Our family of 4 went on this mission trip together. It was the first time any of us had ever been on one. Our boys are 12 and 14 yrs old. They were really wondering how this boring trip could have slipped in and taken over the family vacation to Disneyland, the one place they are absolutely sure EVERY kid their age has been to, except them. I must say when we look around, the people here in Washington seem to be well traveled (at least all the folks we know). The mission trip was an opportunity that was whispered to us in that soft spoken voice our Pastor has, “Would you be interested in going?” When I heard the question....it took about 1 second to answer, and then when I asked my husband, he took about 1 second to answer too! It was a great feeling just knowing that we were both on the same heart page. When we approached our boys about this awesome opportunity, we got the deer in the head light look. Wow, their world turned upside down on them that day and we were smucks for changing plans on them. Not only were they going to Mississippi where it would be very hot & humid, they would be driving in a van for a total of 5 days and would be leaving the first morning of NO school. They brought up that idea of sleeping in for the very first time on a summer day. We were not off to a great start selling this idea of a mission trip in place of a family vacation. They moped about it all the way to the church van.....they hopped into the van and “Our Lives Have Never Been The Same Since.” All the negative went out the side door when we entered, and God took over from there. He’s so great that way, we just got to stand back and watch it all unfold for our family.
Our boys got up every morning ready to go, more importantly WANTING to go! To see them work long days under extreme heat, yet recognizing “The Face of God” at least once if not several times each day, was one of many, many blessings. When you hear your child say “I just saw the face of God, Dad & Mom” straight from their heart.....it is as sweet as a song from an angel.
As for Marlon and I, we took each day and submerged ourselves from head to toes, and from heart to heart with an open mind and open arms to embrace whatever God put before us. The jobs varied for us and each one felt just as important as the next. So many names and faces and stories. So many tears and hurt and pain. We actually cried WAY MORE every day over the Blessings and Miracles we experienced, then tears of sadness from what we heard and saw. I guess that’s another beautiful thing God is capable of showing us. With all the pain, Love is so much more powerful.
We were Thanked by store clerks, post office folks, waiters and people from a tire shop, the custodian of the church, a man standing at the memorial we visited, the Home Depot delivery man, an A/C furnace dude, lots and lots of folks from Mississippi, and even people waving at the van as we drove down the freeway. It felt really different to be doing good works and to have so many people appreciate every single thing you did. Your smile, hugs, tears, a listening ear, a small purchase to help out with an elderly man’s income, making and serving food for other servants, taking garbage out, sweeping glass up......do I get to write a book? I know, not now.
I leave you with this; there is more love in Mississippi right now then probably any other place in the U.S. The appreciate is times 1,000 of what you actually give. The people are saying “Thank you God, for what we have.” (not Lord, why?)
We are home now, the week is slowly going thru my mind non stop. It is hard now....those tears of sadness have let go and the weeping and pain has started, now that we’re not so busy in the middle of it all. This is turning out to be a harder time then it was when we were in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Please pray for all who went on this trip, and please be considerate of our feelings at this time, because it is heart crushing to see such devastation and meet so many people who’s lives will never be the same.
Peace and Understanding,
Rochelle

Since being home from Biloxi I have really been struggling to get back into my life as I was living it before the trip. Everything seems so small and unnecessary. Before leaving on the trip I was wishing for my kitchen to be restored to normal and for all wildlife to evacuate our house. When I arrived to Biloxi and started working with Patricia and David, I soon realized that I did not care about those things any longer. I have so much now, and there are thousands of families down in Mississippi with NOTHING!

Yesterday (Monday, July 10, 2006) our paintings from Bill arrived. I immediately had a rush of feelings flooding my body again. I began to think of Bill and where he lives, and the unknown he faces each day. I continue daily thinking what is the current status on the house for Patricia and David.

I believe that as a group we grew close during this trip and discovered hidden talents about each one of us. More than that we really saw working together and leaning on each other was needed to get through situations we faced. Rochelle and I had a situation we were faced with immediately upon our arrival to Bethel Lutheran. Together we worked through this challenge; and I believe this was an opportunity to strengthen the great relationship we had prior to our journey.

Emotions ran like rushing water in a river during our journey. I don’t recall a “Face of God” session where someone was not tearing or straight out crying. Some were happy tears and some were sad tears, but nonetheless tears that we ALL shared. I remember the last ride from the Patricia and David’s to Bethel. It was Friday afternoon, we were hot and tired. Normally there was discussion; what we need for the next day, or what we had done etc… This day we sat in the van that pastor was driving and nothing was said. It was a silent ride; this was a time of reflection. I can remember as we drove do Hwy 90 the tears streaming down my face, this was not a new experience, however, this particular day was much harder. Again, we passed by the cemetery (as we did each day) and again, I was choked up with emotion. This place of peace where these people have been laid to rest; and it is destroyed. The crypts are destroyed and may never be restored again. Then I think are there any family members left in the area, are they aware of how their loved ones graves are destroyed? Are they themselves in a place of destruction? I can’t answer these questions and I struggle with that daily. I was there for a week, but feel like I barely scratched the surface.

Now that I am home I want to drive the point home to people here. I want to speak with electrical unions, and plumbing unions. These people need to know they are needed. There is a need for household items as well, used or new; I want to organize drives. I want to speak and let people know there are people in need. The media has dropped the story, and I feel it is my mission to pick it up. The people in Mississippi are no different than you or I they are people just like us. They deserve what we have home, family and security. Right now some may have family and others may not, some may have a partial home and others nothing. I ask you is this how you want to see yourself or a loved one live. We are all “Children of God”; we need to help each other. We need to start now in spreading the word, and working together to care for this community.

I believe that Cross and Crown has many talents, and we can make a difference. This is our time to use our talents and make a difference.

Child of God,

Stacey~

Greetings, everyone!

I never got a chance to post to the blog before we left for Biloxi – there just wasn’t time. And I didn’t get a chance to post to the blog while we were in Biloxi – there just wasn’t time there, either. So, now that we’re home, I’m going to give it a try. Too many things happened to try and talk about them individually, and anyway – hearing about it just isn’t the same as living it. So, I’ve decided to focus on something I learned instead. I learned that I’ve never really understood what is “possible”.

Following is a list of things that, before Biloxi, I would not have believed were possible. I was wrong…

- Housing 100 volunteers per night in a church the size of Cross and Crown – not for a night or two, but night after night, week after week and month after month
- A Mississippi Power truck that drives down a street of homes in a mostly deserted neighborhood where almost no one even has power just when you will have to stop work because of a seal on the power box that can only be opened after consultation with the power company, and actually stops when suddenly pursued by a band of dirty, sweating, shouting and excited strangers
- Cooking two meals a day for 100 in a kitchen just a bit bigger than mine at home, with a single ordinary kitchen stove with one oven (not a commercial stove and oven) and a single, home-style dishwasher – again, not for a day or two, but day after day, week after week and month after month
- Turning a two-stall horse trailer into a portable shower facility with just a little bit of imagination, two pre-formed shower stalls, and some pipe
- 100+ people living day in and day out in a church with a four-stall ladies’ room, a two-stall/two-urinal men’s room (so I am told), one handicapped restroom, and one plain, ordinary bathroom, with shower, off the sacristy
- A family that has lost everything, including their car and pet dog, and still manages to greet strangers with a friendly smile, words of welcome and greeting, and encouragement in time of our loss and need
- A store clerk willing to personally deliver the very last tub enclosure available to a house where no one lives on the same day it is purchased
- A home nearing the move-in stage, thanks to unknown strangers who mucked the house out and fixed the roof, Methodists who hung the sheetrock, and Baptists from Tennessee who perfa-taped and mudded (and, they were willing to let us use the one working john for blocks around!)
- Getting 100 hot, sweaty, dirty and tired volunteers through three showers with enough success that no one not in on the secret would have believed that showers were in short supply
- A competent business woman and mother, acting as an electrician in a pinch, fishing a wire through one hole, around a blind 90 degree corner, and out another hole – on the first try
- With Andy's help and expertise, cooking seven turkeys in one oven in one day and having them ready to serve for dinner at 6:00
- Three vehicles (two with over 100,000 miles already logged) safely driving 6,408 miles each in a matter of days with no more trouble than a flat tire and a failed re-tread

I pray that I will never view what is “possible” with the same blind eyes again…

Mark 9:23 – “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

Yours in Christ,
Melodie Campbell

Most of us are now back home, following stops in airports and some long distances covered on the road. A couple more are still out on the road, spending time with family on the way home. We lost a tire on the church van 3-4 miles outside of Ontario, Oregon. That set us back some in terms of time, but while at the Les Schwab dealership in Ontario we were blessed by Cynthia, a Les Schwab employee who insisted on putting the bill for the new tire on her account. We had the money- that wasn't the issue. She wanted to bless us. Lots and lots of people have found ways to bless this project. While in Mississippi, during devotions one night, I spoke of "riding a wave" of goodwill toward those who travel to the Gulf Coast to work as volunteers. I found myself riding that wave all the way home, having chances to speak of our trip with strangers at gas pumps, restaurants, and other places. We were also blessed by Ann's father Frank and his wife Pat, who prepared a beautiful dinner for us in Tulsa, and by Mel and Faye, Melodie's mom and dad, who put breakfast out in West Jordan, UT. The trip is long, even with several drivers to share that work, but we were blessed throughout.
When we pulled into the Bethel Lutheran parking lot in Biloxi ten days ago, I felt this relief- that now there were 21 other people who would be spending the time on the Gulf Coast and then trying to describe what they were about to see and hear. I, for one, can't wait to hear more from everyone. I haven't seen many pictures yet (except my own) and I"m looking forward to that also. We have so many people to pray for, so many people to be thankful for, so many people with whom to try to stay connected.
I was blessed to share a word at worship on Wednesday evening, and I spoke on Revelation 21- about that day when "mourning and crying and pain will be no more." I got closer to that word last fall, and once again during our time on Gulf Coast over the last few days. The healing that we saw and heard about, the healing that we got to be a part of, the blessings and the wave of welcome and of connection that we got to enjoy, they are all amazing. In the end, though, they are all signs of a day and time to come that is so much bigger and better. We have a hard time communicating the blessings that we've seen. How much more difficult it is to get our minds and hearts around that day that is promised to us. I believe that we have had the blessing of spending a few days in places where God is working all kinds of signs and wonders. There's so much mourning and crying and pain, though, that thoughts of that day of the Lord at the end of time have not been far away. Maybe that's the best blessing of all for me. - Pastor Glen