They Call Us Clumpers!

Every day in our life we learn something new. Here's today's learning: Apparently, it's easy to identify VIMers who come to Mississippi to work because we are said to move around as groups wherever we go, or as the locals say, "in clumps." Thus they affectionately call us "Clumpers." How fun!

Our team arose around 7 a.m. this morning in order to get on the road to a United Methodist church that had early worship. After traveling some distance from the site where we are staying to a "First UMC" somewhere near Biloxi, as we turned into the drive, we discovered the church we had chosen on the internet was a work in progress, consisting of only a frame. We headed back toward the major road, passing another UM church which had a worship service at 10 a.m. Since it was only 8:30 a.m., we went on to the local Wafflehouse, of which there are many, and ate our breakfast. Wafflehouse was an exercise in organized chaos! They showed us real teamwork. They have the concept down pat.

From there, we went to worship at Cedar Lake UMC where the people welcomed us with open arms, thanking us for the work we would be doing. It was fun to look at the bulletin and see the sermon title, When God Says "Go." It was a challenging message for our team.

I'm always amazed at how small our world is. Before the service began, I introduced myself to the Pastor and discovered that he had lived in Wilmington in the '70s when he worked for Dupont.

In the afternoon, Jan Randel joined us and gave us a tour of the damage that had been done by Katrina. It was an eye opener. Since it has been almost five years since the hurricane damage occured, I think most of us felt that the housing would have been rebuilt and restored by now. This is not the case. The devastation is still all around the area.

Following our tour, the team ate a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. Beginning tomorrow, we'll be eating our meals at Camp Hope.

Tonight we had a briefing on and were given instructions concerning the work we will be doing this week. Our team will be working on constructing a new home. I heard words like "roofing," "siding", and "electrical." I feel as if I've gone into a strange, new land. Prayer would be good.

Tomorrow our team will be moving out and about in a group, in a clump, to Lucedale. I am guessing that the people of the town will point at us and say "Clumpers!" May we, the Grace UMC Clumpers, give glory to God in all that we do and say.

Still no pictures on FB. Need a cable. Hopefully will get it tomorrow.

Sweet dreams! Tomorrow is coming all too soon.