Both my two readers know this has not been the best Mission Trip I've had. BUT...last night was just the most moving Vesper Service ever.
Our music before the service started was a minister and his wife playing their Dulcimers. It was so beautiful and calming. They just played and went from one song to another with no announcement. One of the songs they played was "I'll Fly Away". All of a sudden you could hear someone humming softly, then another voice joined in and another. It moved me to tears. It was truly a Spiritual Experience.
Two ladies sang solo's. One said she was not a Methodist and everyone laughed. She also said she only had one vocal chord but God had still given her the ability to sing and sing she did.
The other lady had the most beautiful alto voice and sang In The Calm.
The whole service was one of the best I've EVER experienced here and all of a sudden it came together that this is where I need to come. I'm still not sure I'll get to come back but these last two weeks are going to be much different than I've been working on so far.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
TEN and a HALF MORE DAYS
I never thought I'd be counting the days till we could go home but I am. Coming to Louisiana to work has been one of the most rewarding things we have ever done. I've loved what we did here, the people that come to work and the staff.
BUT...things have changed and it's no longer fun for me. I cannot speak for Ted but I'm ready to leave now. This will be one of the nicest memories in my book of life if I don't count this year.
I admit some of my disappointment comes from my age. The people bother me more than they used to. But other things have come into the picture too that have taken away from it for me.
I'll GET ER DONE and do my best job but my heart will not be in it - it WILL be a JOB.
So...10 1/2 full work days till we head north and that's none too soon for me.
BUT...things have changed and it's no longer fun for me. I cannot speak for Ted but I'm ready to leave now. This will be one of the nicest memories in my book of life if I don't count this year.
I admit some of my disappointment comes from my age. The people bother me more than they used to. But other things have come into the picture too that have taken away from it for me.
I'll GET ER DONE and do my best job but my heart will not be in it - it WILL be a JOB.
So...10 1/2 full work days till we head north and that's none too soon for me.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Short Break in Biloxi
Friday morning Ted and I worked in the Depot till about 10:30, then headed to Biloxi to meet Connie, Jim, and Benjamin. The weather was perfect and we were so happy for an excuse to get away.
We decided to stop and pick up a couple of Halloween costumes to add to the fun of the week-end. Below is what we ended up with.
We decided to stop and pick up a couple of Halloween costumes to add to the fun of the week-end. Below is what we ended up with.
Jim picked us up at our motel and took us to get Connie and Benjamin for a walk on the beach. When Jim drove up in front of their fancy Casino, I would of given a lot to have had a video of Connie when she saw Ted and I. Benjamin was not srue he even wanted to get in the car and Connie was laughing so hard she could hardly stand up. Not sure what Jim was thinking, probably just as well we don't know.
Had a great week-end. The costumes came off and we had a good walk on the beach. Sun was warm and a gentle breeze kept us from getting too hot.
Saturday proved to be just as great and we had another nice walk on the beach before heading to the Grand Casino for a buffet. Then Ted and I took Benjamin for the evening and Benjamin and I went to find a Putt-Putt Golf place. He beat me by two strokes. Ornery kid.
We got back here about 12:30 and before long our good friends from Oklahoma arrived so the next three weeks will be fun.
Monday, October 17, 2011
BOOK
Miss Topsey Turvey lives alone on Dizzle Dazzle Street,
She wears her slippers on her hands and mittens on her feet.
O.K. Kim, that's all I can remember. Oh, I do remember the picture of her too.
She wears her slippers on her hands and mittens on her feet.
O.K. Kim, that's all I can remember. Oh, I do remember the picture of her too.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Church in Louisiana
When we are here working I attend a Black church. I love it. Back home my minister recently asked us why we came to church? To see our friends?, to wear the new dress we got?, it's what we do?.
She reminded us we should come to church to Worship God.
Well, let me tell you the little Methodist Church I attend here knows how to WORSHIP GOD. They say their church starts at 8 a.m. but no one keeps track. Sometime around 8 a.m. the organist begins to play and sing. Man, can she sing. People come in for a good 15 to 20 minutes before we settle down to the actual worship service.
One lady is the sister to Freddie that works in the Depot. Her name is Juanita and she teaches 5th grade. I love this woman. She has the most beautiful voice. I heard her sing a couple of years ago when the UMCOR Disaster Accademy went over for a Choir performance. I told her she needs to come to Nashville but she only laughs.
Last Sunday another couple from Sager Brown and I had attended service together. They were having a meeting after church so we quietly (we thought) slipped out. Just as we started to get in their truck a big booming voice said, "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT"!!!! I thought it was God telling us to get back in there. It was Juanita saying we better not leave till she had a hug.
They don't seem to care that some of us are not Black. They hug us and tell us God Loves Us too when we Pass the Peace. Our church used to do that but we are too large and dignified now. I miss some of the things a smaller church can do.
Our service ALWAYS lasts 2 hours and I'm wondering what would happen at home if the service went over 1 hour.
If you are ever in the area and feel the need to REALLY Worship God just stop in Baldwin at Trinity United Methodist church and tell them I said "HEY"
She reminded us we should come to church to Worship God.
Well, let me tell you the little Methodist Church I attend here knows how to WORSHIP GOD. They say their church starts at 8 a.m. but no one keeps track. Sometime around 8 a.m. the organist begins to play and sing. Man, can she sing. People come in for a good 15 to 20 minutes before we settle down to the actual worship service.
One lady is the sister to Freddie that works in the Depot. Her name is Juanita and she teaches 5th grade. I love this woman. She has the most beautiful voice. I heard her sing a couple of years ago when the UMCOR Disaster Accademy went over for a Choir performance. I told her she needs to come to Nashville but she only laughs.
Last Sunday another couple from Sager Brown and I had attended service together. They were having a meeting after church so we quietly (we thought) slipped out. Just as we started to get in their truck a big booming voice said, "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT"!!!! I thought it was God telling us to get back in there. It was Juanita saying we better not leave till she had a hug.
They don't seem to care that some of us are not Black. They hug us and tell us God Loves Us too when we Pass the Peace. Our church used to do that but we are too large and dignified now. I miss some of the things a smaller church can do.
Our service ALWAYS lasts 2 hours and I'm wondering what would happen at home if the service went over 1 hour.
If you are ever in the area and feel the need to REALLY Worship God just stop in Baldwin at Trinity United Methodist church and tell them I said "HEY"
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Saturday - AH SATURDAY
For some unknown reason I've slept 10 hours two nights this week. HMMMMM Old age I guess.
We had planned to go on a Swamp Tour this morning. When I called I was informed that he doesn't go unless he has 8 wanting to go and so far had no one else interested this morning. Well, Durn.
So...I gathered up the last of the laundry, cleaned our little apartment, paid bills, and here I sit.
Next Saturday we hope to be in Biloxi and get to see Connie, Jim, and MR. B.
Then we only have 3 more weeks before we head north one more time. Think I'll go to the library and see if I can find a good book about - well WHATEVER.
We had planned to go on a Swamp Tour this morning. When I called I was informed that he doesn't go unless he has 8 wanting to go and so far had no one else interested this morning. Well, Durn.
So...I gathered up the last of the laundry, cleaned our little apartment, paid bills, and here I sit.
Next Saturday we hope to be in Biloxi and get to see Connie, Jim, and MR. B.
Then we only have 3 more weeks before we head north one more time. Think I'll go to the library and see if I can find a good book about - well WHATEVER.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Week Two in the Sewing Room
Well, this was a great week. We had four women from Texas and two men, one from Texas and the other one from Florida.
These two men were a hoot. The one tried to sew but soon gave it up for a more challenging job - pinning handles on the bags before they were sewn on. This sounds really terrible, I know, but it actually is a very important step in the process of sewing the bags and makes the job easier for the ones that ARE putting handles on.
We laughed, told jokes, made fun of the men, they made fun of us, took breaks, and just had a great time. AND...they made 375 school bags this week. I think that's almost a record for anyone that has worked in there when I was here.
I'm going to miss this group but I have a feeling a couple of them and I will be close for a long time to come. One of them could not believe I was 75. I asked her how old she thought I was and she said, "Oh, about 60". I KNOW she and I are going to be friends. :)
So...this morning my helper and I clean the machines, put new needles in and make sure we have work for the ones coming in Monday to do.
There is a large group coming next week. Over 70 volunteers and it will be a busy campus. Hope we have good workers again in the sewing room.
I know this is calm compared to a couple of weeks last year and that's JUST FINE WITH ME.
These two men were a hoot. The one tried to sew but soon gave it up for a more challenging job - pinning handles on the bags before they were sewn on. This sounds really terrible, I know, but it actually is a very important step in the process of sewing the bags and makes the job easier for the ones that ARE putting handles on.
We laughed, told jokes, made fun of the men, they made fun of us, took breaks, and just had a great time. AND...they made 375 school bags this week. I think that's almost a record for anyone that has worked in there when I was here.
I'm going to miss this group but I have a feeling a couple of them and I will be close for a long time to come. One of them could not believe I was 75. I asked her how old she thought I was and she said, "Oh, about 60". I KNOW she and I are going to be friends. :)
So...this morning my helper and I clean the machines, put new needles in and make sure we have work for the ones coming in Monday to do.
There is a large group coming next week. Over 70 volunteers and it will be a busy campus. Hope we have good workers again in the sewing room.
I know this is calm compared to a couple of weeks last year and that's JUST FINE WITH ME.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NUMBER TWO
Fifty years ago today we had a second beautiful baby girl. Happy birthday, Jill. I hope you have a WONDERFUL day.
Love you, mom
Love you, mom
Sunday, October 9, 2011
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
October 9, 1957 we had our first born child. A beautiful baby girl. Happy Birthday, Kim. Love you.
Friday, October 7, 2011
ONE WEEK DOWN, FIVE TO GO
This is the last day of our first week here. I'm ready for a day off. It's been a trying week but going better with each passing day.
This morning I showered, got dressed and started putting my name tag on, turn on my phone, be sure my keys were in my pocket and couldn't find my pocket. I HAD PUT MY SLACKS ON BACKWARD.
TGIF
This morning I showered, got dressed and started putting my name tag on, turn on my phone, be sure my keys were in my pocket and couldn't find my pocket. I HAD PUT MY SLACKS ON BACKWARD.
TGIF
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
A Day at Work
We are back in Louisiana for awhile. I'm back in the sewing room and Ted is hard at work in Depot after cleaning out all the dryer vents on campus yesterday. Even though he shows the crew here how to do that little job, they always have them waiting for him to do. Never mind he just turned 80 and I doubt any of them are much over 50, save one.
My two singing ladies are back this year but I discovered I have an ACE on my side. Upon arrival to the sewing room yesterday I learned I had a helper this year. Her name is Louise and she is on a Gov't grant of some kind. She can only work so many hours a week and told me right away she had been told she had a way with people. SO...I shared with her the plight of the lady that sewed on a serger like she was driving an Indy 500 car.
Louise took over and I admired her work from across the room. AND...low and behold the driver slowed down. Well, most of the time. Since Louise is only allowed to work so many hours a week she left at noon today and it only took my friend a few minutes to totally wreck the serger that had been working just fine.
I finally said I'd deal with it tomorrow and about that time another serger was in pain. I took over and got it fixed after going back over my instructions on how to clean and thread the little devil.
I'm going to let the race car driver cut out blankets for birthing kits in the morning and hopefully by the time everyone gets here Thursday morning all the machines will be in working order. Why do I feel I have to do this? Maybe it's time I moved on to something else. We'll see how things progress and how the rest of our 6 week tour goes before making any big decisions.
*Note, Louise is not her real name but has been changed to protect the innocent. :)
My two singing ladies are back this year but I discovered I have an ACE on my side. Upon arrival to the sewing room yesterday I learned I had a helper this year. Her name is Louise and she is on a Gov't grant of some kind. She can only work so many hours a week and told me right away she had been told she had a way with people. SO...I shared with her the plight of the lady that sewed on a serger like she was driving an Indy 500 car.
Louise took over and I admired her work from across the room. AND...low and behold the driver slowed down. Well, most of the time. Since Louise is only allowed to work so many hours a week she left at noon today and it only took my friend a few minutes to totally wreck the serger that had been working just fine.
I finally said I'd deal with it tomorrow and about that time another serger was in pain. I took over and got it fixed after going back over my instructions on how to clean and thread the little devil.
I'm going to let the race car driver cut out blankets for birthing kits in the morning and hopefully by the time everyone gets here Thursday morning all the machines will be in working order. Why do I feel I have to do this? Maybe it's time I moved on to something else. We'll see how things progress and how the rest of our 6 week tour goes before making any big decisions.
*Note, Louise is not her real name but has been changed to protect the innocent. :)
Monday, October 3, 2011
ANDY ROONEY
Last night Andy Rooney said "Good-bye" to us on 60 Minutes. He was one of my favorite people. He said it like he saw it. I'm going to miss that old codger.
I had heard some of the stories he shared last night but many I had not. I knew he was a correspondent in WWII but he said he really didn't want to go into the service. He didn't think we should be in that war - until he got to Germany. He never signed autographs. Said he couldn't imagine what kind of person would want his signature on a piece of paper. I particularly liked what he said about Timothy McVeigh after the Oklahoma Bombing. With great anger in his eyes he said he could kill the B _ _ _ _ _ _ D.
Most journalists today act like they are auditioning for a play. The one's we have on the T.V. stations in Nashville get so involved in the stories they are telling I wonder sometimes how they get away with it. Andy just told the story. Oh yes, sometimes he got really angry but that was what made him so special to me.
He told of some of the people he worked with. Walter Cronkite, Morley Safer and others along the way. How close he was to his friends in the war and how many close friends he lost.
He closed his program by saying if he could do anything over he'd like to be on a T.V. show like 60 minutes to share his views and get paid for it. Pretty neat to have worked for a company as long as he has and still LOVE it.
ANYWAY...I'm going to miss seeing him.
I had heard some of the stories he shared last night but many I had not. I knew he was a correspondent in WWII but he said he really didn't want to go into the service. He didn't think we should be in that war - until he got to Germany. He never signed autographs. Said he couldn't imagine what kind of person would want his signature on a piece of paper. I particularly liked what he said about Timothy McVeigh after the Oklahoma Bombing. With great anger in his eyes he said he could kill the B _ _ _ _ _ _ D.
Most journalists today act like they are auditioning for a play. The one's we have on the T.V. stations in Nashville get so involved in the stories they are telling I wonder sometimes how they get away with it. Andy just told the story. Oh yes, sometimes he got really angry but that was what made him so special to me.
He told of some of the people he worked with. Walter Cronkite, Morley Safer and others along the way. How close he was to his friends in the war and how many close friends he lost.
He closed his program by saying if he could do anything over he'd like to be on a T.V. show like 60 minutes to share his views and get paid for it. Pretty neat to have worked for a company as long as he has and still LOVE it.
ANYWAY...I'm going to miss seeing him.
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