Salem Katrina Team Update October 26

Today we got the motor home back from service (thanks, Valley RV) and rented the U-Haul trailer. We got the largest one they have, but it does seem a bit small. Saturday, when we load, I hope everything will fit.

The staff from Willamette Medical Center has collected thousands (yup, that's a number with three zeros after it) of new stuffed animals to brighten the eyes of any Gulf Coast kid. Tomorrow night they load their collection into the trailer and Dodge van, but I'm afraid we might not have room for all. Our mission...to meet the Salvation Army in Mississippi who'll distribute them, plus we will give a bunch to Gautier Presbyterian as well as the town's school, fire and police departments for their local kids. We're also taking about 250 handmade quilts.

And the quilts are beautiful. Plus, the wonderful ladies who made them have invited each team member to select a quilt to keep you comfortable in your tent!

This morning we also loaded the woodworking equipment donated by Ed Reiks of First Pres Newberg, which gets distributed along with Morella's table saw and joiner.

Congratulations to all: We finally have everybody's flight schedules and it looks like either I pick up folks at Gulfport or the host church picks up Morella and then she picks up Ed the next day, then I'll get the remaining team as they arrive.

We've had so many questions where we're headed from our friends and supporters. Here's a map. We will be at Gautier, Mississippi, which is about 37 miles east of Gulfport, about 5 miles east of Biloxi, right on State Highway 90. It is right on the Gulf, a few minutes walk from the water.

Tomorrow we continue loading cooking gear, computer donations, bedding and other stuff into the trailer, then meet with the Willamette folks to get their teddy bears. Saturday we'll be at the church by 10:00, hoping a couple team members show up to help load the individual equipment and team gear into the U-Haul. Then we get a good night's sleep before church, our team's commissioning and the start of a very, very long drive!