Angola is gone but not Forgotten

Well our Indiana team has left us for now. It was hard for all of us to see them leave but, I think more for Joel because it was his home town and his home church. Some of them cried when they left and made me cry too. They shared their love and hearts with us so much this week. They have a new ministry starting called 'The Hill' and I know it will be awesome. The team worked for 4 days on a warehouse that we were able to get, to help the ministry here Praise God. We will now be able to store materials and things when they are donated to us so we can fix more houses. We are all excited. The building was a disaster as you can see by these pictures. We had to wear boots up to our knees and rubber gloves and masks that just make you feel like you could not breath. However, you had to wear the mask because the mold smell was so horrible you could not breath without it. When we opened the door for the first time the smell was enough to knock you out. The building had not been touched in 23 months so we were the first to go in and get everything out. The furniture, carpet, church benches and office stuff all had to be removed. The walls had to come down along with the ceiling. It was infested with mosquito's and spiders and roaches. Even theses pictures don't tell the whole story. The one picture you see of the brown circle board has a large spider on it. The sign actually says Welcome Home and isn't it a little ironic with the large spider on it. The Angola girls were fearsome. They went though that building carrying furniture and carpet out of the building like it was nothing. The guys were great too but there were just more of the girls then there was of the guys. In two days they had almost everything removed and was tearing down the walls. The team has really done a lot of work on this building.

In the ruins a brick was found with the original name of the church called 'Spirit of Praise'. My heart goes out to the the pastor and the church members that lost everything to this disaster. We found personal papers and belongings that couldn't be saved but must have had deep personal value to them. This brick will be returned to them as a reminder of what the church once use to be. There was a sign we found that reads 'If you will speak the word of God, God will empower the words you speak' so I pray for the paster and all the members for peace, a new building, and a new beginning in Jesus name. I would ask that everyone keep them in your prayers.

As I sit and think of the team that has left I do pray for a safe return and pray they come back soon. They will be missed but God is doing a great work in and through them. Until next time... lots of love coming your way from .. Allen and Dovie

P.S. I would like to say hi to Ryan from Missouri and Tim from Pa. Keep in touch.

Indiana is doing it Again!

Hi Everyone. We had a family named the Kelly's visit us this week. I call them our friends. They are a wonderful family that stands on the faith and healing of God that the word tells us to do. Their grandson had a disease that curves your spine and is very painful but he stood on faith and said he was healed. They came here to the hospital to take tests to see if he needed the operation but after the results they said he did not need it. John (grandson) said he would not need it and he didn't. Isn't that awesome! He believed on the healing of Jesus. As the bible says how big is your faith well theirs is big. They stayed a few days and helped work on a home and they got a lot done. They were such a blessing to Allen and I and I miss them already. They have become a part of our family now and will always be. We love you Kelly family.

Well the team we have from Indiana is such a blessing also. They have worked so hard this week. They have gutted, mu dded and did a roof. We all went to a bible sturdy this week and it was help at a family's home that had been destroyed but is now rebuilt. It was rebuilt all by volunteers. It has taken almost 2 full years but they are living back in their home. It was such a wonderful evening of fellowship and prayer.

Tomorrow I will be putting pictures of the Indiana team working in a warehouse that has been sitting for 2 years. For now I will say goodnight. Until next time..Lots of love coming your way...Allen and Dovie

Hello everyone again, I know it has been a couple of days but I am back. We have a new team in from Indiana. I'll tell you what Indiana has sent so many teams down here I can't keep count. I have never been there but I think I will have to go just to see the beautiful people. We have been blessed by so many teams coming from all over the United States. You all ROCK!

Taking your vacation time from work to come and help us instead of being with your families, that is having a true heart of God. All the families here waiting to get back into their homes really appreciate it and so do we.

This team that is here now is wonderful to work with. They are fun and loving no matter what job they are given. I will be putting pictures on the blog soon of them. Until then here are some more homes in New Orleans waiting to get fixed. Remember you can help get this done. These pictures are in the lower 9th ward. As you can see in this picture with the motorcycle, the owner has a trailer in his yard but no home. The home has been destroyed but he is trying to rebuild a new one. Nobody is going to take this land from this owner he will not be moved. Yea for him! Pray for him and everyone like him trying to get their home back.

Until next time, lots of love coming your way from...Allen and Dovie

"There Gone But Not Forgotten"

Hello Everyone. The Indiana football team are gone and so are Washington and the other Indiana team. They all were such a blessing. The football team did an awesome job on tearing down a house and putting a roof on another house. The other Indiana team and WA team did so much painting and scraping that a home owner will be able to get back in their house soon. They should be very proud of themselves for what they did and got accomplished. We really appreciate all of them for coming and hope they come again. I would like to give a "shout out" to Scott and Tyler who really made me laugh, thank you. I will be praying for you all.

I will try to get a few more pictures of the fourth of July event that we had this last week on the site. Until next time keep us in your prayers and we will keep you in ours. Much love coming your way from....Allen and Dovie.

More Pictures of Feed the Multitudes!

Before I start this evening I would like everyone to say a prayer for a beautiful sister in Christ (Laurie) she is going through a difficult time right now. Laure I love you and my prayers are with you and your husband.

Hi Everyone, I will not be talking a lot this evening I just want you to see more pictures of the event we had yesterday at Feed The Multitudes. The pictures speak a thousand words. The three boys in the picture were having a ball and didn't care if it was raining. The three girls were having fun and got lots of food. The lady in the chair is 72 years old is a volunteer and she says "You are never too old to help people" that is something we all should remember. Until next time, pray for us and we will pray for you. Lots of love from.....Allen and Dovie

"Feed The Multitudes"

Hello everyone. We had an awesome day today at the Feed the Multitudes Event that was held in the City Park. A church called Victory has it every year and other churches have joined in to help. There is volunteers from all over the country that came to help out. We of course was involved with it also. The homeless and people who needed food and prayer was bussed in from all over and was given food, cloths, toys and things. They got haircuts and pedicures and manicures and plenty of food. They left with bags of food also. It was so humid but about 1 hour into the event it started pouring down rain but that did not stop the people from coming and it did not stop us from serving. I got blessed just as much as the people because it was so awesome to see how God moved. There were football coaches that were giving a person a pedicure and telling them the story of how Jesus washed the disciples feet. There was a football player who babysat the little children while their mothers got their feet hair and nails done. The teenagers from our volunteers were serving food and praying and picking up garbage all day. The little girl in the picture was not going to let a little rain spoil her good time. The family with the children also was having a good time. It was a sight that just made your heart swell. It was a day that Jesus would be so proud of his people giving back to others. I will not be saying too much in the next days because I want to show you pictures and there are so many pictures to show you. Some are of volunteers and some are of the people that got help. I would ask that you keep that church in prayer that sponsored the event and all the people you see. Lots of Love coming your was from ...Allen and Dovie

The Teams are getting the Job Done!

Hello Everyone. The 3 teams that are here are doing a great job. We have one team of about 43 high school football players from Indiana who are tearing down houses. Yes tearing down houses. I haven't been able to get any pictures of them yet because I have been cooking for all the teams. I am going to try to get some pictures of them tomorrow. They are form Monty and Susan's home town and I know they are so excited to be working with them. Monty and Susan are two wonderful people who love working with the teams and have so much experience in what they do. Allen and I love them dearly and are glad they are part of the staff here with us. Anyway back on track to what I was saying.

We have two other teams here also, one from Washington and on from Indiana. There is about 25 of them so I know it is about 68 people all together that is here. I see a lot of the WA and Indiana team because they are housed in the east with us. The football team is housed at the church which is in the upper 9th ward. They are actually sleeping in the church. They have blow up mattresses that they sleep on. Hey there football players, they are tough. I do have to say though they are a bunch of nice young men and funny.

Well the pictures you see are form the WA and Indiana team. I had one of our staff members take the pictures of them because she was working with them. Her name is Jessica and she is the sweetest youngster you want to meet. I will tell you more about here at a later date. Anyway they are really getting a house done and the owner will be able to move back soon. These teams want to work all the time. You see their heart is so big and never want to give up. We love them so much. They are muding, sanding and painting but it looks like they are getting more on themselves than the house. Just kidding you can see that they are having a little fun. You know, you do a lot of work but when you are working with friends and family on getting someone back in there house you are allowed to have fun. Yes you can actually have fun with them and the people you are helping. Thru all the devastation and sadness you see here you also see hope and love from the people here. I thank God I have gotten to meet so many people here. I want to touch as many people as possible and give them hope and true love of Jesus.

Well talking about giving people hope and love, we have a big event tomorrow on the 4th of July called "Feed The Multitude". There is a church down here called "Victory" who started this a long time ago. I will be telling you a lot more about it tomorrow. There was a rally about it tonight but we were a little late getting to it because Allen and I got home late because he mowed almost the entire park of where it will be held. I was a little late getting back because I cooked for the 68 people. But I will tell you this, I LOVE DOING IT. I think I have the best job in the world. Well I have carried on long enough and need to say by for now. I will be putting pictures on the blog tomorrow after the event and will explain all about it. So keep looking and praying for us and we will pray for you.

Lots of love coming your way.... Dovie and Allen