Day 14 Update

Dear praying friends,
Well ... what a GREAT day in the Lord! Thank you all SO much for
upholding us with your prayer! We could feel them today as never before!
We gathered around the Lord Jesus this morning at 10 A.M. for about an
hour and a half ... Katrina "survivors" (we like that better than the
"refugees" that the media is calling us) ... crews of helpers ... kids
... even "Angel" the dog ... and a number of unbelievers (about 30 or so
in all)! I don't remember any better time (maybe last Sunday) of
remembrance! Today was also the first time many of us has seen each
other's faces! We've found that it's one thing to hear a person's voice
on the phone ... but when we SEE THEIR FACE most of us break down in
tears!!! We've talked about it and it helps us understand to a whole
different level what it will be like when "we see HIM face to face!" OH
... THAT will be Glory ... be Glory to me!!! How the tears will flow ...
how the pent up emotions will explode ... after all those years of
separation ... to look on His face!!! The other theme seemed to be the
DESTRUCTION that the 26' wall of water caused to Slidell ... and all that
have come here to help!! BUT ... on that dark day on the cross when the
waves and billows crashed over our Savior ... for me ... for you ... for
us ... there was NONE to help ... only the lonely cry of "My God, My God
... why hast thou forsaken me!" Who can fathom the depths of His love
for us! It really makes our little temporal sufferings seem
insignificant! After carrying out nearly ALL of their earthly belongings
and throwing them on a HUGE pile on the curb, one of our men ... who's
home was filled with 5 feet of lake water, muck, and dead things ... put
up a huge sign on the pile that said: "This pile of stuff is nor our
life ... our life is hidden in CHRIST!!!" And so it is ... isn't it!
Well, as has been the ongoing case ... when you think it can't
possibly get worse ... it gets worse!!! Tonight a truck went down the
street and tore out our phone line ... nearly our only link to the
outside ... and you! Thankfully we got a relative of one of our ladies
who works for the phone company to come out and reconnect us ... nothing
seriously broken ... just the line pulled down ... PRAISE THE LORD!!!
We're doing pretty good! We sent a crew of men out today and a
new group from the Chicago Area arrived at camp tonight. The tree
trimmers from Tennessee are still working through tomorrow. We're still
in the "tear out" mode ... so the main needs continue to be money and
manpower.
Well, I'm going to go to bed early tonight ... so I'll sign off
with a little more upbeat e-mail tonight ... and we'll get back to the
battle tomorrow!
Thank you all again for your love, for your interest, for your
involvement, for your prayers ... AND FOR YOU!!!
Our very special love in Christ,
Bob & JoAnne