The Journey Begins . . .

The time we have anticipated arrives in just a few short hours! The Christian Men's Fellowship (CMF) group has graciously volunteered to cook breakfast for us before we begin our journey. We will meet at church at 6:45 for breakfast and loading up of the vans. At 7:15, Dr. Larry will lead us in prayer that our mission will be successful. Then, we're off!!!!!!!

We will take the church van, as well as a van owned by Don and Gloria Wethington of Bloomfield. Don and Gloria were so nice to let us borrow their van in order to get all volunteers and their belongings transported to New Orleans.

Jon and Jo Daniel are already at Westside Mission Center in New Orleans and will stay with us throughout our stay there (May 23 - May 29). Jo has volunteered to be our cook and grocery shopper. The menu she has prepared sounds delicious and even includes a big home-cooked breakfast each morning! Thank you, Jo, for giving of your time to take such good care of us.

I think I can speak for the rest of the group when I say that prior to going on a mission of service such as this, I feel very anxious and apprehensive. I think there are several reasons for this:

1. Anxiousness about the unknown and what we will encounter while we are in New Orleans.
2. Fear that we may not be able to successfully complete the jobs that await us there.
3. Anxiousness about our desire to truly help people in New Orleans who have unlimited needs in their daily lives.
4. Desire to serve God and his people in a way that is pleasing to Him.
   
   

Please pray for us this week that we may carry out the work of God in a city that has so many needs - that we are able to touch the lives of others through our service and that this will help them also have a deeper personal relationship with God.

We aren't sure if we will have Internet access at the mission center. If not, we will try to get to a public access point every day or two to post updates and pictures. Thank you to everyone who has made this mission possible.