im back.
i've been back since sunday but i've been pushing writing off since then because of the tired and lazy factors that come with traveling.
here's a review of my past couple weeks...get ready. ;)

thursday (the 8th) :
we got to school and packed up the vans to leave by 9 am. we all rocked out to music provided by kirin and got really pumped for the upcoming week ahead of us.
8pm we finally arrived to our first night away. we stayed in frohna, mo at a school. after we got to the school we had to find out where we were going to eat. we decided the west end tavern and grocery was probably our best bet. we all had delicious food and then headed back to school for a good night's rest. the girls got to sleep in the gym and the guys were in the school hallway upstairs. so kirin, beth and i found some gym mats and put our sleeping bags on that and slept away.

friday (the 9th):
we got up early in the morning because we had to get out of the school before the kids started getting there. :) the whole group went to trinity lutheran, a few miles away, where the first LCMS church was started. we did a tour of the concordia church we had been at for the night and then headed on out to biloxi.
LONG DRIVING DAY... but made fun through laughter and continuous playing of kirin's ipod.
we got to camp biloxi at 8ish and then had a late night dinner at taco bell. we met jan, who was incredibly sweet and really kind. we all settled into our bunks and got a great night's rest.
our cabin/trailer things fit 3 bunkbeds and 6 lockers. all 6 of us girls were excited to be in a room together but we weren't sure how we were going to make it with such a small room! (this is me and beth chilling in our room. there is one more bunk...but kirin's sitting on it...not much room in here)

saturday (the 10th) :
we woke up for breakfast. and then headed out with the chaplain, drew and rava. they showed us some local houses and the owners were more than happy to share their story about Katrina with our group. we heard john and rava's story about how their neighborhood was wiped out and is now rebuilding. then we visited a house right across from the beach. it would have been a beautiful house. it was so interesting to look at the beach and then do a 360 and you were facing this house that had only been touched by looters after the storm and an occasional walk-through by the owner and a couple visitors. we met the owner and he talked to us about his wife and the storm. he stood on the porch of his house while evacuation notices were going out but he stayed on his porch where the water was up to his ankles. then the police came and took him to a safe place when Katrina hit. after that house we visited one on "the point". the owner there talked about his time during the storm and how the water came up to the 2nd floor of his house and then stopped. he had so many people in his house waiting for the end of the storm. after that house we visited this family whose house was just about finished being rebuilt. the mom talked about her time during the storm and how her and her son had swam for many hours waiting for help. she saw 2 sharks swim past her and was so thankful that they had all made it through safely.
our entire group visited some hurricane memorials and then we went and had devotions and time at the camp.

sunday (the 11th):
we went to church at the lutheran church of the good shepherd. then we headed out to New Orleans for the day.
it was a great time. we watched the dragon master showcase and went to the river's edge restaurant. we walked around the cathedral and looked at bourbon street (to see what it was like in daylight hours- because night hours are not good there.) after we walked to the french market and finally to cafe du monde. YUM! our table all got beignets and cafe au lait. it was so delicious.

monday (the 12th) :
we got up and ready for a 6 o'clock breakfast but soon found out it wasn't until 630 so we went back to bed for 30 minutes.
then we headed to a worksite where we were able to clear out some huge containers (they were basically "boxcars" full of tools and construction gear that needed to be boxed up for a move). we moved everything into a trailer and then kept going to unload the trailer and bring it back out our site.

tuesday (the 13th):
on tuesday we had somewhat of a "free" day. we went to some more houses and looked at what destruction was still left from katrina. then we went to the beach and had some more time to discuss what we were doing over the next few days. kirin, beth and i all took some great pictures and had an awesome time being our crazy selves. :)

wednesday (the 14th):
our whole group was excited to get on our first site! we went to this house and helped them build this trench for a drain so that the rain water wouldn't flood the house. we also started painting the house!

thursday (the 15th):
kirin, sara and i were able to go with the chaplain and go hand out food to the homeless. we had a really great time doing it. it was kinda scary at first because you don't know what to expect but it was so awesome to show them that they can change their lives around. and that there is hope. we gave out some prayer shawls and then lunch bags. the three of us also made 61 new lunch bags! we went shopping for the food and then put them all together. after visiting people we helped clean out the ambulance that is used for storage on the campsite. we visited this guy who was making food for 1000 people for the MLK jr. day celebration. after lunch we were pretty much done so we went to visit someone in long beach and played with the dog there for awhile. then the three of us went to the beach with mr. roeske and got coffee and talked about musicals and different things that we had in common!

friday (the 16th):
we woke up and had breakfast. beth, kirin and i were taking a bathroom break and then i got a text while waiting for the other two. beth read it over my shoulder and was like wait...you're birthday isn't until tomorrow...it's the 15th today. and i told her it was the 16th.
so we went back to our room and they sang happy birthday to me as many times as they could think of and to every tune they could think of. :) it was awesome.
kirin said happy bday to me everytime she looked at me. haha. and i got some awesome texts from people back home and a call from kristin!
we went and worked at the house again and worked worked worked away. we were able to eat lunch in the sun ...it was like a picnic. it was so awesome to be able to have it warm outside in the middle of january.
after working all day we went back to camp and the three of us had chili and then all of us headed over to the waffle house!
we finally got to go to theh waffle house. beth and i split two choc. chip waffles and a huge hashbrown. it was DELICIOUS. oh and i had some coffee too. ;)
then beth and kirin started playing the jukebox. they played all these waffle house songs and they found a happy birthday waffle house song. so they played that and everyone in the restaurant sang ...it waas really funny. and i was embarassed but it was all good.
then we went back and had a devotion and i was sung to again. it was a great day.

saturday (the 17th):
we got up early and headed over to get breakfast and be on the beach for the sunrise.
well we didn't quite get to the beach when the sun was coming over the horizon..but we stood and prayed and read some Bible verses on the beach. it was awesome.
we drove all day saturday...there was a lot of sleep and stops goin on.
our vans finally got to the church we were staying at at 8ish. the girls were able to stay in the youth room with all the couches and then the guys slept in the nursery. haha.
then our group decided that we were going to surprise some friends at the seminary. so we drove there and got some dinner and then got back to the church.

sunday (the 18th):
more getting up early and going to church. we all got to church and then went to breakfast and the arch. kirin, beth, abby and i didn't want to go in the arch because we'd been in it before but we walked around and took some hilarious pictures.
once the whole group got together we left and drove home. our last hour of driving kirin decided that we were going to play our fave van songs. ;)
that playlist included:
-i'll make a man out of you (from mulan)
-single ladies
-if i were a boy
-where in the world is carmen sandiego?

and a couple of others. it was a really great time.
i wish i could write more about it. but i dont think i can put any of the rest into words.

an album with pics is coming soon!

comewhatmay..
teia