let the good times roll

We made it! Some of us made short detours to Memphis and New Orleans along the way, but the end of the caravan is finally rolling into the Back Bay Mission House in Biloxi, Mississippi. After many long hours of driving, all of us, although slightly restless, are happy to be here. We're settling into our new homes for the week and getting everything situated, making trips to the grocery store and to and from Back Bay and Sea Shore. Last night we spent the night in Jackson. We arrived at the hotel and shortly headed out to eat a great home-cooked meal at St. Richard Parish. Thanks to Dana and her crew, we had fried chicken, corn, baked beans, desserts, and lots of fun and games. We spent a few hours at St. Richard's after dinner playing Bunko, Catch Phrase, Dodgeball, and Spoons, which, as you might guess, got a little to competitive, but no one got hurt!
The standards were set high for this trip after the awesome hospitality we received in Jackson. We participated in a nice mass this morning and then we were on our way. We're going to work hard for the next week to become the selfless people the backs of our shirts describe us as and to help the lives of many people down here.
'I am only one, but still I am one, I cannot do everything, but still I can do something, and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.'
Peace,
Patreece Smith (Midnight) & Libby Harbaugh (Shaking the Tree)

See You at 7:40 a.m.

This will change every day....check in all week for updates!!!

Required Reading

Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

The Theology of the Hammer by Millard Fuller

Last Week Announcements

Students

1) The veteran Biloxi students would like to have a half hour of your time to make
the trip better for you.

We will meet at 11:45 am....after your last exam in the back of the cafeteria.
This should not be a long meeting, but will be if we have to wait for you.

Please be there, if you cannot be there, please make arrangements to be there.

If you still cannot be there--talk to me tomorrow Tuesday.I will be in the building..

2) We are working hard to collect forms, insurance cards and contact info and
a few more payments.
If you are missing these, please see Mr. Magee tomorrow.

3) At 8:00 a.m. in the EAC, we will have a short less than 15 minute prayer
service before we leave.

Please invite your parents, who are dropping you off to attend this service.

You are expected to be on the back parking lot by 7:45 am on Saturday...

4) Also, Remember we are bringing underwear and socks for the homeless to MS.


5) I will be sending out a more formal email to your parents as soon as the last car details are complete..

Making a House a Home

I have seen the same pictures of Nerinx students working on installing drywall at 397 Howard a hundred times now. They are great pictures of what is done on this trip, but these "before" pictures pale in comparison to the "after" pictures.

I spent 10 minutes in the home of Ms. Nguyen, and 15 minutes on the porch of Mrs. Fields, but those moments really reinforced why we do this trip. I do not know who we will run into this year, whether it will be sweet, sunny Southern friendliness of a Mrs. Fields or the the always smiling resiliency and courage of Mrs. Nguyen. But each house has its own story, and each person their own tale. It is the simple act of reaching out, of the humility of putting others first, that we will try to succeed again in accomplishing this year.

So take a look at Maggie Herr(Magilla) and Megan Manuel (Mega)on a ladder, but then also of the home right above it.


John Magee

Biloxi 2010 !!!

Students and Parents,

It is time to start thinking and preparing on how you are going to best use your talents to share with our friends in Biloxi. My goals for you are quite simple, I want to introduce to you a lifetime of service. If you talk with any of the people who have gone in the past, you will find that Biloxi and their experiences are still very much in their heart and thoughts.

This is something you can do. If you think about the best thing you have ever done in your life, my expectations for you on May 30th are beyond that mark. The amazing thing is that every year I say this challenge, so many students not only go beyond their best, but go beyond...WAY BEYOND... my expectations.

That is your challenge to equal the tradition that the previous classes have established.

Thanks for the words, Antje

Someone is tossing petals in a stream
Somewhere someone is standing at the foothills of their dreams
Someone got a paintbrush, is painting over doubts
Someone opened up his eyes and saw the sun coming out
Someone was captive and found the courage to get off
From a boulder in the well, somewhere the rain has stopped
Someone is finding the place where they belong

Antje Duvekot "Merry-Go-Round"

a.k.a.

The first song on the 2009 Biloxi Slide Show