Eight Days–Tupelo

Eight Days of Hope–Tupelo is over!  What a great experience.  Volunteers from across the country came to Tupelo, Mississippi, to help homeowners make repairs and to help a mission organization prepare a place where their staff can better serve others.  What did we learn?  First–God is in control!  He is such a detail kind of God!!  We are so blessed to know Him.

Second–the volunteers of Eight Days of Hope are the most amazing and incredible people.  In addition to making home repairs that literally changed the lives of people, they installed, mudded, and taped over 40,000 square feet of sheetrock.  They did with excellence and with the joy that only Jesus Christ can provide.

Third–the volunteers of Eight Days of Hope not only work hard during the day; we worship “hard” in the evening.  Under the leadership of Mike Failla our volunteers were ushered into the throne room of God Almighty night after night.  There was a great time of worship and refreshing–it was definitely worth the price of admission.

Finally–Eight Days of Hope is a family.  Some of the cousins are closer to one another than others, but we’re a family nonetheless.  Please continue to pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ as they take the message of joy and service and selflessness throughout the country.

EDOH Tupelo, Mississippi

Why would Eight Days of Hope bring volunteers to Tupelo, Mississippi?? (If you’re like I was 20 years ago you’re still trying to figure out exactly where Tupelo is.)  Ministry in any form is a lot like a dance.  You have some planned steps, but you’re willing to go where your partner leads.  In the case of Eight Days of Hope the partner is Almight God.  We have committed and continue to commit this ministry to Him.  We believe that He has asked us to step in faith to add a dimension to this ministry that would strengthen local communities–again using the gifts and talents that He has given each of us. 

We all know and agree that we could choose any community in the United States and find a sufficient number of widows and single mothers whose homes have fallen into disrepair and make a difference in their lives.  We will continue to work with the local churches and encourage the community to be involved in working together.  We are providing the framework for what already exists below the surface–the Body of Christ wanting and willing to work together for the Glory of God.

If you are looking for a “short” short term mission opportunity–EDOH Tupelo is for you.  Join us April 16 through 20.  You’ll find that Tupelo is much more than just a dot on the map.  It is a place where God is at work!

What is in Eight Days of Hope for Me?

Most of us are honestly motivated to act based on the result of our action benefiting us.  So–what will participating in Eight Days of Hope do for you?  Well, the answer depends upon what kind of person you are.  Are you someone who needs affirmation (the “Atta Boys Club”)?  No problem–homeowners who have been waiting for someone–anyone–you– to come and help make the much needed repairs to their home will shower you with praise! 

Are you someone who needs to find a sense of accomplishment?  Each day for you will bring great satisfaction.  You will have the opportunity to engage in work that can be completed and help someone who is currently living in substandard housing move toward a better quality of life.

Are you someone who works best with others?  You will find yourself with a team of energetic and committed people.  The tasks you choose will be tackled by you and your team.  If  you’re a leader; you’ll find a great group of followers standing at the ready.  If you’re a follower; you’ll have the opportunity to work with some of the most qualified people imaginable.

Are you someone who love Jesus and are committed to His people?  Eight Days of Hope is the place for you.  We continue to be committed to “working as unto the Lord”.   We best exemplify the love of Jesus when our work is done in excellence.  We use each moment of the day as an act of worship to glorify God. 

There is truly a great end result for anyone who is a part of Eight Days of Hope!

What is an EDOH Event???

From the outside an Eight Days of Hope event looks like the combination of an ant bed being recently disturbed, a family reunion and an old-fashioned tent-meeting.  People who attend the event are generally committed to helping those affected by circumstances beyond their control.  We seek to help people who, by all accounts, have given up hope of regaining their lives.  There are incredible opportunties to minister the love of Jesus Christ. 

When people participate in an EDOH event for the first time the expectation is that there will be a sense of well-being because one has touched the life of someone less fortunate.  This is true.  The greater experience is that the volunteers minister to one another and are able to find freedom in Jesus Christ to experience fellowship with Him in a deeper, more real way.  This is priceless.

We know that this is not for everyone.  If you are not ready to walk out your faith and see Jesus at work in the details–great and small–this is not for you.  If you are not ready to be a part of the Body of Christ and work with the other parts–regardless of denominational title–this is not for you.  If you are not ready to look outside yourself and seek to serve others–anyone–this is not for you. 

Through Eight Days of Hope you may be able to install a ceiling fan, insulate a home, or paint a wall.  Through you, serving with Eight Days of Hope, God Himself will be revealed!

EDOH Goes Regional!

Eight Days of Hope is and remains committed to helping homeowners rebuild their home.  For many in communities across the U.S.  substandard housing is a way of life.  We will continue to call volunteers to work in areas that have been affected by natural disasters.  In addition, we will bring volunteers into communities across the nation in an effort to jump start efforts to provide homeowners who are otherwise unable to do so with the necessary repairs to make their home truly habitable. 

Our first stop will be in Tupelo, Mississippi.  In addition to parterning with local agencies and churches to assist homeowners Eight Days of Hope will work with a Tupelo-based mission organization, Global Outreach (www.globaloutreach.org), to build a much-needed headquarters.  Global Outreach serves missionaries throughout the world.  Our volunteers will come alongside this local team to complete this building and allow the headquarters team to better serve the field missionaries. 

We are looking forward to working in communities addressing situations that are common throughout the U.S.  We will be taking nominations for future Community Enrichment events.  Watch the web site for the nomination information.  Join us in Tupelo–April 16-20!

New Year’s Eve at EDOH

We talked about a special time on the beach to celebrate the coming of 2008.  We sought ideas and  plans for the events that would take place that evening.  We prayed and sought God’s guidance to make the celebration an act of worship that would glorify Him alone.  We are thankful for the opportunity to follow God’s leading even in the smallest of details.

There were bonfires, lumineries, fireworks (planned only by God), great music, worship in dance, testimonies of God’s grace, and a gathering of the people of God.  The beach in Bay St. Louis that was a place of unspeakable loss 27 months earlier was transformed into a place of peace and hope and plans for the future.

Enjoy some images from the evening–                                                                                                                   

EDOH V–Reflections and Images

As usual the first two days of Eight Days of Hope lasted about a week each and the remaining six days went by in a blink.  The community of Bay St. Louis and Waveland, Mississippi, again welcomed us into their hearts and homes.  The volunteers who arrived by plane or car or truck or bus were a blessing and most were blessed in return.  We enjoyed intimate times of worship, times of being challenged by God’s word, times of working with new team members and re-adjusting to familiar friends.  Enjoy the random images from the week.

Life on the Coast at Eight Days

When Eight Days of Hope comes to the Gulf Coast we do so with a rumble and a roar.  Our volunteers have been excited and the enthusiasm has grown each day.  Our volunteers are productive and the number of jobs they’ve done has continued to increase.  To the homeowners these volunteers are like “angels”.  Our volunteers are committed to excellence; not for the sake of excellence, but for the sake of bringing glory to God.  Our volunteers are passionate; not just about the work, but about making a difference for Jesus Christ in the life of someone else.  Our volunteers may also be tired, but not weary; missing family members left behind, but not lonely; and daunted by the magnitude of the work to be done, but not frustrated.  Eight Days of Hope volunteers gain a clear picture of the mission  follow and the God we serve. 

See a snapshot of a day:  href=”http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii7/eightdaysofhope/?action=view¤t=5ec4341b.pbw“

It’s begun!

The volunteers have streamed in all day - registering, picking up t-shirts, meeting old friends from past “Eight Days,” and meeting new ones, setting up sleeping arrangements, grabbing a bite, talking about assignments tomorrow. The sense of excitement is palpable! Imagine 900+ volunteers, motivated by the love of Jesus, working tomorrow to reconstruct 150+ homes!

When our team from Hope Church in Tupelo arrived, we found the leadership team prepared, smiling, giving clear direction. Their attitude is, “how can I serve you?” If leaders lead by example - if people do what people see - then the spirit of this week will be one of joyful service.

 Perhaps the earliest volunteers actually arrived the evening of Dec 25, ready to work! Thank God for Mennonites who came with a “can-do” attitude.  Also arriving early was the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team - they are already hard at work, preparing meals - thank God for them.

Pictures and impression, interviews and prayer requests will go out several times a day.  Check back often. And consider a financial gift to help off-set the costs of Eight Days. Check out the website for information.

Immediate and urgent prayer requests:

Pray for those still traveling

Pray for rest tonight for all volunteers, that we might work with energy and joy tomorrow.

Pray for God’s guidance as we face the task of assigning workers, getting tools and materials and workers to the 150+ worksites, and other logistical challenges.

Pray for physical safety for most of us who do not do this every day.

Pray that the entire Coast will both hear and see the love of Jesus Christ over the next eight days.

(One of the volunteers - Sam Shaw, pastor of Hope Church, Tupelo)

A View From the Coast

It has been almost one year since we’ve been to Waveland and Bay St. Louis.  As we drove in we saw familiar sites–vacant lots where houses used to be and limbs piled waited to be removed; and we saw some new sites–the bridge between Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian open, a new KMart, and new homes completed.  There has been enormous progress and there is still an unthinkable amount of work to be done.

 The volunteer teams are not a regular sight.  The FEMA trailer parks will be closing at the end of December and the looming question is where will the hundreds or thousands who are living there go in January.  There are almost no or very few affordable housing options for people in Hancock County. 

If you have ever wondered how things are 2 years after the hurricane consider this:  there are about 14,000 people still in FEMA trailers.  There are still entire neighborhoods that are vacant slabs.  The tax base for Hancock County is still viturally non-existent and those who provide services are overworked, underpaid and underappreciated. 

What can you do–yes, what can one person do?  First,  pray–for wisdom for those who are in leadership positions both in government and private sectors; pray for those who are still trying to rebuild their lives.  Second, find a reputable rebuilding organization and support it with your time and your finances.   Third,