Big Island Update

Jim was unable to get hold of Rachel before the tent meeting. He will try again later. If he doesn't have any luck he will try again in the morning.
God bless.

Gina

Big Island Outreach Update for Thursday

A lot of work got done today. One third to one half of the main floor is tiled. The basement is framed in completely. Rachel put insulation in the floor for soundproofing. Twenty four kids showed up for a thing called Kids Stream. The men are working on the floor tonight and the women have a ladies night out at the tent. Women only. They will be costuming themselves with whatever they can find. Rachel has taken a lot of pictures to put together with Jim's. Also, a man named Cory also took a lot of pictures and will send them to us when possible.
The work that everyone went there to do is getting done. Praise God.
Please continue to pray for everyone involved in the mission. This includes the people who are being taught how to teach the adults and the children.

Gina

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Update for Big Island Outreach for Wednesday

Jim made it home safely. He really enjoyed himself. We will continue to update the blog by talking to Rachel every night. This one should have been posted last night. I am a bit late.
The floor is nearly finished and ready for tile. Needs just a little leveling first. Got the natural gas hooked up the the furnaces. Framing in the basement is finished. Plumbers and electricians should be there Thursday. Had a kids programe in the afternoon with 32 kids showing up. Isn't that awesome. Two native women, who are in training to teach sunday school, helped with the children.
Rachel reported that they were having a severe thunderstorm and very heavy rains when she was on her way to the tent meeting. She said that she had never heard thunder that loud before.
Please pray that the weather for the rest of the week is good so that they can get as much done as possible. Unfortunately, they are a little short on supplies.
I will talk to Rachel again tonight at six thirty and post another report.
Sorry that I am late with this one.

Gina

Big Island Outreach Update for Tuesday

I just talked to Jim and he said that it rained all night. As a matter of fact, it rained so hard and so much that the big meeting tent collapsed. They spent a good part of the morning putting it back up so that they could hold tonights meeting. Once that was done they put on some more siding. Unfortunately, they ran out of siding. It had started to rain again so they had to go inside anyway. They spent the afternoon stapling the floor. They realized that the floor was not meeting flush in places so now they have to get some floor patch before they can lay the tile. The rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning the main floor spotless so that it is ready to tile. The stairway that they built yesterday, they finished today.
Jim said that Rachel is thoroughly enjoying herself. Another good thing to come out of this trip is that Rachel and Jim got to know each other. Funny how something like this lets you get to really know someone that you see all the time.
More people were just showing up at 6:30 tonight to help for the rest of the week.
Jim has had some awesome things happen to him spiritually. I know that this trip has changed him in a good way. Praise God for all that He has done.
Focusing on someone else and their needs will always bring you closer to God.
Jim will be home sometime tomorrow. Rachel will be staying until the end of the week.

Gina

Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Big Island Outreach Update

I talked to Jim at 6:30 tonight and they got a lot of work done today. They cleaned up the upstairs of the building to get it ready to mud. They built walls for two bathrooms and a set of stairs to the basement. They also put on a lot of the siding. Supplies were needed, so they had to wait until two this afternoon for someone to get back from Bonnyville with the needed supplies otherwise they may have gotten a lot more done. Jim is enjoying himself and Rachel is getting to the type of construction work that she wanted to do. Praise God.
Please pray for their safety. There were two minor accidents today, everyone is fine but no accidents would be much better. One of the men shot a nail through his finger with a nail gun. Jim was stepping down from a sawhorse, someone had left a hammer just below it and he stepped on it. He fell and hurt his right ankle and his left wrist. Thank the Lord it was not serious and he continued to work for the rest of the day.
There is a three hour service in the tent tonight even though it is raining. Everyone will just put on their rain gear and attend.
Jim says that he will get to meet the Chief of the Indian band tomorrow. He has been a follower of Jesus for about three years.
This is all really cool to learn about another culture and their following of the Lord. Awesome.
Both Jim and Rachel felt called to go on this mission. I praise God for putting this on their hearts and making it possible for them to go.

Gina

Romans8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Big Island Outreach

Just to let everyone know the crew going to Big Island today made it there safely. They have toured the church to determine where they will start tomorrow morning. The plan is to have the upstairs for the church ready for Friday night service.
They have a big tent set up right now and they hold service every night from 7 until 10.
Jim said that they have a lot of drywalling to do and a floor to put down.
Please pray that the weather is good and that everyone remains safe and healthy.
Praise God that another building will house people praising Him.
I will update the blog again tomorrow night.

Gina