Saturday

The rest of our group traveled here today.  PJ spent over 8 hours driving people from two different airports to our home base in High Island.  We're just about two hours from the airports.  Everyone got here safely.  Thanks for praying for us!

Saturday we found out that High Island is a place where migratory birds rest as they flow from South America across the Gulf of Mexico to their summer homes throughout North America.  There are literally hundreds of thousands of birds flying through this town every April.  I'm sure you can learn more about the bird sanctuaries in High Island by googling it.  The church we're staying at has a fund raiser every Saturday during April - they provide lunches to those who are in the area to see the birds.  We got a chance to meet many locals through helping with this lunch.  They served over 150 people today.  Not bad for a town of only 500 people.  We also found out that over 200 people attend this church in two services on Sunday mornings.  That's almost 1/2 of the town!

We got a chance to meet a young man (at heart) named Joe.  He remembers being in the town of High Island in the 1920's and watching the church building being built!  He's lived here since then, surviving more than 5 hurricanes and serving as town constable for a number of terms.  Now he rides around town in a little scooter and then uses his cane to get around the church.  Everyone in this town knows Joe!  it's clear that Joe has a simple faith, but it's clear that Joe loves God and his hope is in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.  We'll do our best to keep you updated, but there is little left here and an internet connection just hasn't been a priority for those who lost everything in the storm.  Our cell phones are working here, so be sure to check the message update at 315-225-1099 each evening.  We're an hour behind you, but we'll try to post a daily update as we get ready for dinner.

Esteban practicing for his special music number in High Island.	This cross was constructed after the hurricane as a reminder that the Cross of Christ is a firm foundation.
Cindy  making sure she's got everything on her list.	Dale getting ready to fly.
Jonathan - always ready to prove that nothing can destruct his water bottle.	This cool tunnel is in the Detroit airport.
How to pack 30 people and they're stuff into 2 - 15 passenger vans.	Deb posing in front of one of the many oil wells in the area.
This is the room that 6 guys will sleep in for the week.	Here is another of the bunk houses the guys will be staying in.
Most of the girls will be staying in this room.