Finally Made it to Camp Restore, New Orleans!

So after a fairly eventful trip from Connecticut to New Orleans via Florida, we finally made it to Camp Restore in New Orleans on the 16th of April! We set up camp (left) and were put to work right away! Our first assignment was painting the interior of a home that is owned by a man named Robert and his family.

Robert's street was flooded with about 4 feet of water and his home was flooded with about a foot of water during "the storm" as everyone calls it. Robert and his family were among the first in their neighborhood to return to their home about a month after Katrina hit the area and found the interior of the home including all of their furniture, clothes, etc. covered in mold. Since there was no way for them to live in their home while it was being rebuilt, they lived in a FEMA trailer on their front lawn. They finally had power to their home restored nearly 6 months after the storm.

Amy and I and 3 other volunteers from Illinois primed and painted the interior of Robert's home and had a chance to fellowship and pray with Robert over the few days that we were working in his home.

Our "shakeout" time in Florida was very exciting, getting used to full time life in the RV and getting chased around by tornadoes! We found a few leaks during the 4 inches of rain that fell one night and woke one morning to find that one of the dogs had been horribly sick... all over... literally. The good news is that we left Florida more determined than when we got there, so all of the enemy's predictable attacks only made us want to move on and get going. God also opened up some opportunities to spend a day with some of the homeless on the streets of Saint Augustine. We met 5 amazing people and had a chance to minister to and provide for some of their basic needs. Each of them have their own stories, but Amy and I would ask you to pray for James, James, John, Harley and Darlene, that God would meet their basic needs and open opportunities for employment in their lives.

Amy and I ask that you would also continue to keep us in your prayers for safety, strength and wisdom! We also want to thank you all for the amazing amount of support that we have received from all of you since we have been on the road. You have no idea how much hearing a voice from home or getting an email or text can make our day. Blessings from the Big Easy and missing you all!

-Dave and Amy

Sent Out In Love, Power and... Shaving Cream...

Last Sunday was our last week worshiping with our home church, Cornerstone, in Clinton. For us, it was a very emotional day. Amy and I gave a little talk about where we were going and what we were going to be doing for the next year. Pastor Chris and Pastor Dave (and the entire congregation) annointed us with oil and covered us in love and prayer which was the best part of all. At the end of the service, the entire congregation went out to the RV (which we drove to church at Pastor Chris' suggestion... hilarious!) and in the rain, surrounded the RV and prayed over it and us one more time. Pastor Chris then christened the RV with a bottle of champagne (two flat tires on the way out... jk) and we all went back into the church for one more song. At the end of the service, Pastor Chris made a passing comment that as a parting gift, a few of our brothers and sisters had decorated the RV and that they should all take a look at it on their way out. We should have known that the decorations would be done "Cornerstone Style" because when we went outside, the entire RV had been completely covered in shaving cream and toilet paper!! It was amazingly well done too!! (Good job DJ, Shannon and Greg! - Love you guys) We will miss our Cornerstone family tremendously. Thank you all for the outpouring of love and support that you have given to us during our time with you all.

The rest of the past week was spent saying goodbye to friends and family and moving into the RV! Amy took her first shower on Friday night and we are pleased to report that the shower pressure was "decent"! It even got the shampoo out of her hair!!! Also, thanks to Herb and Jeff for taking the time last Saturday to help install the tow brackets for the car. You guys were life savers!

So we are leaving tomorrow (finally) after a number of last minute things that popped up with RV, but everything is as set as it can be and we are New Orleans bound!! Please keep us in your prayers for safety and "boring travel". Love you all. Dave and Amy

Three weeks and counting!

So things are finally starting to fall into place! Amy's last day of work was last Friday and I gave my notice earlier today. Amy has picked up some part time work with HKYFS until we leave and my last day will be two weeks from today. We're picking up the RV from Rhode Island tomorrow morning and bringing it back to Amy's parents house where we have been living since our home sold in December. God totally hooked us up with the RV and made it possible for us to get one that we should not have been able to afford. So we'll be spending the next couple of weeks "moving in" and setting up home! Please keep us in your prayers as we make the final preparations! Love you all!!