Now Pray for Matt's Family

Matt's family can use your prayers. Matt never woke up from the accident or surgery. His family and friends surrounded him as they were told that he had no brain activity. This strong Christian man who many looked up to is with His Savior and Lord but his family are grieving. Those of you who read the Today's Pentecostal Evangel or have Ken's books know of Matt's graphic design work and know the great loss in this area, those of you who are friends will grieve the loss of a great friend.

When my Daddy died Matt took time to send me this email:

I wasn't able to get to the viewing to see you, but wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you. Losing a father is tough, no matter his age. While you can find comfort in his release from the pain of this life, the thought of a daughter without a father is hard. I lost my dad a couple of months after I turned 30...I remember the first time it really hit me. I didn't have a dad anymore. I wasn't sure how to function without him. But I also remember how kind God was to comfort me and fill my mind with memories and thoughts of him. Be sure that He will do the same for you...probably already has. I came to realize that dad will always be just that...no matter where he is. And that means I will always be his son as you will always be a cherished daughter. Its been over 18 years now and I still find great joy in that. I trust you will do the same.
All my best,
Matt

I will now take the time to pass this on to his four daughters.

Please Pray for Our Friend

Matt & Robin Key - Today's Pentecostal Evangel Christmas Dinner 2007
Wakeboarding Incident Injures Springfield Man

A Springfield man was taken to Cox South Hospital with serious injuries after a wakeboarding accident at Bull Shoals.

Matthew Key, 49, fell while wakeboarding on Bull Shoals near the 36 mile marker in Kirbyville in Taney County.

Key was knocked unconscious. He was pulled into the boat by his family and members administered CPR until emergency medical workers arrived, according to the report from the Missouri Water Patrol.

Key was airlifted to Cox South where he underwent surgery for a closed head injury, the report said. The accident occurred around 2:15 p.m. today (Saturday).

Our Friend Visits

Fran Fallon from Medford, Oregon surprised us with a visit on Thursday. We were able to have lunch together and show her some of the city. She visited headquarters where Ken works where we took this picture. It was great to see her.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Feeling A Little Guilty

I am feeling a little guilty sitting home and not helping out down in Texas. I came home to get Ken's book finished at the printer and we have had nothing but problems with the company. We are actually trying to get two books printed at this time and having problems with both. The printer has moved their press to another location and these projects are their first for this location! Thanks, we appreciate it very much. Guinea pigs we are! Hopefully we will have both books in hand the first of next week.

I am not sure if I will be going to Texas or not. Actually they haven't called since last week and I haven't either!! Maybe once the books here ...

Also I seem to have come home with a bug ... first sick to my stomach and now a cold. Bummer! Well I will try to keep you posted as to my where abouts! Will also post a picture of the new book when I get it. We are excited.

By the way for those of you wondering, no we don't have a new kitten in our home—yet!

I'm Comin' Home

We're in Jackson, Mississippi spending our first night in a motel and it's so nice to be able to have a nice hot shower that I didn't have to shut the water off between soaping and rinsing!

Tomorrow I am headed home. I will be driving the small RV home. The rest of the team is staying to wait out Hurricane Ike and what it's gonna do.

Peggy in Sixth Day of Disaster Response

10:30 p.m. Peggy here: Finally able to update but tired so not going to add much. It has been hot and my feet are sore! We served over 3300 families on Friday and over 2800 Saturday! People were just allowed back to their homes on Friday so their food had been ruined in their refrigerators and freezers and the stores are not reopened.

We are handing out (free) MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), Water, and Ice. Those are the three most important items for families returning home after a disaster. People have been wonderful. They are very appreciative and many are overwhelmed at our helping them in their need. It's a real privilege to be able to be involved in something like this, it's just sad that it takes something like this to sometimes make us realize that we should be reaching out at all times. We have been able to pray with many people and many are very open to the booklet of scriptures we are also handing out in line. We only pray God will open their eyes to His Word and their hearts to what He has for them in the weeks ahead.

And now I am headed to bed for a good nights sleep for tomorrow we head for Birmingham, AL to wait out the next storm and where we head to set up to help those hit hardest by that one!!

Ken here for Peggy who has not had time or Internet access in the last few days. Check here, on my blog, for news of what she's doing.

This is the Day

"This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

I realized this morning when I woke up that this verse has been going through my head since I left home for this work effort with Convoy of Hope.

I am not sure why but realize that it is a good way to awake in the mornings. Especially when I have to wake at this early hour!

Again we are so appreciative to God that the Hurricane was not as expected and things are not as bad as could have been. I am praying to have opportunities today to speak with people about God and His great blessings and the peace that He can bring.

I was able yesterday to pray with a couple who had lost their roof and were looking for a tarp. I will share more tonight when I add to the blog.

Have a great day.

A Travel Day!

Today we started out at 6 a.m. headed for Hammond, LA. Due to weather conditions and much discussion and information from many sources we decided to head instead for Houma, LA. We then neared the exit for Houma and discovered that it was under water and we were not going to be allowed to go into the area. We then decided to go to our next possible distribution site of New Iberia. After a few choices and discussion with the EOC, City Officials, and others we settled on a site at a closed Rite-Aid. By the time we arrived it was too late to set up our distribution since curfew is at 6 p.m. and everyone has to be in their homes by that time. We will begin set up at 6 a.m. in the morning and distribution of ice, water and "Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) as soon as we are set up in the morning.

As you can see from the photos we were in a few areas where there has been some heavy rains from the bans from the hurricane. We are seeing shingles blown off, some full roofs missing, signs ripped in half or down, trees down or sheared and lots of debris on the roads.

I will try to keep you posted when I can.

Click here to see photos slideshow

"Not a Katrina Event"

That's what the news is saying, though lots of rough weather yet to come.

Ken Here, Updating Peggy's Blog

Here is what I wrote in my blog earlier:

Peggy is in Jackson, Miss., with the Convoy of Hope Disaster Response Team. She got up this morning and drove a large Convoy pickup loaded with MREs down. They rendezvoused with other CoH personnel part way and now they are splitting up again. Heading toward Baton Rouge and then Hammond, LA. Hopefully the good news continues and the storm is not as bad as expected.

Peggy says FEMA and other response personnel are stacked up in Jackson, waiting to decide where they should go.

I spoke to Peggy awhile back and she asked me to update hers. They left Jackson and are pushing through to Louisiana. She said they may not have cell coverage. The news is saying this is not nearly as bad as expected, especially for New Orleans, but it's not over yet.

Keep praying.

Ken, for Peggy

HEADED OUT

Well I actually headed out this morning at 5:30 a.m. to pick up the other woman in our group (Hurricane Nancy) at a home in the area. We were given a reprieve until this morning since her plane didn't get in until late last night. She actually lives in Florida. I am driving the dually truck with 100 gallons of diesel in the back and a pallet of MRE's, that's meals ready to eat for those of you who haven't been in the military or involved in a disaster!

We are headed for Jonesboro, Arkansas to meet up with the guys and head on down to around Shreveport, Louisiana or wherever we will be needed by the time we get in that area. I probably won't be able to post much this week because the power will probably be out wherever we will settle but I will try and post when possible.

Keep your heads down!