We had an absolutely wonderful week in Blaine, great fellowship and worship, great food and fun, and alot of hard work made the project a huge success!

The team arrived Sunday evening and I could tell right away that this group from St. Stevens Lutheran in Wisconsin was ready to serve and enjoy their time in the beautiful hills of eastern Kentucky.

Our host Pastor Lenny and all the folks in Blaine were at their best taking care of and loving on all of us. They fed us with that great down home cookin' that makes my mouth water thinking about it and shared their lives and hearts with us the whole week long!

With some help from local leaders like Ronald, Randall, Larry, Jerry and Tony the team waded into their work with a joyful enthusiasm that carried them through the week. The teams leader Chris and all the leaders handled every situation with skill, love and patient understanding just as Jesus did in His ministry. They were inspiring for me to see and the groups energy was electric.

Thanks to everyones efforts the siding is half way finished on the new church and the old church was scrapped and completely repainted. My hopes were exceeded in every area of our project but, ya know that happens pretty regular when we make God the focus of our lives and our efforts.

Thank you so much St. Stevens for an unforgettable week! Thank you Blaine, Ky. just for being who you are! Most of all I thank God for loving us that much and Jesus for showing us the way!!!

                              Peace, Ken

Dear Prayer Leaders & Friends,

So much to say and so little time.  Computer time just has not been
available this project....so much going on...planned and unplanned.

Our Team from CA arrived very late Sunday evening.  You can imagine a team
having to make big adjustments in time zones and all.  But this is a great
team and they came ready to work and serve in the name of Christ...and
they are doing so well.

On Monday morning this week, we went up to the General Store and things
just were not right.  Come to find out, the owner, Bob, had had a severe
stroke and was taken to the hospital.  Now it's Thursday and Bob has taken
a bad turn and most likey has a very short time on this earth.

Bob is a FIXTURE in Blaine as he and his wife Ruby have owned the General
Store ( the only store in Blaine ) since the beginning of time.  Bob is in
his late 70's.

Please pray for Bob and his son Barry who is not a Christ-follower.
Please pray for Bob.  He has not walked close to the Lord. Lenny and I
made a trip over to the hospital in Huntington, WV to speak Jesus gospel
and peace.

Let's just say that Bob's stoke and condition is HEADLINE NEWS and CONCERN
here in the Hill of Blaine, Kentucky and surrounding area.  God can  and
is working in hearts and lives through Bob's illness.It's awesome to see
Pastor Lenny minister love and peace to family and friends and community
members here in Blaine !!!!  Everyone needs a Pastor Lenny in their church
!!!!!!!

On a much more positive and up-beat note...Our team attended a meeting on
Tuesday evening that WE WILL NEVER FORGET AS LONG AS WE LIVE !!!!!!!!!!
Glory....glory !!!!
I'll be a brief as possible but I could write a book.  The real setting of
this meeting is ...I'm just not saying...except it's a County Govn't
Building and the meeting is called S.A.V.E.  It's mandated by the
sherrif, and the county officials as a program to help drug and alcohol
arrested folk, get their lives going in the right ditrection.  People can
either volunteer to attend these meeting fotr 3 months or spend 3 months
in jail.

Basically, this 2 hour meeting is a church service...in the County
Building...in the COURT ROOM !!!!  Can you even imagine that...it's true
!!!  GLORY  !!!

During the meeting, 2 couples shared their faith journey story with finding
hope and deliverence in Jesus...PRECIOUS !!!!   Then came a family who had
been so hurt from drug and alcohol...but in time all had become
Christians...they sang and there was not a dry eye in the Court
Room...church !

It was during the song that a person rose up out of their seat and just
fell on their kness crying out to God for help and deliverence and
salvation.  WOW... not a dry eye in the County Court Room.  Just imagine,
here is a soul crying out to Jesus for mercy and help ..on their knees in
front of the judges bench and attorny's tables.  PRAISE THE LORD..IT WAS A
MEETING.

I'm not done...but almost !!!!!!!  The Assistant County Prosecuter, was
standing in front of this congregation of arrested and troubled folks,
asking them if they wanted to get free and give theier lives to Christ.
This man ( the Prosecuter ) along with the County Sheriff, 2 years ago
agreed to have the meetings held in the Court Room.  Both were not
Christ-followers back then.  But because they had to attend the meetings
to watch over the crowd...God's Spirit started moving in them by hearing
testimonies and the word of God preached...and 3 months ago, they gave
their lives to Christ.  "CAN YOU IMAGINE"?????????????????  Oh GLORY !!!!

Gotta run. but had to tell the story !  May God touch your heart and bless
your life today and always !!!!

Glory !!!!!!!!!!!!

Please pray for Bob, our team, Pastor Lenny and the impact all of the
events of this week on our lives ..on HIS mission in Blaine, Kentucky.

Dave
Pb 3:5-6
Matt 6:19
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Our team from southern Califorina arrived very late this past Sunday evening.
We are now mid-week and we do have much to be thankful for.

It's great having a team serve with Impact that is learning to relate to a
very Rural setting.  Everyone on the team just marvels at God's beauty in
Eastern Kentucky.

They see beautiful trees and fields.  They hear Rooster and cow sounds and
that are very uncommon in their urban home surroundings.

The community of Blaine has warmly welcomed our team of workers.  And our
workers have returned much love and appreciation through their service project.

We have been helping Pastor Lenny continue to complete a new church building. 
Lot's of water sealing painting work this week.  Later in the week our team
will be working on projects at homes of l;ocal residents.  It will be a very
nice change of pace.

Last night we attend a meeting in the local County Court house.  Read
carefully... Testimonies of Christ's salvation and deliverence from drug and
alcohol addictions were plentiful and the Christian music during this meeting
was just plain , ( Eastern Kentucky ) beautiful.  3 persons gave their lives
to Christ last evening.  We Had A Time in that meeting !!!!!!  GLORY !

More later....time is short and it's difficult to have an access point to send
or even begin to keep up with e-mails.

Our team is great and their work is being much appreciated by all. !

Thank you for your continued prayers al this week..and for our next team going
to Louisiana in a week and a half.

Glory !!!!

Dave
Ps 103
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