Days 4, 5, & 6

We arrived home this afternoon about 2:30. One stop for lunch and it did not take long to get home at all. I finally got home after returning the van to find my house had no power, what a lovely surprise! It's all good now, I have power.

Starting Wednesday, this was our prayer: Pray for us, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ. - Colossians 4:3

Wednesday - We had a little trouble getting up and getting moving but we still arrived at New Covenant at 8:35. It felt like quite a hot day and later we found out it was a record high for New Orleans (104 degrees!). After returning to the hotel for lunch, we headed downtown to Jackson Square. As soon as we finished walking the French Market, a huge rainstorm showed up. What better time than to hit up Cafe Du Monde for some beignets. We walked around Jackson Square and ended with taking a carriage ride. Six guys in a carriage is always a lovely sight... Tower of Pizza in Metairie was the supper choice, followed of course by Coldstone Creamery.

Thursday - Once again, there was trouble waking up and loading the van. Arrived at New Covenant at 8:40. It was our last day with the kids so we made sure to spend time giving extra attention to every child we could. We really enjoyed singing the songs they taught us (I Am A Promise, Christ In My Vessel, Oh Soldier, & If You Can't Hear Me Singing Down There). Pastor Chip and the ladies of the church presented us with a framed certificate of appreciation for the work we did. After lunch, we visited Harbor Ministries. It was an awesome ministry that works with all the seafarers that travel in and out of New Orleans. Ice cream/sorbet from Sucre on Magazine Street,after offending some lady by parking on the bricks, was a perfect snack to hold us over until supper. New Orleans Hamburgers & Seafood was a great choice for supper. They give everyone free vanilla soft-serve (second ice cream of the day). After worship and having a sharing time with our group, you guessed it, we hit up Baskin-Robbins.

Friday - We ate breakfast by 8:00 and loaded up the van and headed home.

Thank you to everyone that has been keeping up with us and praying for us. Your prayers were most definitely felt. I ask you to keep New Covenant Community Family Church and the New Orleans area in your prayers.

Day 3

Had a good morning of working Sports Camp with the kids at New Covenant. After lunch, we decided everyone had enough sun for the day, so took it easy at the hotel in order to gain back some of our energy. This was nice but also led to everyone not wanting to go to sleep last night.

Ate supper at Acme Oyster House, followed by some riding around while checking out boats and houses near the lake, ending with the all-important Ben & Jerry's, before heading back to the hotel for group worship last night.

One more thing, the late night Krisy Kreme run succeeded in bagging us 5 dozen donuts of assorted variety....in other words, no one is starving!

Day 1 & 2

We arrived here safely yesterday around 4:30, checked into the hotel, ate a good supper at Deanie's, and had orientation at 9:00.

I drank my first coke in 4 months at Deanie's. It was somewhat of a let down.

Today, we ate breakfast together and were in the van rolling out of the parking lot at 7:33 AM. That is quite impressive for our group!

We traveled to New Covenant Family Church in Harvey to help with Sports Camp.

This afternoon we did a little sightseeing and then ate supper at my cousin's house followed by going to a couple of innings of a softball game.

NOLA

This Sunday, June 21, I will be headed to New Orleans with a van load of people and suitcases.

We will be working with New Covenant Family Church in Harvey, LA. They run a Sports Camp every summer for kids. We have been blessed to be able to work with them this summer in ministry towards these kids. We will be playing different sports with them along with helping them with some academic tasks.

There are 12 of us making the trip. Cora Smith, Trent Smith, Kasey Green, Alena Bearden, Heather Thomas, Sterling Etheredge, Hain Beers, Hunter Henson, MaCain Levins, Ashley Palmer, Evelyn Stewart. Please keep us in your prayers this week. Pray for safety and more importantly for us to be willing for God to use us in anyway He wants.

I will attempt to update this while we are down there, no promises though.

ARM Walk

Alabama Rural Ministries has been walking across the state the last two weeks to raise money for their ministry. They mostly help people repair homes that otherwise could not afford it. A couple of them are walking 111 miles in hopes of raising $111,000. It is an awesome cause and truly wonderful people that are working towards it.

ARM stopped in Selma this past weekend. Some Church Street UMC members along with the Jr High Youth of First UMC Daphne joined the walk as they entered Selma. It was exciting to see about 50 people walking across the bridge for such a great cause.

On Saturday, 702 Church Street began the morning as an absolute jungle and turned into only something of an unkept yard (which is saying a lot!). I will try to get some pictures of the before/during/after.

Thank you to the ARM staff and volunteers, First UMC Daphne Youth, Church Street UMC members, and everyone else that came out and supported this cause.

Picture: First UMC Daphne & Church Street UMC Youth gather infront of City Hall with the ARM walkers after arriving in Selma.

Check out pictures here: http://www.churchstreetumcselma.org/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=64&g2_itemId=1252

And the other picture is proof that I actually looked like I was working if nothing else...