We have arrived in New Orleans!

We arrived in New Orleans, LA this afternoon at 4 p.m. in one piece and with all our folks and property ;-)

Let me introduce you to the team, starting from the front:

Row 1: Wes Stiefer, II and Pam Hampson

Row 2: Marianne Brummett, Ashley Landess, Tracy Singleterry, Patty Landess, Averie Hinchey, Joanna Whimple and Lee Garber

Row 3: Todd Singleterry, Ken Lane, Craig Krueger, Rachel Maduro, Wes Stiefer, Thomas Landess, Christian Durbin, Kelly Singleterry, and Madison Davis

Row 4: Tyler Landess, Lucas Spratt, Jonathan Barksdale, Tim Landess, Spencer RedCorn

Our adventure started Friday as 12 folks from Guymon, OK traveled to The Colony, TX. After staying overnight at TPC - The Colony with other team members, 19 of us headed south 2 hours to Mexia, TX on the next leg of our journey. Once in Mexia, we were a complete team of 23 people for the first time. Our first day was spent on the road in two full-size vans getting to know one another. Food, fun, fellowship were enjoyed by all once in Beaumont, TX for the night. A special thanks to our hosts from St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beaumont for a wonderful restaurant choice, opening up their building to us, and joining us for our evening activities! We closed the evening with worship as we will every night on the trip. 

Sunday morning we stayed for worship with the St. Andrews folks before loading back up in the vans for our last day of driving. Along much of the trip across I-10, these odd, wet, drops of water fell from the sky off and on causing most of us from North Texas to think WAY back in our memories to identify the phenomena!

We haven't even begun work yet, but most of us are already exhausted (well maybe just the over 35 crowd....)! As soon as we pulled up at the Olive Tree Volunteer Village, there's been something to do, meetings to attend to introduce us to the program, dinner, and a wonderful opening worship led by Lauren (one of Grace Presbytery's own products I might add!!), Amber and Joe. I can't wait until tomorrow when we can focus all the extra energy our youth have on some hard work!