this is how it should be...sha sha, sha doo

Hello Hello and Merry late Christmas everyone! Hope you're looking forward to the new year and thinking of ways to make this year better and pondering on all the good times of 08!! I know I had some! :)

But anyway, the point of the title of my blog today is a song by Ben Kweller called "How it should be" and it came into my head after hanging out with my good friend Joe who is down here for 2 weeks and was one of my summer staffer buddies! Seeing him and Alysha (also here for 2 weeks and was a summer staffer) has just brought back so many wonderful memories from the summer but also reminded me that this should always be my mission field. I think I've gotten too comfortable and after talking to Alysha about how coming here gives her this confidence to talk to strangers, I know exactly what she is talking about, I'm realizing that this is how it should be...I want to be about seeking and saving the lost, making disciples of all nations and where better to start than in New Orleans...or better yet, you can start exactly where you are. I just hope and pray that 09 for me is a year that I suffer for the sake of the gospel!

Happy "early" New Year!

LOVE YA!

-khooks

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14

Almost 6 Months...

Hi Everyone!

I guess to say it's been a while is kind of an understatement. The last time I blogged I had just arrived in Galveston for the first time. Since then I've been back to Galveston and seen quite a bit of improvements in the area with a loong way to go before it's back to pre-Ike. My parents came down for Thanksgiving week, stayed in the yellow house, worked on Ms. Lee's home, and couldn't believe how much work there is still to do in New Orleans even 3 years after Katrina.

We have one team in this week then nothing until the week after Christmas...so I'll be headed back to NC sometime next week. So if you're around I definitely want to see you, catch up on your life, and tell you even more about how God is using this ministry to reach out to those in need!

Something I shared with the teams the week of Thanksgiving is a verse God has really been using in my life to comfort me and even more to tell me exactly what I'm supposed to be doing with my life...It's in Hebrews 6, verse 11:

Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.

So yes, 6 months into my year here in New Orleans and I still don't have a clue as to what is next...it feels like my senior year of college all over...but what I do know is that as long as life lasts, I am to LOVE OTHERS! plain and simple.

Please pray that I continue to love others, that I continue to seek God's will, and that I make the most out of every opportunity, that I am in His word daily and praying continually!

Thanks for reading! Let me know how I can be praying for you!

peace and love,

khooks

p.s. I'm training for a half marathon in New Orleans on Feb 1st, so if you'd like to pray for strength for that, that'd be wonderful! :)

read EFCA Crisis Response blog

I volunteered to post on the efca crisis response blog so if you like to read it...

click here

peace & love,

khooks

Welcome to Texas

Hi yall!

I made it safely to Texas today! Yee-haw! I rode with Gene Johnson who is a cool guy who has volunteered with relief work many times and shared stories with me of when he came down right after Katrina and God providing in amazing ways! When we arrived, teams were gutting the inside of Galveston Bible Church and taking off the cushions of the chairs to throw away because of the mold/flood damage. I got busy right away organizing our office and helping get things going for setting up an operation here. In pics you'll see the water level came up to 2 feet inside the church after climbing 6 feet to get in the building. I'm already hearing stories from people who have met those affected by Ike and how much there is to do. I hope to go out exploring tomorrow or perhaps to a jobsite or 2 to really get my hands dirty and love on the people of Galveston.

I'll keep you posted and let me know how yall are doing! Please just be in prayer for the Galveston people, they really need a lot of help and the volunteer force just isn't there but we know God is here and He has everything under control.

LOVE YA!

katie

The Calm before the Storm...and after really

Hello Hello!

So yes I've been too busy to blog. Imagine that. But the last week or so in September has actually been pretty amazing. Getting to know the Urban Impact staff and members of Castle Rock has been great! I feel like I'm really growing closer to God right now and praying tons more which is always good! I know God has me here for a reason and I really hope to grow closer to Him during my time here in NOLA so I can be closer to Him when I leave...yeah not thinking about that right now.

Anyways...the reason for the title is because my life is about to get crazy again! TEAMS COME SUNDAY!!! YAYYAYAA! We're having 22 people chillaxin in the yellowhouse and yours truly will be hosting, cooking, pretty much everything except leading a jobsite. Then on Friday, I'm making my way to TEXAS yall!!! YEE-HAW! I'm headed to Galveston to help the teams there and Julie Horst with managing stuff and Mark Lewis said I could even lead a group to gut a house...hey why not! I'll be there for a week and I know it's gonna be hard! To see what people have lost and how much damage Ike really caused, not just to homes, but to people themselves, I just ask that yall would pray for the people of Galveston now and ask that God would prepare my heart for what I'm about to witness and that I can love on them like God loves them!

Then from Texas, I'll be up at Trinity, hosting teams there, followed by two more weeks of teams at the yellowhouse. Right now there's no one for mid-november and my parents COME thanksgiving week!! SWEET! Can't wait for Bev and Bill (aka Mom and Dad) to see what life is like down here!

soooo Prayer Requests:
for God's strength, I need Him to get through this!
for Allie B: my best friend from college left for South Africa today and will be there doing mission work for 3 months! pray that God uses her there to love on the kids and she really grows closer to God through this experience!
for the teams coming, that God is preparing their hearts and for Him to bless their work and they can love on the people of New Orleans and Galveston!
for Urban Impact: pray for wisdom for Pastor John and for provision with money for their ministry to continue and for the building project.
for Crisis Response: pray for wisdom for Mark Lewis, that we can better serve those in need
Pray that we all fix our eyes on Jesus and remember what He has done for us by dying on the cross in our place so we can have a personal relationship with Him!
Pray in all things God would be glorified and given all praise!

Thanks for taking the time to read this! Let me know how I can pray for you and hope yall have an awesome beginning to October too!

p.s. Happy Birthday Dad!

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"Pray continually" 1 Thess. 5:17

hooray for busy-ness!!

So yesterday and today I've been on the North Shore, yes the North Shore, working out of our office at Trinity and let's just say there was and is lots to be done. I must say I kinda felt like a bump on a log this past week and a half not having teams so it feels great to have my plate full again.

We have 2 teams coming in to go down to Houma LA and possibly another team headed to Texas! YAY God providing workers! Julie and Arnold Horst were here for a day and are now headed to Texas...it was soo good to see them! They're awesome!

Looks like we'll be trying to set up shop in Texas...it'll be like our little baby, hoping to get a place to host teams, staff to run it, and volunteers to work it! There were at least 7 EFCA churches that were hit by Ike and right now, those churches and their members are our priority in Texas. I call it our baby because New Orleans will always be our #1 priority, unless God says otherwise, and trust me, there is still plenty of work to be done here! But it's soo cool to see God grow our ministry in areas that are under crisis.

Hoping to get my newsletters out by the end of the week and hoping to get my application done asap! I actually started the theological part and I'm excited to mull over what it is I believe and where I stand on certain issues...thanks for the prayers for determination!

Just keep me in your prayers along with our staff and of course those suffering because of the hurricanes.

Love ya!

Katie

Psalm 91:1-2
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

and back again...

back on the south shore again! (thats the New Orleans side in case you didn't know) babysitting was good, the kids were great, and it was nice to see my kindergarteners (sp?) again at church! one kid, Andrew, ran up to me saying he missed me...tear!

spent the entire evening packing a trailer full of food, water, gas, everything for Shelby and Gene to drive to texas tomorrow morning for Ike relief. please be praying for safe travels for them!

Tamara is flying home tomorrow so pray for her too and as she is moving out, an evacuee from Texas is moving in. don't know much else but be praying she feels welcomed here and can return home soon and find little to no damage.

i'm pooped so off to bed!

best part of the night: hanging out at the Symmons house, you learn not to drink anything at the dinner table because you're bound to choke on it while laughing...their sense of humor is amazing and i'm so glad they've come down here to serve!

peace out!

katie

Prayer for our Guys!

Hi Yall,

Just a quick post letting yall know I'm back on the North Shore tonight. I had a great dinner in the french quarter with roomy Lacey and Tamara then drove across the causeway to the Lewis's to watch the Lewis kids (Emily, Kara, and Caleb) and the Wattersons (Kendra and Logan) so Mark and Kevin could head to Texas tonight to help and survey Ike damage.

Please pray for safe travels for them and that God would direct their paths to those in need. In addition please pray for John Horst and Jack Symmons as they head to Houma tomorrow to survey the flood damage that was caused because of Ike. Almost 13,000 homes in the Terrebonne parish (where Houma is located) are flooded affecting 20,000 residents. These people already experienced wind damage from Gustav only to have flood damage from Ike....please be praying for these residents. Pray that God will comfort them during this time and provide means of getting their homes back.

Pray also for us here at Crisis Response as we take on new locations and seeing our ministry expand...pray God would work out all of the logistics for volunteers coming down and places for them to stay. Pray for volunteers to come! You are reading from the volunteer coordinator's blog and without volunteers this position would not exist. At the bottom of this post is our website and the link to our application. You can also email me at hurricanerelief@efca.org if you have any questions.

Yall are awesome! God is awesome! Praise Him for all the things He has done, is doing, and will do!

Love yall!

Katie

www.efcakatrinaproject.com

Application to bring teams down

Matthew 8:24: "Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping."

I like this verse because even though this crazy storm comes and scares the disciples, Jesus remains asleep, in fact He later calms the storm, He remains asleep because He has it all taken care of, He knows what is going on and He knows what will happen, He doesn't worry...Amen!

Gettin my NO feet under me...

Hi everyone,

It has been such an interesting week back in New Orleans. I got back on Sunday afternoon and it was quite nice to be by myself for a couple hours after spending 24/7 with others. The yellowhouse is good, the tree limb hanging over the camper outside not so good, but it hasn't fallen completely yet...it's still holding on.

Getting back in the swing of things has been a whole different experience. Got back to calling teams, cleaning the yellowhouse, wrote my newsletter (which if you want one I need your addy), and still working on my EFCA application. Please pray for determination to get that done. Not having teams has made the month of September even odder. I know God has this break in teams for a reason and I need to use this time to do what He wants. Also please pray for a full night sleep, since I've gotten back I've woken up every night in the middle of the night to either dogs barking, car alarms, etc...it's just been really difficult to get a good night sleep.

Wednesday was airport day, I drove Ms. Kaarin to Baton Rouge because she is headed home to WA for good now to spend time with her family and see what God has in store for her next. Please be praying that she can find a job she loves and that she really enjoys her time at home. I'm gonna miss her mucho! Then that evening I went to the NO airport to pick up Tamara who is volunteering for the week, and another God praise. I didn't even ask for her and God provided someone to help me clean and just hang out with. God is good!

The cops who have been working in Houma this week are staying at the house tonight before catching their flight home tomorrow so I'm excited to hear their stories and how things went! Me and Tamara were hoping to head down there tomorrow but we'll be checking the weather first incase the outerbands of Ike decide to go there too!

Let me know how yall are doing and how I can be praying for yall!

Love ya!

Katie

Isaiah 54:10

"Though the mountains be shaken

and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

nor my covenant of peace be removed,"

says the LORD, who has compassion on you."

There's no place like Houma!

Pictured above: Gas Station in Houma LA where the eye of Hurricane Gustav passed over.

Hi Yall!

I feel like I've been going non-stop for the past 8 days and with Ike approaching I'm starting to wonder if I should even bother unpacking! This time last week I was packing up things at Trinity and headed to Pensacola...now I'm staying with the Lewis family and hopefully helping the Symmons today unpack their uhaul.

My Very Own Checkpoint Story:

So Wednesday night, me and Mary Held were on our way to Houma at around 5pm. After making some stops and finally getting to Houma, we didn't realize that the parish could be under a curfew. So as we pull up to the checkpoint entering Terrebonne parish, the officer tells us that since we are not emergency personnel we are not allowed in (granted we just drove about 2 hours and got there right at dusk, he wasn't letting us pass.) So we call Mark who met someone that day that could possibly get us an escort into the city. So after about 45 minutes of waiting and calling the Emergency Operations Control and constant prayer, our escort showed up to lead us in. PRAISE GOD!! It just goes to show that God really is in control and when you are doing His work, He knocks down the barriers, He takes care of the details!

Thursday in Houma:

We woke up around 7am and Mark the previous day already had scoped out our job for the morning. We show up at this house where a huge tree had fallen and luckily missed the house but was pretty much all over the front yard.

That morning, the homeowner June and her daughter Mindy stop by and quite shocked to see us chopping down her tree and very very thankful! They immediately run out to get us drinks and offer to provide lunch for us! We didn't even pack lunch knowing that God would provide and He did, He was and is faithful! By lunchtime, the tree was chopped down, and cut up and the logs on the streets. Me, Lisa, and Mary were working 2 houses up and turns out that that was June's mother's house and she was excited to see us cleaning up branches there too!

After lunch, we got back to clearing trees. This one house, Kevin and Prissy's, one of the giant limbs from their tree had fallen on their fence and their awning was blown into their neighbor's yard. After work, we prayed with them and talked with them. They were very glad that that hadn't had more damage. Everyone we helped thus far have been so grateful and it's such a blessing to be there right after the storm to be their first responders.

All in all, I'm very thankful and blessed that God allowed the chance for me to go to Houma to help people in need, to pray with them, to talk with them and hear their story, it's just what I love to do and I'm glad God has given me this passion and these opportunities!

A team is coming in next week of about 4 guys who are going to be working on about 8 houses owned by cops so that should be cool! Please be praying for those who are still without power, water, sewer, etc. God definitely creates a mission field in the wake of crisis and I just ask that we take this opportunity to share the love of Christ to all of those affected!

Love yall!

Katie

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11

P.S. Funny story:

So after a long day's work and getting drenched in the rain, me, Lisa, and Zack jumped (well kind of slowly stepped then fell) in the Bayou by the Children's home where we were staying in Houma...also another God praise because there were beds, showers, a kitchen, and everything we'd need to stay there. And it was all God providing again for us! And the night before, Will, John Horst, and Steve did it too...no worries no alligators that we saw! Let's just say, I'm never doing it again...it reeked and when you put your foot down it was like putting your foot in mush with seaweeds everywhere...grossss! (but hey how many times do you live?)

Houma is where the heart is...

Hey All!

Last night I got back from Houma where I was able to help clean up people's yards, drag limbs to the streets, talk and pray with homeowners and it was just amazing!!

I'll definitely write more later but right now we're about to have our KRA meeting which is our vision meeting for the upcoming year! Please pray for wisdom as we make decisions and pray for strength as many of our team is exhausted from working 2 1/2 days in Houma non-stop.

Love yall and thanks again for your prayers!

Katie

Evacuation Complete!!!

Hello everyone!!

Praise God I'm back in Covington! Praise God that the area wasn't hit as badly as people thought it would be! Praise God for being in control of it all!

They are opening up the roads to New Orleans at midnight tonight but I probably won't be headed back there until the weekend. Me and Mary Held are making are way to Houma LA tonight to meet up with our staff and help in anyway we can, from cutting down trees to praying with people! It is such a blessing to come back to trinity and everything be up and running! I just pray for those areas that are still without power, water, sewer, etc and pray that those things return soon!

There was some slight damage on I-10 coming back but nothing horrible we could see. Praise God! He really has been so faithful in so many ways and definitely answered prayers in ways we never thought possible!

More updates later on...

Thanks again for your prayers and concerns!

Mucho love!

Katie

2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Pensacola is for Patience

Hello all,

Just wanted to update you all on today's activities:

The guys (and Lisa) got to Covington safely! They found the church and vehicles in good condition just no power at the church. They then left to find work in Homa (sp?) LA which is south of New Orleans that was hit very hard and were able to help out many homes in the area. They had given away most of the food they had but at the last jobsite they were at, the owner offered to cook them dinner! YAY GOD PROVIDING!!! As they returned to the church, they discovered all of the electricity working so another Praise!!! The Wattersons, Symmons, Bograns, Horsts, and Lewis's houses are all good, and the Lewis's and Bograns have power! This is another God praise because they were predicting a 15 foot storm surge in Mandeville where the Lewis's live! Please be praying for the rest of power to be restored and for those driving back to Louisiana over the next couple of days...I'm guessing traffic is going to be crazy!

I guess the reason Pensacola is for patience is because I'm definitely learning lots of that being in a house with a lot of people and children. Quiet times to myself are hard to come by and since I dont have my car, I cannot easily get away...especially when all I wanna do is helping those affected by Gustav. But God is teaching me patience and the time will come for me to be back in Louisiana serving Him and I just have to live in the now and use the time given here to do what He wants...which yes may be filling out that 4-12 month application and working on my newsletter. God is good and I have so many reasons to be joyful right now and I can't let the fact I'm not physically helping others get me down!

1 Peter 1:8: "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.."

Looks like I'll be in Pensacola tomorrow...unless something comes up and then probably headed back on Thursday...but not 100% sure of that either.

I love yall! I can't thank you enough for your prayers! They were definitely heard and felt! Yall are awesome! God is wayy awesome!

Katie

Philippians 2:14-15:
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.."

good update!

can't blog long just wanted to let people know that the guys (and Lisa) got back safely! All of the houses and Trinity and my car are good just no power yet. The guys are out helping and saying it's hotter than ever!

We're off to the beach and I'll blog some more later!

peace,

Katie

The Light after the Storm...

Well as I'm sure you all are aware that New Orleans was not hit as hard as it was thought. The levees have held (so far), and we're praying they continue to hold. However, other areas of Louisiana were hit quite hard so please be praying for them!

Today was spent in a midday meeting getting down the logistics of what will happen when we get back. The guys are headed back tomorrow at 4am to Covington to survey the damage and let us know when and if we can come back. I'm desparate to go back but I know my place is here where I have the internet and can get volunteer teams and such in order. So tomorrow, we're going to the beach! (and yes I will be doing work..especially on my EFCA 4-12 month application...please pray I get that done soon!)

funny stories today: Jousting! We would put the kids on our back and we were the horses and we'd crawl towards each other and it was the kids' job to pull off the other kid! Videos and pictures will come soon! The horses were me, Lisa Nelson, Steve Nelson, John Horst, Will Lane, and yes even Mark Lewis got in on the fun!

Please pray for the first wave of our team to get back safely! Please pray that the damage done can be undone and that we can multiply our vision for bringing people into God's kingdom through service!

Love in Christ!

Katie

Isaiah 66:1-2 (The Message):
God's message: "Heaven's my throne, earth is my footstool. What sort of house could you build for me? What holiday spot reserve for me? I made all this! I own all this!" God's Decree."But there is something I'm looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say.

Remember Your People...

Hello fellow trackers of hurricanes!

The title today is from a song we sang in church this morning. Crying out to God that He will remember His people and His promise to us...of course He will but we can't forget to ask and lean on Him during this time!

The drive here took 5 hours when it should've taken 3 but I can tell you that the Lord has gotten all of our team here safely and we can't thank Him enough for that! The church here is nice, its Grace Community Church and the church family has been kind enough to offer their homes to the families on our staff and they stocked our fridge and brought us a sky hookup so we can watch the news on tv! We're staying in a side house they use for nursery and common areas. After church all 28 of us went to Denny's for lunch and then came back and chilled then at 4:45 started our "What will happen when we get back?" meeting. The last 2 people meeting us here arrived and I thought I'd tell you who is here that way you can be praying for them too...

The Lewis family: Mark (our director), Denise, Emily, Kara, and Caleb
The Horst family: John (ministry manager), Chris, Allyson, Abigail, and Adam
The Symmons family: Jack, Becky, Logan, and Nick (new to Crisis Response, just drove down to LA on Wednesday from MA)
The Bogran family: Steve, Dorinda (finance lady), Vaughn, and Marley
The Watterson family: Kevin, Babette, Kendra, and Logan (family just committed to long term)
Lisa and Steve Nelson (former Crisis Response staff that have joined us during this time and have been a huge help!)
Shelby Smoker (here for a year helping with tools and such) and his friend BJ
Zack Yoder and Will Lane (both down here for the week helping anyway they can)

Please be praying for all of us and that we're seeking God's will and His wisdom during this time!

Funny stories: this poor tree in the church parking lot has been hit twice by 2 of our ministry vehicles being driven by 2 different people...of course no serious damage occurred....it was just great because for both instances, we all happen to be outside watching! Laughter is so great at a time like this when all I can think about is what it will be like after the storm hits. I just wanna know what will happen and what will be different but I know I can't know that right now and God has it all planned out!

My job won't really change post-storm, I'm still in charge of coordinating volunteers to get down here but most likely for the month of September, I will be at Trinity. and my days will probably be a lot longer as will everyone else's and you know what...I'M STOKED!! I'm here to serve God and serve the people of the area I've fallen in love with and tell them about God who loves them too! God can use the worst of situations to bring about a mission field that will exalt Him! that will know Him more and know that He is Lord of all! Praise God for seeing the big picture even when we can't!

The storm hits land tomorrow afternoon-ish...keep everyone in your prayers please!
God WILL remember His people! God WILL remember His promise! He is sovereign over all!

lots of love from pensacola!

Katie

We're on our way to Pensacola...

Hey Everyone,

After our meeting this morning and truly looking around the group and realizing that God has exactly who He wants around this group for a reason, we're getting everything ready to evacuate to Pensacola FL. We are all planning on leaving by 4am (Sunday) because that is when contraflow starts and all roads lead in one direction.

Guys are taking care of the pavillion, loading up trailers with gas and chainsaws and tools, we're getting all of the office stuff ready, food prepared, and vehicles moved.

You can check weather updates at http://www.wwltv.com/.

Please pray for us right now...it can get kind of hectic with all of us running around doing different things so just pray that we can really hold on to God's peace during this time!

I love you! God loves you!
keeping you posted!

Katie

back to the Cov....

Hey Everyone!

I've arrived safely in Covington LA! YAY God! A bigger praise is that when I took my roomy Lacey to the airport today, my tire completely fell off the wheel and Terry Andrus (the finance guy at Urban Impact) came to our rescue! I have a new tire and all is well!

Covington definitely has a different feel to it than before because no one is living out in the trailers in the back of the church parking lot right now. It's weird not to have my summer staffers here but I know God has a reason for me here and for them to be where they are...I just need to really hold on to that and trust Him more.

Today has been just an interesting day. It's weird to go through your stuff, seeing what is worth taking and what isnt...what you're willing to leave behind and perhaps never see again. It totally challenges the materialistic side of you for sure. In my head I just kept thinking of that verse that says:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19)

So you know what, so what if I lose clothes, shoes, bags, etc...my treasure is in heaven with my Father and that's what matters.

Looks like tomorrow we'll be having an early morning staff meeting to discuss where this evacuation might take us. Sounds like Florida is a good bet but once again we're just waiting to see where God wants us and when He wants us to go.

I'll try and keep you posted during this time and I just ask for continual prayer for me, my staff, the people of New Orleans and surrounding areas, the government officials...just pray that we all will be kept safe and no matter what God is exalted above all else!

Love yall!

-Katie

AuGustav!

Well tomorrow is the 3rd year anniversary of Katrina making landfall and I'm going to be evacuating to Covington LA, about an hour north of New Orleans because of another possible landfall next week of Gustav!

I'll keep yall posted where I go next if another evacuation is needed from Covington. Right now I'll most likely be throwing away lots of food in case we lose power, packing as if I'll be gone for a week, and praying continually for the best while preparing for the worst!

A really great website I've been using is http://www.wwltv.com/ then clicking on the 5-day forecast for both Gustav and Hanna.

I'll be most likely evacuating with other members of staff, this way if need be, we'll be able to return to the area before most residents because we are a part of a crisis response organization.

I just ask for prayer during this time! Prayer for the people of New Orleans who have been down this road before, prayer that the levees hold, prayer for safe travels, and just prayer that God will be glorified no matter the circumstances!

LOVE EVERYONE DEARLY!!!

-katie

Isaiah 41:10: "So don't worry because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you."

It's a Great Day to Be Alive!!

Hello Hello!! (the title provided by our dance party this morning in the kitchen!)

I'll definitely be impressed if anyone actually reads this before I tell anyone that I've updated this. I'm so bad with blogs, please dont hate me. I won't promise that I'll do better but my cell is always on if you wanna check up on me that way go ahead!

I'll start with the most recent things and work backwards! I am in the YELLOWHOUSE! IN THE CITY!! I really do love it! We had 5 teams here this week for a grand total of 44 people in the house. It felt like family! Everyone hanging out in the kitchen, working on puzzles, playing spoons with markers, it's just been wonderful! This week I've been blessed with an amazing lady named Julie! She has been cooking for the teams, laughing with me, joking with me, and just all around an answered prayer! As most of you know, my cooking abilities are few and far between so having her here has just rocked! She's from Hershey PA and considering coming back in January for 3 months! SWEET! Let's be praying she does because Lord knows with the amount of teams in the spring we'll need her!

This week has also definitely been bittersweet because a lot of people are leaving for good. Joe, a construction supervisor who's been here since mid-July, is headed back to Penn state, Alysha, my amazing roomy, is going back to MA for school, the Sherwoods are headed home to Cali, and Zack and Mary D are headed back to PA for our closed week next week. Yes I'm off work next week! Because I'm not much of a planner, I'll be chillaxing in NoLa! Hopefully meeting people in the neighborhood, working on my 4-12 month EFCA application, hanging out with Kaarin (she was on staff but now lives in the city), and doing whatever else I like! Maybe a small road trip will be in order but we'll just see what happens :)

Since coming back from the most amazing wedding ever, love you Mere and Joel!, lots of hanging out with staff and teams was had and good hillbilly memories. The guys made a slip-in-slide in the back field, a hot tub in the back of a truck, and a sled out of part of tin roof...yeah who says you can't have fun in Covington.

Well besides all the fun times, God has really been growing me and stretching me here. The initial transition was hard into the city and realizing that this next part of my NOLA experience would be totally different from the summer was hard to swallow. But I definitely know God has me here for a reason and I'm thrilled to be here and serving Him and those He loves! I've been learning how we can hold onto His peace, that He gives us His peace so our hearts don't have to be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).

Last week, I was apart of the Urban Impact Staff retreat where a guy came and spoke to us about the Poverty Mandate and one thing he said that has stuck with me is once we cross the Jordan, we will no longer be able to take part in suffering for Christ and this is our chance now to go outside our comfort zone, to go outside the norm, and actually step out for Christ, to suffer for Him (1 Peter 4:13). He also emphasized that whereever your path takes you, God has preceded you, He is ahead of you, behind you, and with you! Amen!

Like I said, I'm off next week, so oodles of free time for phone calls and playing catch-up with you folks! Oh and just so my March team knows Rock of Ages is so close to being done that it's not even funny! Hopefully they'll get their pews soon and have their first service I'd say definitely before October! :) Praise God for His faithfulness!

August 29th is the 3rd year anni of Hurricane Katrina and the ground breaking for the Urban Impact Community Center!! woot woot! I'm sure it'll be a day of mixed emotion and I just ask that everyone be in prayer for the city! It's an interesting feeling actually being able to put a face on how much Katrina has affected the community, the countless people I've met who lost everything, lost loved ones, and are still praising God all the while astounds me! It's not about me at all, its about Christ and I'm so thankful that He has allowed me to be here!

So yes this was extremely long but I hope you were able to least read one paragraph and see that you are now connected personally to life here in NoLa! Let me know how school, work, life is going with yall too!

LOVE YALL IMMENSELY!!!

-khooks

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galations 2:20

2 Amazing 2 Blog

Hey Guys!

So I'm home right now in Concord for the week for the wonderful Mereshaw/Wiggins Wedding and I can't help but miss NOLA! You have no idea how amazing my time has been there and how I can't wait to head back a week Monday! God has been really showing how important it is to love Him more than anything and then to love on His children with everything I have.

The teams have been great! I feel like pretty soon every church from PA will have come down here but hey that's cool, they're hard workers who love the Lord! My staff is slowly starting to dwindle which is sad but I know the relationships that have been made have been so much more than "on the surface" friendships that it's cool that they're starting the next chapter of their life and relying on God all the way!

So my bday was on Wednesday and my staff decorated my desk and made me my fav funfetti cake then what else would we do but watch Anchorman (my fav movie). I was suppose to meet up with Angela last week but things didn't work out, so hopefully when I get back I can see her and the family!

Prayer requests would be for teams to come down in the fall because right now the whole month of September is dead. Also be in prayer for those leaving the organization and aren't sure what to do next and that God would provide members of staff to take those places. God has been so faithful thus far and we can't forget to praise Him for that!

I've probably forgotten alot since its almost been a month but just know that I've really enjoyed my time down there and meeting the people in the community has been such a blessing and I'm stoked to spend another 11 months or so there with them!

LOVE YALL LOTS!

Katie

"The person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for." 1 Corinthians 8:3

Aloha Hawaii, Hello July!

Hello Hello!

I hope everyone is doing well and is enjoying the wonderful month of July when yours truly was born! :)

Last week was probably the best week ever! I really embraced the teams that were here and got to know them and their struggles and pray over them and it was sooo great! One team was from Hawaii (the same from the previous week plus 21 more) and and the other from Maryland. The Hawaii team did such a great job of welcoming Maryland that by the 2nd day we felt like a big family (which we are in Christ). On Thursday, I went to work on one of the jobsites and that was great! It's so nice to be able to meet the homeowner and talk with her and hear her story. I was also able to stop by Angela's house for some of you who know her but unfortunately she was in Texas but I was able to speak with her son-in-law and her daughter. They said Angela should be back soon so I hope I can see her!

This week we have another team from Maryland and one from Illinois. The Maryland team is a little wild and crazy but so on fire for serving that I can deal with the noise. Last night, me Kaarin, and Mark went to a park and just sat and watched the stars come out. Kaarin is actually going to be moving into the central city as well so I'm glad I'll have a friend when I get there.

A definite God praise is that I was finally told the amount for my support raised thus far and its already up to half of what I would need to stay here for a year! God has blessed me more than I could ever imagine! God is good, all the time!

This morning I went on a bike ride with one of the families who is on staff here, the Horst family. John is on staff, then his wife Kris, daughters Allison, Abigail, and son Adam. They are all so welcoming and will be here until March of next year so yay for people staying!

Sorry if this was long but I'll hopefully figure out a way to put up photos so you can see them too!

Please continue to pray that I can really see areas where I struggle and ask God for help with them!

Yall are awesome!
LOVE YOU!

Katie

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:22-24

Get smart...

Hello Hello!

Yes I know, another post so soon but it's just been a good day so I'd like to share it with yall before I forget.

So the service this morning was phenomenal! Pastor Michael is doing a series right now called "Get Smart" and today his topic was on the tongue or what you say. This sermon really spoke to me so there's the link if you have time to listen to it. I guess what really stuck out to me was this diagram he showed that had 3 parts, the blue part was called "truth," the middle section was green, and the last section which was yellow was called "love." So he asked, where are you on this diagram, are you in the "love" section where you're always the encourager even at the expense of the truth, or are you in the "truth" section where you always tell the truth but not in a loving way, you may be too brutal at times.

So obviously the green section is where you should be and speaking the truth in love but I know personally, I fall in the "love" section where I'm always trying to please people and never say anything to upset anyone and being here I know it is something I have to work on especially if I have issues with people either on my staff or volunteers.

So just be praying for me that God helps me to get out of my comfy yellow section and venture into the green one!

Thanks for reading and again let me know what's going on with yall!

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Proverbs 27:6
(The pastor explained that this verse shows that your real friends will tell you how it is, they'll tell you what you need to hear, even if it's not what you want to hear and those can be trusted.)

One Week down, many more to go

Hi Yall!

I hope yall are doing well and enjoying wherever you are! My first week here was pretty good. I did lots of secretarial things, figuring out how this place operates and so far so good!

We had 114 people here which is our biggest group of the summer (one group came from Hawaii)! They were all great! I got to hang out with one of the volunteer cooks named Alonzo who had come down with the Raleigh International Church (yaya nc!) and he was a very cool guy! He was way tall and way big and loved to talk about how God was working and I don't think a day went by that he didn't pray out loud for someone.

I've learned a lot this week task wise now I hope I can learn more about being relational and really bonding and getting to know the teams that come down. We only have 39 people this week so I'm gonna try learning mostly everyone's names but we'll see. Mary, the girl I've been shadowing, leaves tomorrow so I'm the head volunteer coordinator for 2 weeks! Please pray that I can be flexible and patient and if I get stressed, that I would just give those worries to God.

Oh and as for my living accommodation, I will be staying at my boss's house (Mark) for 2 weeks while him and his family are off at conferences! YAY a real shower!

Let me know how yall are doing and I hope you have a great 1st day of summer!

Katie

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corin 12:58

I'M HERE!

YO!

I'm here guys! Well actually I'm in Covington LA which is 30 minutes outside NOLA but still its closer than before! I met some people I'll be working with but most of them will be leaving after the summer is over so that's kind of sad but I'm sure whoever God brings in next will be equally cool and amazing! The current hostess is Mary and she's really great! Turns out I'll have this week to shadow her and then shes off to the Ukraine for 2 weeks so I better take some good notes while she's here. My other staff members so far are Josh, Mark, Juan, Carin, and Alysha (well these are the ones my age). Then there's Mark (the head honcho), Deb (my boss), and Mary (another head honcho). I have a feeling many funny stories will be had with this group...mostly because in the first 15 min of hanging out Mark (not the head honcho) was quoting Bon Qui Qui!! And if you dont know who this is please youtube!

My living accommodation is well an RV, a camper! Yes I know you're jealous! Pictures will come soon! We can't flush toilet paper down the toilet nor are we allowed to go #2 in the toilet at all so yeah. And if you want to use the microwave you have to turn the A/C off. So next time you're popping popcorn, think of that nice A/C keeping you cool and comfy and think of me!

Well that's enough for now, have church tomorrow and then I'm helping Mary with her Sunday School class and welcoming teams in all day/night. One good piece of info is I don't have to get up for breakfast every morning here!! holler!! Oh and I'm going into the city on Tuesday so I'm hoping to bump into Reverend Boyd and Angela. Oh and for my NOLA team from spring break, the guys said that Rock of Ages Baptist Church (the church we worked on for everyone else) is almost done!! Can't wait to see it!

Oh and I'm gonna stop typing! MUCHO LOVE AND GOODNIGHT!

p.s. thanks for the prayers, driving went well. please continue to pray for this transition time and I can successfully take over when Mary leaves.

On the Road again...on Saturday!

Hey Hey Hey HEY!!

I'm glad I finally got this blog thing up and going before I leave! I waited to do my listserv for Bristol the morning of my flight so I'm making progress! Not much to update with except I'm about to start packing...maybe. Leaving Saturday morning bright and early for an 11 hour drive from NC to SC to GA to AL to Mississippi to LA!! (yes all in ONE day!). Pray that I get there safely and if you get a chance, give me a buzz on the cellular!

Next stop: New Orleans! :)