10 Days to Katrina...

Well I just got back from another Gulf Mission Team meeting. The energy of this group continues to amaze me! They are all so energized about this mission and what we are all doing for Katrina relief in New Orleans and especially with the Good Shepard Church. I leave for my trip in less than 10 days! The reality of that is starting to sink in. I left the meeting rearing and ready to go home and start packing! As I was getting prayer shawls to take with me, I starting thinking of all the things I needed to pack and asked myself questions like: "How many towels do I need to bring?" "Should I bring a bathrobe?" "What kind of shoes other than sneakers should I bring?" The silly random thoughts that go through my brain!

At the end of the meeting Cathy had us all gather in a circle and hold hands. She then read a Franciscan prayer as a dedication for me and my trip. It overwhelms me the support I have at this church and the genuine excitement that they all have for me to be travelling there and the work that I will do while I am there. I am so very blessed to be a part of such a wonderful group!

Thinking about my trip to New Orleans

I just got home from a Mission Trip meeting with the group from church. I can't believe that I am heading down to New Orleans in less than 3 weeks! I'm excited but a bit nervous about travelling by myself and joining a group of people I have never met before. We are staying at the Good Shepard church in Metairie, LA. We will be sleeping on air mattress or cots at the church. I haven't even begun to get ready for my trip. The only thing I've done so far is buy a sleeping bag! Hopefully we will have another meeting before travelling to New Orleans so that I have a chance to meet with the others I will be spending a week with. I don't know what I will be doing once I get there, but it will be nice to spend some time helping out whatever that might bring. A group of 5 women from my church went down back in November and they can't stop talking about what an experience they had. I had the opportunity to create a slideshow with all of thier pictures. It is amazing to see that there is still so much recovery work left to do down there! One of the pictures that stands out for me is a picture of some beams of a gutted church.

On those beams there are scripture readings.

I have no expectations of my trip. I hope that once I get there my reason for being there will fall into place.