My friend, Cindy Swanson, interviewed me for her radio show a couple of months ago. You can read and hear excerpts here: Katrina: One year later, a Mississippi church continues to rebuild. I want to thank Cindy and others who continue to help keep the relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in the conscience of people from across the country. We’ve seen progress over the past 14 months, but the task continues and we face years of ministry opportunity.

btw, Cindy also interviewed Justin Taylor recently as they discussed the question, “Where is God when bad things happen?” They highlighted the book “Suffering and the Sovereignty of God” that grew out of the 2005 Desiring God National Conference. In God’s providence, the conference came weeks after Katrina devastated our community. A year later we used the DVD series to re-enforce many of the issues we have grappled with since the storm as we point to our all-valuable sovereign God who can hold a hurricane in his hand as He turns unthinkable tragedy for His glory.

Let me recommend the material in book form, DVD, or free downloadable mp3.

One year ago our friend Stephen Ake made his first trip to Lakeshore, just 7 weeks after the storm. Since then, he has averaged about one trip a month. Read about his thoughts on Lakeshore – 1 Year Ago and Now. Every trip he has tried to post images that capture the progress of the clean up and rebuilding efforts. Check out his Lakeshore Gallery. I’ve also placed a link in the sidebar for continuing reference for those looking for more pictures.

Everyone who has been to Lakeshore over the past 14 months has fallen in love with James and Mrs. Bea. Mrs. Bea serves tirelessly in our food distribution center. James works as our right hand man in the rebuilding efforts. Katrina completely destroyed their home. The week after the storm I posted a plea to find them a camper to live in. They later moved into a FEMA issued camper and then into a garage built by volunteers. Its great to see their house finally going up.

Our friends from Trinity Lutheran Church, Joppa Maryland created this great video of their trip to Lakeshore.

“A true story about a small church’s mission to rejuvenate their community after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.”

The grind and hum of construction noise fill the air in Lakeshore. After a few relatively quiet weeks, we kicked construction into high gear again starting Wednesday. We saw smaller teams for the past month, but we hosted a full camp site this week. Several projects pushed forward through the sweat of First Baptist Church of Batesville MS, New Beginnings Church near Tuscaloosa, AL, Hebron Baptist Church of Dacula, GA, First Baptist Church or Pelham AL, and Trinity Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Sharon made her fifth trip down from New Jersey with her kids. George and Kathy Nelson were with us again this week. Slim, from Idaho churned out lumber from the mill. (btw, Slim brought us a very cool custom designed log lifting trailer to work in conjunction with our saw mill.) We look forward to next week when friends from Georgia, Wisconsin, and Kentucky will join us.

Jamie posted some pictures of Mr. Howee’s house. They laid Mrs. Lynn’s floors and finished the sheet rock, and installed a back door.. They set Mrs. Redford’s cabinets, poured Mrs. Bea’s porch slab, framed another house, worked in the new church office, and hit several other projects. God continues to grease the gears of this reconstruction machine as we ride full throttle for His glory.