Wrap Up

Thursday:

We started out at Lorene and Paul’s house in Long Beach.  Their house survived the storm ok.  We were there to help them with their front and back yard which needed some attention.  They just don’t have the energy level to keep it clean it really got away from them.  Paul, had a debilitating stroke last year and has lost most of the use of his left side.  He is a talker Betty Crocker.  He was in sales for most of his life and he really loves to talk.  Very dear man.  Samaritans Purse bought him a new scooter/wheelchair and we delivered it to him.  He was beside himself and it was an absolute awesome experience to see his face light up when we brought it up to him.  He got in it, we made some minor adjustments and he took off around the block.  He is excited about it because he can now go to the library, which he loves, go to the beach, and go see his friends in the neighborhood.  It provides him with the mobility he so desperately desired.  His wife Lorene was so happy for him. 

We worked on their yard until about 1:30 clearing debris, cutting brush, reconfiguring her garden, cleaning the sidewalk in front, and various other landscaping tasks.  All of us had made plans to go to the city on Thursday night, Vincent with his new found friends from North Carolina and a ticket to the NY Yankees final home game of the season fell into my lap.  It was an awesome day.

Friday:

We went back to Lorene and Paul’s house this morning after we did our weekly SP chores.  Mark and I started in on weeding again and Vincent went with supervisor Dave to help repair some flooring in a bathroom.  We worked on the yard all day and the yard clean up really put a smile on Lorene’s face.  She was so happy.

It has been a great week filled with Him.  The pain and hurt that a lot of these folks felt from the onslaught of Sandy is slowly subsiding.  We have been welcomed here at every turn and yes, we will plan on coming back here soon.  It was an awesome week to spend with my son as I watch him grow into a young man.  He was so willing to do anything and the men we served with really took him under their wing. I’m proud of him.

We are excited to be coming home. Of course we miss our family and friends but these adventures and experiences continue to draw me ever so closer to Him .  I cannot express my gratitude enough for the support of our friends for this mission trip.  It is very difficult for me to put into words the amount of appreciation I have for you. Thank you.

Continued Blessings

Thursday:

We started out at Lorene and Paul’s house in Long Beach.  Their house survived the storm ok.  We were there to help them with their front and back yard which needed some attention.  They just don’t have the energy level to keep it clean it really got away from them.  Paul, had a debilitating stroke last year and has lost most of the use of his left side.  He is a talker Betty Crocker.  He was in sales for most of his life and he really loves to talk.  Very dear man.  Samaritans Purse bought him a new scooter/wheelchair and we delivered it to him.  He was beside himself and it was an absolute awesome experience to see his face light up when we brought it up to him.  He got in it, we made some minor adjustments and he took off around the block.  He is excited about it because he can now go to the library, which he loves, go to the beach, and go see his friends in the neighborhood.  It provides him with the mobility he so desperately desired.  His wife Lorene was so happy for him.  

We worked on their yard until about 1:30 clearing debris, cutting brush, reconfiguring her garden, cleaning the sidewalk in front, and various other landscaping tasks.  All of us had made plans to go to the city on Thursday night, Vincent with his new found friends from North Carolina and a ticket to the NY Yankees final home game of the season fell into my lap.  It was an awesome day.

Friday:

We went back to Lorene and Paul’s house this morning after we did our weekly SP chores.  Mark and I started in on weeding again and Vincent went with supervisor Dave to help repair some flooring in a bathroom.  We worked on the yard all day and the yard clean up really put a smile on Lorene’s face.  She was so happy.

It has been a great week filled with Him.  The pain and hurt that a lot of these folks felt from the onslaught of Sandy is slowly subsiding.  We have been welcomed here at every turn and yes, we will plan on coming back here soon.  It was an awesome week to spend with my son as I watch him grow into a young man.  He was so willing to do anything and the men we served with really took him under their wing. I’m proud of him.

We are excited to be coming home. Of course we miss our family and friends but these adventures and experiences continue to draw me ever so closer to Him .  I cannot express my gratitude enough for the support of our friends for this mission trip.  It is very difficult for me to put into words the amount of appreciation I have for you. Thank you.

New Friends and Past Friends Revisited

We arrived at Rookie’s house at around 9:00 AM AFTER we made a stop at Dunkin Donuts for coffee and a donut.  The Dunkin Donuts stores are more plentiful than starbucks are in Sacramento.  Coffee was good, donut selection minimal.  Just sayin.  

I personally spent the day on my knees grouting. I don’t like it but it IS the Lords work.  Mark installed lights and tile. Vincent hung out and helped our supervisor most of the day installing doors.

Tomorrow, we will be completing some local work orders. Vincent is going down to ground zero with the men from North Carolina.  Tall Steve had an extra ticket to the final Yankee’s game so Im going with him.  Yankee stadium??? Really??

Tonight after work, I stopped by Ray and Mary Duffy’s house.  They remembered Lisa and Theresa and asked immediately how they were doing.  Very sweet older couple that we served in January when we were here.  Their house is done, remodeled, and they are happy with the construction.

At dinner tonight, Nancy and Sue came by.  We worked on their house in January and Samaritans Purse did the remodel/rebuild and it was dedicated recently.  They remembered us and asked how all of us were doing.  

We went to a mid week service tonight. Good message and worship.  We are pretty tired now and its time to go to sleep.  More tomorrow.

 

An update from Dave

Here goes:

3:45 am Sunday morning came awfully early.  Mark, Vincent, and I left our house promptly at 4:30 for our 6:00 am flight.  This was Vincent’s first flight, ever.  He was hard to read but I think deep down there may have been a tad bit of anxiety.. but maybe not.

We were crammed into the back row of our United flight from Sac to Houston.  It was a good flight, on time, and Vincent and I had some good quality time together.  We sat next to an Air Force pilot who was going to a school in Florida. Nice guy and we thanked him for his service.  

We had a 1 ½ hour layover.  Just enough time for me to get frustrated at not being able to watch the NFL games on Lisa’s laptop, as I had hoped.  But, wow, I survived it!! Imagine that.

We boarded our flight to New York on time.  As we were over Virginia, the pilot turned our plane around back south.  Huh?  He came on the PA to tell us that air traffic was backed up in New York and that he needed to delay us by twenty minutes.  

We approached La Guardia twisting and turning back and forth and for the life of me, I just can’t figure out the flight landing pattern for La Guardia.

We didn’t really take up any ministry opportunities on the trip out as we have before.  I don’t really know why or why not.

We picked up our car and headed into the New York night.  Traffic.  Hmmm, go figure, traffic in New York.  We arrived in Island Park around 7:15 in time to meet the program manager, make our beds, and go out and get something to eat.  We met Mark’s brother, Chris, after we came back.  He drove up from Philly to serve with us for a couple of days.  It so happens he knows Jodie from his days as a senate staffer.

We retired around 10 PM local time after a big travel day.

Monday:

We met the other team here from North Carolina.  It turns out they go to the same church that the Samaritans Purse volunteer coordinator, Scotti Stevens, goes to.

We met the staff here, went through orientation, and went to our jobsite which was about 25 minutes away.  Just so happens that Erinn Ford is here as the case worker who we have served with in New Orleans, Nashville, and Tuscaloosa.  Also, Tall Steve is here working for SP as logistics coordinator.  We worked with him as a volunteer in New Orleans and Nashville.  Its kind of neat to run into these friends we have served with before.  

We are working in Bellmore (sp) Long Island, at Rookie’s house.  She is an 88 year old Jewish widow.  She is about 4’11” and 85 lbs, sharp as a tack, filled with many great stories, and just a joy to speak to.  She is the shining example of someone from the “Greatest Generation”.  

The basement of her home flooded out during the storm.  She had to leave her home and go stay with friends for about a month.  We are finishing the remodel of her basement with flooring, paint, stairway repair, and door installation.

Vincent is doing very well. He is working hard and making new God loving friends.  I know he will look back on this experience and appreciate it. He is taking direction well and Im leaving him alone.  It is a joy, as his father, to see him grow.

As parents, I believe the best we can do is to try our best to give our kids the foundation, and let God do the rest.

Tuesday:

We spent most of the day on our knees, grouting. Yes Art Mann, grouting. I missed you today.  It has become more difficult to get up and down but hey, it’s the Lord’s work.  We cut out around 3 PM so that we could get back to base camp, shower, and I had to go back and get Rookie and bring her to our nightly dinner.  She was very appreciative.  Our friend Deborah helped me get her back and forth to her house and when we were saying good night to her, we gave her a hug and she got a bit emotional.  She is a dear sweet woman.  

Her husband of over 60 years passed in 2009.  She has a daughter who lives very close and another one not so close.  She speaks very fondly of her husband who was known as a prankster and quite the character.  She has told us stories about WWII, living in Brooklyn, her time as the payroll clerk at the local school district, which she mentions she was the most important person there and VERY well liked!!