GETTING CLOSER TO THE GOAL--BUT MUCH WORK YET TO BE DONE!

Greetings Mesquite Friends,

The Nehemiah Mesquite Missioin had its most productive day yet I believe in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood today! I had Spencer Gunnels, one of our ministers from At The Cross and my two boys Jayden and Bryson and their buddy DeAndre.

Bryson picked up trash on each street--while the rest of us knocked doors handing out fliers and reminding everyone of our first crimewatch meeting coming up Monday November 15th on Rose Street. We had several good responses from neighbors who seemed excited about the possibility of things getting better. Several neighbors continue to tell me of a break in here and there, but overall they seem hopeful things can get better. And with the Lord helping us--IT WILL GET BETTER!!!

As always, we took time on each street to pray for those families who are unemployed or who are hurting financially--and for God to just bless every family in the neighborhood.

Overall, you can tell that the streets are cleaner and that code enforcement has been working with landlords to get those homes that had been under long term reconstruction--are now really getting worked on and rebuilt. I am hopeful that the more God's people can engage and encourage renters living in the neighborhood--the more landlords will have better long term renters who take better care of the homes--and perhaps some renters one day could actually buy the homes from the landlords. Surely one of the beauties of the American Dream is home ownership!

I met a young couple today who recently bought their house and they've already had a break in--but they seem resolved to carve out a good life in this neighborhood and they want to get involved. Such moments are priceless for me!

Besides break ins, I've had some different residents complain of some gang activity--which we will hopefully talk about at our crime watch Monday evening. Councilman Brian Hutcheson will be with us at our first meeting, which I really appreciate. Community Police Officer Don Williams will also be with us. Officer Williams is a HUGE asset to The City of Mesquite!

I was really proud of my boys and Spencer Gunnels. Everyone did a wonderful job. Lord willing, by February or March--we can have at least 2-3 crimewatch chairpersons set up throughout the neighborhood, more clean up can take place, more neighbors get involved and knowing each other--and we can move on to the next older neighborhood in Mesquite.

I strongly believe that GOD IS PREPARED TO DO GREAT AND AMAZING THINGS IN MESQUITE! With HIS help, we will rebuild every broken part of Mesquite--and thus rebuild people's lives just as Nehemiah did in Jerusalem! May God receive all the glory!