Saturday, March 29, 2008

Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah, TN


This was the second trip to P.O.P. for this group of wonderful volunteers who came from Savannah, TN to serve this week. They performed many different tasks and served many people.

One of the projects they tackled was the roof of one of the houses that we began from ground up. They installed a drip edge, the fascia and began installing shingles on the roof. They did a fine job of working on the roof and it won't take long for the next group of volunteers to complete it. No one who worked on the roof was a professional, but no one could tell from the expert job that was done!

A major project that this team performed this week was the clearing of storm debris from the neighborhood around the camp which had not been completely cleaned since Katrina. The lot in front of the camp was especially loaded down with debris. Thousands upon thousands of tin cans as well as odds and ends there since the storm had to be hauled away. One was our own pump house that had floated there with the tidal surge and had to be broken apart and carried bit by bit to the trailer. They hauled 5 trailer loads of debris to the dump!!

Another project they worked on was for a neighbor to the camp. They painted his garage outside and inside and also painted some doors. The completed work will allow him to work on vehicles and equipment once again as he did before the storm. This same group also painted on another home of a local pastor in the area. They painted on the inside of the home. They did an awesome job of painting this week.

For another elderly couple they cleaned their lot and that of their son who lives next door and filled a dumpster to the rim with debris from the storm. Then they tilled an area for them to be able to plant a few vegetables. The couple were thrilled with all of the work and the yard is beautiful.

This group also cut and cleaned a few yards this week. One was for an elderly lady who was coming home from the hospital critically ill and would be under hospice care. She said when she got out of the ambulance she was so surprised to see her yard so beautiful, mowed and manicured and it was a blessing for her to see and enjoy. How wonderful to serve in this way.

This team also tackled an unusual task. The removal of a grape arbor that had been growing and entangled for about 50 years. The storm had taken it's toll on the vines and it needed to be removed. They first had to remove all of the wire and pipes that held up the grapes. Then they hooked a chain to our truck and pulled the vines up and then by hand they dug the beams out of the ground. We thank you team for this hard but necessary work.

Thank you team for coming to this area once again this year and serving the Lord with us showing this area the love of Jesus. We hope to see you again next year.