Tough Trip

This trip has been rough for me.  I know the Lord called me here but I keep getting discouraged and wondering what I am doing here!  I have learned from the time here already that I am a true girly-girl.  Often times I think I am tough because I lift small hand weights but I am totally not.  I don't like getting dirty and I don't like to get my feet muddy either.  I also don't like my bookbag to have dirt on it!

Today I was dropped off at a place called The Open House which is a spot in Apison, TN.  They provide meals for tornado victims, provided by local restaurants.  They also send teams out to help people with their property.  I spent time this morning talking to a family that live right next to the Open House.  They lost their home in the storms and are living in a camper while their home is being rebuilt.  At lunchtime Mark picked me up and I went back to the "mountain" where the men were working and made sandwiches for them and helped out for the afternoon.

The guys have made so much progress!  So much has been cleared and there was alot of good interaction today with the owner.  He didn't have to work today so he came out and worked with the guys and they had some fun together throwing logs down the hill.  The goal is to get all the cut down trees to the bottom of the hill, beside the road so that they can be picked up.  We were able to pray with the owner at the end of the afternoon as the rain started falling and it was a blessed time.  I spent some time talking to him too and he was actually on a business trip during the storms and missed it.  When he got back into town though he said that the first thing he was concerned about was the people..it wasn't the material things.  We can always replace our stuff but people can't be replaced.

We have been showering at the YMCA which is several miles from the church in the heart of the city.  I feel kind of silly walking into the Y covered in dirt.  It's good to get clean! 

My camera broke yesterday and I am so bummed.  So all I have now to offer are my words.

Please pray for me- I need encouragement!

Until tomorrow...