Easter Sunday

Happy Easter everyone.  we had a chance to go to an Easter morning sunrise service on the beach at the ocean this morning.  I've been to a bunch of Easter sunrise services, but this was definitely memorable.  It was amazing to see the ocean waves pounding into the shore.  It was humbling to stand near a huge cross that was raised in a place where dozens lost their lives last September as a memorial to the fact that no matter how hard life gets, we still have the cross of Christ to cling to.  The service was simple, the people were genuine, the references to the recent storm made us realize a bit of enormity of trying to rebuild houses, businesses, and lives after they were wiped away.  There were references to those who were lost in the storm and a promise that our hope lies in the one who will one day carry us all away in the clouds.

The sun started to peek through the clouds as the service went on and we saw bits and pieces of a glorious sun rise service.  My thoughts turned to how i should be writing that as SON-RISE service, for that is why we are meeting together after all.  He is Risen!  We are here, almost 1,500 miles from home, not to have a vacation, not just to help people clean stuff up and rebuild buildings, but to encourage those who have a faith in Christ and tell those who don't have a faith in Christ that HE died and ROSE for them! 

After a great Easter Egg hunt where we learned some new Easter traditions, we headed down the coast to Galveston.  As we headed down the coast we were amazed with the destruction and debris. It was such an eye opener for what the people have endured. Most families are living in R-V's by their destroyed homes. Once we got to Galveston we ate lunch in an apartment complex parking lot under their carports to shelter us from the storm.  (This paragraph was written by Melissa.)

Our afternoon in Galveston was supposed to include a time at the beach and a swim in the Gulf of Mexico, but God changed our plans by bringing a storm through the area.  We went on an ATL exercise instead.  ATL stands for Ask the Lord and it's a time where we pray and ask God what He wants us to do.  Our group broke apart into three different vehicles and we prayed and went to the area that God was leading us to visit.  We parked the vans and asked Him to guide us as we walked around the city of Galveston. 

(This paragraph was written by Celeste.)  While doing a listening prayer (ATL) to find out where to go since it was raining on an island we ferried to, into my mind came a picture of an arrow in the sand.  we all agreed to go to the beach.  It was me, Mrs. Kip, Christy Barnard (yes, she's here on this trip with us - it was a surprise to us all!), Mr. Kip, Dale, Melissa, Mr. Oppito, Debbie, Jen, Sean, Jonathan, Brandon, Dominick, and Paul were in the same van.  First, when we were almost to the beach, we saw the "S" on the Subway sign point to the beach!  we also the New York Pizzeria sign right next to that.  it was settled after that, we're going the beach!  we split up into groups, but didn't get too far.  we tried to play Frisbee.  fail.  after some prayer and a little debriefing, Mrs. Kip came up with the idea of writing in the sand.  we attracted some attention with this as I wrote, "Jesus loves you! - Texas Missions People."  I then drew big arrows in the sand pointing o that message.  my father was able to talk with a man after that.  then it became a literally sunny day and we had the chance to run into the Gulf of Mexico before heading back to our group.

(Now back to PJ)  The other group prayed and got clues about a train station, two brightly-colored houses, and lenses.  We found trolley tracks and we just drove on them until we saw signs about opticians.  We stopped and prayed and were led to go two more blocks and make a left.  It was a dead end.  We parked, divided into two teams, started walking and praying.  PJ's group encountered a group of homeless men waiting to get into the Salvation Army Rescue Mission.  we learned of their plights and asked God to bless them and keep them.  The other group encountered a Christian man who was in need of encouragement.  You can never go wrong when you ask God what He wants you to do and you do it!

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.  We'll do our best to keep you updated, but there is little left here and an internet connection just hasn't been a priority for those who lost everything in the storm.  Our cell phones are working here, so be sure to check the message update at 315-225-1099 each evening.  We're an hour behind you, but we'll try to post a daily update as we get ready for dinner.

The sun poke through the clouds in the middle of the service.	The ladies getting ready for the sunrise service at the ocean.
The wind blowing through Zack's hair at the beach.	The waves of the ocean crashing into shore as the service began.
Tory and Brandon meet our worship leader, Shea.	It's amazing to see the random things that remained standing after the storm.
This picture shows the large amount of work that has to be done to rebuild EVERYTHING.	We stopped at this cemetery and saw a house that was left upside down.
This is what life looks like in a 15 passenger van - behind the driver.	This is what life looks like in a 15 passenger van - beside the driver.
We took the ferry to Galveston and the birds raced alongside the whole way, looking for good things to be thrown from the car windows.	PJ exiting the van on the ferry.
We saw this battleship from the ferry.	This wasn't a junk yard - the cars were just piled on top of each other in a field.
Here's another random building that is only partly standing.	I doubt this house will be livable - even if it is right-side up.
You can see the stuff still inside the house.	It's hard to grasp the reality of what happened - and we wonder how hard it must have been for the owners of this house.
Surprisingly, this business was still open.	People who found their stuff in the debris left it on their lot until they're able to rebuild - if they're able to rebuild.
Another picture of the devastation.	The storm left huge piles of debris in random places.  we learned that most of the debris was deposited in a town about 22 miles away.
Piles like this were everywhere - stuff waiting for the crews to come and take it away.	This is actually the only grocery store open for miles around.
Another house barely standing.	Celeste riding the ferry in the rain.
Beth found this store when we parked for our ATL experience.	Debriefing after our ATL experience.
This is one of the streets in down-town Galveston.	Our team on the bow of the viewing area on the ferry.
After a rainy morning, we had a wonderful afternoon.	This battleship and sub were at a museum we could see from the ferry.
More devastation.	More stuff waiting for the "clean up crews."
These pools of water were everywhere - but they weren't there before the storm.	There are many houses and business in the process of rebuilding.
We thought it was ironic that this pizzeria was called "the flying pizzeria."  Since this was all that was left, it probably was flying.

Easter Sunrise Service 2009 - High Island, Texas.