Wednesday, March 28th............Today is another work day in the tent. Barbara signed in 558 people to receive groceries and to eat. It was a busy day and everyone worked very hard. Randy and Jill wanted me to put together a slide show of Jesse, however, no one had any pictures of him working. So, Jill schemed with Randy and had Jesse do some tile work. So, I sorta followed him around taking pictures. I also took some pictures of the work being done on the church. We also did a little advance work for the WOW JAM tomorrow.

Thursday.........today, Barbara and I decided to take it a little easy today and just enjoy the WOW JAM. However, Pastor needed someone to drive the truck to pick up some table and chairs from across the river. Then we had to use the forklift to load all the food packages and take them to the Park. Peaches, of Peaches and Herb (60s), and her husband, Stephen, were the headliners. Peaches (Linda Tavani) did a few songs and Stephen did all the preaching and MC work. The WOW JAM is a LA based ministry that goes all over the country setting up a sound stage and minister to the communities by giving them food, haircuts, counseling, baby sitting, a hot meal, family portraits , face painting for the kids, etc. But above all, they gave them a salvation message. In fact, there were 192 decisions. It was a good day. A team from Master's Commission was there and performed a “Stomp” rendition using trash cans, water bottles, plaster jars and big plastic tubs.....they were excellent and a big hit. A side note, if you have seen the AntiChrist DVD by the Prophet, Dr. Joe van Koverning, I actually met him. He was there to support the Tavani group and we talked for a short time. He also said he would send me his latest book. It was a long but productive day.

Friday.........Barbara worked the tent and they signed up 562 people for food and meals. Some of the people had to leave for the WOW JAM and most of us had to cover for them and work in the tent. A group of GodChasers from Tommy Tenney's ministry arrived and took over in the tent. I worked most of the day on the slide show for Jesse. I finished the show and burned it to a DVD.

Barbara and I went to the Crayfish festival and picked up some local food......crayfish and pasta, crayfish and corn bisque soup and crayfish benets. It was all good. Then, we went into the sanctuary where the GodChasers did a concert with praise and worship, some hip-hop dance routines and a good message. It was a small crowd since a lot of people was at the crayfish festival. The small crowd made the time very intimate.

We got a report on the WOW JAM across the river today. They had a great time.....a little rain but it didn't dampen the attendance or response to the salvation message........they had 337 responders to the message.....PTL!

Saturday......Barbara did all the laundry before we leave. I went to Walgreen and got some more pictures printed of the Katrina Memorial. We got all the frames they had. We had already sold 4 of the pictures. This will be used as a small fund-raiser for the City of Hope. In the afternoon, we went out to Greg and Cheryl for a “Crayfish Boil” to honor Jesse for his 6-month work at the Church. A lot of people from the Church was there and we had a great time. The crayfish was great. It was a pot luck and everyone brought something. It was a complete success and Jesse was totally surprised and didn't suspect anything. He had a good time.

Sunday......Pastor called Barbara and I up front and honored us for our service. Pastor and Jill said some very nice things and we all cried a little. Barbara and I love Pastor and Jill and feel we have known them for a long time (not just a year). He now calls us 'MOM and DAD'. Our feeling for them is mutual....We will be coming back.

Pastor then brought up Jesse and honored him for his 6 months of work. He also took up an offering (something he seldom does) for Jesse. Pastor again preached a good sermon....a Palm Sunday sermon. Part two will be on Easter.

Afterwards, Barbara and I went with Pastor, Jill and Collin to Bravos restaurant for a good meal. We then went to the Home and Garden Show at the Super Dome. Pastor was looking for different ideas and some contacts for future work at the church and in the community.

We returned back to the RV and said our goodbyes to everyone and then unhooked everything and drove the RV to the front of the Church for the evening so we could leave early.

Monday....we left at 4:40am and started our trip home. We drove all day (833 miles) and arrived at Fort Stockton, Texas to spend the night.

Tuesday, we left at 8:40am and drove all day (850 miles) and ended up in Blythe, CA to spend the night.

That is where I sit now.......writing my blog......By the time, you read this, I will be home......because we don't have internet service here and I will send it when I get home.

This was a great trip and we left part of our heart in Arabi, LA. We will be going back....we just don't know when. Pastor Randy, Jill and their family has become a part of our life and family and we intend to a part of their life and family from now on. God has put us together for a reason.....and whatever that reason is......we love it!

As I said earlier, we are home now.....we arrived at 12:30pm on Wednesday afternoon. We are sad to have left our friends in the New Orleans area but happy to be home with our kids and grandkids. This will be my last posting on this part of my blog site. We will be home for awhile but when we travel again, I will send out an email. Thanks for traveling with us.

Love and Blessings,

DAD and MOM
(Jerry and Barbara)