Port Charlotte, FL – Nov. 10-16, 2024

     The week of November10, we welcomed 13 volunteers from the Willow Street Church in Lancaster PA to Port Charlotte.  They arrived curious as to how they would   engage with theMDS project.

     Monday morning started with the three crews venturing out to worksites continuing to paint, install flooring and baseboards.  A roof from the previous week was completed.  With the evening reports, you could feel the challenge of learning new tasks and a sense of accomplishment.  This week one team found befriending a homeowner to be challenging.  Through giving him cookies and sharing coffee with him, he started to openly respond.  As one crew leader was petting a homeowner’s dog at another site, it suddenly died.  The MDS team assisted her in the grieving process, seeing to it that the cherished pet of 15 years was properly buried including a prayer for the owner.

     Pastor Devon from Wintergarden Presbyterian Church (the base campsite of MDS) was our Wednesday dinner guest speaker. She conveyed the accounts of her family’s experience and those of the church family during and after Hurricane Ian.  It’s amazing and praiseworthy in how God showed up in many ways on their journey to recovery and restoration.

     Friday evening closed with a spectacular sunset at Harborwalk in Punta Gorda with ice cream at Gigi’s.  The week has been busy with many blessings unfolding in service to the community.

                                                                           Janet for the Port Charlotte Team