We worshiped this morning with the people of Bethel Lutheran and with other volunteers from Pennsylvania, Oregon, Michigan, Texas... Cross and Crown people were able to hear from Marie (you can see her picture on the Mississippi posterboard presentation that is sitting on the table next to the Cross and Crown sanctuary.
After lunch, we were able to take a drive over to East Biloxi and then up Highway 90 (the beach highway) as far as Pass Christian. At the end of passable highway, we got out of the vehicles and went down to the beach for a few minutes. The drive and the looking at destruction is hard to describe. It's as though we were all computers, and we can absorb information and sights very quickly, but we can't process it all. Lots of pictures were taken, and I'm sure there are many things going through each person's heart.
While in East Biloxi, we dropped in on Bill, to whom Cross and Crown gave bed and bedding last October. We had received a note from him in November. I wrote back but never heard back from him and was unable to get a telephone number. All 22 of us showed up at his house/studio. He seemed very pleased to see us, and it was wonderful to know that he is safe and sound, although probably looking at having to move sometime in the not too distant future.

Here he is (center) with his visitors.

We will begin work tomorrow. Many are going out to work on construction/electrical and other such projects. Others are working on computers for Lutheran Disaster Response, and Isaac, Emily, Ashley and I will be out helping a couple of families move some things around in their homes. I will be really anxious to hear how everyone's day will have gone tomorrow.

I would have loved to have worshiped at Cross and Crown this morning. Worship there began as we sat down to lunch, there being a two hour time difference. It was something to hear those readings about storms and calming and whirlwinds, then to go and see what a real storm does. Tomorrow we begin our part in healing from the storm, one armload, electrical box, computer form, meal, etc at a time. - Pastor Glen