Friday!

On Friday morning, Roland returned to do pastoral care in the clinic while the rest of us hoofed it through a couple of neighborhoods, checking in with folks, sharing information regarding the services available through Lutheran Disaster Relief and doing preliminary sign ups for those in need of assistance. We were welcomed warmly and with gratitude by the folks we met. One woman took us out back of her house so we could the view of the bayou; she also pointed out that one of her magnificent oak trees is approximately 600 years old! She was most gracious and clearly a proud resident.

In the afternoon, we took to the highway to see some of the areas we had missed (Long Beach, Pass Christian, etc.) We stopped along a section of beach that had been sifted. (No one is allowed on the beach until it has been sifted for debris by large trucks with conveyor belts; they leave interesting patterns in their wake.)

After this portion of our trip, we went to Ocean Springs, now accessible from Biloxi only via I-10 (the bridge is out between the two cities). Ocean Springs has a charming downtown, including a very nice toy shop where Chelsea enjoyed having a photo taken with a very large Lego figure and Roland and Barb engaged the owner in extensive conversation about vacuum cleaners and their experience of the hurricane.

Across the street, we visited a lovely gift shop that Dorothy (at Bethel) had recommended and a little ice cream parlor and gift shop as well. When the woman in the ice cream parlor discovered what we had been doing, she insisted on paying for our ice cream. "That's what I've been doing for everyone (who has volunteered)," she said. Again, she was most gracious, thanked us generously and willingly shared her family's story.

Friday night, we had our last meal at Bethel - barbecue - and enjoyed our final games of speed Scrabble, which is too much fun! We bid farewell to our new friends and turned in for a short night's sleep.

Grace and Peace,

Sue