A week late, it is now time to update what happened the last three days of the Mision Trip. I have more pictures to post, and will do this later in the week and put the link in a subsequent entry at this location. Monday, February 19 was the last work day and for our crew it was a busy one. In the morning we went to the home of a client that I had never met and almost finished putting insulation in walls and ceilings. There was still a small portion of the ceiling that was not insulated, but we ran out of material and expected to complete the job after lunch. We also began hanging sheet rock, but made little progress because the drills we had with us were faulty. We were frustrated by the time we were set to leave for lunch, but expected to return with material and tools after lunch.

What happened instead was that several of the groups at the camp were scheduled to leave after lunch and almost everyone was reassigned. Our crew (which this afternoon was all people from First) stayed together wil Jim Bass as crew leader, but we went back to Isa's house where we had worked before. The task for the afternoon was to install cement board on Ida's floors in her sun room and a large hall way, another group at a later time would be installing ceramic tile over this sub floor. The work was very satisfying, particularly because in the course of the afternoon we were able to complete our task. Some sheets could go down intact, but the last pieces had to be cut to fit. We learned to measure very carefully to make these pieces fit, since the house was not exactly square. Keith proved himself quite talented with a skill saw, but the stars of the show were Stacy K and Sue C who had the task of nailing down the cement board with a nail gun. The two of them, the two smallest members of the team, were something else with a nail gun in their hands - BAMB - BAMB - BAMB. Stacy had at least seen her father use a nail gun while helping him remodel their home, but Sue was the most game to use a tool she had never experienced before. [I think both of them came to understand men's facination with power tools.]

I do want to say that we had a most impressive group. Every member of the team was a hard worker, and the teens were the hardest workers of all. There were other groups with teens in the camp with us who spent more time standing around (we saw a few adults with the same problem) than working. Every member of our group that I worked with was working hard, if someone was not busy it was because there were too many people for the job.

We came with different abilities, and many of us learned entirely new skills. Some of us used knowledge we thought we had forgotten; most of us knew our limits and followed the leaders' advice not to exceed our ability. I had to step aside one afternoon when the physical demands of carrying lumber caused me to be short of breath. One person seems to have exceeded his limits.

Sherry who I believe was our oldest team member found his place in the kitchen and his efforts were much appreciated by the cook as well as by all of us who ate at the camp. Those of us who want our coffee soon after rolling out of bed were most appreciative of his early rising to turn on the pots.

We all came to know one another much better for our week together, we learned who was a light sleeper and who was a loud snorer (guilty as charged, and I warned the light sleeper she was in too close proximity. I don't think she believed me, but during the night she picked up her bed and relocated.)

The last day we rose early and moved to New Orleans for Fat Tuesday, the last day of Mardi Gras. Several of us got to watch the Zulu parade, one of the largest and best with over 30 floats, others saw Rex and other of the finest Crewes. We continued to explore the french quarter, are wonderful food, and saw many amazing sights. Most of us were wise enough to get off the streets and into our hotels before things got their wildest in the last few hours before everything ends and lent begins at midnight.

We flew home virtually without incident and arrived at the airport at 3:05 PM, on schedule. We will not talk about who walked all over the third floor of the parking lot at Bradley airport before she found her car. Shirley and I were the only members of the mission trip to return to the Church for Ash Wednesday dinner and service; I probably would not have gone if I wasn't the pastor, and I think Shirley felt obligated since she invited Francis Acquah, our guest preacher.

When will be begin planning the next trip?

I do want to say that we are indebted to the youth of the Church who, along with their leaders, George and Carolyn Blick had worked at Camp Coast Care (http://www.campcoastcare.com/) last summer and challenged the adults to do a mission trip. We also owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to George Blick and other family members who made all the arrangements for travel and housing; all at very reasonable prices. We are thankful to the Presbytery of Southern New England (http://psne.org), the FPC Strawberry Festival, the girl scouts and others who contributed to make it possible for everyone who wanted to go to afford the trip.