Month: August 2012

Friday Evening

Please continue to pray for the many who are suffering as a result of Isaac.  Some areas were hit much harder than we were.  I’m going to include an update from the Baptist Disaster Relief team.   Help with your time or your money.  Certainly prayers are appropriate.  I think we may not be aware of all the problems because many of us have been limited to such a small area.

Pray for those who are out and about helping others in our area and throughout the state.  Especially pray for the first responders, police, electrical people, etc. who are giving so much time and effort to make life safer/better for us.  As I write this, we are experiencing another heavy rain.  I’m safely in my home with all its comforts, but others are out in the weather trying to help us.  Be patient if you do not have power, it takes time to locate problems and get them corrected.

Stay at home if you are not helping.  Trees are down on roadways and will continue to fall with the wind and rain.  I know of several homes that had trees fall on them.  Even at home, this is very dangerous weather.  For example,  Russell Thompson of Amite was seriously injured when a tree hit him inside his home in Amite.  He has been hospitalized in Hammond.  Also, a tree the fell west of Kentwood fell on Mr. Dee Newcomb’s truck and caused Dr. Trappey to run into it.  Mr. Newcom is hospitalized in Baton Rouge in ICU and will have additional surgery tonight.

As you can, help people.  Generators are difficult for older people.  Some driveways need to have a tree removed.  People without electricity would love a meal or a bed in a home with air conditioning.  I don’t have to tell you how to help.  Make yourself available.  The needs are all around us.  As if Isaac hadn’t disrupted life enough, people along the Tangipahoa were asked to leave home due to possible flooding from the lake at Percy Quin.  Flooding is still a major issue in many parts of our state, Mississippi, and Alabama.

If you can’t help in big ways, help in small ways and be an encourager.  Those who are without power, and they are many, could use ice, cans of gasoline if they have a generator, a place to take a shower and cool off, a hot meal, etc.  Be available.  The needs are all around us.  You will be blessed as you bless others.

Say thank-you to those who are helping.  Be patient.  Be helpful to families that have a member our helping others.  They may need something you can do.  Open your eyes and ears.

Louisiana Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Update 8/31/12

The Baptist Message reports the news below following Issac’s soaking path through the state:

 According to Gibbie McMillan, LBC Disaster Relief Director, chainsaw units from Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas are scheduled to be onsite Friday and Saturday.

 Two Louisiana feeding units are onsite in Houma, including the new “LA1” purchased earlier this summer. A laundry/shower trailer is set up at Coteau Baptist Church in Houma, which also is serving as a community shelter. A chainsaw unit from Lake Charles is scheduled to arrive in the Houma area sometime today, Friday, Aug. 31.

 Two additional Louisiana feeding units are scheduled for Friday at Northshore Baptist Church in Slidell, and First, Covington.

 In New Orleans: Disaster Relief feeding units are slated for Gentilly Baptist and a community center in Westwego. The Incident Command Center will be stationed at First Baptist, Kenner.

 Feeding units from Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma also are onsite, according to Erich Greer of the LBC DR Office. Texas Baptist Men are at First, Covington. Arkansas is at First, Kenner and Gentilly, New Orleans. Oklahoma is sending two units to Westwego. Southern Baptists of Texas’ unit is at Zoar Baptist in Baton Rouge.

 Preliminary damage reports include:

  • A dozen large trees were downed on the campus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, two of them on homes occupied by professors; most fell across fences. One of the student apartment buildings sustained significant roof damage.
  • Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, where SBC President Fred Luter is pastor, sustained some wind damage and roof leaks but no flooding.
  • Oak Park Baptist Church, First, Chalmette; Barataria Baptist, Celebration in LaPlace (including pastor’s home); First, Madisonville; several churches on the Northshore and the New Orleans Baptist Association’s building all report damage of some extent.

Issac’s winds tore down the steeple at Barataria Baptist Church, a steeple that had withstood Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav “and several more before that,” said Pastor Eddie Painter. The hole left by the fallen steeple caused interior damage as well.

 Reports indicate that First, LaPlace probably was flooded, but with the town cut off by high water, the condition of that low-lying church is unknown at this point.

 First, Madisonville, rebuilt after Katrina, was flooded. Volunteers are to mud out First, Madisonville starting at 1 p.m. today, Friday, Aug. 31.

 In the Baptist Associations of Southeastern Louisiana, Stan Statham reported that both Trinity Baptist Church and Bethel Baptist Church in Franklinton are flooded. In Bogalusa, the roof of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church has been torn off and the parsonage of Main Street Baptist has roof damage.

Assessments by directors of missions were done Thursday and Friday, and hopefully by later today, Disaster Relief assessors will be able to start work. Due to a procedural delay, the first meal to be prepared by the feeding units is noon Saturday, according to Greer.

Please continue to pray for those adversely affected by the storms as well as the volunteers who are providing much-needed services.

Donations to Disaster Relief efforts can be made by clicking this link,www.LBC.org/DRFund.

Check the LBC website, www.LBC.org, for additional updates.

Baptist Message staff are monitoring Facebook and Twitter for updates from churches, as well as onsite over the long weekend in southern Louisiana. Send news of your church to karen@baptistmessage.com.

Elizabeth Hyde Stevens (mother of one of my early school friends)
(March 12, 1924 – August 28, 2012)

“Our Mama wanted all of her life to go to Heaven and see Jesus. This week she got to go!”

A resident of Roseland, Mrs. Stevens went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at Willis Knighton South Hospital in Shreveport. She was born March 12, 1924 in Chesbrough and was 77 years of age. She is survived by her 3 daughters, Sue Ellen Pearson and husband, Craig, Shreveport, Terry Pye and husband, Tommy, Paula Hodges, Kentwood; 15 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Ann Ballard, Roseland; 2 brothers, John Hyde, Westlake and William “Bill” Hyde, Tickfaw; plus many friends and relatives. Preceded in death by parents, Charles “Tot” Hyde and Ethel Smith Hyde; husbands, Shelby O. Russell, Delbert Toney and Jack Stevens; sister, Rita Westmoreland Lee; brother, Charles Hyde; granddaughter, Taylor Hodges. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 12 Noon on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. Services conducted by Rev. Bob Simpson. Interment Big Creek Cemetery, Roseland. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

 

Friday

Not that I speak from want,

for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

~Philippians 4:11 NASB~

“When Jesus spoke again to the people,

he said, ‘I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life.’”

~John 8:12 NIV~

Please continue to pray for Greg Tanner.  He is now in ICU at Southwest.  Doctors have not determined his problem, but will continue tests today.  Pray for his family as they support and encourage him.

Pray for the situation with the Percy Quin dam and the possible Tangipahoa River surge/flooding.  The river at Kentwood got higher during the night.  I suppose the additional rain last night was not beneficial at all.

Pray for all those who were removed from their homes in Tangipahoa Parish and other areas/states.  Hurricane Isaac left a different, but still bad, footprint on our state.  Please, keep on praying.

Please continue to say special prayers for the first responders and the utility workers.  They sacrifice staying with their families to serve/protect the majority who sometimes are self-centered and not understanding of the greater needs.

I’ll add more later.

Anna Lee

Thursday

I’m still singing “God Will Take Care of You” this morning.  I think I may alter the words some to say “God Did Take Care of Me”!

“O my strength, I will sing praises to You;

For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.”

~Psalm 59:17, NASB~

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.”

~Psalm 18:6~

Isaac was certainly a bad hurricane, but thankfully it is finally heading out of here.  I’m confident he brought many people who had not prayed lately or very seriously to some real prayer sessions!

I think we can all count our blessings this morning.  I have many!

Today’s big task will be to continue checking on others and doing what needs to be done for them.  Show God how thankful you are by helping others.

2 rigs with roofing materials en route for Gulf hurricane victims

www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38604

Isaac, 7 years post-Katrina, mobilizes volunteers

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38605

Devotional

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/devotions/davenport_thanksgiving.aspx

Looking for a little sunshine today.  Be the sunshine in someone’s world today!

Anna Lee

Wednesday

“I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;

incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.”

~Psalm 17:6~

So far, so good with Isaac.  We have electricity, internet, and tv at this point.  Much more important than that, we are okay and do not know of a lot of damage from the storm.  Isaac is powerful, but God is more powerful!

Please continue to pray for Debi Bales’ mother, “Miss” Lucy, who is hospitalized in Ochsner in New Orleans.

Louisiana Disaster Relief

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38598

Obituaties

Sara Marie Campo Guzzardo
(June 17, 1930 – August 28, 2012)

Mrs. Sara Marie Campo Guzzardo, loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother & great-grandmother was born June 17, 1930 and passed at 3:21 p.m., Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was 82, a native of Amite and a resident of Independence.

She was a member of Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, St. Joseph Society, St. Mary’s Society, Ladies Council 5627 Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.

Mrs. Sara and her husband of 65 years, Buster J. Guzzardo, Sr. raised their 6 children in Independence. Survived by her husband and 2 sons, B.J. Guzzardo, Jr., Baton Rouge and Jerome Guzzardo and wife Julie, Independence. 4 daughters, MadelenePisciotta and husband Ronald, Loranger, Antoinette Guzzardo, Baton Rouge, Lorraine Guzzardo, Independence and Sara G. Harrison, Baton Rouge; sister, Catherine Campo Adomitis, Baton Rouge; 2 brothers, Steve Campo and wife Savina, Amite and John Campo and wife Carol, Amite; 16 grandchildren, Rex, Ryan and Elissa Guzzardo, Leslie Cormier, Taylar McDonald, Logan Guzzardo, Christopher, Ronald and Jude Pisciotta, Jessica Finley, Amber Trapen, Michael and Galan Gagneaux, Heather, Eric and Zachary Harrison; 17 great-grandchildren, Charley, Kendal and Avery Guzzardo, Kady, Chloe and Hudson Cormier; Lathan McDonald, Sebastian, Christian and Madelene Pisciotta, Destiny Dorsa, Joseph and Joshua Soniat, Grace Finley, Caden Gagneaux, Mikey and Bryce Trapen; numerous other extended family members.

Cora Passman Brown
(January 5, 1929 – August 28, 2012)

A resident of Amite, she died at 12:25 a.m. on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at her home. She was born January 5, 1929 in Amite and was 83 years of age. She is survived by her son, Harold Brown and wife, Linda, Amite; 6 daughters, Marilyn Russell and husband, Lawrence, Greenville, TX, Carolyn Santangelo and husband, Tony, Brashear, TX, Dianne Brown, Amite, Ann McDaniel Hall and husband, Jimmy, Pine Grove, Robin White, Ponchatoula, Missy Brown and Chad Kenan, Amite; 19 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Harriet Passman Carlton, Liberty, MS. Preceded in death by her husband, Francis M. Brown; daughter, Tammy Brown Ensign and her infant child; grandson, Bruce E. McLaughlin, Jr.; parents, Hezzie D. Passman and Effie Seals Passman; son-in-law, Leslie McDaniel; 2 sisters, Betty Lee Cleveland Pierce and Willie Passman Cox; brothers, Hezzie D. Passman, Jr. and Harold Don Passman. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday and at St. Helena Catholic Church, Amite, on Friday, August 31, 2012 from 8 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. Services conducted by Fr. Mark Beard. Interment Amite Memorial Gardens, Amite. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

Preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Fannie Schittone Campo; a sister Mary Campo Lavigne and a brother, John Campo.

Pallbearers will be her 10 grandsons.

Family would like to Thank Legacy Hospice for their outstanding care given to my wife and mother and especially to her nurse Chrissy Easley and aides for their loving care.

Visitation will be at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Sunday, September 2, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 pm. and at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Independence, on Monday, September 3, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Howard Adkins officiating. Interment in Colonial Mausoleum, Independence.

Family request memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN or Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Independence, LA.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

 Nelia H. Allen
(December 20, 1925 – August 26, 2012)

A resident of Greensburg, LA, died at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, August 26, 2012 at Liberty Community Living Center in Liberty, MS. She was born December 20, 1925 in Kentwood, LA and was 86 years of age. Visitation at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, Gillsburg, MS from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. Services conducted by Rev. Jerry Causey. Interment Centre Cemetery, Greensburg, LA. Survived by children, Nelia Ann Travis, Fred Allen, Jr. and his wife, Gloria, Alma Partin and her husband, Donnie, grandchildren, and Judy Pounds and her husband, Eddie, Mary Regan and her husband, David, Carla McKenzie and her husband, Steve, Beverly Boyd, Cheryl Henry and her husband, Chris, Michael Allen and his wife, Carolyn, Marcus Allen, Chad Allen, Linda Roberts and her husband, Lee, Melissa Ballard and her husband, Bill, Christopher Allen Partin, Rodney DeLette, and Tina DeLette, 23 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren, and son-in-law, Garry Gross. Preceded in death by, husband, Fred Allen, Sr., daughter, Peggy Gross, grandson, Joseph DeLette. Pallbearers will be Michael Allen, Marcus Allen, Chad Allen, David Regan, Christopher Allen Partin, and Huey Woodard. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.

 I’ll try to be back with you later.  Be safe.  Make good decisions.  Remember, God is bigger.  Talk to Him.

Anna Lee

Tuesday Addition

Hurricane Issac has been very kind to us so far.  Continue to watch and pray.

Jadon‘s mother has updated some information on his blog since Jadon is now three years old.  Read and know how blessed this little family has been.  Read on the right side on the page in the darker blue.

http://jadonsisstory.blogspot.com/

A former missionary to Romania has been updating me to what was  happening with a young child she knows.  Today, the child was scheduled to have limbs removed at Shriners’ Hospital.  The surgery has been postposed a couple of times today.  Please pray.  I’ll post more information after the surgery.