Weekly Report for Newton

He watches over us….Monday morning begins with new volunteers eagerly anticipating getting to work. Meanwhile the Project Director and wife Laurie had received some disturbing news of a medical nature that involved one of the young men here from Manitoba. Quickly we go into action planning to get him home to be with family. Together with God in prayer within a couple of hours arrangements are made and he’s on his way home . God provided everything that was needed.

With electrical completed, there are lights on at the S home! With the addition of siding and trim, insulation, windows, sheet rock and plumbing the vision of a home is offering hope to the S family who are anxiously awaiting completion. Mrs. S came to our camp one evening and told how her family was without electricity or water for two weeks after Hurricane Rita. She had to wait in line for three hours to obtain medication for her ailing mother.

This week the lot was surveyed for the new build on the J home and new power pole and lines were installed. Mr. J has suffered a stroke and has not been too responsive to our presence but upon the last visit, he actually waved at me through the window and Mrs. J joined us to talk a while on the porch. Her son will clear some trees in preparation for digging to begin the foundation. They will be able to see their house become their home as we build in front of the existing house.

A handicap ramp for Miss C has made carrying groceries into her home easier. An invite inside was a visual treat, every room praising God with Christian artwork, candles, crosses and angels!! During our devotion time Dave read from Micah 6:8 which reads in part to be “fair and merciful and walk humbly with your God”. Miss C is truly living this scripture. 

A tremendous thunder, lightening and rainstorm kept us BC folk awake and worried about losing power. The rain next morning measured three to four inches!  Our Manitoban volunteers are quite used to storms on the prairies and slept through it all! Since then our internet service has been down and are waiting for a technician to get it up and running.

We were not anticipating the weekend as four of our long-termers were heading back to Manitoba. Since the beginning of October we have built up a strong family bond amongst us. With the RV group over we celebrated an early Christmas evening as we sang “Silent Night. Presenting them with cake and certificates we said our tearful farewells promising to keep in touch. Then a couple of us headed off to Houston to pick up new cooks and crew chief while others prepared the camp and projects for the arrival of next group of 19. Newton has never seen so many Canadians.

Together in Christ,

Alec and Laurie, Hank and Viola, Isaac and Elsie, Frank and Shirley, Willie and Jackie, Dave