Biloxi, Mississippi 2007
Yet another spring break, another mission trip, another damn good time!! This was my third trip with the Wesley crew and this year our mission was Biloxi Mississippi. I have to admit, I was nervous about this year's trip. Instead of New Orleans, we switched it over to Biloxi about 2 months before the trip, there wasnt many people going from last year, and Sam Adie, and Pip were going with us and I was scared they would hate it. But God works his usual ways. The trip was amazing. We headed out on Friday March 2nd (Dave's B-day) from Michigan and traveled down to Memphis Tennesse just like last year to spend two days there. The three vehicles made it safely there, we were all slightly tired of riding in the vans though. It was great to spend the night at the Wesley in Memphis again and see some of the people from last year. I don't remember if it was the first night or the second, but we were introduced to the best game in the world. Chris, one of the Memphis guys showed us a game, pretty much like ping pong but than again not. It involves alot of running around the table and as many as people that want to play can. It changed our worlds forever!! We played that game everyday we were there in Memphis, and than brought it to Mississippi. But anyway, the second day we were in Memphis we went to an IMAX and saw "Hurricane on the Bayou". It was about Pre Katrina and Post Katrina, and about saving the Bayou's. It was a great movie!!!! After that we toured downtown Memphis which was cool, ate at a cool restraunt, and walked around some unique stores. Early on Sunday we headed out for Biloxi. Another 6 hours in the vans but we finally made it. Our home for the next 5 days would be Coalville United Methodist Church. The actual church was across the road and we ended up staying in the gym area. We were staying with another group which were from Kansas City, Missouri. They were no doubt, the coolest "older" group in the world. That night we got all settled in and split into our work groups for the week. Group #1 Thom, Andrew, Ryan, Jeramiah, and Nancy. Team #2 Sam, Adie, Pip, Emily, and Dennis. My group or team Alligator which we would be called, Ron, Stephanie, Masa, Andy, and myself. We had a meeting at the "head quarter" church which was about 10 or 15 miles away. There was about 6 other groups there. We were all tired, the meeting started late, and the dude that was running the show gave us pointless information. We were working with UmCore this year and they were slacking on their part. But anyway, the next day we got our assignments, got a good nights sleep, and headed out for the jib sites the next morning. Like I said, UmCore were slacking so my group's assignment got canceled , but we ended up going to another person's house which proved to be awesome. His name was Billy, he lived in Wiggins which was a good 40 minute drive everyday, and was the coolest, nicest guy ever. Team Alligator spent the week putting in Kitchen Cabinets, installing a fridge, and sanding and cutting boards. The work was actually quite light and quick, so we found ourselves with alot of spare time. So one day, being that we were team Alligator, we went to an Alligator farm and saw huge frigin gators and got to hold a baby one, it was really cool. We also toured the coast, and ate our lunch in the Mississippi wilderness one day. Even though, those things were great, I was getting bummed out that the work load was so light. Last year, if I wasnt bleeding, sweating, or aching, it wasnt a good day. This year, I barely broke a sweat. But God makes your purpose for what he thinks is right bot ours and I learned that last week. Working with Billy and my crew showed me great strength and faith. Billy was your classic deep southerner, trailer, animals everywhere, Lynyrd Skynyrd playing in the back ground. But one hell of a smart guy. He had great faith in God and shared stories of the night the Hurricane hit. The one thing that really stuck out that I learned from him was patience. Billy takes one day at a time. He busts his ass, dont get me wrong, but he is not in a hurry. With each passing day he gets something accomplished but takes his time so its perfect in the end. I hope to one day fly myself back down there and crash with him and his family for a few. It was a blessing getting to work on his house. Anywho, I know Sam's group was having trouble getting work for a bit but they found things to do and I think they had a great time doing it. Thom's group busyed there ass it seems like everyday. They always we working which made me a little jealous. After the work shifts, the day brought football games in the year, face 10, Nerd Ball, Reading, Drawing, going for walks, and relaxing with the gang. For the first few days, the Kansas City crew and our crew really didnt talk that much and that really bigged me alot. Just a big gap in the age. So one day, the KC group brought our a big Jigsaw puzzle to occupy themselves. I grew up doing puzzles with my fam so I decided to make the move. I jumped in, and started helping them out and from there, we couldnt shut them up even if we wanted to. Just had to get in there and break that ice. Thom kept asking us the question, "look for God this week in whatever you do" and I saw God bigger than ever in that group as well as the wesley crew. Meeting all these new people was so great. I learned so much from them. The puzzle was a blast, someone of them even played Nerd Ball with us, and they fed us SO DAMN GOOD!!!!! The one person that I met that really stood out was Sue!! She was the coolest lady in the world. But anyway, as the week went on, we worked, ate, and played games. On wednesday we took a prayer tour through Biloxi at night which was so cool. We went to the coast, prayed down by the water, went to a memorial, and to one of the Team's houses. Prayer tours are a really sweet thing. Thursday, we worked for half the day and headed our for New Orleans for the rest of the day. We toured the 9th, which it was great but almost creepy to be back. In the 9th we met another group from Kalamazoo which was so crazy. Some of us actually knew some of the people from that group. The sites and sounds in Nawlins in so different from Biloxi. Mississippi is rebuilding, New orleans is so Corrupt that it cant. It is sad. But with the help of the church(the only ones still giving aid for hurricane relief) it will come back one day dammit. One of the greatest things ever was that Stephanie found our way back to the house we worked on last year. It was so awesome. Ron, Stephanie, and I from last year just stood there thinking of what went on one year ago. It was a great feeling. The house was looking good but still needs major work. We also got to meet Kev's son, but I think we scared him. That night we ate a a great cajun restaraunt and got a dance to some "deep cajun" music. It was great. Friday morning, Stephanie, Ryan, Andrew, and I woke up at 5 and went out to the Gulf to watch the sunrise. Once again, we take things for granted, and watching that giant red, fire ball break the horizon over the gulf, and shines down on the busted up port that we were standing on from the hurricane, really puts ya in your place. Friday we headed back to Memphis for the night and headed back to Kazoo on Saturday. The people I went with really showed me why we were all there. Everyone busted there ass, and took everything in that Biloxi had to offer. In the beggining I didnt think this third trip could match up to the last two but I was wrong. I asked God to show me his light that week and he did. From Billy outlook on life, Ron's man/kid heart, Thom's spirit, and everyone's else that I went with. You guys made it one trip to always remember. And thanks "Roomies", for taking a chance and showing the world a thing or two. God Bless Clark Out Love Ya'll