Katrina Recovery

Katrina Recovery nearly four years later...

Volunteers are still coming to Gulfport, MS this Fall and next Spring to help the ongoing Presbytery of MS Disaster Recovery efforts. Thank God for our friends at Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach, CA for providing Grace House for volunteer houseing through June of 2010.

Although the number of volunteers is not what it was three years ago, the volunteers who do still come to help are familiar friends coming to help for their fifth Thanksgiving or Spring Break – this year perhaps, for the last time.

Martha-Lee Bohn has recently been traveling the country on behalf of the Presbytery of MS. She’s been visiting churches and Presbyteries that have sent teams to the Gulf Coast to assist with recovery and rebuilding over the last four years. She was recently in Janesville, WI visiting Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church whose volunteers helped Westminster and the Presbytery build their first new home construction.

Martha-Lee was also a guest in the pulpit at Huguenot Church in Pelham, New York and at First Presbyterian Church in Owatanna, MN; gave a presentation at the Twin Cities, Area Presbytery (MN) and Frame Church in Stevens Point, WI; and delivered the children’s sermon at First Presbyterian Church of Marshfield, WI.

Members of each of these churches have been moved by their experiences as missionaries in our midst and have moving stories to share about their time sharing hope in chaos. Many were motivated to service in the wake of Katrina for personal reasons.

They were all eager for news of the ongoing recovery and will be sending teams to the Coast for at least one more visit in the coming year.

The commitment continues even as time moves on. Could it really have been nearly four years ago? Let’s pray for a tame Hurricane season 2009!

Blame

Lack of regulation or enforcement of regulation has been blamed for the financial melt down. I disagree. Lack of a moral compass and short-sighted vision caused this mess.

People used to be polite to each other. Their word was their honor their bond. Now, it seems that folks are trying to "get one over on you." We don't want to be "taken advantage of" so we're overly cautious. Fearful. Fear. Ugh.

So many more wonderful things happen every day than awful ones. Things are never as bad as they seem. Imagine if we were innundated with good news, success stories, achievement every day. Imagine. Who would we blame for that?

The good stories are there. Look for them. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

this networking things

Networking...that wasn't even a word 25 years ago, was it? I've been catching up with my 350 Facebook friends. The funny thing is, I really do know all of them. Friends. You pick up the conversation where you left off. Shared experiences. Comedy. Tragedy. Challenges. Celebrations. Some. All. Now we can network from the living room couch. What a concept.

I'm collaborating with dozens of people I've never met on a major project. I "meet" with another group once a week on a conference call. Virtual meetings. Physical contact. High Definition. I'd rather spend my money on travel to see things in real high definition than spending that money on tv.

Writing. Stories to tell. Books to write. People to inspire. Joy and good news to spread. What's next?

What do I want to be when I grow up?

Why Auntie Flea

Welcome Home to Auntie Flea's blog.
This is my first step into this.
Be bold. Here we go...

"Why Auntie Flea?" you may ask.

Martha-Lee is a mouthful for a kid. When I tried to say my name, it came out "Ma-FaLee." My older sister called me "MyFlea." As a teenager, I even introduced myself as "Flea." When neices and nephews came along, I became "Auntie Flea," and it stuck.

Auntie Flea has become a bit of a character of her own, perhaps even a SuperHero over the years.

Think of the possibilities. If you were a Super Hero, what would your powers be?
I'd like to heal with a hug and a kiss,
and I could transport anywhere instantly by giving myself a hug.
Do I get three, like three wishes? Hmmm.
How about the ability to link into the power-source of all other Super Heroes. What if everyone knew that they were truly a Super Hero?

That's it for my first random thoughts on my first blog.
Smiles and blessings to you,
Auntie Flea