For Christ's Love Compels Me!

[Teams learning the Challenge Circle Cheers!]

Hi Everyone!

Wow I can't believe I have one more week of Spring Break Rush 2010! It's been quite the doozy but o what a blessing! Close to 500 volunteers in 10 weeks! God is good!

Prayer Requests:

1) Need to get my April newsletter out by mid-week.

2) 52 volunteers are here this week, 3 different churches all from Connecticut! Pray they have an awesome week in the Lord!

3) Strength and energy to finish strong in the Lord!

4) For my upcoming time off..i have 3 weeks off then teams the week of May 17th and more time off. Pray I am able to truly rest and refresh myself in the LORD! Not exactly sure what I'll be doing in that time, spending time in NOLA with no teams is one of them...let me know if i can come talk at your church :)

Since I posted last, we had close to 70 volunteers, 60 from IN and 11 from NC! It was a great week and the IN team has already called about coming again this summer! How sweet! Last week we had 50 here from PA, CT, AL, and IA. Again such a blessing to see God use these teams and I was able to venture out on a prayer walk last week and really got to see God at work in the community we're working in. I got to speak and pray with Ms. Veronica who is looking for some volunteer work so hoping to get her connected with us.

[Chris from NC playing with a kid at the challenge circle!]

Let me know how I can be praying for you!

[Praying it out after the block party!]

Thanks so much for your prayers! I definitely could not have made it without them.

In Christ,

Katie :)

[My friend Kristen from Denver came to visit!! We're tag-teaming caulking the siding at House of Hope Fellowship...it's a church we're rebuilding in the upper 9th!]

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." 1 Timothy 1:12

Happy Resurrection Sunday!!

Hello Blog Readers!!

I hope this post finds you all well! Last couple weeks have been busy but good! Lots of teams and lots of ministry opportunities! This is now week 8 of 10 for my spring break rush. We have 80 volunteers in this week so please keep praying for them to have flexible attitudes and they'd have their eyes and hearts open to whatever God is teaching them!

Story Time!
Last week we held the block party at Gayle and Brock's home. We are currently painting the exterior of their home. Gayle is a grandma and currently watches 3 of her grandchildren along with having other family come and go. Usually when we have these block parties, it's just hot dogs and chips. Gayle decided on her own to break out her canopy and grill up chicken and ribs and cook red beans and rice for us on the team as well as for the community! Gayle showed me what true generousity looks like. Here is someone who doesn't have a whole lot expressing her gratitude and love in a BIG way! I thank God for Gayle and her example of kindness and pray I can show that same generousity to others I meet!

Praises:
1) 80 volunteers this week and the next 2 weeks of 50. Praise God for sending laborers
2) HE IS RISEN!! It's because of what He chose to do that I can have this personal relationship with Him! Praise the Lord indeed!
3) God is good! all the time!

Prayer Requests:
1) the 80 volunteers this week and the next 2 weeks of 50! please pray for their attitudes and pray God stretches them and teaches them more about Himself this week!
2) for energy and motivation to finish these next 3 weeks well and on fire for God and His kingdom
3) My family member Mary Louise Griffin past away last week. I was able to see her in the hospital when I was home at Christmas and I praise God for the time I had to visit with her before she went home to be with the Lord! Please pray for comfort for her immediate family and praise God she is now in a place with no more suffering and no more pain!

Love yall!
Katie :)

"Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

For He is Good!

Hi Everyone!

I hope and pray you are all doing well! I'm sorry I haven't blogged sooner.

Katie was in Haiti
Yes I did return safely from Haiti. It was such an awesome growing experience to be able to see firsthand what God is doing in the wake of the earthquake...ministry partners being formed, lives being touched, God's word proclaimed...it was truly a blessing. I really enjoyed being able to worship with other believers at a nearby church on Sunday. We sat out under the trees and sang hymns like "I surrender all" next to a building that was completely collapsed. To see their joy in the midst of something so horrible is such a huge testiment of what happens when our hope is in God and nothing else! We are still taking teams, construction and medical, to help in the relief efforts so contact me at haititeams@efca.org if you want more info. You can also check out this blog: www.lifeatthehaitianqueen.blogspot.com This is an up-to-date account of what is going on at our ministry house in Gressier (also known as the Haitian Queen).

BACK in NOLA
We began our 2 week task called Blight Busters last week...this is where the volunteers have been cleaning up vacant lots in the lower half of the Hoffman Triangle, my neighborhood. Click this link to see the news footage from the Blight Busters. It's been a real visible way to make a difference in this community and there has definitely been life transformations in the community's lives and volunteers' lives as well. For more stories you can check out the Greenville College blog at www.gcneworleans10.blogspot.com Every night at dinner, the teams have soo many stories to tell me of who God put in their path and it's such a blessing to see how much God is using them to love on this community.

Be in prayer for those who have told me they'd like to come back and serve for a longer period of time. It's no secret that I'm recruiting around here, especially with 4 colleges here this week. We have Greenville College, Harvard, Bethel University, and Dordt College. I'm praying for God to raise up His workers to continue loving New Orleans like I do.

Praises:
1) My March Newsletter is complete! Let me know if you want one! katrinarelief@efca.org
2) It really has been a great week! God has really been moving in the lives of volunteers here and us on staff. Praise God for continuing to use a hurricane 5 years ago to transform lives!
3) Looking forward to seeing who God brings back to serve with us this summer or longer term.

Prayers:
1) Continued energy and motivation for the next 5 weeks of teams!
2) MORE Staff!
3) We have 34 volunteers in next week from Wisconsin and Indiana. Please pray for them and that they would be willing to have their hearts and lives transfrormed while serving the Lord here!

Thanks everyone for reading and praying!
In Christ,
Katie :)

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing." 1 Corin 13:1-3

Katie in Haiti Day One/Two

Bon Jou! Como yay? (Good Morning! How are you? - In Creole)

I have safely arrived in Gressier Haiti. I am staying at our compound where we've leased a house and built 2 bunk houses. We flew into Port au Prince and the devastation from the earthquake is throughout the city. One house is sandwiched while the building beside it stands firm. The Haitians have moved into tent city's and they go for miles.

Home completely collapsed

Guys on top of rubble trying to scavange for rebarb wire.




Pictured above is Rick from WI, Trinity from CA, Wes from Canada, and myself in the kitchen after lunch. Rick is down for a few weeks to help with the construction of the bunk houses and help out in anyway. Trinity has been acting as the volunteer coordinator here since mid-February! She's doing a great job but is leaving on Tuesday because she's not feeling well. Please pray for her health. Please pray for someone to step into this role long term! Wes is here from anywhere from 2 months to 2 years and he'll help with digging the water wells and any other construction needs. God is awesome at providing workers for His harvest! Please pray for His continued provision of laborers! Let me know if you're interested in sending a team, haititeams@efca.org

Thanks for your prayers! It's been a blessing to be here! Keep praying and let me know how I can be praying for you!

Katie :)

Katie in Haiti

Hi Everyone!

I completed my first ever marathon on Sunday with a time of 5 hours and 5 minutes! Praise the Lord! I never thought I'd ever say I've done one but I'm glad I did and it's over! haha, Thank you for your support of me through prayers and financial giving. I'll keep you posted on how much God has raised for Ms. Simms but know you can still give if you haven't already. Just make your checks out to EFCA and put "donation to ms. simms" in the memo and mail to:

Katie Hooks
19380 N. 10th St
Covington LA 70433

I'm off to Haiti bright and early tomorrow (March 4th) and return Sunday March 7th at midnight. I fly from New Orleans to Miami at 6am then off to Port au Prince. From there we'll drive 2-3 hours to West Gressier where our volunteer housing is located. Please pray for safety traveling for myself, Sarah, Kevin, and Mark. Please pray God would guide us and give us wisdom as we serve in Haiti. Please pray for open doors for the gospel message to be spread through the arm of compassion. Please pray!

Thanks!
With love,
Katie

"IN HIM, we live, and move, and have our being." Acts 17:28