It is hard to believe that we are fixin’ to leave Southern Mississippi
We wrapped up our projects yesterday trying to finish before a big thunderstorm hit. It was a relatively cool day because the thunderstorms were developing and providing wind and shade. This area is just about perfect, from a meteorological standpoint, for producing storms. It is amazing during the day to watch the very rapid vertical development of these storms.
Each of the teams invited their respective families to dinner (they call it supper here) in the evening.
A lot of good work got done but the work was not as important and the hope was. People here are tired and have struggled long to recover to whatever normal will be here. It is important to realize that all of the landmarks and icons and even the daily familiar ways of driving past familiar houses has all been changed. All along the coast and back over a quarter of a mile are lots empty except for cement slabs or signs indicating that such and such a church used to stand here.
The people here at First United Methodist Church of Long Beach were moved that they are not on their own and forgotten. They say we brought a renewed work ethic and joy and… hope. The families we worked for said much the same.
Well, we finished up our projects and got back to the church in front of the
thunderstorm. Actually, my group went to see the Friendship Oak on the campus
of University of Southern Mississippi
It is an amazing tree.
A sapling when Columbus America
We looked into gutted
classrooms and lecture halls. The images in my mind reminded me of imaged of
blown out buildings in war zones like Iraq
After this visit we went to the beach where we knew we could get sno-cones and we watched the storm come in. There was a tremendous squall line out about 8 miles and out of it dropped a waterspout.
When we arrived at the church the rain started. There was water everywhere, in the streets, in the yards, rushing down the streets, in a very few minutes. There was a lot of bright and loud lightning striking close. Two hours later it was over.
We ate dinner with the families we worked for and had a wonderful time.
Evening worship was built
around Joshua 4 where the people of Israel Red Sea Israel
The students were invited to place sticky notes on a pile of stones in the sanctuary and write on those notes how things were going to be different when they returned home. Worship was very good…and very loud.
This morning we are
thinking about going home. We plan to eat some authentic Southern cooking which
will include gumbo, crawfish dishes, alligator and who knows what else. We will
probably have a little beach or mall time and then we will fly out this
afternoon to arrive at PDX at about 11:30
pm
To God be the glory!
The trip sounds amazing I have always wanted to go there... Who knows maybe one day I will get a chance to go.
Posted by: Auto glass mesa az | April 08, 2009 at 11:29 AM