NOLA8- the 2nd work day

Fast note because it's late and I want to get some sleep:

Howard's team got rained out after just a couple hours on the roof.  

Kirk's team and Bob's team and Louie's teams are all making good progress.  

The Kitchen team came around and visited some of the sites today.  They really enjoyed the interaction with the homeowner on Louie's site.  I think this is huge for both us and him.  

Great night of hanging out after work.  Great devotions today by Barbara and Kim.  

Finally got some photos posted.  There are a few more on Facebook than on our Picasa website.  For the Picasa site, click on these blue words, which is a link and will take you to the photo site.  Some have captions.  Some don't.  And as of this writing, they are not in chronological order.  

Also posted some photos on Facebook.  Search for River Bend Mission Team.  We would LOVE for you to LIKE us!  

Lastly-  we have been praying for Amalie Braun, who was born VERY early.  We found out today that she is up to two pounds!  This is BIG news!  (even though she's so little!)  Thank you to everyone that is coming alongside us as we come alongside her parents and her.  

Ok- REALLY lastly-  Thank you for reading these and supporting us!  We believe the more the story can get out, the more God is glorified.  And that is very important to us.  

Thanks!

R

--
True faith is never found alone; it is accompanied by expectation.  --C.S. Lewis.

NOLA8- the first Work day

The word for the day is tired and sore.  

We have three job sites and four projects (two projects at one site)-

Howard's team is doing a roof.  Rod Sc., Matt, Chris, The Colonel, and Lewis.  There is a team of four guys from a Mennonite group helping  us.  Had it not been for that group, Howard would probably still be on the roof waiting for someone to hand shingles up to him.  We got one side of the house done.  I (Rod Sc.) discovered I am not strong and have very little endurance.  Now that we have a system, we might get more done tomorrow.  

Louie's team is putting up "green" drywall in a house.  Ginger, Kim, Rob, Erin are with him.  They worked in a bathroom today, and next are going to be able to mud and tape sheetrock that is already up in other parts of the house.  This team also talked about coming back sore and tired.  

Bob's team is installing cabinets.  Leanne, and Rod St. (but there is overlap with Kirk's team)  They got the cabinets today and wrestled with the homeowner about how the kitchen would be designed

Kirk's team is installing drywall.  Terri, Kara, Krissy, Ron, and Corrine.  Kirk's team is also helping build a shed and a few other things around there.  Kirk's team and Bob's team on the same site, so there is overlap.  The next door neighbor to this house is a house we worked on last time we were in New Orleans.  The home owner is in her house and doing very well.  Krissy and Leanne went across the yard to visit her and decided they want to make her some curtains.  That might happen within the next few days.  

I had to run an errand right after dinner tonight, so didn't get any photos from anyone.  There WILL be photos tomorrow!  

There are some that have been posted to Facebook.  Search for River Bend Mission Team and "like" us to see them.  

Prayer requests:  

Amalie.  

Rest for the team

Safety for the team

Thank you everyone!

Rod

--
True faith is never found alone; it is accompanied by expectation.  --C.S. Lewis.

NOLA8 - the second travel day

The day started with people from La Croix UMC giving us breakfast.  Eggbake, monkey bread, fruit, juice.  etc.  Delectable! 

Devotions have been so good that I have started taking notes.  Erin led devotions.  She talked about change and how we notice the trees changing as we go farther south.  We notice things that are different than what we are used to.  She said that we are all changed when we encounter Jesus.  We are different than we are used to.  We have changed our location, our routine, our work, roles, etc.  People are different when we encounter Jesus.  And people are drawn to change.  What do we show others about how Jesus has changed us?  

Travel was good.  

We got to the bottom of our credit card problems.  Too many hits on the cards in too short of a time period.  They should be ok in the morning.  

Arrived in Slidell a little after 6:00pm  Cindy and the kitchen crew whipped up dinner in record time and after settling in, eating dinner, devotions and logistics, we have had a long day.  

Lewis led evening devotions.  And started out by saying that he planned his out a few days ago and didn't coordinate with Gregg or Leanne or Rob or Erin.  He talked about allowing Jesus to transform us so that we are able to give and serve.  He said that we are set apart for serving.  And when we do it, "Look out!"  Big things come from God.  

We are excited about big things happening this week.  We are excited to be used by God to offer hope and assurance.  To offer roofing and drywall.  To offer ourselves.  

Prayer requests:-

Three team members' health

That our credit cards WILL work in the morning.

for Amalie.

Ok-  I promised I would talk about Amalie tonight.  

Amalie is a little girl who was born at 26 weeks.  VERY early.  She and her parents are from my hometown in Michigan, and as  a team, we are committing to pray for Amalie and her parents each day as a team.  When two or more are gathered,...  So join with the "two or more" with us in praying for Amalie.  She is struggling with seizures and a brain bleed.  And everything else that a little girl born very early would struggle with.  Amalie's mommy is Jamie, and her daddy is Eric.  Please pray with us for this family.  

That's all for now.  We are grateful that you are following along.  Nobody has given me pictures yet, (and I haven't taken any) so I don't have any more to share-  but some have been taken and are on our Facebook site.  -  so check us out on Facebook.  

Peace!

Rod

--
True faith is never found alone; it is accompanied by expectation.  --C.S. Lewis.

NOLA8- the first travel day

Tonight I'm writing from Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  

We haven't taken many pictures yet-  so still more words than pictures-  

We made FANTASTIC time today.  We only stopped three times between leaving this morning and arriving in Cape Girardeau.  We left a little bit late, and like yesterday, it seems like we are chasing our tails, but really, we made great time, everyone got to where we needed to go.  It's about 11:00ish pm as I write this and everyone is pretty much settled in or doing a little internet.  

Leanne started out devotions talking about Jesus's hands being carpenter's hands.  Calloused, rough.  But they healed so many people.  They did so much.  What are our hands doing?  her devotions dovetailed very nice into Gregg's.  

We picked up Louie and Kim at Albert Lea this morning.  

Had lunch somewhere south of Cedar Rapids.

We picked up Bob and Chris and The Colonel this afternoon in St. Louis.  

Rob's devotion was based off Micah 6:8 and he emphasized walking humbly with God.  -  Humbly.  We are here to serve the homeowners we are working for, serve each other, serve the waitress at the Waffle House.  In doing so, we are serving God.  

Just had a good day.  

Except for one thing.  -  For some reason, our team credit cards are all being declined.  Our treasurer called VISA before we left to tell them we would be using them hard and all down the Mississippi River, but at our gas stop just south of Hannible, MO, they were all declined.  Jeff (our treasurer and one of our "support staff at home base") is going to work on it in the morning.  

Thank you to those who sent notes.  (I haven't read them to the team yet, but will soon.)  

Updates on our prayer requests:

Rex, Rod and Ginger's family dog is doing ok.  The Vet pretty much said he might get better, and if not, well, he's pretty old.  He's ok and seems to be happy.  

New prayer requests:  

Erin's health

Our credit cards

Safe travels

Continue to pray for Amalie.

Thank you everyone!

R

--
True faith is never found alone; it is accompanied by expectation.  --C.S. Lewis.

NOLA8 -The night before we leave

What a day!  Personally, I feel like I've been playing catch up all day.  I was going to leave work early after a client meeting and go pick up the van, etc.  The client pushed the meeting back an hour, and it set me back pretty hard.  I feel like now I have caught up.  I was done packing before midnight.  This is good.  

We had our Commissioning service tonight.  Gregg Swope led it.  Gregg just soaks in the Holy Spirit and it oozes out of him and you can't help but be blessed.  He talked about how in John 13, Jesus, fully knowing who He is, displayed it through washing the disciples feet.  As servants this week, we can look at what we are doing as washing the situational feet of the people we are serving.  It's not easy to get your feet washed.  When Peter said, "not me, Lord" I think he was only saying what most of us are thinking.  Our feet are not our prettiest part.  -  And the situation some of these homeowners are in is no pretty, either.  We have a profound privilege to be allowed in to this place.  Not all homeowners see it or feel it that way, but we should take what we're doing seriously.  

We leave first thing in the morning.  We will will try to leave West St. Paul by 7:00am.  Pick up Louie and Kim in Albert Lea.  Pick up Bob, The Colonel, and Chris in St. Louis, and then spend the night in Cape Girardeau.  

And that reminds me that a couple days ago, when I listed the people that were new to our group, I missed Kim.  Kim is coming from Pipestone, MN to join our group this week.  This is her first trip with us.  

Ok more later-  

Prayer requests:  

Safe travels.  

Easy coordination with the people we are meeting on the road.  

Amalie Braun-  (more on this precious little girl on Sunday night)

And Rex.  Rex is Rod and Ginger's dog.  He is pretty old and has some frightening health concerns today.  He has an appointment with the vet tomorrow that Ali and Jess (Rod and Ginger's daughters) are taking him to.  There may be some tough decisions involved.  Pray for Rod and Ginger, Ali and Jess, and Rex.  

Thanks everyone!

R

--
True faith is never found alone; it is accompanied by expectation.  --C.S. Lewis.

Re: River Bend Mission Team- NOLA8

Praying for the team. We leave Friday at 4:00 on our trip so will not be able to make it.
- Safe travels. Are you staying at La Croix UMC again? I am working with them to plant a church nearby.

In Christ's Love and Service,

Pastor Paul Marzahn

CROSSROADS CHURCH

612-799-PRAY (7729)

P.S. How may I pray for you?

Sent from my iPhone

River Bend Mission Team- NOLA8

Hello everyone!

If you are getting an email about our mission trips for the first time, please forgive me for adding you if I added you to the list without asking.  If you would like off this mailing list, please let me know and I'll remove you right away.  

If you are getting this email about our mission trips for the first time, welcome!  We are glad to have you.  

The River Bend Mission Team is leaving this Saturday for our next mission trip to the Gulf.  We are working with the Epworth Project in Slidell, Louisiana again.  This trip has 25 volunteers from Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas.  

We had a few fundraisers and made enough money to get us down and back.  (I think) and we had a lot of fun.  (many thanks to those that came out to the Pancake Breakfast, the Outback Steakhouse, or the Chili Cookoff!)  

We are having a Commissioning service this Friday night at 7:00pm at Faith United Methodist Church in West St. Paul.  Open to anyone who would like to come.  Gregg Swope will be doing the service.  

Out of the shoot, I would ask for prayers for team unity.  One exciting thing about these trips are the new people that come for the first time.  Sometimes there is a learning curve and expectations that aren't met, and how we handle that is important.  This is the first trip with our team for Linda, Chris, Cindy, Kara, Kirk, and Terri, 

Also prayers for the last minute prepping to come together, and for safe travels.  

We only have a few photos on our picasa web site so far.  -  (our t-shirt logo which we LOVE, and the winners of the chili cook off-)  but click here for photos.  

If you are interested in supporting us, "Like" us on Facebook (search for "River Bend Mission Team).  and encourage your friends to do so, too.  

Thank you for your encouragement, support, and being interested in the story!

Rod

--
True faith is never found alone; it is accompanied by expectation.  --C.S. Lewis.