Ronnie's Story

Tim's team report:  Like so many in Nashville, Ronnie Coleman was flooded in May 2010.  He was stranded in his house for hours.  As water rose his life was in danger as he did not know how to swim.  He was rescued, but suffered the devastation of losing everything.  He contacted Westminster Presbyterian and is now getting the help he needs to go on living in his childhood home.

Team members Bob, Jerrilyn, Lance, Patreen, Donna and leader Tim have been working hard.  The first two days of the week have been spent laying laminate flooring, cleaning and helping Ronnie to sort through his belongings.

Ronnie lives in his home with his beloved African parrot, Barney.  Ronnie has been at home, always willing to work with the team and share stories.  He has been living in the sunroom, the only room of his house that is heated.  He recently had an HVAC system installed.  Walls have been drywalled and painted.  The kitchen is currrently being renovated and Ronnie is wating for delivery of kitchen cabinets.

Much work remains on Ronnie's house.  He does not have a ktichen sink and many flood damaged household objects are stacked on his patio.  We have only begun the process that will bring full restoration.

Work Day 2

It's Tuesday and the teams are once again out at the worksites.  This is Stephanie blogging for Gary.  I unfortunately brought a cold with me to Nashville so after taking a team to a site I came back to the church center while all the others are out and about serving.

It's raining and cooler here today.  They are calling for one to three inches rain.  Because of this some of the planned worksites had to be set aside.  With our very flexible and eager group, people were reassigned and out the door without much interruption.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is a lovely facility loacted in western Nashville.  It's a very busy church, alive with a school and program staff.  Eleven men are sharing one sleeping room and the rafters have shaken with the snoring. Only a divider seperates them from the women's room.  There are 20 women so some of them decided it would be best to move to an adjacent overflow room.  (rumor has it they were the snorers although I can vouch for the fact that one remained in the room as her sleep time last night was quite lyrical!)

Gary and Lisa Lyon are outstanding mission team coordinators.  They are up late every night planning and preparing for the next day's work.  They make it look so effortless but we all know better.  Gary and Lisa received word last night that their daughter Abby, who has a very young baby, was hospitalized and diagnosed with a kidney stone.  We know they would love to be with her.  In their absence we ask you keep all in prayer.

Some of the projects on the list this week are:  ceramic tiling, laminate flooring, hanging 1200 sq. ft. of drywall, fence installation and painting, organizaion and clean up and painting.  As the week progresses various work teams will post stories about their work sites.

A team remained back yesterday and cleaned the kitchen facility here at the center.  The church members who act as liaisons were thrilled!  They said it has never been so clean and oganized and plan on posting some policies for those using it in the future.  Thanks to Lisa, Betty, Flo and Debbie for making us look so good!  Maybe they can name it the "Kiski Kitchen".

Tonight, following dinner, a few folks are going to the Grand Old Opry where Josh Turner will be the feature performer.  Others will relax at the center where they may finish a 1000 piece puzzle, watch television, chat, read...  whatever they want to do in their free time.

Our return plans have been adjusted and we will be leaving Nashville at 9pm Friday night with the expectation of arriving in Clarion between 10 am 11am Saturday. 

We thank you for your payers and support.  What a joy it is to serve!

Doug's Story

Imagine being out of state and you get the call telling you everything you have is gone.  That’s Doug’s story.  Doug was out of town for work. He knew the Nashville area was being bombarded with rain but had no idea the chaos to which he would return.  In fact in the end, they received up to 18 inches in thirty six hours.  It’s been eighteen months since the flood.  The work on Doug’s home is coming to a close but the memories are as fresh as the day he received the news.

Doug and Linda, from the Sigel Church,  John from Beechwoods and I (Stephanie) from Sligo were assigned to help Doug. Our main task is completing a ceramic tile job in the utility room and laminate floor for the family room.  The work has begun and we are on target to get the projects completed.  The utility room houses the hot water tank.  The area has been under construction for over three weeks, a time during which Doug has had no hot water.  Unconceivable to me to be without hot water for so long.

We had the opportunity to speak at length with Doug today.  On top of all his struggles from the flood, Doug also lost his job two and a half months ago.  Greyline, a local motor coach carrier, downsized by fourteen and he was one on the casualties.  Praise God, Doug was hired by another carrier last week.  Today he was able to buy an armful of groceries for the first time since his period of unemployment.

Doug lost everything in his home but the brick structure remained.  The water rose four feet above his threshold.  So, the house was gutted and piece by piece it is coming back together.  Following the flood in May, he was able to return on Christmas Eve.  He recounts it as the most special Christmas Eve ever.

Our team is lead by Doug who is an outstanding and gifted contractor.  He is guiding us with patience and encouragement.    We have felt your prayers and ask that you also add Doug Martin to your lists. 

Darla laying down on the job!

Al taking over the wet saw for Stephanie.  We won't tell anyone Al that you let it fall off the horses!

Doug and flooring apprentice Betty

Doug...  he works so hard we have to tell him when it's time to eat and quit for the day!

Our team grew on Day 2.  Rain in the area caused other jobs to be delayed.  Team Doug made great progress.  Tile is complete and almost all the laminate has been layed.  They added more tasks for the team and we hope to have Doug's house in great shape by the end of the week.

Sunday News!

31 strong departed from Clarion on Saturday night, November 12th.  We were sad to leave in the parking lot our 32nd participant, David Larimer.  David's daughter in New Hampshire was to have emergency surgery on November 14th in New Hampshire.  (David called this morning on the 14th and said the surgery was very successful.)

We traveled 8 1/2 hours in a bus through the night to Louisville, KY.  We worshipped at 2nd Presbyterian Church and met a class mate of Dr. Wayne Yost from his seminary days!  3 1/2 hours more and we were in Nashville.

We were extremely tired, cranky, but excited to begin this new ministry 18 months after the Cumberland River came over the banks and caused much devastation.   Thank you to the Westminster Presbyterian Church for their hospitality!

Pre-Trip Meeting on October 30th!

           All smiles as we get ready for the trip November 12-19th.   26 of the 32 met at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Kittanning for a pre-trip meeting on Sunday, October 30th.  The Presbytery of Kiskiminetas will commission any Nashville Mission Trip participants that aren't packing at home and make it to the meeting on Saturday, November 12th  at the Clarion church.  We hope and pray that your local congregations will commission you on Sunday, November 6th.  Please call Gary or Lisa Lyon if you have any pre-trip questions!  Send in all financial donations you have received to the Presbytery office ASAP. More about the site in Nashville and the flood recovery work we'll be doing in the coming days.

Please keep this team and the families/homes we'll be working with in your prayers during the next three weeks.  Blessings do abound!       Gary & Lisa Lyon