What a great Christmas and New Year beginning! We actually had Christmas trees in some FEMA park homes in the pass.....and a very few families are in their "real" homes. The parsonage family has a tree which was supplied by Donna and Dan Moody, some wonderful decorations provided by folks from around the country and outside lighting from Harold Yost and his wife......we looked really festive when the 59 resident students came to receive their gifts. We will be moving into the parsonage very soon after the first of the year....it still will not be completed, but will pass final inspection.....one doesn't have to have base-boards to live in a house. We have purchased new mattress and foundation and living room furniture and have borrowed a dining table from Mom....the little table provided by the People of Saudi made it through the storm along with two chairs but needs good cleaning and will be too small for the new house......we expect to have lots of folks come by to share a meal. Thanks everyone for your continued prayers.........Happy New Year.
Two things to let readers know: Sabine Pass will truely never look anywhere near te same.....many, many homes and most business buildings have been pushe to the streets....a few new homes are beginning to make headway, including the new Methodist parsonage which we hope to occupy by Thanksgiving,,,,finished or not. The second is we hope to occupy the parsonage before Thanksgiving, ready or not.....the commute continues to take a toll. Hope remains in the hearts of our community but the bons are weary.....please continue to pray for us. God bless!
Thank you, thank you to the 89 Man March from Dallas.....you gave us a push over the hump and we think we can make it now! The old parsonage is on the street, and both buildings are gutted! And the new parsonage may be open soon......Thank you MARCH!
The exciting hustle and bustle of a town full of people that came with "Rita" is not here yet with "Ike" We're expecting "Flood buckets" on Monday and have heard the health dept. will be down to give shots.  The POD (point of distribution) will be at school shop again.
The 1st Baptist Church has offered its building for community use in any way that it is needed .....the Methodist have only the unfinished parsonage to offer....but 18 of us gathered there for worship on the great Sunday, Sept 21 and praised God that there has been no lose of life in our community.
We have been told that food stamps are available for a period of two months for those who may need a little assistance who are not on "the program.".....1-877-541-7905  There is also temporary unemplooyment benefits for those who no longer have a job due to "Ike" This will not count against your employer 1-800-819-9488   Don't be shy.....these programs are your tax-dollar at work.
Salvation Army is serving meals in the pass......Jennings Eldridge had by-pass surgery  18th in Bryan and is doing well. Working on forum @ www.ikerecovery.info where you can exchange "needs" volunteer info and lots of general information, we hope. 
SEE THIS WEB SITE FOR PHOTOS FROM IKE THANKS TIF! 
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=1835ub4y.1zzwu0rq&Uy=urgxul&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=644531947240_380207110406&localeid=en_US

We have left our homes and scattered around the country......running from "Ike" I will attempt to post any info I have here and ask that you please remember us in your prayers and that everyone comment in the guest book!!!!!  Ronnie and I have taken my mother and Al to Lewisville, north of Dallas and will be here through Sunday morning. Please let everyone know where you are! Bless you all.........Ms. Kitty
9/15 The great news for this day is that Barbara and Art are okay! They are on the boat in the Port of Beaumont....lost their vehicles but coz y in their boat! Helena is in Mauricville with Adam and Julie waiting patiently. Right....
Sunday 14: Reports slowly come in and the news is not so good for many Sabine Pass residents. I talked with Travis this morning and it seems that what was "up" is in pretty good shape and what was "down" is not so good to say the very least. Our little community has not seen anything like this before.....Rita doesn't hold it a light......I saw one short video that had cows on the ramp at the school and the Almond house looking real good! I am so thankful that several of the travel trailers made it out....BooBoo and Pam are still in Houston, Carl and Cheryl in Magnolia, Sama dn Karen in Elkhart, Kenneth and Dorothy in Plano, Gabby and VIrgin in Austin, Gerald and ROsie in Indiana, Binky at Jason's, Charlene in Ft. Worth, Adam on a big truck taking important people through the community.......what would we do without Adam out there working for us?! FOlks who have been to the pass to help with recovery are praying for us and trying to figure out when they can come back. Where would we be without the volunteers? Can't imagine. We're still in Daisetta but hoping to return soon.
Saturday morning 9/13: All we hear is there has been extreme flooding in the pass.....afraid that maybe an understatement. PLESE GO TO GUESTBOOK AND LEAVE YOUR INFO......and listen to KLVI live..........I've had contact with many, including John Ratcliff who brought the cross to town, folks from all over including, Joe and Katie Beran, LeeBayley from Hawkins, Clayton Weaver with Minnonites and the team from Highland Park Dallas andmany others.
August is here along with first Hurricane hit! All is well and we thank everyone for your prayers. NY has returned and conducted VBS which was a great success and work on the parsonage. Then Abury out of Houston.......a contractor was employed to finish out the texture on drywall and do some of the interior painting. ....then it was FUMC Garland returning to hang interior doors and put some personality in the painting of the bedrooms and baths. Highland Park, Dallas is set to make a quick stop to pitch in......and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs promises that very soon some funds will come forward to help amilies get back in their homes from Rita......it really is amazing isn't it......just over 6 weeks will  mark three years since that storm hit us. THank you all for the blessing you have shared!
The Old Geezers have arrived! Its like they blow in on the north wind.....all the way from Garland Texas.....they broought what they needed to get the drywall on the ceilings.....they love it and I thank God for them. Of course it takes everyone and we are very thankful for Lake Jackson, Woodville and St. Luke's Houston , who came to do the insulation so the Geezers would be ready to go...........the next group to officially on the calendar is New York, June 26th....its a long time but folks here are waiting a long time.....church can't expect to be any different.
Thank you! Thank you! Our old friends are beginning to call about coming back.....what we do without all of you? We don't even want to think about it! If you know someone who is interested is continuing to "rebuild" of Sabine Pass and doesn't want alot of "Red tape" and extra expenses, please contact us at ms.kitty@sabinepassumc.org......God bless you one and all!
The inspector is to be here to make the final inspection on the framing and interior work can begin in earnest.......YES! Now its insulation, drywall, flooring, cabinets.....and all that jazz....St. Luke's in Houston is coming for a acouple of days in March and there are mumbelings that the Old Geezers will return soon....what would we have ever done with out the faithful......We are praying that others are moved to come join us.....the beds are great, the food is awesome and the fellowship is downhome and friendly......Hope to see you soon......call 409-960-4738 any time.
At last! Broadband is mine and maybe I can get this page in order! Sorry about the delay but time has gotten even more precious and there is too much wasted with "dial-up!" If you are returning after a disappointing months without a change here, I'm so glad you're back! Please visit the guestbook and let me know what you'd like to see here. Welcome again and thanks for visiting!
A roofing contractor has installed a nice red metal roof and Cody Landry Construction has installed the "Hi-impact" windows. Cody and his guys will putpn the Hardi and close the doors and hopefully will have the electric, plaumbing and HAC well under way by the teams start to arrive in October.
We would like to ask special prayers for our friends in Bucyrus, Ohio and other communities which have faced the on-slught of rising water during the last few weeks.



We would love to hear from you.....please visit  our "Guestbook."

Thank You Bucyrus, Ohio! What a wonderful week we had......homes painted everywhere and work done on the parsonage, too.........May God Bless you our brothers and sisters in Christ. Ceder Bayou joined in the fun on Monday, June 11th and painted along and really helped with the decking of the roof..........then there was that daring duo from 1st Baptist Sabine Pass! Thanks to George Jr. and his pal..........we luv ya'

The new parsonage for the SabinePass/St. John's Port Arthur charge is moving right along thanks to the excellent guidance of Ralph Hendricks and the hard word of teams from 1st Bryan, Deleware, Hawkins, Colorado and Bucyrus Ohio..........and generous donations from so many.............hopefully the roof will be decked during the month of June.

Cisero, N.Y. is coming to bring real Vacation Bible School to the pass beginning June 25th! We're so excited! Thanks everyone for all you do and for your continued prayers.

Hello everyone and Happy July 4th!!!! The pass is looking better every day.....sure there are still many houses to be repaired.....many to be rebuilt......many FEMA travel trailers still in use.....but...and this is a big one......the"stop-and-rob" grocery opens July 1st.....that's right.....the pass will once again have gasoline  (who cares how much it cost) cold drinks, ice, and the long awaited ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited! During the month on June we were very blessed to have Jim and Elaine Butcher from Maryville, Tenn continue their stay another month, and Lutherans Kip Maxwell and wife Charlotte from North Salt Lake City and Annette Harris from North Carolina join them in their labors.

For those of you who might be counting toes, add 2500 Latter Day Saints from Houston area, 1500 Methodist from Irving area, 80 Lutherans from North Branch, Minnesota, 1500 Baptist from McKenny, Texas, 900 Methodist from Friendswood, Texas, 280 Baptist from Hewitt, Texas,  and you get 6,760 young, exciting, hard-working, dancing little piglets in the pass in June and July......for those who might not have followed all that, there will have been 676 youth and adult leaders serving the community for the glory of God during the months of June and July......can't begin to calculate the man-hours or the God minutes......it's such a thrill to see God's hands at work in theirs. Thank every one of you who have made all this possible with your service and your prayers.

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brown from Northport, Michigan have donated a coffee table, end table, and over-stuffed chair which we have added to the recliner and loveseat already in the Bert Kerrar and Wah-lah, a very nice place to relax after a hard day's work in rebuilding our community. Thanks to the Browns, Bernard and Betty Scroggins and John and Nell Key for their generosity.

Plymouth Park UMC, joined by  FUMC Duncanville and  Fellowship UMC, Trophy Club came in force of 150, spent a week and made a lasting impression on the community. Working on 11 houses could be considered by some as the most awesome thing these young people could do, but what they did that was truly awesome was share their love, enthusiasn, and hope for a brighter day.....Words could never express what they did for us........but we'll give it a try later on......THANKS Ya'll it was wonderful!!!!

What fun! To prove no team is too small we point to Ann Harris! Here she came, all the way from North Carolina to offer her time and talents to God's work......right along with Jim and Elaine.....working to make the parsonage truly home.....What a wonderful reminder of how important each individual is when it comes to reaching a goal......Thanks Ann!!!!!!!!! And welcome to the pass Lutheran Disaster Response........

There came another touch of Lutheran to our community and it looks like more to come in the future.....that's right....all the way from North Salt Lake City, Utah.....Kip and Charlotte Maxwell came in their van, parked on our front by Jim and Elaine and spent a week working with them and others in the neighborhood. What a delight they were! and we thank the two of them very much.

The team from FUMC Rowlette and FUMC Garland spent four days with us and did they ever make a change....the parsonage has doors and cabinets, vanities set, the porch has blocks under both sides and the Bert Karrer building and the sanctuary now both have exit steps. Oh, and the whole house is painted WHITE on the interior. I'm not sure the walls will stay white when the second coat comes later, but for now they really look clean. JIM AND ELAINE BUTCHER have returned from Tennessee to stay 2 months in the neighborhood and it sure is a blessing. They work like "turks" and are always willing to welcome other teams and help find them work. By the way the Lutherens are coming.....that's right.....Annette Harris is coming from one of the Carolinas for a week and another couple is coming through that group for 3 weeks....we are so blessed........Thanks everyone.

The community has come together to create the Sabine Pass Organization for Disaster Relief and has met every Tuesday evening for two months now.  The group, averaging 30, meets at the Methodist church to make plans for how we can help each other as we attempt to build our community back. We can house groups of 25 very comfortably and will put the cat out and let you sleep on the sofa if need be......no group is too small.....any skill can be utilized.....we even need good listeners.........come and join us soon!!!

Saturday, April 22 the community said thanks to the Mennonite/Amish communities that have spent four months with us......repairing.........Sabine Methodist furnished lunch in the park. Mayor Ortiz sent down a proclamation with Bonnie Prince and Steve Fitzgibbons and the day was great! THANKS AGAIN CHRISTIAN AIDE MINISTRIES

The Easter Bunny hopped right on down to the pass thanks to two wonderful ladies who drove everything ever needed to have a great party all the way from Rowlette, Texas, near Dallas. What an exciting ministry Sherry and Vickie shared with us and their congregation. You have never seen so many eggs and prizes, and good stuff packed into boxes and driven all those miles. It was such a treat for the adults who attended the Saturday afternoon party as well as the children. THank you, thank you and we look forward to your return in a few weeks!

There are not enough words left in my limited vocabulary to express how blessed Sabine Pass continues to be. A wonderful group of folks swept in via some airline and worked miracles. The congregation had a tool drive for our community and filled a large chest and even larger cabinet with many wonderful tools.....power tools and well as standard. They also brought along computers and software to not only set up our office but also give us an audio-visual set up that would cause churches of much larger size be envious....if we weren't Methodist, that is. Team leader Dawn and master of all trades Dave jumped in the Rose House and laid some fine looking tile while others installed insulation, finished the floor and trim in the sanctuary and hung paneling. We rejoice in the fact we now have a restroom!!!!!! Thanks for everything....plus the prime rib!!!!!!!!

We were joined for Ash Wed. Services by Rev Everett Bassett and a work team from Cicero, NY..........what a wonderful addition.........thanks and come again!

Reading back through the entries here I have realized there has not been a word of appreciation for the time Murry and Sam Johnston gave to this congregation and community. Words can not begin to express what these two gave........their hearts would be a beginning......thank you so much......Nebraska left its mark!

Wednesday Jan 25th and Friday Jan 27th were evenings that warmed the hearts of all who participated. 30 gathered in the sanctuary to enjoy "The Soul Food Cafe" There was a great meal of grilled hambergers, links, potato salad, red beans and rice, and more, followed by "guitar playing and singing" by Murry Johnston. The guy is quite talented and very entertaining. He was followed by "The Bus Driver" Jonathan (Van pilot for the Amish) who gave new meaning to playing the piano. It was absolutely amazing that anyone who could play like that was in the pass playing for our crowd to sing. Mouths dropped open! What fun! Friday evening was a run-through for "A Night at the Movies" The Beaumont District owns a projector which allows Videos, DVDs and Karaoke to be shown on our newly painted wall. We enjoyed some sing-along, an old-time cartoon and the feature film, "Red Fury" enhanced by the aroma of fresh popped corn. Both of these events will be continued for awhile.....get those people out of those FEMA trailers and out on the town! We're hoping the crowd grows and the word spreads.

First United Methodist Fort Worth Director of Youth Ministries, Shawn Callaway followed the lead of "the Old Guy" Dan and came south for the weekend. They brought a great group of college students with them and lo and behold, by the time they pulled out of town the roof on the sanctuary had been stipped and replaced. Ralph Hendricks, Lake Jackson UMC and two of his fellow church members were joined the first day by William Devine. You talk about work hard! They may have set a record! They peeled off half that roof and those guys have a few years of experience under their belts. By the way, should any of you meet Shawn on one of life's by-ways ask him about those great shoes he got in Sabine Pass.

Ralph Hendricks, memeber of Lake Jackson UMC, Aggie Civil Engineer graduate, and friend , drove in Friday December 16th to see what he could do to help and was he ever handy! He started right away with little projects Sam had lined up, capped off a water line for Joe and Cynthia, did the official inspections for the roofing gang from Highland Park, and made a badly needed inspection of First Baptist so they could move forward on their recovery. Ralph says he'll be back and we're not only thankful for his first stay with us but are looking forward to his return.......folks just kept saying, "He's a really nice guy!"

A special thanks to "Labors for Neighbors" from Highland Park UMC Dallas for a new roof on the Bert Karrer building, wonderful gifts for the congregation and children of the community and continued prayers! It was a very special Christmas for all of us.............

First Baptist Church, located on Buford Street, has some very serious problems. Sunday, Nov. 20th the congregation worshipped in UMC sanctuary for the first of many times to come. Most of the congregation drives to Sabine Pass from Port Arthur to be a part of this faith family. They said they were so glad to be back home. SPUMC was so glad to have them there!

Mr./Mrs R.W. Lance of Houston gifted the church with a really nice 1986 Hi-Lo travel trailer to be available to someone who will not be getting a FEMA one. What a wonderful gift!

It was a 'family afair' when Bob & Lois Kelly of St. Mark's UMC in Baytown and their daughter Angie and husband Jack came to the pass to spend part of their Thanksgiving weekend. They jumped right in and helped finish out the Bert Karrer building. The wall paper border in the first Sunday School room was the perfect touch!

Faithbridge UMC Spring, Texas was back with the biggest chain saws yet! They ripped right through several in the pass, including the one on the Community Building's storage building. Then off they went to Port Arces to take care of 95 year old Mary Kigers problem. Those guys were awesome. Youth from their church were here earilier and helped Becky Dolan among others and brought loads of clothes. The chainsaw gang plans to return to Port Acres soon.

They came driving up as we left church Sunday morning Nov. 20th.....they were looking for work.....we were excited! Right away Elain pulled out the work orders and they set to work. We were blessed to have them three days. Those people can turn out the work! What they did at First Baptist will not soon be forgotten.

Members of 1st United Methodist Church Hawkins Texas spent the better part of three days making a whale of a difference in the Bert Karrer building. T'was not their plan when they left home.....it was cutting trees they had in mind, but they good naturedly bought hammers and pitched in. Thanks guys......you dun real good!

Dan Kongs  from Los Cruces, N.M. and his little friend Scooter have spent several long days at the pass working on the Bert Karrer building so that it can be used as a shelter for residents and local workers. Jim Butcher held his breath hoping the paneling would make it before the two took off for Kansas.........it came, they finished, and we all wished the pair from N.M. well. Funny how God can speak to people's hearts and they just ride up one day, take on a task, finish it and ride away. Thanks Dan and Scooter......it's been a real pleasure knowing you.

Jim and Elaine have come to stay through November and help with the mission teams that are coming in.........thank you, thank you! They have traveled all the way from Knoxville, Tenn. to answer this call. We are so blessed!

Assistance is pouring in to the community from many directions! Thank you everyone! Especially, the Southern Baptist and Latter Day Saints for all you have done in cleaning out the buildings. Triumph Church and Operation Blessings for the help with the shelter and the many, many Methodist who have come through with labor and donations. We're making a list and checking it twice so we won't leave anyone out when it comes to saying Thanks.