Lakeshore Report from Pastor Mitch, 1/8/2013

Joy, Progress, Thanksgiving

These words express much of what is going on today at the Lakeshore Project.
Larry Springer wrote us a letter expressing his heartfelt concerns for those
attending the project this year. He mentioned that the “joy of the Lord” will be
our strength. How true this has been. The ministry team went out this morning
girded with the Lord’s joy in sharing His Word. Many of them had given testimonies
last night of His assistance as they went to many homes in the community. Casey
McGrory reported that only about 25% came to the door. She told us basically that
the joy of the Lord was not their strength. She related that a number of meth labs
have grown up in this area and that the crime rate is rising. We prayed for their
safety and the conversion of those in the community.

Progress marks the work on the foundation and the work at the Pike Street house.
I was told that they expected to pour concrete today, but there is a hold up in that
we need a report from the piling company on how deep the pilings were driven
and how quickly they were driven into the ground. This seems like a hold up, but
progress continues as they carefully prepare for the pour. Please pray that this
report will be sent soon for without it, we will not be allowed to pour.

Chris Goodman and Rick Lindenmuth are in charge of that work and they have a
good crew of college students swarming over the project. I spoke with one of them,
Joshua Wright, about his conversion. He said that the Lord dramatically saved him
when he was about five years of age. He knew at that time that the Lord loved him
and that he needed to learn how to love the Lord as well. He told me that at the age
of 14 he began reading the Bible more systematically and that last December (he
now is 22), the Lord particularly blessed him with a deeper understanding of the
grace of God. May the Lord give him grace to continue to grow all His days.

The Pike Street house is now being electrified and the plumbing is nearing
completion. The bathtub that was in the living room is now installed. They only had
to remove one stud in the process. I had thought that they would have to remove
a wall. How thankful I am that the Lord has very capable brothers manning that
job. Pastor Thomas Winn and Jim Leichter are over the plumbing and electrical
respectively. Our prayer right now is that they can be inspected at 3:00 PM today,
but since we have been told that the inspector will not be there until 10 AM
tomorrow, we have ordered the sheetrock and they are going to begin pre-cutting it
to put up tomorrow after the insulation has been completed and inspected.

The distribution team is getting the Mercy House warehouse in order. What
patience those sisters are showing as they sift thought boxes of clothing. Mrs. B says
that the big need is to keep the food pantry stocked. She only allows people to come
once per week and then their quantities must be limited. We pray that those coming
may be drawn to hear his Word.

Finally, how thankful we for the Lord’s mercies, the progress being made, and the
safety we have had so far. We trust the Lord to keep every heart praising Him and
working, not frantically, but with all their might for the glory of His name.

Mitch Axsom
Assistant to Larry Springer