YAO JIN, China – We have collected our blueprints from the architect and we’re now in the process of getting final approval from the local government.

This has not been a simple process. Many hours have been spent in smoke-filled government offices discussing logistics and technicalities. Our plan has to fit in with the regional construction strategy and this has involved running from one government office to another getting various certificates and documents; but then, rebuilding an entire village should not be expected to be an easy task.

One of the documents required by the local government was a petition by the villagers stating they wanted our assistance. In our last meeting I saw that document being handed over. It was practically a work of art. Each villager had signed their name and then stamped their fingerprint in red ink next to the signature.
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – In our attempts to predict the eventual path of the storm and “shoot in front of the target,” we picked what we hoped would be the best “close-but-not-too-close” staging areas. Last week, we staged supplies in Baton Rouge; yesterday, our disaster relief team headed to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Baton Rouge now looks now like it may wind up in the thick of the storm.

The convoy that left the Operation Blessing Ocala, Fla., warehouse yesterday consisted of: our 20-ton truck crane, a truckload of temporary roof materials (blue tarps, furring strips, nails), 4-door diesel pickups each pulling trailers loaded with skid steer loaders, portable showers, tools, etc. Our mobile command center with its satellite communications equipment and mobile office, as well as a mobile kitchen with partner Mercy Chefs, left for Hattiesburg today. Our disaster relief leadership team arrived in Hattiesburg around 8:30 p.m.
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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – I arrived with three of my senior staff to Hattiesburg, Mississippi around 8:30 p.m. and we drove the Hattiesburg Salvation Army Corps buildings where we met up with our National Reserve Staff and equipment.

Today was a day of mixed emotions as I received phone calls from pastors and friends as they evacuated New Orleans.  These calls were from very strong and resilient people, but you could hear the fear in their voices.  Many of them just completed restoring their homes from Katrina and, after 3 years, were beginning to experience “normalcy.”  Now, as they drove along interstates, their hearts were gripped with the flashback and memories of everything they have worked for being washed away.
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