Day Four:

Thank you!  Thank you, Lord for all the blessings you have provided to us on this mission this week.  You have sent us great people to work along side and with this week.  The weather has been hot and humid, yet, you have provided us refreshmentsthroughout the days and a cooling off time in the evenings.  The food provided to us has been excellent, filling, and nourishing to our bodies.  It is almost time for this mission to end.  Tomorrow (day 5/Friday) will be filled with both joy and sorrow.  We will be glad to be reunited with our families and loved ones.  We will miss the camraderie of this week, the friendships that were renewed-and new ones made.  We will miss hearing the stories of the "locals" here.  In speaking with at least one individual, New Yorkers do indeed get a bad rap sometimes.  The people we have met here have been great.  Some might even say the catastrophe provided by Hurricane Sandy has pulled these New Yorkers closer than even before-working together and assisting one another.  The people we have worked for are so appreciative and even consider themselves blessed. 

We spoke to one gentleman who has become reborn a couple of years ago-even defeating a demon with God's help.  He is a recovering alcholic who is beating his addition-even referring to it as the dark side of his life.  He has now turned his life over to Jesus, and is studying the Bible on a daily basis.  Praise be to God-from whom all blessings flow!  He thanked us for all we have been doing.  Many passer-byers see us taking well needed hydration breaks do the same-thanking us for what we are doing.  We are not doing this for the kudos-but is still appreciated.  One lady remarked about her lack of understanding why we do this for free-leaving our families and loved ones at home-while we are assisting others.  She again thanked us for what we are doing.  Again, we are doing God's work-in His time, and in His way.

We have finished the work that we could do on our intial house-today was a continuation of cleaning up debris from the work that has been accomplished this week.  Tomorrow will be filled with surprise and only He knows what our assignment will be.  Doing God's work.  That's what we do on mission work.  I know there are sore muscles that will need some healing time-plenty of time for that next week.  The teenagers that have joined us on this trip are to be commended for their outstanding work.  Their parents need to be commended for bringing up their children-all have been very respectable and a joy to work with and listen to.  Their respective congregations should also be commended for their efforts in teaching these young people the Bible and its life lessons.

It is supposed to be hot and muggy again tomorrow.  I'd almost say same thing, different day, but it's the Lord's day-let us be glad and rejoice in whatever challenges He asks-and provides for us. 

Continue to pray for His blessings upon us all, for safe travels for us and for the group from New Jersey.  They have been a great blessing to us as well as to the people we have been doing the work for thus far this week.  Thank you!  And thank you, Lord-again, for your continued blessings.