Today was a Monday. Didn't really get going till about 11a, had to go pick up stuff before we got to work. Set a shower base, and worked on leveling a concrete floor preparing it for tile. After we came back some of went down to the apartment complex to look around. We picked up a couple things down there. It is amazing what people left behind. It looks like some of them never even came back to get anything. We have found photos, like of graduations and things like that. You would think people would want those. Anyway, I want to thank everybody who is helping out for this trip. Either financially, through prayer, encouraging words, loking after Leighann and Erin, (especially keeping Leighann out of the bars, right, Joanne? LOL). God is just so awesome when you listen to what he is telling you, (and doing it), and just releying on him for your needs.

Well it is Sunday, a day off. Got up at 6A, did some housekeeping chores and shopping before going to church. Went to Pass Road Baptist church for service today. Definately not your typical Baptist church! Not even Southren Baptist. It was good, very upbeat music and a active pastor. Definately a salvation message that you expect from a baptist preacher. Afterwards they had a spaggetti dinner to raise funds for the youth band. After that I explored the lndscape some. Had a group from South Carolina come in tonight, about 8 - 10 people. Right now we are watching the nascar race, and I probably will hit the sack early. Yak at you all later.

Saturday morning, I am up at 4:20 preparing to serve kitchen duty at 5:30. I got to fry the sausage this morning, very exciting...not. Then I got to do the dishes for the next six hours...wow. Got done with that about 13:45, then went over to help Ray and Marge with the project they were working on with the group from Indiana University. We had a group of students from IU came in Friday morning, and they are leaving tomorrow morning. Any way the project is a 300 unit apartment complex that is going to be demolished, that we are salvaging what ever we can out of it... doors, windows, appliances, towel bars, vanities, cabinets, sinks, so on and so forth. Did a little shopping, came back and showered, now I am writing this. Tomorrow I plan on going to church then??????

Sorry I haven't posted the last couple of days, I have been busy. I am going to break down the last couple of days into more than one entry so it is not so long. Thursday I was up early, finished packing, went to Bible study and hit the road. Rather uneventful trip. Stopped about 9:30p at a rest area about 40 miles from Mississippi and slept for about 4 hours. Got back on the road and arrived at GKK about 5:30a. In the morning I got checked in, and got a job assignment for the day. I had the opportunity to do some painting with three guys from Amelia, Va. We had a good service that night, Ray talked about building the one cross. This is an incredible story. I will have to get a copy of it and share it with everybody. We then watched the Pass Road DVD.

Today has been a very long day. Up at 5, over to GCC by 6a for a mens breakfast. It was excellant, both the food and the message. I can see why Phil likes Mark Beeson so much, he is a very engaging speaker. He talked about leadership, I can use this at work and on the trip I am about to embark on. Went to the store to drop off my keys. Got home, had the opportunity to take Erin to school since there was a two hour delay because of the fog. Then Leigh and I headed up to the Sturgis Kmart, where they had collected $450 to help me out with my trip. I was overwhelmed by their generosity, and mere words cannot begin to express my thanks. We then headed down to see Dad. He was really alert, and actually "talked" to me. I really couldn't understand what he said, but I think he may have recognized me, because as we were leave he was walking his wheelchair up toward the exit. I think he thought I was going to take him home.
The nurse said they had decreased his zeprexia which is a good thing, because it really strings him out. While I was there I signed a change order so that they could give him a soft cookie instead of a pureed one (since he is on a pureed diet). Yuk, isn't that sacrilege to puree a cookie? Then we headed to Shipshe to grab dog food, and stopped at Leigh's mom's on the way home. Got some packing done then over to the church for an ash Wednesday service... really neat. Home, more packing, and baking cookies to take, and now this journal. Whew!! I probably won't write again untill Friday or sat, so see ya then!

Day 1

I am creating this so others can keep track of my activities while I spend six weeks in Gulfport, Ms doing huricane recovery work. I leave the day after tomorrow, and I am driving down.