Thank you for the prayers

We felt your prayers in Mississippi. The week was productive, inspiring and educational. We need to be very proud of the United Methodist Church. It is the only denomination still present for continued recovery. The UMC committed $77 million to the Katrina Recovery. 165,000 volunteers have been involoved, saving the recovery effort over $110 million! What a testimony to the willingness of God's people. We were told that this effort is helping those whom no one else would help. Our homeowner is Mr. F. A. McKee. He has had a stroke. Someone local agreed to help him, but he took the money and totally messed up the whole house. So, the Disaster Response team built him a small house from ground up. You will be pleased to know the organization was phenomenal and frugal, watching every penny. A local electrician who is also a volunteer said that we were one of the best teams he had every worked with. We were so touched by that compliment because he has worked with a lot of teams over the 5 years.

-Susan Phillips

Final Touches

It's been a great week in Mississippi. David said that it was the best ever to the Gulf Coast. A lot of work was done to the home for Mr. McKee and it was ready for him to move in. The team enjoyed the work, but it's great to come home, too.

Days 3 & 4

Lot's of work is being done to complete the McKee house--even down to hanging the curtains. One more day of work and then the long trip home on Saturday. Great week; great work.

Day Two: Making Progress

Another hard day of work for the team, followed by a great dinner and a little local color.

Day One: Working Hard

The team is working on a house in Moss Point, MS, that belongs to a Mr. McKee. Susan reports that the Lord has blessed them with a much needed cool breeze. They're caulking, painting and doing trim work. Arlene stayed at Camp Hope and sewed curtains. What a team!

Team Aldersgate heads to the Gulf Coast

A team of seven people arrived in Mississippi today to begin a week long work mission to help Hurrican Katrina victims. Dave Bolyard, Barry & Mimi Goldsmith, David Pitts, Susan Phillips, Albert & Arlene White will spend the week at Camp Hope, a United Methodist camp that was built to support hurricane relief. It was a long drive from Augusta, but they enjoyed a great barbecue dinner at The Shed.

Nicaragua News

It's been an exciting week in Nicaragua. The medical team has treated 778 patients in three days and 782 people now have new reading glasses. The team has been blessed beyond description.