I pray that all of our Mesquite neighbors are doing well so far in this new year. I pray that our unemployed neighbors are finding work, that those without hope are being more and more encouraged.
I pray that those who attended the recent Community Job Fair held at Sharing Life were connected to some jobs. Lord willing, we will start planning another one that we will do better than the last one soon.
The weather has kinda kept us from doing as much as we'd like to be doing in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood. My last drive through that area this last week--I had mixed feelings. I see some progress on some streets, and on other streets a lot of trash on the streets and in yards. I am hopeful that we will be planning a trash/bash over there soon. Also, I am hoping to put together a neighborhood cookout/fellowship some time in March--and invite the whole neighborhood to come together as well as citizens from all over Mesquite to all come together and celebrate community! Yesterday when we had the annual prayer breakfast--many of the attendees went out around Mesquite to place a pvc pipe into the ground that had a declaration in it claiming that area for Jesus. My group went out to a vacant lot in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood and placed that pipe in the ground and prayed for every family in that neighborhood. We also prayed for God to send more workers to come out and help rebuild, blot out crime, and bring neighbors together and let love abound!
The Nehemiah Mesquite Mission is also fully committed to bringing about unity in Mesquite! As we are nearing the spring and local political season--the seeds of disunion are quickly growing! So let me offer this:
I am a pastor who believes in being involved in the political and civic process. I vote and I state who I believe are the best candidates and I work for or against local propositions depending on if I believe they are good for our people. Although I never, ever use the pulpit to discuss politics. I encourage every other Mesquite resident--Christian or non-Christian to also exercise their right to vote and participate in their government. HOWEVER, when we take positions and argue and debate different views and positions--PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET US DO SO IN LOVE AND WITH MUTUAL RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER! Let us not question each other's motives. Let us not be unkind. Let us state our positions and do what we think is right--but still love and care for one another. And when the election is over--let us unite behind who the people choose--and let there be a time period where we set politics aside and all of us roll up our sleeves and work alongside each other to rebuild the broken parts of our city the way Nehemiah did in Jerusalem!
Let Democrats and Republicans and Independents and people who hate politics but love their community come together and find common ground. Dear Mesquite Neighbors--WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT TRYING TO ERADICATE POVERTY IN OUR CITY? WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT HELPING WIDOWS FIX UP THEIR HOME? WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT CLEANING UP NEIGHBORHOODS? WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT PROVIDING LOVE AND MENTORING FOR MANY CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO DAD OR GUIDANCE? WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT WATCHING EACH OTHER'S PROPERTY TO STOP CRIME? WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT TRYING TO SPREAD HOPE? WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT HELPING OUR UNEMPLOYED NEIGHBORS FIND JOBS? WHAT IS POLITICAL ABOUT MAKING SURE POOR CHILDREN IN OUR CITY DON'T GO HUNGRY?
Please, please, please--let us tone down the harshness. Let us disagree when we need to--but not be so disagreeable. And together--let us do great things for the Lord and for each other!
Grace and Peace,
Bruce
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
New Beginnings For Mesquite
Today I had the opportunity to speak before the Mesquite Ambucs Club to share what the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission is about and what all we do. If you or your church or service organization would like to have me come speak, I'd love to come share what God is doing to rebuild our community!
Some progress has been made in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood, but there is much left there to be done--and many more neighborhoods to tackle. But of course, we know that God moves in HIS own time--not in our impatient ways! :)
I am hopeful to connect with some of our former Mesquite Citizens Police Academy Alumni, who could help build neighborhood crime watches with their knowledge and experience. I very much appreciate all the help the Mesquite Police Department has been giving us as well as Mesquite Code Enforcement. More and more homes that were in perpetual construction are remodeling and rebuilding and many of those houses look nice--that were just delapidated a few months ago--this in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood.
We need volunteers--short and simple!! Please help us!
If you have some repair and maintenance/construction skills, lawn care skills, or if you could just come help us pick up trash some Saturdays or help with a neighborhood cookout/fellowship, be a mentor for kids--please let me know--and together with God's help--we will do great things for the people of Mesquite in 2011!
Love in Christ,
Bruce
Some progress has been made in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood, but there is much left there to be done--and many more neighborhoods to tackle. But of course, we know that God moves in HIS own time--not in our impatient ways! :)
I am hopeful to connect with some of our former Mesquite Citizens Police Academy Alumni, who could help build neighborhood crime watches with their knowledge and experience. I very much appreciate all the help the Mesquite Police Department has been giving us as well as Mesquite Code Enforcement. More and more homes that were in perpetual construction are remodeling and rebuilding and many of those houses look nice--that were just delapidated a few months ago--this in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood.
We need volunteers--short and simple!! Please help us!
If you have some repair and maintenance/construction skills, lawn care skills, or if you could just come help us pick up trash some Saturdays or help with a neighborhood cookout/fellowship, be a mentor for kids--please let me know--and together with God's help--we will do great things for the people of Mesquite in 2011!
Love in Christ,
Bruce
Monday, December 27, 2010
NEHEMIAH MESQUITE MISSION END OF YEAR BLESSINGS
So many things to say, but I am literally somewhat out of energy after a busy holiday season! God provided toys for almost every child at both Allenhurst and Peachtree Apartments--and I praise God's name over and over and over!!!!
Special thanks to the many carolers from Meadowview Church of Christ who joined my congregation recently for some beautiful Christmas Caroling around Allenhurst and Peachtree Apartments--as well as the Valley View Heights Neighborhood. So many families were peering out of their apartment or house doors so full of excitement and curiosity. The love of Jesus was definitely spread around those parts of Mesquite that evening!
We are really gearing up these next several days to prepare for what I pray will be a successful Community Job Fair that Sharing Life and the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission will be sponsoring. If you are an employer who will be hiring in January--please let me know and come participate. The job fair is Saturday January 8 from 10am to 1pm at 3544 E. Emporium Cr. Or if you can bring a computer and help people prep resumes, we can use your help. Or if you need a job--come be with us that day!
There is much, much work yet to do in Mesquite. But we will talk about that soon. For now, let us praise God for all HE is doing in our community! Lives are being changed--one soul at a time! And neighborhoods are slowly moving forward.
Let us all unite and come together in 2011 to rebuild and better our Mesquite and make the lives of every family better and may we honor God as we endeavor such a great cause!
Special thanks to the many carolers from Meadowview Church of Christ who joined my congregation recently for some beautiful Christmas Caroling around Allenhurst and Peachtree Apartments--as well as the Valley View Heights Neighborhood. So many families were peering out of their apartment or house doors so full of excitement and curiosity. The love of Jesus was definitely spread around those parts of Mesquite that evening!
We are really gearing up these next several days to prepare for what I pray will be a successful Community Job Fair that Sharing Life and the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission will be sponsoring. If you are an employer who will be hiring in January--please let me know and come participate. The job fair is Saturday January 8 from 10am to 1pm at 3544 E. Emporium Cr. Or if you can bring a computer and help people prep resumes, we can use your help. Or if you need a job--come be with us that day!
There is much, much work yet to do in Mesquite. But we will talk about that soon. For now, let us praise God for all HE is doing in our community! Lives are being changed--one soul at a time! And neighborhoods are slowly moving forward.
Let us all unite and come together in 2011 to rebuild and better our Mesquite and make the lives of every family better and may we honor God as we endeavor such a great cause!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
NEHEMIAH MESQUITE MISSION PROGRESS AROUND MESQUITE
God is so amazing--and HE's doing great things in the City of Mesquite!!! Since we began the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood--progress is being made!
CRIME
On at least two streets in Valley View Heights--neighbors are telling me break ins have slowed almost to nothing. We had our first crime watch meeting last month on Rose Street and had over 25 neighbors who up--many more than I expected. Everyone seemed encouraged and hopeful--I appreciated Councilman Brian Hutcheson being there to support this work. We had a crimewatch walk today through the neighborhood--with James Wood and his wife (James is our crimewatch captain from Rose Street), myself, and one of our Mesquite Police Officers--who knows that neighborhood very well and knew lots of details of each street. I very much appreciate Councilman Stan Pickett showing up also for that walk. On our walk, we encountered a few neighbors who were glad to see us out there and a couple of neighbors who are trouble makers who were not so happy to see us. But nonetheless--I know word will spread that we were out there with a police officer and that is good! And honestly, there is so much more you can see when you are on foot as opposed to seeing from an automobile. If it slows anyone from pursuing criminal activity--its a good thing! It appears also, that more and more neighbors are talking to each other and looking out for one another! That is a huge blessing!
CODE ISSUES
When the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission first started working in that neighborhood, there were numerous vacant houses throughout the neighborhood that were neglected and that just looked terrible! A few were in what I call "Perpetual Repair"--but basically nothing was being done. However, today you see several vacant houses cleaned up--a few have been rented or sold--and several are having real repairs and improvements made on them. Every Saturday when we go through and pick up trash and pray for each street's families--we see workers rebuilding those houses! Clearly our code enforcement workers are making a difference!
UNEMPLOYMENT
As we go through the neighborhoods--whether it be Valley View Heights or even my own neighborhood--we encounter a number of unemployed neighbors. We need to keep praying for our unemployed neighbors. I am very excited to announce that on January 8th--the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission is partnering with Sharing Life to have a Community Job Fair. It will be a mix of a job fair with as many employers as we can get, as well as an opportunity to get help putting together a resume and we will have some professionals there to help with coaching for job interviewing skills. We will also have other ministers there besides myself to pray with folks who have been struggling or to listen to their stories. We want to encourage people! Please pray for God to bless this job fair. Here are the details:
Nehemiah Mesquite Mission/Sharing Life Community Job Fair
WHERE--Sharing Life's Facility-- 3544 Emporium Circle in Mesquite
WHEN--Saturday January 8 from 10am to 1pm
Today when we were doing the crimewatch walk through Valley View Heights, we encountered a neighbor who said he has been unemployed for several months and I mentioned our job fair. We plan on hitting several neighborhoods around Mesquite with fliers about the job fair before next month. If you know of an employer who will be hiring in January--please get them in touch with me.
May God continue to bless the City of Mesquite and may HE help us rebuild our city and spread the good news of Jesus--House By House, Street By Street, Neighborhood By Neighborhood, Apartment Complex By Apartment Complex!
Bruce
CRIME
On at least two streets in Valley View Heights--neighbors are telling me break ins have slowed almost to nothing. We had our first crime watch meeting last month on Rose Street and had over 25 neighbors who up--many more than I expected. Everyone seemed encouraged and hopeful--I appreciated Councilman Brian Hutcheson being there to support this work. We had a crimewatch walk today through the neighborhood--with James Wood and his wife (James is our crimewatch captain from Rose Street), myself, and one of our Mesquite Police Officers--who knows that neighborhood very well and knew lots of details of each street. I very much appreciate Councilman Stan Pickett showing up also for that walk. On our walk, we encountered a few neighbors who were glad to see us out there and a couple of neighbors who are trouble makers who were not so happy to see us. But nonetheless--I know word will spread that we were out there with a police officer and that is good! And honestly, there is so much more you can see when you are on foot as opposed to seeing from an automobile. If it slows anyone from pursuing criminal activity--its a good thing! It appears also, that more and more neighbors are talking to each other and looking out for one another! That is a huge blessing!
CODE ISSUES
When the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission first started working in that neighborhood, there were numerous vacant houses throughout the neighborhood that were neglected and that just looked terrible! A few were in what I call "Perpetual Repair"--but basically nothing was being done. However, today you see several vacant houses cleaned up--a few have been rented or sold--and several are having real repairs and improvements made on them. Every Saturday when we go through and pick up trash and pray for each street's families--we see workers rebuilding those houses! Clearly our code enforcement workers are making a difference!
UNEMPLOYMENT
As we go through the neighborhoods--whether it be Valley View Heights or even my own neighborhood--we encounter a number of unemployed neighbors. We need to keep praying for our unemployed neighbors. I am very excited to announce that on January 8th--the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission is partnering with Sharing Life to have a Community Job Fair. It will be a mix of a job fair with as many employers as we can get, as well as an opportunity to get help putting together a resume and we will have some professionals there to help with coaching for job interviewing skills. We will also have other ministers there besides myself to pray with folks who have been struggling or to listen to their stories. We want to encourage people! Please pray for God to bless this job fair. Here are the details:
Nehemiah Mesquite Mission/Sharing Life Community Job Fair
WHERE--Sharing Life's Facility-- 3544 Emporium Circle in Mesquite
WHEN--Saturday January 8 from 10am to 1pm
Today when we were doing the crimewatch walk through Valley View Heights, we encountered a neighbor who said he has been unemployed for several months and I mentioned our job fair. We plan on hitting several neighborhoods around Mesquite with fliers about the job fair before next month. If you know of an employer who will be hiring in January--please get them in touch with me.
May God continue to bless the City of Mesquite and may HE help us rebuild our city and spread the good news of Jesus--House By House, Street By Street, Neighborhood By Neighborhood, Apartment Complex By Apartment Complex!
Bruce
Saturday, November 20, 2010
CALLING FOR UNITY IN MESQUITE!!!
Dear Mesquite Friends,
My posting today is not about the Valley View Heights Neighborhood work. Its not about any political issues. Its about unity!
One of the goals/purposes of the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission is to bring about unity in the City of Mesquite! For how can we solve our crime problems, or how to fund our schools, or fund important things like fixing streets and other infrastructure needs, helping put people back to work and most importantly--help the Gospel of Jesus Christ be spread throughout our city--if we are all at each other's throats and are in disunity?
Surely, surely, surely--there are important matters to every single one of our families in Mesquite--in which we can all come together and find common ground???
Helping the poor, helping make neighborhoods and apartment complexes safer for children in which to grow up, creating more jobs in Mesquite so everyone doesn't have to spend hours a day just commuting, helping the unemployed get back to work, helping families who rent one day be able to live the American Dream and own their home, and so many more critical issues--WE CANNOT ACHIEVE THOSE THINGS AND MORE--IF WE CANNOT WORK TOGETHER!!!
As I go around asking all kinds of Mesquite residents to join our effort--I have literally had a handful say "Well, if so and so is involved--I won't work with them!" Well, I love those folks and value all they've done for Mesquite. But honestly--anyone who says such things--I have to honestly question--is the cause of making our city better and doing what is right whats important? Or is pride and self-focus the main priority? I don't mean to offend anyone--but I vow to speak the truth and be honest!!!
IT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER WHO WORKED AGAINST WHO IN A PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL BOARD, OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE RACE!!!!
When I spend time at Allenhurst or Peachtree Apartments and try to encourage people, when I talk to the many unemployed friends I have around town, when I see people in neighborhoods concerned about their homes being broken in or people driving too fast on their streets, when I look into the eyes of the many children we minister to whose parents don't come to church with them--NONE OF THEM SEEM TO CARE ABOUT POLITICS OR WHOSE UP AND WHOSE DOWN AND WHOSE FRIENDS WITH SO AND SO!!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHOSE ALIGNED POLITICALLY WITH WHO!!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHO SAID WHAT ABOUT WHO IN THE LAST LOCAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGN!!! They don't care, God doesn't care--so why should we?
Mesquite has many wonderful things taking place and we are blessed in many ways! But like the rest of the nation, we also have our share of problems and struggles!
To face and deal with our many challenges, we need to find times where we are not Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Conservatives, or a host of other labels--but instead--there must be times where we can come together and just be God's children and fellow neighbors who love each other and our great city who work together to help build a better future!
When Nehemiah realized how bad things were in Jerusalem, chapter one of Nehemiah's book says that Nehemiah wept. He then called on the Lord to help him go rebuild the destroyed walls and burned gates of Jerusalem! With God's help--we can do the same here in Mesquite--with our struggles and problems--IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER!
During the 1860 Presidential campaign, Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen Douglas had a hard fought campaign against one another. But both loved this country deeply and saw a greater cause then themselves--this is one thing in which they found common ground--as all of us can. On Inauguration day--March 4, 1861--as President Lincoln walked up to the podium to give his inaugural speech, he realized he needed a place to sit his hat. Not seeing where he could put it, Lincoln then heard a voice behind him--Senator Douglas--who gently said to his once opponent and now his President--"I'll hold it for you."
Richard Nixon campaigned on a very important theme in 1968, with the country torn apart by war and civil unrest--his theme was simply "Bring Us Together." It was a good theme then and its a good one today!
John Kennedy said it best when he said: "For in the final analysis, our most basic common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal."
Remember September 11, 2001 when members of Congress--Democrats and Republicans--stood arm in arm on the Capital Steps and sang God Bless America? I get chills thinking about it. We need to have such an attitude of unity in Mesquite, Texas!
Let us be praying for unity. Let us reach out to one another. Let us love and serve one another. Let us disagree when we need to, but let us do it in an agreeable, Christ-like way. And let us come together and roll up our sleeves and rebuild and make our Mesquite better! Our children and grandchildren will be blessed by our common purpose and unity!
There is nothing wrong with Mesquite, that cannot be fixed with what is right with Mesquite!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
My posting today is not about the Valley View Heights Neighborhood work. Its not about any political issues. Its about unity!
One of the goals/purposes of the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission is to bring about unity in the City of Mesquite! For how can we solve our crime problems, or how to fund our schools, or fund important things like fixing streets and other infrastructure needs, helping put people back to work and most importantly--help the Gospel of Jesus Christ be spread throughout our city--if we are all at each other's throats and are in disunity?
Surely, surely, surely--there are important matters to every single one of our families in Mesquite--in which we can all come together and find common ground???
Helping the poor, helping make neighborhoods and apartment complexes safer for children in which to grow up, creating more jobs in Mesquite so everyone doesn't have to spend hours a day just commuting, helping the unemployed get back to work, helping families who rent one day be able to live the American Dream and own their home, and so many more critical issues--WE CANNOT ACHIEVE THOSE THINGS AND MORE--IF WE CANNOT WORK TOGETHER!!!
As I go around asking all kinds of Mesquite residents to join our effort--I have literally had a handful say "Well, if so and so is involved--I won't work with them!" Well, I love those folks and value all they've done for Mesquite. But honestly--anyone who says such things--I have to honestly question--is the cause of making our city better and doing what is right whats important? Or is pride and self-focus the main priority? I don't mean to offend anyone--but I vow to speak the truth and be honest!!!
IT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER WHO WORKED AGAINST WHO IN A PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL, SCHOOL BOARD, OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE RACE!!!!
When I spend time at Allenhurst or Peachtree Apartments and try to encourage people, when I talk to the many unemployed friends I have around town, when I see people in neighborhoods concerned about their homes being broken in or people driving too fast on their streets, when I look into the eyes of the many children we minister to whose parents don't come to church with them--NONE OF THEM SEEM TO CARE ABOUT POLITICS OR WHOSE UP AND WHOSE DOWN AND WHOSE FRIENDS WITH SO AND SO!!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHOSE ALIGNED POLITICALLY WITH WHO!!! THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHO SAID WHAT ABOUT WHO IN THE LAST LOCAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGN!!! They don't care, God doesn't care--so why should we?
Mesquite has many wonderful things taking place and we are blessed in many ways! But like the rest of the nation, we also have our share of problems and struggles!
To face and deal with our many challenges, we need to find times where we are not Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Conservatives, or a host of other labels--but instead--there must be times where we can come together and just be God's children and fellow neighbors who love each other and our great city who work together to help build a better future!
When Nehemiah realized how bad things were in Jerusalem, chapter one of Nehemiah's book says that Nehemiah wept. He then called on the Lord to help him go rebuild the destroyed walls and burned gates of Jerusalem! With God's help--we can do the same here in Mesquite--with our struggles and problems--IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER!
During the 1860 Presidential campaign, Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen Douglas had a hard fought campaign against one another. But both loved this country deeply and saw a greater cause then themselves--this is one thing in which they found common ground--as all of us can. On Inauguration day--March 4, 1861--as President Lincoln walked up to the podium to give his inaugural speech, he realized he needed a place to sit his hat. Not seeing where he could put it, Lincoln then heard a voice behind him--Senator Douglas--who gently said to his once opponent and now his President--"I'll hold it for you."
Richard Nixon campaigned on a very important theme in 1968, with the country torn apart by war and civil unrest--his theme was simply "Bring Us Together." It was a good theme then and its a good one today!
John Kennedy said it best when he said: "For in the final analysis, our most basic common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal."
Remember September 11, 2001 when members of Congress--Democrats and Republicans--stood arm in arm on the Capital Steps and sang God Bless America? I get chills thinking about it. We need to have such an attitude of unity in Mesquite, Texas!
Let us be praying for unity. Let us reach out to one another. Let us love and serve one another. Let us disagree when we need to, but let us do it in an agreeable, Christ-like way. And let us come together and roll up our sleeves and rebuild and make our Mesquite better! Our children and grandchildren will be blessed by our common purpose and unity!
There is nothing wrong with Mesquite, that cannot be fixed with what is right with Mesquite!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
Monday, November 15, 2010
FIRST CRIMEWATCH MEETING A SUCCESS IN VALLEY VIEW HEIGHTS!!
As of tonight--The Nehemiah Mesquite Mission moves forward! We had our first crimewatch meeting in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood--and it was A HUGE SUCCESS! With the weather, I honestly expected maybe 5-6 people to show up--but I think we had around 25 or so residents attend! I was so encouraged--and I think many of them were also! And just like in my neighborhood recently--kids were playing in yards all around us--and you could really feel community and the whole "Love Your Neighbor" concept Jesus talked about in Matthew 22:34! It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
Special thanks to my boys for helping set up chairs and all the fliers they handed out Saturday reminding everyone about the meeting. Special thanks to the family who hosted the meeting under their carport. Special thanks to Officer Don Williams for all his hard work all over Mesquite in setting up crimewatches. Special thanks to Rose Street resident James Wood for his leadership as crimewatch captain. Special thanks to Nadine Ward for helping us design some really effective fliers for the neighborhood. And special thanks to Councilman Brian Hutcheson for attending and showing his support.
I could see hope and encouragement in people's eyes tonight. I could see neighbors chitchatting who did not know each other prior to tonight. People are tired of just accepting things not being as they should!
I am also still seeing progress with code issues getting better around the neighborhood. Streets and yards seem cleaner.
The next couple of weeks, we will focus more on more progress with vacant houses that have been neglected and other code issues. We will also be looking to see if we can help any families who are unemployed--find any kind of work--especially with Christmas coming up.
We still need many more volunteers. And we need workers who can speak fluent spanish also--for many families who want to participate in bettering their neighborhood--but sometimes feel awkward because of their language barrier. God loves all HIS children equally!
Please continue to pray for the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission!
There is nothing wrong with Mesquite, that cannot be fixed with what is right with Mesquite!
Special thanks to my boys for helping set up chairs and all the fliers they handed out Saturday reminding everyone about the meeting. Special thanks to the family who hosted the meeting under their carport. Special thanks to Officer Don Williams for all his hard work all over Mesquite in setting up crimewatches. Special thanks to Rose Street resident James Wood for his leadership as crimewatch captain. Special thanks to Nadine Ward for helping us design some really effective fliers for the neighborhood. And special thanks to Councilman Brian Hutcheson for attending and showing his support.
I could see hope and encouragement in people's eyes tonight. I could see neighbors chitchatting who did not know each other prior to tonight. People are tired of just accepting things not being as they should!
I am also still seeing progress with code issues getting better around the neighborhood. Streets and yards seem cleaner.
The next couple of weeks, we will focus more on more progress with vacant houses that have been neglected and other code issues. We will also be looking to see if we can help any families who are unemployed--find any kind of work--especially with Christmas coming up.
We still need many more volunteers. And we need workers who can speak fluent spanish also--for many families who want to participate in bettering their neighborhood--but sometimes feel awkward because of their language barrier. God loves all HIS children equally!
Please continue to pray for the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission!
There is nothing wrong with Mesquite, that cannot be fixed with what is right with Mesquite!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
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!
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!
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