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Todd Warren is looking for someone who can pick him up at OAK airport Sunday morning 10:25am and take him to his apt near church. E-mail me at bill@vanderwall.com if you can help. Thanks, Bill V.
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Hi, can anyone recommend me such apt in SF? My coworker has been looking for apt for him and his friend for almost a month but keep getting rejected. They got good credit record, but they are recent graduates so most landlord would rather accept other applicant with better credit history. The market is pretty tough these days. If anyone know any affordable apt in the city, please let me know. Thank you!
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It's a few days late...but somehow, this entry didn't get posted...and according to my team, it's their favorite so I hope you're blessed by it too! Day 6 - How Great Is Our God?
All things are possible with God. (Matthew 19:26)
Honestly, I think before today I've always heard this verse and agreed in my head that it's true. But today, I honestly can say that I truly believe in my heart that all things are possible with God. He is so powerful. So wonderful. So beautiful. So loving. So faithful. So good. For me, God has made it amazingly clear that this trip to New Orleans isn't really about a hurricane that destroyed people's homes, or about sending trucks to Iowa filled with food, supplies and tools...this is about faith. It's about hope. And most importantly, about love.
I'm overcome with God's great love for us. No matter what we say or do, He loves us. No matter how much we curse Him or blame Him or run from Him, He loves us. No matter how much we give, or how much we praise Him, or how much we believe in Him, He loves us all the same. He loves each of us so much. We are uniquely created by Him to fulfill a purpose. He calls us to bring glory to His kingdom. And He asks very little of us, really. He just wants us to love one another as He has loves us.
That may seem like a tall order, but what this week has proven is that loving one another isn't really that hard and it comes in all different forms. It's something that we are all capable of doing. It's a choice. We choose to show our love....whether it be in the words we say, or don't say...the actions we take or don't take, or by what we feel or don't feel in our hearts. Love is a choice.
I, along with 17 of my brothers and sisters, chose to come to New Orleans...and all for different reasons with different expectations. Mostly everyone came to serve the Lord and love on the people here. The one thing I can guarantee that we will all take away from this week, is the knowledge that the Lord's love is abounding. His love has shown itself in the most amazing ways...through the sweet songs of John and Mark, through Betty's laugh, through Chris' spiritual leadership, through Phil and Randy's relentless work ethics, through Justin's willingness to try new things, through Tania's captivating stories, through Suzanne's joy during worship, through Karen's positivity, through Joyce and Diana's always helping hands, through Kim, George and Frances' endurance, through Tony's inquisitive and humorous nature, through Becky's wisdom and through my ability lead by the Spirit.
I think we've all been able to see each other how Jesus sees us...as beautiful and unique children of God. And I pray that we have shined His great love on everyone we've come across this week in New Orleans. Even though tomorrow is our last day here and our last day of "work," we plan to treat it as our first day of service...because serving the Lord is like waking up renewed, refreshed and restored each day. And giving up everything to the Lord is the most freeing feeling in the world!
Wishing you heartfelt blessings and love,
Gina
Over the mountains and the sea,
Your river runs with love for me,
and I will open up my heart
and let the Healer set me free.
I'm happy to be in the truth,
and I will daily lift my hands:
for I will always sing of when
Your love came down.
~ "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" - Delirious
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Day 7: Sometimes The "Thing" Is Not The "Thing"
Here we all are...hours before we head home...many of us bruised, bitten, beaten down by the sun, bodies aching...but yet, we smile from ear to ear knowing that we were able to shine a ray of hope and love onto the people of New Orleans this week. It's amazing how much stronger I feel when I'm working for the Lord...both physically and emotionally...maybe it's being surrounded by a group of Christians who encourage, support and lovingly push me every day. Who knows? Only God.
Last October we came to NOLA not knowing what to expect and just placing our faith in the Lord and in the leaders of Mercy Response to guide us and lead us in our quest to help restore homes and lives. We came last year and were given the amazing opportunity to build relationships with the homeowners. We listened, encouraged and prayed for them while we gutted their homes down to the bare bones of frames and foundations. This time around, it's a little different. We are here at a time when many of the people of New Orleans are seeing a light at the end of what seemed to be a very dark tunnel. They're actually moving back into their homes after nearly three years of being displaced and scattered about. And they're looking more renewed and hopeful than before. We have had the honor and privilege of being the Lord's workers. He's used our physical and mental abilities to serve our brothers and sisters by building up their homes. He's used our personalities and spirits to offer encouragement and instill hope in their lives. And ultimately, he's used our hearts to love one another and become a unified family.
This week, we've endured some hardcore physical labor and incredibly taxing work...we really "got a lot done." But what's so ironic is that this week wasn't about a check off list of "things to do" but more about what was happening in each one of our hearts. You see, the saying around here at Mercy Response is "sometimes the thing is not the thing." Meaning, sometimes you come here to build houses and serve others and what ends up happening is the Lord tugs on your heart and transforms YOU while you're here! Hmmm...funny how He does that. I will let my other team members speak for themselves...but for me, the message is clear...my strength comes from the Lord. My energy, my spirit, my stamina...it all comes from God in a variety of ways. It comes from the people He blesses me with in my life. It comes from the seeds He plants in my head and heart. It comes from the divine appointments He sets up for me. It comes from the crises in my life where He pushes me to surrender, grow and have faith. It comes from His unyielding love. I am strong because He makes me strong.
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.” Psalm 28:7
Many blessings and thanks to all who have supported, prayed for, financially backed, and believed in the importance of this missions trip. May you all know how much you are loved and appreciated....by me, this NOLA team and God.
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Hi Family - A person I know from work is relocating to China and is renting out her apartment. If anyone is interested please email me at chezie@hotmail.com.
It has 2 bedrooms 1 with a master suite and another bathroom, a living room, dining room, kitchen and extra room for an office or a nursery.
Blessings.
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