Mission Trip to Mississippi (2)

January 23

WE MADE IT!!!

We left BLC at 1:30 Sunday for the long trip to Ocean Springs for Katrina Relief work. 1 motorhome, 1 pick-up, 1 SUV, 1 minivan, 1 car, and 1 church van, along with 26 adult missionaries began and ended the journey.

Along the way there were some interesting times:

A leaky gas tank in the motorhome which about drained the tank in 70 miles. To no one's surprise, Jim Swanlund found some way to fix it (unreliable rumors suggest that the tools might have included bailing twine and bubble gum).

After dinner last night, three of our travelers hitched a ride with a local sheriff. The Lutherans blamed it on the Baptist but it appears that all three were at fault. (The good news is that none were in trouble and the nice sheriff was just offering a ride from one restaurant to another to meet the rest of their group - who, unfortunately, passed the sheriff's car on their way to pick up the wayward three.)

We drove through torrential rain for many, many hours and many, many hours. Sometimes it was just annoying and sometimes it was completely blinding.

At any rate, we all made it...safe and sound, arriving at various times between 7:30 and 10:00 a.m.

We will rest today and all be hard at work bright and early tomorrow morning. (Actually, it is now 10:20 a.m. and three of our missionaries have already gone out to work without resting - one to babysit and two to work construction!)

Pray for us as we seek to carry Christ's love, on your behalf, to those still suffering from the terrible effects of Hurricane Katrina.

God's peace, Pastor Schrimpf

Unpacking is the order of business for today. Looks like they are packed in like sardines!

Are you looking for some closet space, Steve? I bet everyone would like some extra room!

Did the clothes all make it? Nothing too wrinkled I hope!

Now there is one tired traveler!

Getting the beds ready for a good nights sleep. It sure looks nice outside - I don't see any snow!

Posing with the T-shirt that each missionary received as they headed out the door. They also received sweatshirts - is it cold enough to wear sweatshirts down there? These were sponsored by members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church who are also saying special prayers for their selected missionary.