Wednesday, September 6, 2017

September 6 – “From tweeting to eating …”

Here are some more boots on the ground reports.  It’s been a little busy around here lately …

I received a random email.  It was from the pastor of an Hispanic church in Magnolia, Texas.  He wanted me to know that they had just had a service where they prayed specifically for us as we minister in Jesus’ name.  We can feel those prayers, my friend.  Keep them coming.

We found out that there have been people stopping in at Seaside at all hours of the day and night, dropping off supplies and taking others, whether to use themselves or to take to other people or other shelters.  Several of our folks who live nearby are on call to let folks in and out of the building.  Some have even been videoing and tweeting about their location.  Sound a bit strange?  Yeah, to me, too.  But here’s the thing.  One such visit came the other night.  I wasn’t there, but our “on call-er” filled me in.  Seems two popular singers had made their way to Galveston in conjunction with our Mercury One partners, and they came by Seaside to pick up supplies so they could do some boots on the ground ministry.  They had to do some tweeting; it’s just the thing to do, right?  They were able to enjoy a shrimp and fish taco dinner at a Seasider’s home before heading back out on the road.  Oh, who were they?  Kaya Jones and Joy Villa.  Some of you “older folks” may have to get your grandkids to google them for you. 

Chris and I loaded up a carload of diapers and baby wipes and baby food to take to the crisis pregnancy relief site in Santa Fe.  We dropped it off at a huge relief center set up at Dayspring Church.  We saw trucks from the Billy Graham organization, Salvation Army, the Lighthouse Charity Team, and several others, along with countless cars.  Everything was so organized that people in need didn’t even have to get out of their cars if they didn’t want to. 

Next we stopped in on some of the fire fighters who lost a lot and had no flood insurance.  At one house there was a crew of off-duty fire fighters on site, hard at work helping repair a fence and tear out sheetrock and sweep up the floors.  We asked if we could pray, and every fire fighter in the house stopped working and gathered around, hats coming off.  After the prayer the homeowner said, in typical fire style, “You know, Chappy, when any of these guys come up here from the Island, I make them show their ID and passports.  But you two don’t have to show yours.  You are welcome to come up here any time and pray.”  We’re on it, Rudy.

A request came in from a Seasider over in Santa Fe.  They were looking for some help feeding lunch to about 30 volunteers who were hauling and loading donations for livestock in the county that have no feed or hay.  Hey, we’re not just a tourist attraction, you know.  We arranged to cover two days for them.  We decided to eat lunch yesterday at the place that was cooking up the meals, a local Mom and Pop eatery here on the Island, Mel’s Blue Plate Diner.  We offered to pay for the meals, but they wanted to do it as a donation to the cause.  They were going to do burgers and fries, but when  Becky, the owner found out what the volunteers were doing, she would have none of that.  She changed it to meatloaf and mashed potatoes and green beans.  She told us, “They’re working hard.  They need to eat good.”  By the way, we ate good, too.  Mel’s Diner might have some new regulars.  It’s on 38th Street just north of Broadway.  The sign is faded but the service is just like you’re in an old-time diner.  Quite the experience.  OK, so much for the commercial.  Oh, and the second day’s lunch will be covered by Lighthouse Charities.  Thank you Stephanie and Lauren for making those connections.

Last night some of our ladies met together for prayer.  After they prayed Lauren’s phone rang.  Caller ID said Washington, D.C.  She doesn’t know anyone there, but decided to answer anyway.  It was FEMA in Washington.  They had heard she was looking for some wheelchairs.  Indeed Lauren had posted that a local charity, The Jesse Tree, needed to replace some wheelchairs.  And it “just so happened” that a Jesse Tree volunteer was sitting right next to Lauren.  She handed over the phone and wheelchairs are on the way. 

The ladies also talked about the spaghetti lunch they are cooking for someone in Alvin.  One of our Seaside crews has been helping with supplies and mucking out in a very poor neighborhood there since the flood waters receded.  Chris asked if the meal was for just one family or for a few others as well.  The answer?  They are feeding around 100 people a hot meal – the whole neighborhood.  And apparently someone else has already asked if they could do it next week. 

In case you haven’t yet made the connection, all of this is a God thing, folks.  We have a grand total of about 40 on average every Sunday in worship at Seaside.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Encourage one another and build each other up.” 


Father, thank you for the ways you are awakening our eyes to creative ministry.  Amen.

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