we went to bed we looked out and the ground was covered.  Then when we got up Saturday morning what a change.  The wind was blowing hard and we had between six and eight inches of snow.   Billy ate breakfast and then started helping Anthony move the snow.  It has melted some today but I am sure it will lay in the piles for several days.  Next week is supposed to be warm so it should be gone soon.  Rudy & Robin brought the rebuild tool trailer up on Friday and carried the skid steer back to NC on Saturday.  So for all of you who want to help with rebuild come on up the tools are here.

We have very few volunteers for the remainder of February so we have plenty of room for you.

Recovery , Rebuild & Salvations in New Jersey

We had three great teams this week.  Top-Gary Roberts-crew chief from Woodland Hill Baptist Church, Asheville.  Bottom-Jim Canterbury-crew chief from Westwood Baptist Church, Cary and our feeding team from Region 9 led by Harvey Hart.  They worked hard and shared the word.  There were 31 salvations. THANK YOU GOD

The Westwood group worked on rebuild jobs including sheet rock hanging and finishing along with installing insulation and plywood under a temporary camper to help keep it warm.  The Woodland Hills group worked on tear outs and fogging.

Linda helped out in administration.  It got warm on Friday so Ann & Louise went for a walk around the reservoir.  A young man with the Westwood group celebrated his birthday here.  Gary was trying to find a hat that is hip.  Ann and Tony went to Case Management Training up north for two days so they took the opportunity to visit the Lower New York Bay where you can see across to Staten Island.

The people of New Jersey & New York need your help.  The recovery (tear out & fogging for mold) jobs continue to come in every day.  We have also started a rebuild program which we get requests for help each day also.  Both of these projects will continue for several more months.  Please pray and spread the word that volunteers are needed now and in the months ahead.  GOD has spoken to many who have listened and came to volunteer.  When will you be stepping up to serve GOD?

Welcome to New Jersey

As Dorothy would have said “We’re not in Momeyer (or Hawaii) any more”.  On Monday we arrived on the site in Allenwood, NJ at Grace Tabernacle Bible Church.  After we got the camper set up we got our first snow.  The NCBM set this site up November 4, 2012 and have completed 350 jobs.  We have agreed to stay here for at least six months with the NCBM helping with the recovery operation and then doing rebuild work.  Although it is a lot like what we have done for the past few years, being up north is different, so we ask for your prayers and help. 

We came into a operation that was already operating but with changes in staff had become very disorganized.  Ann is in charge of the DROC (office) and with the help of some recovery ladies it is now organized and ready for both operations.  Thanks to Connie, Elizabeth and Donna.  Carey Grey came up on Monday also to be the Recovery Blue Hat so Billy could concentrate more on the rebuild effort. Billy did get out to some of the damaged areas on Tuesday and Thursday but most of his time has been in the DROC also.  Al & Tony have been doing our assessment work and they compare notes each morning and night. 

We had some good volunteers this week past week who were all here to help others in GOD’s name.  Billy says that he has worked the laundry in some hot and cold conditions but never when you had to wear a toboggan and drain the system each night to keep it from freezing. Pictures show only a few of the teams here last week.

Recovery Work: Yes that is sand that got washed into the crawl spaces of homes so we are helping remove it.  Lots of sheetrock, flooring and insulation still needs to be removed from homes.  We have a lot of fogging (mold treatment) jobs left to do but they can’t be done in below freezing conditions.

Rebuild Work: With the cold temperatures some of the fogging  jobs had to be put on hold. So we put some of the guys to work on rebuild jobs.  They hung insulation and sheetrock.

Each night when we finish supper we have a debrief & devotion time.  Lots of heart wrenching stories are shared.  Billy can’t talk without moving his hands.  Drew came all the way to Allenwood for his birthday and not only got a cake but received the present of being able to lead a man to God.  Drew is only 23 but already a dedicated servant.  A man we can relate to.  We have also spent our last several birthdays away serving GOD.  As we see it “what better place to be.”

I know many of you have already been to NJ or NY to serve but the need here is still great.  Also the opportunities GOD has laid out for his believers to go and share his love and word are plentiful.  Please pray for us and listen for that small voice that tells you “ It is time to step up and go serve “.   We hope and pray each of you will come serve with us this year.  Don’t forget to bring a friend and tell others about the need for volunteers in NJ and all the world.

PS.  We have been pleasantly surprised by our welcome here in NJ.  Maybe it’s not a foreign country after all.

Home (for a few days)

We knew this time would come all to soon.  On Sunday, our last full day in Hawaii we went to the resort area of Ko Olina again for Ann to snorkel.  She was able to see a few fish.  On Monday we got up early to pack and went to the beach at Pokai Bay for one last ride on the stand up paddleboard.  It was windy and a bit harder to control.  When we got back to camp Andy & Ramona gave us our certificates and Pua Kahea t-shirts and thanked us for the 9 weeks of service at the camp.  They took us out for lunch and then on to the airport.  We had a long but good flight back to the mainland and were both able to get some sleep.

We really enjoyed our time here.  We did a lot of work but it was not too hard and we had plenty of free time to enjoy the island life. 

Even though it was sad to leave paradise and our new friends it was really good to get home to see family and friends.  Aunt Jo was nice enough to keep her Christmas decorations up until we got back and on Wednesday some of the family gathered at Jo’s house for lunch and to open presents.  Kim & Brandon arrived from Ohio just before lunch and then spent the next two days with us.  We enjoyed meals with them, Matt and Tanya and some of Brandon’s family.  Ann decided the ladies should make t-shirt scarves. 

On Saturday Ann went to her quilt guild and had lunch with friends.  Billy helped Ike work on his shop.  As the day started to end we got a call and a dear couple stopped by to visit,  J E & Betsy Skinner.  We talked about our time in Hawaii and the work we had done.  JE & Betsy went in February 2011 and stayed in the same room as we did.  Then we talked about our next adventure. 

On Monday 1/21/13 we will leave Momeyer and travel to Allenwood, N.J.   NC Baptist Men have been working there since right after Hurricane Sandy just as be were getting ready to leave for Hawaii.  Our hearts went with them at that time and now we are ready to join them.  We will be there possibly for six months serving GOD as needed.  We have our concerns about just what will take place and how we will serve GOD but HE has laid peace on my heart the past two days with assurance that He is already there getting things in order so we can enjoy serving HIM again this year.  Back in September Ann posted that she was feeling a nudge to step out of her comfort zone and go on a foreign mission trip.  Well, for this southern girl, NJ might just be her foreign country.  Please remember us in your prayers as well as the people we will be serving.

If you or a team would like to follow GOD’s call and come help us rebuild the homes and lives of the people of New Jersey this year please contact either of us or visit the NCBM mission site to sign up.

Happy New Year

For New Years Eve Jeff & Sharon invited us out to eat at Outback.  Afterwards Jeff drove us around so we could watch as locals started shooting fireworks.  We ended up stopping at the Honolulu City Lights.  It seemed sort of strange walking around looking at Christmas lights in shorts and t-shirts.

On New Years day we went to John and Lorrie’s with plans to work on their roof but it rained most all day so Billy adjusted doors for them.  For supper we had steak, potatoes and salad.

Wednesday it was back to work painting steps,  cleaning rooms & washing linens.  Chuck decided to do some grounds cleaning so Ann supervised.

Andy purchased a tiller so we started replanting areas with grass.  The ground is so hard and dry here about all you can do is scratch the top, plant seed and water them.   We installed hand towel machines in the Hikina units.  Andy & Billy had the sweet job of cleaning our the septic pump tank and repairing the wiring.

On Friday God was gracious and allowed us time and sunshine so we could go back to John & Lorrie’s to do their roof job.  Their reading room had a glass roof that was cracked and leaked each time it rained which is almost daily on that side of the island.  Ann was a great helper bringing Billy supplies and handing them up as needed. John was a great supervisor.  As Billy finished up the caulking John, Lorrie & Ann cleaned up the mess Billy had made.  Lorrie said it rained hard that night and when John went to clean up the water on Saturday morning he was happy cause there was none.

On Saturday we went to meet Richard & Lucy Morgan.  Lucy is from Nash County and fell in love with Richard when they were on a cruise to Europe as young adults.  Richard is 5th generation of his family on Oahu.  The family owns and operates the Kualoa Ranch.  The home they live in was built by his grandparents and Richard has lived there most of his life.  It was and is a grand old house.  The area where the van is parked is where the drivers would pull the horse drawn carriages under so the guest could get out and then enter the house for parties. In those days it was a six acre site with an unobstructed view of the beach & ocean from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor.  Richard says he was actually sitting on the roof the morning Pearl harbor was attacked and waved at the pilots as they came in unknowing what was about to happen.  Richard is a true mechanic .  He rebuilt the Model T (hand made what he couldn’t find).  He took the left over parts and built a frame car which he drives around the ranch.  He says he has always enjoyed racing and modifying cars.  Lucy says one of the things she fell in love with was his ability to play the piano.  He played the grand for us and yes he is good.  He took lessons as a boy for 12 years but quit cause lessons were boring.  He now plays by ear.

Afterwards we went to Tree Tops Restaurant for lunch.  On the way back to camp we stopped by the Ko Olina resort to take a walk.  At the end of the resort area we saw a pregnant Hawaiian Monk seal named Pohaku sunning on the beach.  She is hard to see among the rocks but is in the center of the two lower right pictures.

We have enjoyed our time here on Oahu volunteering at Camp Pu’u Kahea and serving GOD who has allowed us lots of time to meet new friends and see this part of his world.  Monday is our last day here.  We ask for your prayers as we travel to Momeyer.  We will celebrate a late Christmas with family and see some friends. On January 21 we will travel to Allenwood, NJ to start serving with the NCBM recovery operation that’s been going on since Hurricane Sandy arrived there.

A Week Full of Christmas

Waianae Baptist Church started out our week with a Christmas Eve Eve Candlelight Service on Sunday night.  They were joined by the Chuukese Mission and the Samoan Church.  Both of these churches hold their services at the Waianae Church each week, one on Sunday afternoon and the other on Sunday night.

On Christmas Eve we went with our friends, Jeff and Sharon on a whale watching luncheon cruise.  We barely made the boat after stopping at Lyon Coffee Company, the Princess Hotel in Waikiki to see the hugh gingerbread village and then Sam’s and Costco looking for Krispy Kreme donuts which we did not find.  Since there is no Krispy Kreme on Oahu you can only get them when they are flown over from Maui.  It’s funny how you don’t start craving something until you can’t have it.  On the cruise we did see parts of some whales, like the hump back and the tail, but never the whole whale.  The little boy in the top left picture was from Japan and had on a North Carolina Hanes t-shirt.  They did not speak much English but we think Ann got them to understand that we were from NC.  Lots of smiles anyway.  We then stopped at a famous shopping place, Hilo Hattie's with the big shirt and were given free shell leis.  We also sampled several different flavored macadamia nuts including Spam.  Then we went to New Hope Church to see their presentation of “A Christmas Carol da real story”.  It made us laugh and cry.  Afterwards we had dinner at Anna Miller’s Restaurant.

We started out Christmas morning with a somewhat traditional breakfast of Cinnabon coffee cake, eggs and grits on our lanai.  John and Lorrie invited us out for Christmas lunch at the Hale Koa in Waikiki.  There we had a delicious buffet lunch with front row seats for the entertainment.  We enjoyed looking at the Christmas decorations including more gingerbread houses and a walk down Waikiki Beach.  It was a very enjoyable but very different Christmas Day.

After Christmas it was back to work.  Billy and Ed put up a new light pole, cut branches off a tree, picked coconuts and made mulch with the chipper.  Ann and Fran cleaned cottages and the floor in Plantation Hale.  New guests came in on Wednesday so we all have been working to serve them.  Fran got her chance to ring the dinner bell.

Fran and Ed headed back to NC on Friday.  We enjoyed working with them very much so it was sad to see them leave.  Their replacements came in on Friday night.  They are Mae and Chuck Copper from Spruce Pine, NC.  We have met them before on some Baptist Men trips.

On Saturday Ann talked Billy into stepping out of the box and doing something he never dreamed of doing.  Uncle George has a Christian ministry on the beach which includes free SUP lessons (also known as Stand Up Paddleboarding).  It was so much fun and really easy in the calm waters of Pokai Bay.  Bottom pictures-Billy shows the correct way to get off the board and Ann shows the other way.

From his Facebook page Bay of Dreams this is Uncle George’s mission statement:  My mission is to give all peoples a free chance to experience God's creation from a prospective that most people have never seen it from.  And in doing that giving each of them the quiet time they so badly need to free the mind so to better deal with the challenges of their world. And this becomes the start of some great friendships.

You can read more of his story here: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20168008/everyone-has-a-story-to-tell-uncle-george-and-bay-of-dreams-in-waianae

 

Getting Ready for Christmas in Hawaii

Busy week with lots of guests meant lots of time in the dining room and dish washing room.  Ed got to ring the dinner bell.  The upper cabinets arrived for the kitchen we’ve been working on so they were installed.  Ed & Billy painted the porches of the K cottages.  The ladies worked in the dining room and cleaned rooms when the guests left.

Our guests this week, Christ’s Embassy Hawaii, consisted of 100 youth from 7 to 21, plus their leaders.  They learned a lot and then had fun and enjoyed their meals.  We have seen youth eat but these probably set a record.  But then they were up and out @ 5 a.m. doing exercise.  On Thursday evening they invited their sponsors, their parents & us for the service to speak and show what they learned this week.

Billy is now able to check off one of the things he has wanted to do for many years.  We visited Pearl Harbor.  It was important to him since his Dad served in the Navy and joined, as many others did, right after the attack. 

Ann worked at the Waianae Baptist Church Food Pantry again on Wednesday morning.  This will be her last time because they are not having it the week of Christmas and New Years because the Food Bank will be closed on the day they usually pick up the food.  On our way back from Pearl Harbor we stopped at the Waianae Mall and Ann got to sit in Santa’s lap but she forgot to tell him what she wanted.  Actually our wants have been answered by GOD.  He has provided us with a happy place to serve, meet new friends and enjoy ourselves.  Santa did give her two tickets for free Shaved Hawaiian Ice.  On Wednesday evening we went with the Waianae Baptist group to the homeless shelter to serve a meal and listen to Pastor Bryan’s message.  They also gave toys to the children.

On Friday night Ed & Fran went with us to meet John & Lorrie at the Polynesian Cultural Center for “Christmas in Polynesia”.  We rode in a thirty passenger canoe to view a good Christmas light show which started out with the birth of Jesus.   Then it took us on a trip to the north pole to see Santa.

On our way to the Polynesian Cultural Center we stopped at Kahuku Grill to eat.  The food was good but as we sat down Ed saw a picture for their famous desert – Homemade banana bread with chocolate chips served warm with ice cream and drizzled in chocolate.  Being we were full after the meal we were good customers and stopped by on the way back home for desert.

They say only a small percentage of the people of Hawaii are Christian. But many MERRY CHRISTMAS signs are posted (notice the sign in the grill’s order window) and we have met many a person over the past seven weeks that enjoy sharing about their love for CHRIST.  We have also seen several wearing t-shirts with GOD supporting logo’s while we were out and about.  And when a comment is made about the shirt to them a good discussion follows.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and as they say in Hawaii, Mele Kalikimaka.

Work, Hiking and Another Christmas Parade

This week we did not have any camp guests but there was plenty of work to do.  Billy & Ed installed rollers on most of the kitchen appliances so they could be rolled out for cleaning.  Then they were rolled out for that good cleaning.  They also installed plumbing and cabinets in Mauka unit 1 so long term volunteers could stay in it.  Ed became friends with Mr. Mop while helping Ann and Fran clean the K Cottages.   Billy installed insulation in the directors sunroom ceiling & walls.  Next week he will be hanging bead board paneling.

Ann and Fran cleaned the K cottages.  They also cleaned and painted one section of  the 2nd floor lanai in the Plantation house.  On Wednesday evening we celebrated Ramona’s birthday.  Ann cooked dinner and a Ho Ho Birthday Cake which everyone loved.  Fran spent a good deal of time pruning shrubs & weeding.

Ann and Fran worked at the food pantry preparing the bags and boxes and helping to serve the the meal.  Luke (top left) was there with his grandmother.  He is a virtual walking animal encyclopedia and Ann enjoyed talking (listening) to him.  Tomi and Serah (top left) are two ladies that help each week.

On Thursday afternoon we went to the beach to watch the sun set which was cut a little short by the clouds but was still beautiful.

Friday was our day off so we started it off at Diamondhead State Monument.  It was a long uphill walk but well worth the views.  Billy was amazed that our military set up defense systems at the top and had to haul ammo up there.

After leaving Diamond Head we made a short visit to Hanauma Bay (top right) which is the most famous of all Hawaii’s snorkeling beaches.  We did not have our swimsuits so we may come back later.  Then we went on to the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse.  Again a long walk uphill but the views GOD provides from the top are worth it.

Saturday was parade day for Waianae.  We only had to walk a very short distance to find a good spot for viewing.  We were very pleased to see so many churches represented along with the military.  It was a great day for a parade although it seemed sort of warm to be watching a Christmas parade.

Our hearts are broken because of the tragedy that happened in New Town, CT.  Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.