Nehemiah Network News & Updates

Dear Friends,

Neither words nor pictures can even begin to explain what we are experiencing here in the devastated Gulf Coast Area.  This has been one of the most life changing and humbling experiences of my life.  At times, it has been overwhelming as we drive to the job to look at what needed to be done.  We are in our second week of relief efforts here helping to strengthen and build up the Church of Jesus Christ.  We have gone to Churches in the devastated communities and began by helping the churches and their members.  Within the communities where the church member’s homes are, we have been making many contacts from the surrounding neighbors and having opportunities to help them and share about the love of Christ. 

During the first week, we had a team of 14 from Ohio and New York and we did mostly tree clearing.  Many homes had trees on their roofs which had ripped huge holes in the roofs.  We cleared many trees from houses so people could begin repairing their homes.  During the second week, we had a team of 26 students from the Word of Life Florida Bible Institute along with 3 staff and 3 men from New York.  With this team we continued to clear trees and gut houses where salt water from the gulf had flooded.  Because the water had stayed in many of the homes for days, there has been much mold and mildew damage which required us to throw absolutely everything out and gut the walls down to their studs.

So far we have completed over 38 jobs including, tree cutting & clearing, gutting houses, patching roofs and sorting clothes & supplies.  While helping a member from the Bible Study Baptist Church near Biloxi Mississippi we met Gerald Russell who has had five heart attacks in the last year.  His home was flooded and the salt water which has ruined his motorized wheel chair/scooter.  Gerald, who is a believer, and his wife are living in a camper, which FEMA has provided for them and setup behind their home.  We patched the roof of his home with tarps.  His insurance company told him that he must get temporary patches on his roof because they would not cover any more damage caused from rain.  While we were working on Geralds roof, it was humbling for him to come out of his trailer and ask me, "Can I get you guys something to eat . . . all I have to offer is the MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat from the Military) FEMA has been giving us."  After we were had completed his roof he offered to pay us.  I told him that his payment to us would be telling people about Jesus.  We want to raise money and buy Gerald a new motorized scooter.  If you are interested in helping with this, you can make donations on our web site at http://www.wol.org/katrina

One of the challenges we gave to the students was to not only minister to the physical needs, which are overwhelming, but to take opportunity to minister to the spiritual needs.  Many of the students spent time passing out Bibles, tracks and a book by Ray Prichard called, Anchor for the Soul.  One of the BI students, nick named 'Billy Bob', had an opportunity to lead a teenage boy named Ken to the Lord.  Ken was walking down the street and began to share with Billy Bob the emotional stress he was going through during this time.  It was a real joy to hear the Testimony of Billy Bob as he shared how he had led this young man to the Lord.  Each evening when we return to the Church where we are staying at, it has been worth it all to hear the testimonies from the BI students and other team participants and the impact this trip has made in their life.  One of the first questions that people would ask after we approached them about helping was "how much is this going to cost?"  Many of them would go on to tell us they had lost their jobs and are getting a small check from FEMA.  The expression on many of their faces was invaluable when we told them it would cost them nothing and we just wanted to help because we cared for them. 

We greatly appreciate the prayers and the gifts from all those who helped make our efforts possible.  So far we have enough money raised to cover this next (3rd) week of relief.  We are hoping to bring a 4th team of students from the FL Bible institute.  However with the cost of Gas and other expenses, it is costing us around $300 per day to keep our relief & ministry efforts going.  If you are interesting in sponsoring a day or part of a day, please visit our web site at http://www.wol.org/katrina  100% of all monies given to this project goes to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

We are currently working on getting pictures on line.  These pictures will be available soon on our web site at http://www.wol.org/katrina

 
For Him,
Butch

Butch (Paul) Jarrell
Nehemiah Network Administrator
   &
Director of Information Technology
Word of Life International
PaulJarrell@wol.org
Office:  518-494-6333
Home:  518-623-0706
Cell:  419-606-2333