Greeting from hot and humid North Carolina! Summer has arrived ushered in with severe weather across the country. The last few months have brought severe thunderstorms, drought, fire, floods, tornadoes, tropical storms, and hurricanes across the country.
Update
Ministry
We had the opportunity to serve families in Mississippi for two weeks from the 21st of March through the 3rd of April after the devastating winter storms in January. The ice storms destroyed trees tearing down branches causing severe damage throughout Mississippi. We deployed to New Albany, MS to do tree work, run teams, and run heavy equipment.
Another opportunity to serve families in Mississippi came May 17th through May 29th for another two weeks after an EF3 tornado touched down in Lincoln country. We deployed to Bogue Chitto, MS to do tree work, run teams, and run heavy equipment.
We recently have engaged with Samaritan’s Purse Mission Aviation Services (MAS) as volunteers to help load and prep aircraft taking supplies and teams for international disaster relief. The work is performed at the Piedmont Triad International Airport (aka: GSO) which is less than 40 minutes away.
Challenges
The heat in our area has placed a temporary halt to work, unless there is an emergency, due to temperatures in the high 90’s with high humidity creating heat indexes well over 100 degrees.
Byron has been diagnosed with Chronic Lymphoma Leukemia (CLL). It appears that he has had the condition for the last 3 or 4 years. The prognosis is excellent but requires a few lifestyle changes. The most significant impact is that he will no longer be able to respond to flood or fire disasters as they are high in mold and other toxins that are problematic for a compromised immune system. This has been especially upsetting given the fires in Colorado! As our hearts are deeply rooted in the area after living there for 30 years, 12 years of local ministry, and being part of the local volunteer wildland fire teams.
We lost our access to the boom lift we have been using locally as the owner has sold it. With most of the trees being in excess of 60 feet and being in residential neighborhoods this creates a significant impact as to what we are able to work and how we perform the work. We are currently looking into some additional rigging equipment to enable the work.
Blessings
God has blessed us beyond what we would be able to expect. These blessings include:
Traveling thousands of miles for deployments with no accidents.
Protection while working. There are many opportunities for catastrophic injuries from which we have been protected.
Faithful supporters! We are covered with prayer! Your generous donations have kept fuel in the tanks, paid for repairs, allowed us to travel safely to and from deployments, and provided tools and supplies that are used to get the work done.
Success in working with the local church (Pinedale Christian Church).
Success in becoming involved with the Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Missions, expanding our ministry reach internationally.
Opportunities to minister and share the good news of a relationship with Jesus.
Upcoming Opportunities
We have multiple local ministry opportunities within our community. These opportunities are mostly with seniors and range from the normal to very technical tree work.
We are praying for wisdom in putting together our calendar balancing local needs, national disasters, requests to drive equipment for SP and assist with their International Disaster ministry and World Medical Missions.
Prayer Requests
Wisdom in the implementation of new techniques for dealing with large trees in small spaces without the use of the lift.
Continued favor in working with the local church (Pinedale Christian Church) training and leading teams locally and nationally.
Continued favor as we expand our volunteer opportunities with Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Missions.
Continued favor as we expand our volunteer opportunities with Samaritan’s Purse Mission Aviation Services.
Continued opportunities to serve and share the gospel of Jesus.
Continued travel mercies and safety as we drive trucks and equipment for SP for disaster responses.
Continued safety for us and the teams as we work within harsh conditions.