Salem Katrina Team Report from Gautier November 13

It got very warm again with the humidity just weighing us down. Water drips from vehicles, and we even use our wipers while driving. Services at Gautier were special as we joined with local members and listened to Chris' continuing series on thankfulness. He has a great talent with the kids, sitting cross-legged on the floor with them and they were perfectly engaged! Joan was invited to help with the music and Chris wrote her a nice note that it was appreciated.

Mary and I got breakfast out again. It was made much easier by the discovery of pre-formed biscuits at Wal-Mart. Samo-samo tomorrow, but nobody seems bored with the menu yet. This morning around 7AM I headed to get Karen at the airport but was worried when she wasn't on the 8:20 Continental. I waited around an hour after insuring the flights were on time, and was chagrined later to learn I should have been at the airport for Karen's 8:20 PM arrival! Anyway, she's "home" with us at last after her long, long journey, determined to rest and strike out tomorrow, fully charged and ready for hard work.

Several of our team joined other volunteers working a bit today after services.

What about Wayne Swanson? I haven't written much about him. He and Mary visited Georgia and then headed here to join us on the mission trip, and plan on taking another few months traveling before coming back to Salem. Wayne is another one of those guys who can do anything. Guys like me who seem to lack practical skills look at guys like him and marvel at his skills and energy. Mary said he'd be strong all week but be tired out by Sunday...didn't happen! Wayne is another energizer bunny, like David. Like Rick. Like Mary. Like Joan. Like "Silent" Ed. Wayne's full of ideas, gentle in his suggestions and guidance, and a natural leader. Don't know if he can cook because Mary comes to do the breakfasts every day, not Wayne.

I guess I'm the only Oregonian here who's in a 12volt frame with a 6volt battery.

If other teams are reading this blog, let's go over some news. First, don't bother bringing larger items like generators unless you've confirmed with Chris or Julie, the tent city mayor, that they're needed. We don't need bottled water, soap and the like. Teams should bring their individual work tools, especially for sheetrock work. Everybody needs wallboard, so if you are coming with a large vehicle or trailer you might bring some if you can fit it in. Folks from Tampa brought the church a new rider lawnmower. We could use a couple of those fancy multi-fold ladders. Chris has asked for a good, modern LCD projector. We have many local stores up and running, such as Sears, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and the like. Electricity is no problem and we have lines out to the tent area for our volunteers and most homes we're working on have power and water restored. We have wireless Internet throughout the volunteer tent area. There are a couple RVs here on the church lawn but I can imagine they'd like to have their lawn back as soon as we can reposition. There is a discount charity store nearby for cheap clothes if your's are ruined working. The weather has been hot, got real cold and is now hot and muggy again. We've set up a tool crib to draw work tools and materials from. The PDA representative here, Julie, could use more money. No...I should say she NEEDS more money.

Good night, Oregon.