Change in our Plans

Hello everyone.  We wanted to let you know that we've had a change in plans.  As you are all aware by now, Hurricane Isaac is building out in the Gulf of Mexico and scheduled to make landfall sometime tonight or early tomorrow morning.  What you probably didn't know is that Steve and I are fully trained in Shelter Operations and Mass Care for the American Red Cross.  As such, we have been deployed to Hattiesburg, MS, where the Red Cross has set up a large shelter for persons located in the Gulf region.  We left New Hampshire this morning and are currently cruising through Connecticut and headed toward Pennsylvania, our eventual stop for the evening.  Tomorrow we will continue our 1,500-mile journey to Mississippi in order to reach the shelter by late Thursday or early Friday morning and begin work.  At this point, we know we will be there up to 21 days, but that's all we know.

It has been an interesting drive so far as we cross back over some of the path we have already taken. Seeing some of the sights again has been a pleasant trip down memory lane for Steve and I.  We will be spending the night in Wilkes-Barre, PA which is just south of Scranton.  It's funny, but since we left Stroudsburg, PA several weeks ago, we've had Scranton local channels through our dish service the entire time we were in Watkins Glen and Henderson Harbor, NY as well as our time in Vermont and even in New Hampshire.  Who knew that Scranton would have such a powerful TV station?

Anyway, we are asking for your prayers today.  We would like you to pray for the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as they prepare for yet another disaster to befall them.  If you will recall, Steve and I spent a good deal of time in the Gulf Coast this past winter.  During our stay, we met numerous people and visited numerous communities that endured the difficulties that Katrina brought.  In some cases, they are still rebuilding some seven years later.  So keep these people in your prayers.  It must be so difficult to just get over one hurricane only to be faced with another.  Pray also for safe travel for Steve and I.  We are dragging Big Red with us as we head south and this 50 feet of metal train (and 22,000 pounds as well) is a chore for Steve to manage long periods of time on the road.  

Thanks everyone and we'll keep you posted.