Haggai and Corn Pops

So I'm up late, yes i'm a night owl, and eating corn pops that were donated and brought to our warehouse last week! very very yummy. Just read the book of Haggai and I must say, good stuff. The Israelites were soo caught up in the busyness of their lives they didn't notice the ruined Temple of the Lord. Wow...how often do we get caught up in the busyness of our lives we don't notice the ruined Temple in our own hearts?? My encouragement comes from Haggai 2:4-5:

But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'

This week:

24 from Calvary Community Church in Columbia MD...first time down with us!

15 from Eastern Hills Community Church in Aurora CO...a returning team for me!

Praise: I HAVE awesome kitchen help and praise for having volunteers back in the NOLA community

Prayer: For flexible and patient volunteers who are willing to set aside their busyness to work not just on homes but on the Temples in their own hearts and in the hearts of the people of NOLA. Pray for me as well...definitely need extra energy and time for rest!

LOVE YOU!

Katie :)

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings - Isaiah 58

Read Isaiah 58...it's good stuff! Let's fast how God wants and let's fast for the right reasons! Not just because we want God to hear us but simply because we ought to love God and love His children.

Yes I'm back in New Orleans. Safe and Sound. Thank you to everyone who hosted me or helped organize a get together in Mass and CT! Yall are the best!

We have a team of 5 this week from Greenridge Baptist in Maryland. They are helping in the warehouse and doing a great job! Next week we'll have 40 in the city so please pray all logistics of housing and construction sites run smoothly so the volunteers can focus on serving the Lord and the people of New Orleans and pray they'd be flexible and patient when things turn out "just the way we like it..." (a popular saying in our ministry).

Praise: Good times up north! Good connections with people!
Prayer: Don't get stressed or worried about stuff but I trust God more and take my time off that I need to!

Love you guys!
I'll add photos next time!
With Love,
Katie :)

Isaiah 58: 11-12
11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

God is the Ultimate Physician

Hi Everyone!

Jack is doing good! Well he's still very sore but no internal nor external injuries! God has shown me this week He really is the great physician and nothing is impossible for Him. Not only does He care for us physically but gives us peace when we're suffering emotional stress as well. He loves us and of course wants to take care of us. Becky and I were talking about with all these things happening it'd be easy to get discouraged and be angry but you just have to remember God is in control and everything good or bad always works out for good and for His glory!

I'm safely in CT right now with my friend and old staffer Juan. (Oh yeah, Praise God because the car could be fixed!) Tomorrow I'm speaking at Grace EFC in their 10am service and Beacon Hills EFC at 6pm at an ice cream social. Please pray for me and for God to raise up people to support me in the work He's called me to. Please pray for boldness as I ask people to partner with me...I need His courage!

Thanks everyone!
Let me know how I can be praying for you!
Love in Christ,
Katie :)

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

URGENT PRAYER

Hi,

Some of you may know Jack Symmons, he was our Project Manager in New Orleans for a year. Today he was walking across the street and was hit by a car. The car then sped off and Jack had no external injuries but in a LOT of pain. He and Becky his wife are at the hospital now. They gave him a morphine drip and are taking him in for a cat-scan to see if there is any internal bleeding. Please pray!

Pray to our Father in Heaven who is the ultimate physician to put His healing hand over Jack, to put his peaceful hand on Becky and the kids and that through it all God's name is praised! Please please pray for our brother!

In Christ,
Katie

"Pray Continually" 1 Thes 5:17

Praise and Prayer

Hi Everyone...real short updates today:

1) Praise: Julie S is coming back to cook in NOLA this spring!! Hallelujah!

2) Praise: Got to visit Harvard and have dinner with volunteers who came down last spring and got to speak to interested volunteers who are praying about coming down! Wayy funn!

2) Prayer: Jack and Becky's car is still dead...please pray the mechanic can fix it so I can make my way to southern CT to tell the churches there of what God is doing!

3) Prayer: Tonight I'm speaking to Sr. High Youth at Westfield EFC...please pray that God would speak through me and be preparing their hearts for hearing Him!

Love You Guys!

Katie

p.s. The weather up here is gorgeous! Praise God for the beautiful colors leaves can be! :)

Faith like a Mustard Seed

New Orleans Update:
God provided wonderful teams last week who went above and beyond their call to not just serve those in the community but us on staff as well! I know I couldn't have done all the cooking without them and I know their presence was a huge blessing to Ms. Daisy and Ms. Shirley (the homeowners of the houses they worked on). There is still more that needs to be done so let me know if you're interested in coming down!

Up North for 2 weeks:
I'm now in Massachusetts until Oct 8th and southern Connecticut until Oct 15th. Let me know if you're in the area, I'd love to see you! I'm speaking at Grace EFC in Stamford CT on Oct 11th and meeting up with other churches and teams that have been down. Please pray for me and that God would use me to further His kingdom and begin working in their hearts to partner with me and God's ministry there! Let me know if you want more info too! katrinarelief@efca.org

Manila Update:
Tropical storm Kensata has devastated the Philippines. Please go to http://efcacrisisresponse.blogspot.com for more info and how you can help!

Thanks everyone and I just sent out my Oct newsletter, let me know if you didn't get one!

Have a blessed day and thanks so much for supporting me and God's work through this ministry!

Peace and Love,
Katie

"...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20