Weekly Report from Newton

Hallejulah .... the walls are up!!  Monday morning began with excitement knowing the time had come to raise the walls on the S house.  The four long termers were off in a burst of enthusiasm which spread to the rest of us as we drove out to the site to be part of this house shaping into a home.  All in place and camera ready we eight raised one wall, regained our strength, praised the Lord and did it again!!  We celebrated over coffee break with pumpkin muffins freshly baked especially for the occasion by thoughtful cooks, Shirley and Elsie. The S family is in awe of the progress being made on their home and they want to take part in the building at any opportunity they get between their work days and again prepared meal for the workers. This family took in two more children after their mother died. They have been living in deplorable conditions since Hurricane Rita and had all but given up hope of any improvement. 

As you look at the pictures, I would really like to create a story about the "pink walls", but truth is they are the color "pink" only as identification by a local lumber company.  It's obviously ID that works, as we get lots of comments and ideas of what they could be!!!

We long termers have been here now almost a month and sometimes after a long day, weariness and thoughts of home and family set it.  Wednesday morning devotions boosted us up as we were reminded, "The God who holds the universe is the God who is holding us."  Building homes, offering encouragement and prayer are His blessings we receive. God puts us where we need to be!!

The Managers of the ETBC (East Texas Baptist Encampment, our home while in Texas) came to dinner with two of their five children and spoke of their involvement in camp ministry. They told us how this camp, under the direction of the Red Cross, served as an evacuation center during Hurricane Katrina. Almost 400 people took refuge here before being forced to evacuate again in the wake of Hurricane Rita. Several camp buildings were damaged and large pine trees toppled. When repairs and rebuilds ensued, a kitchen was added for MDS volunteers while serving in Newton County.

Other prospects of builds and repairs are in ongoing negotiations by our Project Director and sponsoring agencies while the house build is really taking shape. Each day brings more materials and the S family closer to moving into their new home. We are looking forward to welcoming our first short-term volunteers who will arrive Sunday, a group of five from Indiana.

Our camp "grandchildren" brought us a home-made invitation to attend gospel singing at a local church Friday evening.  Willingly, we attended and were delighted with an evening of southern gospel groups raising harmonious voices in praise. The south can really sing and has some great music. Two hours passed quickly as we listened to old church favorites. The children patiently awaited the finger food snacks that followed complete with cookies that looked like turkeys - a preamble to Thanksgiving.  We were so uplifted to hear gospel music we had a sing along the following night at the camp and again lifted our voices in praise and worship for Sunday service. 

As we settled into an early bed Sunday evening, we rest in the assurance of His provision for all our MDS projects here in Newton and other hurricane devastated areas.

We are In His Service,

Newton Long-Termers

Alec Dutt, Project Director
Laura Dutt, Project Office Manager
Hank Rempel, Project Foreman
Viola Rempel, Asst. cook and Volunteer worker
Frank Ens - Tool Maintenance and Asst. cook
Shirley Ens - Head Cook
Isaac Bergen - Asst. Cook and volunteer worker
Elsie Bergen - Asst. Cook