2008 Baptist Blitz Build

Photos from Saturday, May 17, 2008

2008-05-18T19:04:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Volunteers

2008-05-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

Hi ABCNJ. Had a great experience working in Baton Rouge for Habitat. Finishing up Friday work. After a rainy morning following a rain out yesterday, it was good to see the rain end around 9:00 AM. Was able to finish some caulking work we had started on Wednesday. It was really meaningful to meet and work with some of the homeowners, especially Maddie, a wonderful lady & single mother who was displaced from New Orleans by Katrina with her three children. They are presently living in a small apartment in Baton Rouge. She was just thrilled to see her home being completed. Had many other worthwhile experiences. It’s great to give back a little after all our Lord & Saviour has done for me & my family.
J. Paul Wetterau – Living Word Baptist Church. Toms River, NJ.

What an experience! To see so many people come together to build these homes-from all areas of the US--has been great-the young, middle aged and yes, some seniors. From California to Vermont, Illinois-people who drove hours, or those that were lucky enough to fly. We have all learned so much! It’s an experience I’ll never forget and hope to be a part of again.

Lois Sager
First Baptist Church, Bradford, PA

This was my first time on a job site and it was a great experience. I learned a lot about construction but I learned more from the people around me. People came here from all over and it was awesome to see all the different age groups that took time out of their schedules to help out people in need.

Victoria, 11th Grade
Montgomery Hills Baptist Church, Silver Spring, MD

Greetings from Rob and Allie of AmeriCorps NCCC and our recently adopted friend Candice.
First, we would like to show our appreciation to the folks from Salvation Army. They have provided us with scrumptious food all week. It has been a real pleasure building dreams with the people from Habitat and all the great volunteers that came down. Candice would like to acknowledge Katie her fellow Rugger, who has inspired and mentored her. Allie threw mud at me (Rob) and she would like to make a formal apology! :-) It has been very exciting working with the Davis family and we wish them the best of luck with their great new house. Additionally we would like to shot out Johnny and Dwight.

Hello from the Rhode Island Chepachet Union Church Group

2008-05-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

SEE, WE REALLY ARE HERE.

This has truly been a union of hands, hearts, minds and spirits. There are people here of all age groups and walks of life.

We have been BLESSED fully to be able to experience this.

It has added a very special meaning to this house, I am supposed to say the “BEST HOUSE” to have met, spoken with and worked side by side with “Carlas” who will inhabit this home with her family. We have been able to share some personal aspects of her life which so enhances this whole wonderful experience.

Carlas praises the Lord and thanks HIM for her forthcoming home and for all of us who have worked on her home and given of their time.

We are working in the MUD today but none of that seems to matter,

No one wants to stop at the designated end of the work day especially Pastor Roger. So today he has been given a ray of hope that we may be able to obtain special dispensation to work beyond the end hour. He is smiling from ear to ear over this so I hope it is granted.

Thank you, everyone at home for giving us the opportunity to experience such a unique and fulfilling time in the walk of our lives.

God Bless everyone and see you all soon.
Love the “8” Rhode Island Builders.

Photos -- Friday, May 16, 2008

2008-05-16T18:55:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Volunteers

2008-05-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hello to all! We’re here in Baton Rouge building. What a tremendous week it has been! Through sun, wind, and rain, spirits have remained high. This has been one of the best things I’ve done!

Robin Karpan
With Upper Alton Baptist
Alton, IL

Hi to Everyone!
This is the last day of the Baptist Blitz Build in Baton Rouge, LA for us and we have had a wonderful experience! We are working on the Red House with a great group of people from Alton, Illinois and have had a great time. Our church, Great Kills Moravian on Staten Island, NY sponsored our team – we thank you for allowing us to represent you – we started on Monday putting siding on our house and it is such a rewarding feeling to see the home nearer to completion. Today we hung interior doors, put in attic drop down steps, finished molding. We had terrible storms yesterday with tornado watch – things really get flooded around here – and today there is mud everywhere! We have met so many nice people all here for the same mission – to work together to build homes for those in need.
Thanks!

Nancy Doran
Great Kills Moravian Church, Staten Island, NY
Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Monmouth County, NJ

Hey Everyone!
We are college students participating in the Baptist Blitz Build. We really did not know what to expect when we signed up, but this has been a great experience. We are doing things we never thought we would be able to do including using saws and nail guns. We would encourage everyone to not only come down, but to also get a chance to know the family members and other volunteers. We have met so many new and unique people. It will be sad to go home tomorrow, but we would definitely volunteer for Habitat again!

Tara Rasmussen and Kate Royle
Living Word Baptist Church
Toms River, NJ

Photos from Wednesday, May 14, 2008

2008-05-14T16:09:00.001-07:00

Words of Thanks from home owner Carlas

2008-05-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon!!!!!!!! This is just a little token of my appreciation to all those who sacrificed their time and effort towards me and my family and all the other Habitat partners. We thank God for giving the gift of shelter and allowing us to gain new friends and family. Again, I say, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Carlas Guillen
(home owner)

2008-05-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

St. Paul Baptist Church--Helping to Build

2008-05-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

After the first few days of working, as a group, we feel positive about the progress we are making. This has been a great experience so far as we have been able to communicate, learn from, and interact with citizens from different backgrounds. The enthusiasm and pride we have stems from our consciousness that we are giving back to the community and helping those who are less fortunate. As individuals we always try to put forth our best effort to provide our services whenever we can. It is amazing how much we can get accomplished in this amount of time and we have recognized our accomplishments and achievements to date. We look forward to embarking on greater endeavors in the future.

Marcus Place, Daniel Simmons, Joseph Andrews, Arielle Jennings, Brittany Faison and Isaiah Hines
St. Paul Baptist Church/Seniors, Montclair High School
Montclair, NJ

There’s something unifying and simply exciting about people of different places and from different races coming together around a single purpose and working together to complete a task. It is simply wonderful. I was blessed to participate last year, I’ve come back this year, and hope to be back again next year.

Deborah L. Spivey
St. Paul Baptist Church
Montclair, NJ

Reflections from Volunteers

2008-05-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

Tuesday and loving it. Traveled 950 miles from chicagoland to participate. Great commararadie, great food –Thank You Salvation Army and great testimony…

Janet & Cindy
Oak Park Baptist Church
Berwyn, IL

Tuesday: A great day! The group of 17 house leaders and crew leaders from Nashville have worked together on Habitat houses in Tennessee. This is the second time here for some of our group to work here. Some also worked Gautier last year. The volunteers doing insulation were great! We insulated 5 houses with recycled blue jeans. Two stick-built houses are being built from the slab up…getting close to putting the trusses up. The staff has kept us well hydrated and the orange slices have been delicious. “Food’s no slouch, either,” says Monk. Baton Rouge is a great host town.

Monk Baird and Jeanie Reynolds
Nashville, TN

Greetings from the seven servants from West Shore Baptist Church! Our lives are gifts from God, to live a life of significance is our gift back to God! Bruce, Cheryl, Barrie, Chris, Brenda, Dick and I are blessed to be working on the Terrance family home. Some of the crew is back in Baton Rouge for the 2nd consecutive year but it’s an all-new experience, nonetheless. The weather has remained sunny (for the most part) which means the team has been able to get more done on the “green” house. Dick and Brenda are a hard-working team and are making progress on hanging siding while Bruce and Barry (along with new friend, John) are putting up soffit and fascia which has been measured and cut by the Cheryl and Elaine duo. The amazing drywall teams (a professional crew) had the entire house sheetrocked in 5 hours! By day’s end, the house will tell a story of a lot of teams that worked together to get to the end result. Many thanks to The Salvation Army for breakfast (Sawmill gravy and biscuits, fruit, etc.) and for lunch (Sausage, Red Beans and Rice, Collards, Cornbread)! We appreciate that the Habitat and National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA show such gratitude to those who come here to serve!

Elaine Deimler on behalf of the
West Shore Baptist Church
Camp Hill, PA

This is our first experience with the Blitz Build and what a wonderful experience it is. Everyone involved is working so hard to accomplish the week’s goal. It is such a blessing to be with a group of people serving God in this glorious way.

Frank and Sally Knight
First Baptist Church
Moweaqua, IL

Photos from Monday, May 12, 2008

2008-05-12T16:55:00.001-07:00

Photos from Sunday, May 11, 2008

2008-05-12T16:52:00.001-07:00

Photos from Saturday, May 3, 2008

2008-05-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

More Photos from Friday, May 2, 2008

2008-05-08T06:56:00.001-07:00

Photos from Friday, May 2, 2008

2008-05-08T06:47:00.001-07:00

Reflections from Volunteers

2008-05-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you all. Thank You Lord and Father! What an experience to share and build these homes. May God Bless and be with all of you. The week went too fast and I feel so blessed to have been apart of all this work! I learned from all and can’t wait to come back next year. All my prayers to you all.

Denise Klein
Indianapolis, IN

Hi, my name is Jane Johnson from Paris, IL and I am a member of the First Baptist Church. This is my second year coming to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to help build houses for Habitat. It is a great experience to help build and do something different that you normally don’t do everyday. It’s nice to meet with the families that you are building for and be able to talk with them and meet all kinds of people from different states as well. I try to eat different kids of food also. I think everyone should have the experience of helping to build a house for someone but also it has to be their calling.

Jane Johnson
First Baptist Church, Paris, IL

My name is Brooke Shear and I am from First Baptist Church, Paris, Illinois. This is my first trip to anywhere outside of Illinois. This may be my first trip here but not my first Habitat build. My family are Habitat homeowners. So to come here to this Build is such a blessing to me. It means so much to be able to come to Baton Rouge and give back. To see these families receive their blessings as we have. It’s wonderful to see so many people doing the will of the Lord. All I can say is that this is an AWESOME experience and these families are so very deserving.

Brooke Shear
First Baptist Church, Paris, IL

Baton Rouge was a great experience! The Habitat people were very concerned about getting the job done safely and efficiently. The fellowship and comrade on the site was just awesome. I don't know when I have worked with a group that got along so well. I look forward to doing it again.

Rose Marie Dunn
First Baptist Church of Champaign in Savoy, Illinois

Hello All from Darrin

2008-05-08T06:38:00.000-07:00

The Baptist blitz was a life changing experience for me. I found out that the things that have happened to me in life have been just small bumps in the road compared to all my new brothers and sisters in Christ. I learned so much about my fellow volunteers and the families we were there to help. I am humbled by this experience. I have a lot love and respect for every single person that was there with us. The staff was excellent. The NCCC's were great kids. Vickie you are the best. I love you girl and hope you will keep in touch. Let Jim and I know what is happening we will be ready next year.

LOVE YA ALL
Darrin D. Moege

Greetings from the Great Rivers Region

2008-05-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

Working with folks from the Great Rivers Region has been enjoyable. We have nearly 50 people from the Region down here for week one. I can see God working through the people from the GRR as they seek to be the servants that Jesus instructed to be. In addition, we are walking along side of other American Baptist servants and making a difference in this world in which we live. May our service continue to be a blessing in His sight.

Randy McNeely
Associate Minister of the GRR assigned to Area 4

Photos from Thursday, May 01, 2008

2008-05-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

Reflections from Volunteers

2008-05-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

This is our second time in Baton Rouge helping out during the Baptist Blitz. Our group comes from New Jersey and we really enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and from all over the globe. There are lots of good times and it’s a great learning experience! I’d much rather spend my vacation time here helping others than on a sandy beach. As long as I am blessed with the means of coming down, you all have a guaranteed fella from Jersey ever year!

My hat goes off to all the volunteers and full time staff here at BR Habitat, they have done a great job making us feel welcome it doesn’t feel like work at all. You guys are great!!!

Anton Nichols – Essex Co., NJ

Reflections from Volunteers

2008-05-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

The privilege of helping other people with such an important part of their life- their home- is a blessing from God. I am thankful for the safe trip here and the beautiful weather that God has sent to us. The new Habitat neighborhood is in a lovely part of town. This will be a good place to raise a family. My prayers are with the next two weeks of work and for the new families as they begin to move in and enjoy this new beginning of their lives. Life is good because God is good!

Jon Lobos- First Baptist Church- Paris, IL

Reflections from Volunteers

2008-05-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

It has been a privilege to share the work with so many volunteers. You can see in each person the love and sharing towards the work. This has been a challenge for me because it has allowed me to understand part of the English and them to understand part of the Spanish. God Bless everyone.

Nidia Rodriguez
President, The Federation of the Baptist Union of Costa Rica

Photos from Thursday, May 01, 2008

2008-05-01T19:01:00.001-07:00

Reflections from Volunteers

2008-05-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

This year’s build is going great. The house we are working on is larger than the other houses so we had to do a different type of build called stick framing. Yet we have managed to catch up to the other houses and are currently putting up trusses to support the roof. I am so glad a I came a second time.

Candace Owen
Third Baptist Church, St. Louis MO

Today it looks like we will get the roof on Maddie’s house and get the windows in. I am enjoying working with the group, as well as eating out with them. I spent this morning putting hurricane plates connecting each roof truss with the wall beneath it. This is to keep hurricanes from lifting the roof from the house. Bonnie has been doing this, too.

Pat, Third Baptist Church, St. Louis, MO.

Photos from Thursday, May 01, 2008

2008-05-01T18:58:00.001-07:00