Biloxi Trip!

Hey! Today we are sitting in our hotel room in Jackson, Mississippi, after a full day of traveling. We kicked off the day with a prayer service, in which every student attended and numerous amounts of parents and friends. After praying for a safe trip, we loaded our cars and headed to Jackson. The day was not only filled with bathroom breaks at gas stations and lunch at greasy fast food places, but also singing off key to old school rock tunes. We arrived in Jackson and proceeded to dinner at Olive Garden--let me tell you any place that can handle our group of 60 is okay in my books! After filling up on delicious pastas, we headed back to our rooms to rest up for the upcoming days in Biloxi.

As mentioned in our prayer service, the people of Back Bay are less fortunate then anyone we have encountered in our sheltered lives in St. Louis. They are a people devastated by natural disasters, stricken with poverty, and often times struggling to maintain basic human dignity. However, our Nerinx Hall community is making a journey to help the people in any way we can, whether it be physically or emotionally. I am anticipating the upcoming days and my only hope is that we can reach out and make a difference in individuals lives. Even though we will only be in Mississippi for a week, hopefully our work will change their whole lives.

Prayer for us; we miss you all already!

Lisa Godfrey
Class of 2009

Today was our first of two days of traveling down to Biloxi, Mississippi. After a group prayer with our family, friends, past Biloxi travelers, and Nerinx faculty, we began our eight hour drive to Jackson, Mississippi. It was a car ride filled with conversations, an unhealthy lunch from Wendy's, rocking out to Miley Cirus (or is it Hannah Montana?), on-and-off napping, and plenty of laughter, we finally arrived to Jackson. We ate dinner as a group at the Olive Garden, filling ourselves with endless breadsticks, salad, pasta, and chocolate mints (I think I had about 213 mints...but that's just an estimate). We're all settling down for the night in our hotel rooms, ready for a goodnight's sleep.

It's hot and we're already tired, but you can definitely tell the girls are all very excited. As a veteran Biloxi traveler, I'm incredibly excited to visit the parking lot and blue house that I worked on last year. I know this week's experience is going to be just as wonderful and amazing as last year's.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Everyone says hi, and we miss you already.

See you soon with a really great farmer's tan...

Julie Niehaus
Class of 2008

First Night of Travel

Our first night started with swimming in the hotel pool in jackson and sitting by the pool. All of us are really excited to get started working but i know we are all enjoying this period of rest before our week of tough work is kicked off. After some swam and some just relaxed in their rooms we all gathered outside to meet before heading over to the Olive Garden for our first dinner together. There was lots of laughing and a fun time was had by everyone. We are all in high spirits and have awesome hopes for the upcoming week!

~ Dottie Klenke

Please Join Us

On Saturday morning, May 31st at 8:00 am, we will gather in the Nerinx back parking lot to embark on our trip 2008 style.

Several of our group are working on a short prayer service. We will also carry with us the prayers of Ms. Jost's freshmen class, and the good thoughts and intentions of many.

If you are part of the group going, you should start reflecting on what you can do to bring your talents and your kindness to our new friends in Biloxi and Gulfport and the surrounding communities.

If you have any questions you can e-mail Mr. Magee: jmagee@nerinxhs.org