Salem Katrina Team Report for November 12

We had a productive day, beginning with a most thoughtful devotional. Rick Pollan headed for the airport and his flight back to Portland...there goes one super-hard worker who knows how to fix anything. He even got the church's sign lighted up again, making it possible for folks on US90 to see this little place after dark. Did I say he was a hard worker and could fix anything?? Thanks so much, Rick, for your strong presence, happy countenance and the thoughtful blog articles.

Visited the Methodist camp up the road. Wow, those guys are organized! Dozens of air-conditioned tents tall enough to stand up straight inside, a huge assembly/chow hall tent, lots of support facilities and RV's all over the place. So many faiths, so much work to do.

This place is going to be a hot-spot for work if you happen to be in the commercial signs business. It reminds me of the TV game show, Wheel of Fortune. Give me a vowel, Vanna White!

We dispatched Morella's table saw and joiner today. Took a crew of four beefy guys to move things into the home of the recipient. Morella's late hubby would be very happy with his tools' new home. They'll make another man happy for years to come as he serves folks in this area with his skills...and his new equipment.

I've gotten into the habit of noticing whether drivers on the road are using seat belts. Rough average is less than 25% or so. As mentioned yesterday, drivers are also getting a tad bit aggressive, perhaps due to the accumulation of stressors especially lack of rest. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is going to be well-studied here for years to come.

To our wonderful church kids who are following the team, thanks again for thinking about us and praying for us each day, especially tomorrow at church. We have given away the last of the stuffed animals we brought, giving them to the local kids who are very nice to us. Tomorrow we give away the last of the beautiful quilts the folks in the Salem Quilt-a-Thon made for hurricane victims. Everyone we've handed a quilt to has been amazed that folks from Salem, from our beautiful Willamette valley, would do something so nice for them. We have quilts for babies, quilts for using on a chair or sofa, and quilts for regular beds. We especially enjoy giving the baby's quilts to their moms!

We live in McMinnville, and kids from Patton Middle School there emailed me that they'd played a game against their teachers to raise money. They were able to send kids in Louisiana $260 to help repair Katrina damage. Great kids at Patton!

We're out tonight for a fish dinner together, just our team. Wish Rick could have been with us. Wish the rest of the crew (meaning Karen) was here to go also, but we can do something special when she arrives tomorrow. We sure miss everyone at home. Lucky ol' Rick: he'll be at services tomorrow in our very own, warm, safe, clean church. Down here in Gautier, y'all, we're fixin' to look forward to Rev. Chris Bullock's services in this newly-reborn sanctuary, make so special with the labors of friends from all over the nation. And if there's any problem, well it don't make no never mind!

Tomorrow Mary and I will slap breakfast together again, but will add hot oatmeal, fried potatoes, biscuits and sausage patties to the plate for some variety. Somehow, I think we might be drifting closer and closer to cold cereals as we get closer to our return to Salem...0515 is a pretty early time to report for work to start the grits! To the right you'll see something we discovered that will go over great in Oregon. Can you read the label okay? Pickled pig lips...always sure to please!

Boy, its been cold. We were shivering yesterday afternoon and last night. Today was warmer but it is wonderful not to have that heat we faced earlier this week.

Everyone is healthy, everyone looks happy, and everyone certainly is working hard and effectively in helping Gautier rebuild. We all know that if Mount Hood were to blow or some other disaster hit the Northwest, these same suffering people would be at our doorstep, hammers in hand, ready to shoulder our burden with us. Thank God we are spared and can instead aid them.

Some things, like this sign above, we just don't understand yet. But we are working on it! At least Rick had a head start on the accent, being from Texas, but some of the others are starting to understand a few words here and there, if the locals speak slowly.

Good night, Oregon. Bless your heart!