Day 5 - It is finished!

Our last day. To say it was easy to get out of bed would be a mistake! But, our hearts were here to serve and so we did - Rise & Shine and Give God the Glory, Glory! We were met at the work site with Kolaches ( a Texas favorite pastry type morning treat).

Right away a crew went to work to get the ceiling on the chapel done. There was so much to do and so little time to do it in. Another crew went to work on screwing in the last of the drywall which was to hang 44 inches from the ceiling down - so scaffolding was needed! And then a mop to try and get at least some of the dust out of there. A few others went over to help a lady in the congregation with moving her stuff. They really enjoyed her stories and she loved the company!

At lunch time it was declared that we were "FINISHED!" WOW! It has been a wonderful week filled with memories we will never forget! God watched over us and your prayers were felt! may blessings abound to this congregation and to Pastor David Green and his family!

Day 4 - Accomplishing much!

After a well deserved night out we headed back to work today! Do I really have to tell you the weather? I think you get the picture by now. Much to do and our week is on the downhill slant!

Drywall was being put up by the Drywall Divas and a few well respected Gentlemen! Dust and dirt abound! But, the walls are going up and looking good!

The chapel is finally moving along with a ceiling. It is definitely hard to work under the hot sun ALL day long. Those guys really are giving it their all!

The children and some moms made a lunch worthy of all the hungry workers and cleaned up after. While other ladies were creating the yummy dinner for the evening.

Here is a thought from our fearless leader - Jim Webb:

Can't thank everyone enough for prayers and financial support. The crews are work animals. Animals I tell you. We are making progress and making a difference. Help comes in so many ways and we are all doing our part. Pray for the church here. Pray for David and his family. I can't imagine the feeling of being displaced for so long. Blessings abound. Amen.

Day 3 - Getting the Job Done

WOW! It's freezing! So very cold! Need a sweater! HAHAHA!! Just kidding! Once again we are meet with 98 degrees and high humidity! Just another day in beautiful Galveston! And there is work to be done!

Several head on up to the upper room to prepare for drywall! Still others go through the "catacombs" of the church cleaning out duct work while others are still working towards creating a ceiling in the chapel. It is a short day today cause we head to NASA after lunch. Even though, still there is much sweat and dirt that accumulates on the bodies at work.

The afternoon is spent in the AIR CONDITIONED Houston Space Center. It is great seeing exhibits and getting to do things "hands on". The younger members of the team love the play areas and can't get enough of the "Winding slide". So impressive to see what has been done and is being accomplished in space.

After the Space Center we head on over to Kemah Boardwalk. This sits right on the Galveston Bay. A wonderful dinner was had by all! Time to relax and enjoy! Some even met up with old friends from the area. It was a beautiful evening!

Please continue to pray for our safety! Thank you so very much!

Day 2 - Guess what - It is still HOT!!!

Well we completed our first day. Here are some thoughts to share with you from members of the team:

Hot and humid…no surprise – the remarkable historical features revealed through our work – cool! Larry S.

It’s beautiful in Galveston, just a tad warm! Great group of people to work with. It’s amazing how much has been done to repair the city of Galveston in just 9 months! Impressive, but there is still a lot to do. Keep praying! Sharon S.

Texas is very warm, typical! The whole team survived the first day, one down, four more to go. Lol. This church community is so welcoming. God is blessing us in all different ways. Just keep us in yours! Alex Piper

I’ve sweated from pores that I never knew existed – and I was working inside! Everyone is working hard and sweating just slightly less than the amount of water they are consuming. Steve P.

These are just a few thoughts flowing through our minds.

Day two begins much as Day one did. However - we get started 1 hour earlier! Many hours spent sweating in the sun attaching bolts and boards to steel beams in the chapel. Others have ripped out more ceilings and insulation from classrooms and the hallway. Rumors have it that some even went into the duct work! Others made the run to Sams Club and got supplies for lunch! While others still worked on a dinner that made the tummys smile!

It was a day of blessing those whom God has placed in our path!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SAFETY!! Critical care is only on the mainland!! And to get there you need to be flown by helicopter!

Day One - Let the work begin!

Day One - we show up at 1st Presbyterian Church of Galveston. Once we arrive in the parking lot, we head on over to the church - a beautiful old white building that you can visibly see damaged. We are escorted into the Chapel that we will be working on. Inside this once beautiful building we are greeted with plywood pieces placed across the floor, exposed brick and mortar, dust and dirt, and most importantly, a non-stop view of the sky. That is correct. The ceiling and roof are completely removed! Our first job - to put up a new ceiling.

In another part of the building we walk into two old classrooms. The ceilings are falling down with insulation and lighting hang out and there are old pocket doors that have been covered with plaster that needs to be removed. A dusty and dirty job in a hot stuffy room.

We all eagerly get to work and are soon meet with the 98 degree day with humidity to top it all off making it seem as if it is 104! Teams are moving in to work and trying to rehydrate to stay on the job. Sweat is pouring out of every pore of our bodies - yet we strive to work on and bless these that we are here to serve.

A small group of children and women head on out to the store to buy supplies for lunch and make it, while others cook dinner. Children choose fruit, bread, and snacks for all and then create a lunch buffet of sandwiches, fruit, and chips. The ladies slave away over a hot stove to make dinner to feed this hungry crowd.

Overall our first day was an eye awakening experience - staring in awe at beautiful Tiffany glass windows in the midst of a destroyed sanctuary; seeing homes still in disrepair with piles of debris in their front yards; meeting friendly faces that have been living and working through all of this in less than comfortable conditions.

All went home dirty and tired - yet ready to face another day!

Texas - Lovin' the HEAT & the BBQ!

Well, after serveral hours for some by car and others only short hours by plane, we all made it down to good ol' Texas! What a blessing! We were welcomed with 94 degree weather and 80% humidity. Ahhhh - Texas!

Our first gathering of the troops was at Joes BBQ in Alvin, Texas (Home place of Nolan Ryan). This was a recommend site from Jim and Sharon Webb (They had come here when they dated!). Our noses were meet with the heavenly smells of spices, smoke (the bbq kind), and "yummy" delights! With the "All you can eat" Beef ribs - a few in the group decided to give it a try. Needless to say by the pictures, they polished off the whole cow and then some. They were delicious! The whole meal was enjoyed by members of our crew as well as our host families, and the pastors, David Green, family (Pastor of 1st Pres Galveston where we will work) It was a joy meeting new people and enjoying great food.

Tomorrow our day begins early. With record highs and all the humidity should prove to be a exciting day! Please pray for us as we begin this adventure of service! Thanks you!

Texas by Grace Payton (10 years old)

This summer my church, Mountain View Presbyterian Church, will be traveling to Texas as a mission trip to help a church get reorganized after a hurricane came and hit them.

A lot of people are going and there will only be like 8 kids. Micah and me (Grace) Payton, Ian and Dayna Spence, Becca and Jacob Webb, and last but not least, Caitlyn and Michaela Smith. Those are probably the only kids that are going. I over heard my dad say that close to the end of the trip we, the kids, are going to have a movie day. I am really excited about that part. . . .
I AM SO EXCITED!!!

This was written by Grace Payton a member of the trip.

Ready! Set! . . . Almost time to GO!

The plans are made! The work is waiting! And the people are READY!! We are so excited about the work that God has in store for us that are heading to Galveston! Meeting new people, working hard, and giving Glory to God!

Do you know that you too can be a part of this Mission Trip? Yes you can!

Won't you consider doing one or more of the following:

1) PRAY

Please pray for the participants, our travel, the work being done, and that we would be a blessing from the Lord!

2) Buy a Home Depot Gift Card

This will be used to buy supplies for our building projects as well as help those in the community that have needs.

3) Donate to the trip

This will help to defray costs for the trip and expenses accrued while ministering to the needs of the people of Galveston.

4) Encourage the participants!

You can check in on this blog and communicate with us while we are down in Galveston! Send a little note via this blog and encourage those who are out serving!

LORD - we are willing. Lead and we will follow!