Monday June 9, 2003
Please scroll down to view photos from today!
Wow! What a Day!!!
This house, belonging to Joseph & Joyce Pillette and their seven children, had two large trees fall on it during the October 4th Hurricane Lily. The trees destroyed the entire house except the front room, which you can see below, and a shed in the back yard. This occurred, by the way, while the family was inside during 130 mph winds! Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the family did not receive any aid to rebuild their house. So they have been in a small trailer next to their destroyed home for the past 8 months.
The entire group divided into three teams for the first half of the day. One team, led by Rodney & Jeff, worked to inventory and examine old lumber, which Joseph had stockpiled across the street, for use to rebuild the rest of his house. A second team, led by Jim Bent, hauled away two trailer loads of old air conditioners and hot water heaters that were in the way of construction (Joseph fixes air conditioners using parts from the old units as one business). They also worked on moving the large shed, which was a major project that eventually involved many others. The third group worked with Brent and Kim to get a level foundation ready behind the house. In the afternoon everyone worked together to build a large floor and cover most of it with sub-flooring attached to the house in the back yard.
Joseph & Joyce have a son who has significant handicapping conditions; he is in a wheelchair, and loves to be outside. Part of the floor plan will create an outside deck where he can be outdoors, but safe and easily observed from inside.
Joseph and Joyce have a deep Christian faith. As we have worked with them today, they have changed from strangers to us 24 hours ago to a significant family of friends who none of us will ever forget. They could not believe all the progress we made today, and as we prepared to leave at the end of the day, we were going to gather on their new floor for a photo. However, before we left, Joseph wanted to offer a prayer for us. So standing on their brand new floor that they have been hoping for these past 8 months, we all joined hands and he offered a heartfelt and deeply meaningful prayer for us that left many of us fighting off tears.
One of the leaders commented to me that even if we packed up and went home now, the trip has been a wonderful success. But we still have the rest of the week to work. Certainly God has already been at work through this group in many ways; but also God has been at work to bless us. I know this has been a powerful and eye-opening experience for the youth and the adults too.
We will tell you more about Joseph, Joyce, and their family on Sunday, June 22nd at our presentation about our trip. Please plan to attend, and bring a friend! We will share additional pictures of the trip, and much more...
PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES
Below: Joseph speaks to the whole group gathered on the new floor just before offering a beautiful prayer for us at the end of the first day.
