Hi Everyone!  I wanted to share with you a few pictures from our last days in Louisiana - working at the New Orleans First Church.

Here's the New Orleans First Church from the outside.  It only had about a foot of water, which was enough of course to ruin the floors, pews, and partway up the walls.

Here we replaced the dark wood paneling at the front of the sanctuary with sheetrock - all the way to the ceiling.

Andy and Mr. Dysinger hanging sheetrock in the fellowship hall.

Andy, Megan, and I had the job of replacing the vinyl siding on the gable end of the sanctuary.

Mr. Leach and William finished the siding job the next day.  Doesn't it look nice?

Catherine hanging concrete board in the bathroom.  We also rearranged some of the plumbing to improve the facilities.

William and Mr. Leach replacing a light fixture.

It was such a blessing to be able to help our brothers and sisters in Christ in New Orleans!  I wish we could have stayed there another week.

This trip was one of the best experiences in my mission trip history.  I want to go again!

Hi everyone!

It's a beautiful morning and it's Friday!  I'm so thankful for Sabbath.

I'm also really looking forward to GYC!  This morning I read the following passage which reminded me of the wonderful blessing (and responsibility) of Christian friends:

"Gatherings for social intercourse may be made in the highest degree profitable and instructive when those who meet together have the love of God glowing in their hearts, when they meet to exchange thoughts in regard to the word of God, or to consider methods for advancing His work and doing good to their fellow men. When nothing is said or done to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, but He is regarded as a welcome guest, then God is honored, and those who meet together will be refreshed and strengthened."  Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 339.

I pray that this will describe the experience of those who associate with me. 

Hi!  I can't believe it's been nearly two weeks since we arrived here in Louisiana! We have been so blessed to work together as a team to help the Bogalusa and New Orleans First Churches!  It has been amazing to see how everyone has pitched in and worked so hard.

I didn't take much time out to take pictures, but I want to at least show you a little of what we did in Bogalusa. 

This is what the Bogalusa Church looked like when we arrived on Wednesday evening.  It didn't even look like a church!  In fact, it used to be a motel.  It had had several reconstructions and a fire in the attic.  We decided to take the entire roof off - and remove as much as we could of a second roof which was still in the attic too!  While you can't see it from here, many large trees had fallen on the back side of the roof, breaking some of the rafters and punching numerous holes in the roof.  The whole thing was in bad shape.

Here we are taking the old roof off on Thursday, Thanksgiving day.  We had basically everything torn off on our first day on the job.

The problem is that the next day was Friday.  And that the weather forecast was now calling for rain on Sabbath!  The whole church was completely uncovered.  So, we worked late into Thursday night and early again Friday.  I left at 6 a.m. Friday to drive an hour and a half each way to a Lowes that had lumber, decking and other necessary supplies.  Would you believe it, by Friday night we had put up all the rafters?!  The church is roughly 47 feet wide by 107 feet long.

Here's how the church looked by Friday evening! We were all completely convinced that God had multiplied our efforts in these two days of work!

It didn't rain hard until Saturday night, but Mr. Neall and Mr. Leach and the rest of the team worked diligently to reinforce the tarps and even the hard rain didn't do any damage in the church.  The Lord answered our prayers and there wasn't high winds with the thunderstorms that passed through.

On Sabbath we provided the Sabbath School and Church service.  Everyone on our team was involved!  Here Sam and Adam are leading song service.  Unfortunately these two had to leave us on Monday to go back to school  We really missed them!

Here's a view from the back end of the church.  Notice the very small shallow roof to the far left - that's the original building  Then there's the larger shallow roof that covers the whole building -that's the roof that was there when we arrived.  And of course you can see our new higher roof line - and all the many braces on each rafter that essentially made each one a truss and tied it all together with the old roofs and the ceiling joists.  Between Mr. Neall and Mr. Leach they designed a system that was strong and straight.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday was spent bracing, decking, and rolling felt paper.  Thursday and Friday we shingled.  In three hours on Friday morning we covered 2500 square feet of roof!  The whole roof was over 6200 square feet.

Here's the church as it looked when we were finished.  We closed in the gable ends as well.  It looks much more like a church now!

We are so very grateful for God's protection.  All together we had four falls through the sheetrock ceiling (your's truly experienced one of them).  Only a few of us stepped on one of the many nails that were sticking up everywhere prior to our cleaning it all up, and none of the wounds were serious or became infected.  Steven took one dramatic slide/run down the roof and off the edge where he landed safely on an old piece of plywood that still had the shingles attached - with the nails pointing down, thankfully. 

Wednesday part of our team made their way to New Orleans First Church to get set up in advance of the rest of us.  By Friday night we were all in New Orleans.  I'll have to post pictures of our work there a little later.  But for now I'll just show you a few pictures of the devastation.

Someone placed a "No Parking" sign in the windsheld of the car near the breach of the 17th Street levee.

There wasn't much left of this house.  Notice the water line.  Many other houses in this neighborhood were simply gone - only a cement foundation left.  Others were pushed all together far away from their original location.

Christmas wish list in New Orleans.  Made us very grateful for everything we have!

The white building is the old Franklin Avenue Church - where my parents were married!  It's no longer an Adventist Church.

Pastor Glen Farinola took us to see some of the destruction, and also to the French Quarter where we could walk along the Mississippi River levee. 

 Here's Jackson Square with the Saint Louis Cathedral in the background.

Here's our team minus Sam and Adam and plus Pastor Farinola.  If we look strange it's because where we were standing on the banks of the Mississippi River it was completely dark - so we couldn't pose very well!  Or it's for different reasons, but I won't go there. 

Monday will be our last day here, as we return to Ouachita Hills on Tuesday.  Please pray we'll arrive back safely!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!!!  I wish I had time to write you each a personal message to let you know how grateful I am for you! 

Most of all I'm grateful for the wonderful God which we serve - for the freedom, peace, joy, and genuine satisfaction we find in Him.  I'm so thankful today that I can trust Him - with my future and my decisions, and know that He ALWAYS has something better for me than I would plan for myself.  I feel very blessed!

Right now I'm in Bogalusa, Louisiana.  We drove here from OHA yesterday.  It's going to be a lot of hard work.  Pray for us!  I'll post some pictures when I have a chance.

Miss you!

Hi! Thanks so much to all of you who called or wrote yesterday to wish me a happy birthday! It was so good to hear from you all!  I'm very grateful for the gift of life.  The best part of my day was a most delicious meal of my mom's cooking for supper! I don't get to eat at home very often.

This week I read a book called The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper.  A few things really struck me, including his comprehension of the sovereignty of God and many of the quotations he shared from his “mentor”, Jonathan Edwards.

When Jonathan was six his father taught him Latin.  At twelve he went to Yale.  Five years later he graduated with highest honors and gave the valedictory address in Latin.

While in College, Edwards wrote seventy resolutions, some of which I really like:

“Resolved, To live with all my might while I do live.”

“Resolved, To think much, on all occasions, of my dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

“Resolved, To endeavor to my utmost, so to act, as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and torments of hell.”

“Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.”

The book caused me to analyze my speaking and teaching.  It really helped me understand more the incredible responsibility and awesome privilege it is to share the Word and point minds to God.

One last thought from Jonathan Edwards:

“The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.  To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.  Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance.  These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun.  These are but streams. But God is the ocean.”

Lord, forgive me for desiring the shadow rather than the substance, the beggarly elements of this world rather than the knowledge of God.

Wow... People are amazing.  Two words to describe this week: deja vu.  Why don't I ever learn?

Now on to better things.  On Monday I had to go to the O.T. to get a dynamic splint made for my hand.  I was supposed to have it made a month ago - but each time I went in the therapist put it off - I think she was too busy or wanted to go to lunch or something.  Then I was scheduled last Friday but had to cancel because my flight to California conflicted.  So.... But Monday she was determined to make that splint even if she missed lunch!  I think it had to do with the fact that I'm going back to the hand specialist on Thursday and she knows she was supposed to have made this splint like weeks ago.

I have to admit I didn't know how much was involved in making a splint.  I thought it'd be an hour and a half or so.  I got to the clinic a little before 11 a.m. and didn't leave until just before 2 p.m.!  Three hours of pulling, bending, heating, cooling, gluing, stretching, and tying later:

By the time they're finished bending my hand back into shape I'm afraid I'll have one of those Vatican waves. 

In other good news this week, I've been doing a week of prayer at Bonnerdale.  It is so much fun to see the kids on the edge of their seats listening to Bible stories.  They're so anxious to get involved!  And they are so appreciative too, as you can by the "gifts" I've received:

The demonstration of, in the biblical term, "unfeigned" affection makes me wonder if I missed my calling!

Please pray for me tomorrow (Thursday) as I go back to the hand specialist.  I'm afraid I'll have to have surgery. 

Hi Everyone!  I want to just share with you a few pictures from OHA this week.  A friend gave me a new camera (!), so I decided to take some pictures on campus.  Wish you all could see it yourself.  Come visit!!

OK, I'm in Loma Linda right now, so come after Sunday when I'll be back. 

Miss you!

Work on the new boys dorm.

Paul Robinson (in hard hat).

Sebastian and Andy.

David and Faye.

A happy Caroline working in the office.

My wonderful mom!  (No Israel, she's not a liberal because the top of her head is cut off!)

Elisa, my faithful grader.

Fall Maple leaves brighten the day!

OK, I know I probably bore everyone with just pictures and accounts of sermons preached.... But when it's what's happening in my life and I want to share it with others - you'll just have to forgive me.  I miss everyone when I'm traveling, so it seems the best I can do is show you pictures.

I arrived in Zurich, Switzerland about noon on Thursday absolutely exhausted.  I didn't sleep well the last two nights in Ghana and then on Wednesday night my flight left Accra about midnight, arriving in London at six in the morning.  I managed to catch only about three hours of rest.

Once I arrived in Zurich I was met by Dr. Gerhard Padderatz, President of the German ASI chapter.  We had to wait in Zurich until after three-thirty so that a young Swiss physician could ride to Freudenstadt, Germany with us.  To pass the time Dr. Padderatz took me to old Zurich along the river.  It was a beautiful day!  OK, I guess I'll have to show a few pictures.  Call me obsessive-cumpulsive.

Older men playing chess in the park.

Now on to Germany!

"Sharing Christ in the Marketplace..."

This Adventist retreat center is right next to the Adventist Church in Freudenstadt.

The Adventist Church from the outside.

I wanted to get a picture during church when the sanctuary was full - but I couldn't.

Some of the youth I got to know - nice young people.

On a Sabbath afternoon hike in the Black Forest we came upon this tower built in 1899. 

OK, now for the sermons.    I had three hours of seminar on Thursday, with the topic given me: "Zeugnis, Mission, and Alltag."  Err... "Witnessing, Mission, and the Working Routine" would be the English translation (or so I'm told).

In the first hour we shared principles from the lives of two men whose witness influenced entire nations: Abraham and Joseph.  My presentation was meant to include Naaman's little maid and Daniel, but with translation I just had to find a good place to stop in the middle of my slides.  The main idea was that these men were so effective because they didn't do witnessing as much as they were witnesses at all times and in all places.  Witnessing is a natural outcome of character.

In the second hour we talked about the most powerful witnessing tool available to the Christian: his own testimony.  We talked about what a testimony is and isn't, how to prepare it, how to share it, when to share it, etc.  In every audience I am convinced there is someone who is not walking in a saving relationship with Jesus, so we also covered a gospel presentation.  I know the Holy Spirit was working.

In the third hour we took a close look at John chapter four and the Master Soulwinner's methods of turning secular situations into spiritual conversations.  I really enjoyed this study.

Finally, Sabbath morning for church we looked at the incredible challenge the early Christian Church faced working in the Jewish and Roman cultures - which were unfriendly to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  What changed at Pentecost was not the cultures the Church found itself in - but the "culture" of the Church itself.  If they took the gospel to the world in one generation, then by the power of the same Spirit we can do likewise.

It's been a good weekend, although very full.  Earlier we had sundown worship and since I've now uploaded all my pictures I better run to supper.  Hope you all have had a blessed Sabbath day as well.  I'm still praying for you.  Pray for me too!

Hi Everyone! I just have a few minutes before heading to Valley View College, then on to Takoradi with the Southwest Ghana Conference president.  I thought I'd show you a few pictures!

This is the home church of Joseph Anani (OHC student) and where I preached on Sabbath.

This is the "mother" church in the Tema area - and has spawned sixteen new congregations!  Church school is behind the big mango tree on the right.

There are three choirs in this church!  The Church Choir, the Junior Choir, and the Singing Band.

My sermon was a variation of the one some of you have heard on Micah 6:6-8.  Evidently it struck a chord in some hearts, as the response was very good.  I afterward learned that there is a move in some SDA circles to adopt evangelical methods and liturgy - and this is why they found the message to be so moving. 

These ladies kindly invited me to join their fellowship dinner - but I had to decline.

After lunch there was to be a musical program.  I'm not sure if they always eat Sabbath dinner segregated or if it was coincidence.

Here is my wonderful driver Isaac (Dr. Samuel Pipim's brother) and his two girls, Abby and Esther.

That's all the shots I have of Ghana right now (well, that are worth sharing!).  I want so show you a few pictures I took this last week in Arkansas!

The Caddo River just below Degray Lake dam.  I took this Tuesday morning just at sunrise on my way home.

A sunburst over the administration building.

OK, that's all for now.  Hope all of you are doing well!  Special thanks to those who have written!  Miss you lots.  Pray for me.

I'm here at the General Youth Conference Board of Directors' meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan this weekend.  My camera battery died in the middle of Sabbath afternoon, but I was still able to collect a couple pictures.  I thought I'd post them!

The GYC First Family: President Israel, Judy, and Bentley Ramos.  Not pictured: Chance and Arrow.

Daniel McGrath playing the piano at the CAMPUS house Sabbath afternoon.

Who did we run into but Scott Charlesworth! After 12 years it was great to see him again.

Abby and Autumn came to spend Sabbath afternoon with us.

Mr. United States Marines Sebastian Braxton.

Daniel with Autumn and Abby.

Please continue to pray for GYC and the young people leading this incredible movement!

Tonight I fly to Baltimore.  Tomorrow I have meetings in Silver Spring, Maryland with the Supporting Ministries Advisory committee, then on home tomorrow night.  Please pray for me too!