Category: Archived Posts – 2007-2016

Oct. 14/2016

We headed southwest early this morning to a town called Camp Perrin. We have connections there and thought this may be a good starting point. Along the way we ran across Omba Fort, Aquin. This little peninsula got hammered. We stopped to get some food to the people. They have zero help for food and water. As we started the distribution things became very dangerous so we quickly got out of there. We handed out only 40 bags. As expected a few messed it up for many. We moved on and stopped along the way to single dwellings for safety sakes. We made it to Camp Perrin which had to be a beautiful town pre hurricane. Not a tree left standing and massive damage to most structures. This town is NW of Cayes. We distributed food and surveyed what we might be able to do. We found some elderly sisters who lost everything. God willing and God providing we might can get a roof over their heads. Please help me pray through this. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Kenny

 

Haiti relief Oct 12-13/16
I arrived safe in a country that has been almost two years since I was last here. Harry and Alex met me at the airport got a smooth exit. We started gathering a few tools that will help while here and will help in the future. Machetes, rope, hammers, tarps etc. From Port au Prince we headed to the compound in Gran Gwav several hours down the coast. Hit the rack and rose early to start buying food supplies that we will distribute. We will make packages of food for families. Each package will have rice,beans,oil, noddles,sauce, fish and bullion. The same sort of thing we did during the earthquake. We made 100 packs to start with. This is nothing compared to what we really need. We will head southwest in the morning to where the hurricane passed over. We have limited resources at this time so we have to hit our target. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Kenny

In November and December of 2015 GMSM joined Conscience International on the island of Lesbos, Greece to assist in the flow of refugees fleeing Syria, Iran,Afghanistan and Iraq from the rule of ISIS. As they left their countries they migrated through Turkey, mostly on foot, and came across the Aegean Sea via rubber dingy. Sounds like a simple process but it’s far from simple. Leaving property, family members and belongings due to the strong arm of ISIS and war these people faced odds that most humans could not handle. Running from the enemy ,they found more problems when they reached Turkey. Seems like Turkey has a unsatisfiable taste for money. The refugees are taken advantage of financially and mistreated physically. Once they reach the Turkish shore they are SOLD the right of passage on a small boat for the sum of $1000.00 to $1500.00 per person. The small boats to my estimation could comfortably hold 25 passengers. But money mongrels always figure out how to exploit the hurting. So they cram 50 to 60 freedom seekers on one raft and smile all the way to the bank. Most refugees are not necessarily water people so boating experience is not common. They purchase ineffective life jackets, take a crash course in boating 101 and are pointed in the direction of the island. Most make it and some do not. There have been many drownings, mostly children. Our mission was to accept the refugees once they hit the shores of Lesbos and get them to the stage two camp in Scalla and get them dry cloths, warm drink, water and food. Once in the camp there are doctors to see after the sick and hurting. The problems range from exposure to culture shock and everything between. We also try to give them their dignity back. In this two month span I spent 5 weeks on Lesbos, 3 of those weeks our youngest daughter Lydia was with us. It’s a joy seeing your child in the field doing what should be
natural to all people. Unfortunately that’s not the case. A lot of people have the misconception that all Muslims are bad people. Yes there are some bad Muslims, just like there are some bad Americans and other people in the world. We were not there to make judgment on these people. We were there to meet needs and extend the hand of love and friendship. I think Christ showed us that example didn’t He. Once they got through our camp the refugees were put on a bus that takes them to bigger camps to start the processing so they could move through Europe. We are hoping for a return trip (#3) after the 1st. This by far has been one of the greatest experiences GMSM has been a part of. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Kenny

Dear family,friends and church,

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow. Give Me Shelter Ministries will be joining Conscience International to assist in relief effort in Lesvos, Greece. Thousands of refugees are fleeing Syria and Iraq via Turkey into Lesvos. They have left their homes to make the trek across Turkey in hope of a new life. These refugees are escaping civil war and ISIS. We will be assisting at the camp ,which receives immigrants, with the distribution of food, water, clothes, sleeping bags, and medical supplies. These folks have left everything they own and arrive on the island with only what they have on their back. From the island they will hopefully take the ferry to Athens. Afterward, their future is uncertain, and is the focus of political debate. All I know is that they are precious to God, so they are precious to me. We will be taking clothes for the people which will be distributed once we arrive. We are asking for your prayers as we head into an unknown and pray that God would continue to provide for His desperate people. If you would like to contribute financially to help us buy supplies, you may do so via paypal at our website www.givemeshelterministries.org. You may also send a check to GMSM, PO Box 864 Shalimar, FL 32579. Please notate in the memo: Lesvos Refugee Relief. Please look at our blog on the website Nov 3-17 for updates. GMSM is a 5o1c3 non profit and all donations are tax deductible. Peace and blessings,

Kenny Phillips founder/director
Give Me Shelter Ministries,Inc.
www.givemeshelterministries.org
850-496-7398
PO Box 864 Shalimar, FL 32579

Guatemala Relief Trip July 11-20-2014
Day seven  7-18-14

Not much different than the other days. Up early and and headed down the mountains for my last day at the church worksite in San Pablo. Pastors Santiago and Juan and I went around the town looking at a few projects that seemed to take precedence over other projects. We have a limited amount of resources at this time so we had to be very cautious on our commitments. We came up with 5 projects that fir our budget. Two for widows and three for families with multiple siblings. All very needy but again there are many in need. Maybe the Lord willing we can get back soon and continue to help some other families and churches. The bummer about this part of the work is as you go from place to place looking you bring this feeling of hope. In reality we can only do so much for so few. I know this puts the pastors in a bad situation because they will have so many people saying what about me.

We waited all day for materials to be delivered so the workers could continue work on the support columns. All the rebar is set and ready for concrete. We just need sand and rocks. The material finally showed up at almost dark so the work will continue in the morning without our presence. We packed up and headed for San Marcos. A very productive week for CI and myself.

Kenny
GMSM

Guatemala Relief Trip July 11-20-2014
Day six  7-17-14

As usual it was up early and on the road. It’s about an hour drive. We finished the cables and tightened them up. The concrete dudes dug the footers and then worked on the rebar cages and columns. Both pastors and I went and looked at a few potential  projects. The quake did do a lot of damage to homes and other buildings. Like the Haiti quake it’s funny how the damage is random. I guess a lot has to do with how well you prepare your structure. Proper size rebar and concrete mixture along with a deep footer is key. There have been several tremblers over the last few days but only minor. It has been such a joy working with the folks and being in my element. There is much work to be done and so little of resources at the moment. The church will be taken care of and I think one or two homes will be able to be repaired. We will have to reach out to more people to be able to continue. Gods grace is sufficient and He will provide as He see a fit.

Kenny
GMSM

Guatemala Relief Trip July 11-20-2014
Day five  7-16-14

We were up at the crack of chicken and loaded up the materials for the church job in San Pablo. The earthquake shook this church enough to do some unsafe damage for the congregation. The two side walls had began to separate from the rafters and lean to about 10 inches out of plumb. This happened on both walls. The plan is to drill through the support columns and top bond beam and run cables from each outside wall. The cables will run through metal plates into the church attached to tension brackets. Once the cables are installed and tightened then will dig footers at the columns and use rebar to make a new support for the existing columns. Sounds complicated but it’s really not. The cool thing about working in countries such as this is if you can’t find it you make it. The prime example were the metal plates. We bought a 3/8 inch 4×8 sheet of metal and had it cut into the proper squares. We almost completed the cables today and tomorrow we will star preparing for the new support columns.

Kenny
GMSM

Guatemala Relief Trip July 11-20-2014

Day four  7-15-14

 

Jeremy split about two this morning to catch his flight out of Guatemala City. That leaves me here to see the projects through. No problem with the task but it will be fun with my limited spanish. Actually all the spanish I thought I didn’t learn in high school is coming back to me. We are gathering materials today so we can get started early in the morning at the San Pablo church. No pics today, just a lot of running around. Tomorrow will be a different story.

 

Kenny

GMSM

Guatemala Relief Trip July 11-20-2014
Day three 7-14-14

Up early and on the move. Jose, Santiago,Jeremey and I went to the top of Guatemala today. It took about three hours going straight up the mountains driving on some of the most isane roads at a most insane speed. The beauty of the mountainside keep my mind off the possibility of potential danger. This was part of the go see journey. This area was probably hit hardest from the earyhquake. You go from typical local people to a more Indian influence up there. We met a local pastor who showed us around the area. Most of the homes are made out of the indigenous adobe brick which is mud mixed with straw and dried. As you can expect there is a lot of damaged homes. The only problem with this spot is logistically it will be hard to mobilize to work there on this trip. It’s so far away and our work scope is in the opposite direction. Some of the homes can not be repaired, they need to be totally rebuilt. Money would have to be raised and a specific trip planned would be the only option. The team may have to be hand picked. It would be tuff up there. Only the Father knows if this is an area that He would have us go. The work is certainly there. As we came down the mountain I think Jeremy and I both had the same feelings that this is not an option at the moment. The drive down the mountains was quicker but equally as sketchy.

Kenny
GMSM

Guatemala Relief Trip July 11-20-2014
Day two 7-13-14

As always point A to point B went off without incident. Point B being the destination in San Marcos. We kinda just hung out for the afternoon getting to know the pastor here and taking a look at this little town. It seems quiet here and is a very pretty place. It’s in some altitude so it’s actually very chilly here. Jeremy and I got to bed fairly early because tomorrow would start the beginning of a very busy 8 days.
We arose early with the pastor and a driver and drove down the mountain to warmer climate. Our destination was San Pablo. There we looked at a church named Iglesias Bautista Monte Moria, pastored by Juan Lopez. This church is in the same association as the one in San Marcos where we are staying now. This church collapsed in the 2012 quake and during the rebuilding stages it suffered further damage from this recent earthquake. The two side walls shifted as well as the footers on these two walls. My job for CI will be to lead the effort to repair and make this structure safe. There are other projects but this is the main one. Home repairs will be made also. Jeremy will leave tomorrow night leaving me here by myself to do the work with the locals. My Spanish is a little on the rusty side since I’ve been in Haiti the last seven years. I’m excited and looking forward to the challenge.

Kenny
GMSM