Prior to leaving for AS we were shown pictures and told how beautiful it would be here. We were not mis-informed, it is a very beautiful little island and the people are very friendly and courteous. Everywhere we go it is like we are back in East Tennessee, the people wave a friendly wave and often call out "hello" as we pass by.
If you want to figure out the time difference, at noon in Tennessee it is 5am here in AS.
Our first day was spent attempting to adjust to the time difference and a very long day of flying. We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at a local restaurant where we met the local pastor we will be working with for the next two weeks. The pastor gave us some on history of AS and how the church came to be established on this island and the islands in this region. It was very interesting but to long to share in this update. Also we met two other ladies, who like our SBC leaders Ed and Loretta, are spearheading disaster relief work here on the island for their church group. According to all three groups the rebuild effort has been slow but through God's grace, blessing and perseverance good results are being seen. Below are some stats you might find interesting:
275 homes were completely destroyed by the Sept. 2009 Tsunami
148 homes were severely damage
32 Lives were lost on this island alone-many more lives were lost on neighboring islands
40 Homes have been surveyed for rebuilding
27 Homes have been rebuilt to date by volunteer teams
Today (Tuesday,day 2) your Tennessee team from the Nolachucky Baptist Association will begin work on a home that was very heavily damaged. We met the home owner yesterday afternoon and began laying out a plan of how we might best accomplish the rebuild effort. Bryan Collins was selected by the team to be the reconstruction team leader. Earl Creasey will begin the task of tearing out the electrical and rewiring while Don Rhoades and Wayne Hubbard will begin the process of laying block for the interior walls. After all this work is accomplished we will then begin to lay the floor tile. It is going to be a pretty good and tall task.
As I sit here at 4:30 am writing this update it is raining for about the 20th time since we arrived. Talking about hot and humid well you get the picture.
Each member of the team has been able to contact their family back home by phone to let them know we are here and safe. We use Skype via the internet so the connection is not always the greatest but none the less if is always good to hear a loved ones voice.
Our host leaders, Ed and Loretta. are from New Mexico and have treated us like family since the minute we met at the airport. Loretta has fed us like kings so please do not worry about us but please keep us lifted up to the Father in prayer that we may accomplish His will while laboring here in American Samoa.
Don Owen
Nolachucky Baptist Association
Disaster Relief Director
PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED ON THURSDAY, PLEASE CHECK BACK TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN AMERICAN SAMOA...
Below is the daily report that Ed Greene our onsite director sends to the NAMB daily. The UT/ID team left Sunday night and the TN team arrived.
Monday, June 14:
Pastor Elise provided his orientation on American Samoan history, religion and culture to the TN team at the Star Restaurant. Mable Snyder from MDS and Trudy Smits from CRWRC joined us for breakfast and the orientation. I continued the orientation along with a tour of part of the island and site visits to a couple of potential job sites. We stopped at the MDS site in Asili to see their project and made plans to help them with a slab pour on Wednesday.
The homeowner at Amaluia does not yet have his septic permit so the TN team will begin work on the Gutu Aiava house in Masefau. We made a site visit there this afternoon, discussed the project, made pictures and verified/corrected measurements. The team plans to begin work Tuesday morning.
- Ed Greene
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