The daily logs of the Mission Trip of The First Baptist Church of Alameda to the New Hope Baptist Church of Lake Village, Arkansas.

Day 1

Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 17:50:28 -0600

Is there anything worse than the sound of fingernails against a chalk board? How about a 6 am wakeup call? We made it into Oklahoma City at 11:30 (Central time) and left this morning at 7:00. We arrived safely in Lake Village at 5:00. (see photo)

No real problems on the road. The church van handled like a champ. To my delight, I discovered it has cruise control. We got just under 10 miles to the gallon.

Most everyone is relaxing now--getting ready to distribute flyers into the community tonight before dinner. The conditions are better than we anticipated. We will be working in an air conditioned room, eating in an air conditioned fellowship hall, and sleeping in an air conditioned motel.

I'll let you know more tomorrow.

Please pray:

1. For solid rest for the workers. Attitudes are good, but we all need a good night's sleep.

2. For safety for the dry wallers. (What can go wrong, will go wrong--pray that it doesn't!)

3. For a warm reception to our witness.

4. For our children to catch a vision for the world and their needs.

Thanks for standing by the luggage, while we're in battle!
 
 
 

Day 2

Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 18:57:41 -0600

Hello all, 

What a day! We hanged half of the drywall today (see photo) and should have the rest done tomorrow afternoon. We had to do some demolition (see photo) of the existing roof. Everyone worked hard. In fact, they wanted to get back at it after dinner and I suggested we all should rest, spend some time with our families and relax a bit. No one argued with me--everyone is exhausted. (see photo)

I'm amazed at how hard our men are working. I did my best to keep up with them. I ran the screw gun some, but mainly carried the dry wall and moved the scaffolding for them. As you know, I spend most of my ministry time sitting behind a desk, it is a welcome change of pace to do something with my hands. (see photo) It is especially nice to work beside such dedicated men. I admire them and what they are doing to make a house of worship nice for the people. 

The Vacation Bible School went great! We went door to door (see photo) in the morning to round up some children. We had to postpone it from last night because of a big-'ol Arkansas thunderstorm. Complete with storm siren. Everyone in the neighborhood was friendly and warm when we greeted them. The children's day camp is going well. The kids couldn't believe they have homework, but they do. 

Edna and Jamie are doing a wonderful job cooking. 

We postponed the training tonight because we couldn't find the overhead projector and Rev. Haney was no where to be found. We'll have to catch up tomorrow.

As you pray, please remember to pray for:

1. Our safety. Pray that no one is hurt while doing the Lord's work.

2. The salvation of the children we are teaching.

3. That our children come back with a passion to make the world a better place.

4. That our training is effective even though we had to shorten it.

Thanks for your support. By the way, Jimmy Weaver turned 77 today. What a joy it is to Pastor a church where the old are willing to work with the young to change the world!

Day 3

Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 19:00:56 -0600

Did I mentioned that it is HOT in Arkansas?

Our Bible School doubled in attendance today. Our children can't understand why their children can't sit still in class. That observation amazed me.

Our children are being exposed to the suffering of others. I think it is opening their eyes.

We're a little behind in drywalling. (see photo) We ran into some rotten wood that needs replacing. We MUST have the mud on the walls tomorrow if we are going to finish the project.

1. Please pray that we get the mud on the wall tomorrow.

2. Pray for our children that they will enjoy this experience.

3. Pray for all the workers that we not grow weary in well doing.

Day 4

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 19:55:53 -0600

It was a 14 hour day, but we taped and mudded the auditorium! Praise the Lord. Two men from the church came down and finished the last little bit so we could make it back to the motel by 9:00 p.m. I'm sure the 6:00 wake up call will be early tomorrow, but right now it feels great to be a part of a team that dared to operate in the never-never land between the possible and the impossible. (see photo)

Day Camp went well today. We've had a few bumps along the way, but today the kids seemed to settle in and do well.

We had 41 in VBS today. The attendance continues to grow. A lady from the church said that not a one of the kids in Mrs. Weaver's class attend their Sunday School.

Tomorrow will be an easier day. We will complete VBS, the Day Camp and get the auditorium sanded and the second coat of mud on the walls. No more tapping!

On Saturday we will participate in the Block party where the FBC of Beverly Hills will distribute clothes again. Our kids will pass out flyers for the New Hope Church. The men will do the final coat of mud.

Please pray:

1. For continued safety of our workers.

2. For the unchurched children to find a church home at New Hope and find Christ tomorrow when we present the gospel to them.

3. Praise for God's hand in this event. 

Things are going better than I ever dreamed. Lives are being transformed right before my eyes. 'til tomorrow, your servant,

Day 5

Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 19:05:55 -0600

Remarkable!

Our VBS ended today very well. Many of the children didn't want it to be over. The teachers agreed. The Weaver's wanted to stay another week. I told them, "Have at it--I'm going home."

Because of the texture the pastor picked out, we're basically done in the auditorium. Richard is going down at about 4:30 and sanding it, then the rest of us will follow at 7:00 to do final touchup work.

I'm going by the lumber yard tomorrow to settle our account and will purchase insulation, texture and paint for them to apply next week.

The children really learned a lot in Day Camp. Leslie did a great job of stretching them.

Tomorrow we will go to the Block Party and help pass out clothes to the community, drive to see the Mississippi River and have a southern catfish dinner (see photo) with the community. By the Way. A reporter from Greenville Mississippi came over today to interview us about what we are doing. We'll be in their Sunday paper!

Please pray:

1. For our children as they pass out flyers (see photo) at the Block Party

2. For Ron, Edna and the Weavers as they travel. (They are leaving tomorrow.)

3. That everyone will enjoy a day of relaxation in preparation for the trip home.

Day 6

Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999 21:16:21 -0600

We're done!

The auditorium is ready to receive texture and paint next week. (see photo)We can't wait to see the faces of the members of the church as they worship tomorrow.

Today I took the Mission Team on a tour. I began by driving through the poor part of town, then took them to the affluent section. One of our children asked the question I drove 1000 miles to hear, "How can these people have so much and not help the others who have so little?"I didn't answer her right away. A mile down the road, all I said was, "That's why we're here!"We who have, must help those who don't.

We were constrained by the love of Christ to teach children about Jesus and remodel their auditorium. We who have Christ must share Him with those who don't!

We witnessed the Block Party of the First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills. It was amazing. Some of us were interviewed for the 10:00 news. (see photo) Tomorrow one station is going to send a news crew to the worship service where we will have a minor role.

Tonight we participated in a 3 hour worship service (see photo) that seemed like 30 minutes. Black, white--rich, poor--powerful and underprivileged worshiped together. Many of our members were in tears.

We received a key to the city and a letter of thanks from a State Senator. Both things were nice, but nothing to compare with knowing we did what was right--what God told us to do.

Pray for:

1. Our continued good spirits

2. Safe journey home.

Epilogue

On August 15, 1999, I felt a sense of history as I participated in worshiping our Lord with the members of New Hope Baptist Church in Lake Village, Arkansas.

In 1850, racial tension ripped apart Baptists at the Mason-Dixon line. Southern Baptist believed missionaries could own slaves, the Baptists in the north disagreed, so we split. Eight short years later, a slave, Jim Kelly, started the New Hope Baptist Church. To prepare for its 100^th anniversary, the members of the church remodeled the auditorium in 1958-nothing has been done since.

Our Mission Team arrived to tear down the interior and put up a new one. The work was hot, dirty, and noisy at times. Exactly what you'd expect-tearing down walls is hard work.

As the worship service began, Rev. Haney said, "Will you stand to welcome the choir as they enter the room." I stood. The back doors of the auditorium opened and the choir began singing a song and swayed into the building. We worshiped.

As the guest preacher approached the pulpit, I glanced at my watch-we'd already worshiped for almost an hour and a half. It seemed like minutes.

At the end, I stood to give the closing prayer. For a few minutes I looked at the congregation without saying a word, then began thanking God for the service, the presence of His Spirit and the privilege of worshiping and serving him.

As I said Amen. The people just stood there. No one began to move. I didn't move either. I didn't want the moment to slip away. It was historic. Our church, made up of Anglos and Hispanics from New Mexico drove 1000 miles to hang 125 sheets of dry wall and worship with a Black congregation. As we left, I couldn't help but hear the sound of walls falling down. 

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;" Ephes. 2:14 

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