36 Hours

It all started yesterday at 5:50 in the morning when Joel and I had to leave to pick up new crew members. This is a miracle, for Joel doesn't even get up to go to the bathroom at this time. But he came with me because I never feel comfortable picking up new guy crew members that I have never meet before. They were supposed to be at the bus station at 6:15 but they were 30 minutes late. This would not have been so bad if Joel and I didn't have another pick up at 7 am. So we actually got the two new guys to the ship in time for them to have breakfast and for Joel and I to jet to Cintas (uniform factory) for our other early morning pick up.

By the time we got done with Cintas it was time to start our regular schedule. There really is no rest for the wicked.

Joel and I parted ways. He went to be head honcho over the grounds I went to go ride my big bad truck with a "girl" friend that wanted to go with me that day. Sarah and I had a good morning with picking up from a grocery store, bread warehouse and then vending machine place. The truck was full and ready to be taken to its designated places. We took it to the ship for the galley to go through and then to a shelter. But on our way to the second shelter Sarah SCREAMED while I was driving. "DESS PULLOVER" I had seen what she had seen, a man collapse while another man was trying to help him.

I pulled over knowing a bit more about the situation than Sarah but it turned out to be a good thing that Sarah didn't really know what was going on or I would have not pulled over. When I parked the UD I tried to explain to Sarah what she was seeing. (She is not naive or anything. She is a mother of 3 young adults but she just didn't know what see was seeing) I explained the man was drunk and the other guy was helping take him home. But we stayed around to watch longer than expected. And what we saw unfold was horrifying. The man couldn't even walk with out the other man holding him up. (We will call the drunken man Bob and the other man Fred) So Fred put Bob in a truck. I thought Fred was going to push Bob over so Fred could drive. Oh no Fred put Bob in the truck then set Bob's feet to the where they needed to be on the gas/break peddle and then gave over the keys and shut the door. I was like this is not happening, this is not happening. Fred went inside. I thought Fred was going to come out any minute but he never entered our eye site again. Bob just sat there. Sarah said out loud "I am praying he passes out" For 5 minutes we watch to see what Bob will do. He turns on the engine and goes. I grab a pen and write down on my leg the car type and license plate number. It was horrible. To my surprise Bob was driving extremely well for his condition. Sarah called 911 and I followed Bob for a little ways so we could tell 911 where he was heading. 911 said that a cop car was on his way to get Bob. And that was it. We went back to giving food while praying Bob would be pulled over before he killed himself and someone else. It was crazy.

How do people just do that? Oh I forgot to mention when Bob pulled out there were two guys across the street watching everything from a car dealership. But when Bob drove down the road the two teen guys started laughing hysterically like it was the funniest thing they had ever seen I was so mad.

Any way. It was just as crazy the rest of the day. Joel and I picked up another new crew member during lunch. When I got back I was sent to a city 1 hour away from Lake Charles to take Laura (crew member) to get her Van. Richard her husband had a heart attack on the way to a doctor’s appointment and was taken to Houston while leaving their car in Beaumont.

Just as I got back to Port Mercy I got a call saying Laura ran out of gas and needed gas to be taken to her. By this time I had had no break since 5:50 that morning and I was shaking because I was so tired. Someone went in my place and got Laura going. Praise God because there was no way I could do it.

I went to bed right after that and woke up to go to Dinner and then Joel and I went to get him his new glasses. We will send you pictures of the new Joel when we get some. They are awesome we both really like them. Don't Tell Joel I told you but they are girls glasses but he still looks MANLY with them on.

As of now I am waiting for Joel. He is sooooooooo nice . . . Ms. Gwen asked him during dinner well she didn't ask she just said she can't flush her toilet because her tank is full. This is asking, in her own way, if Joel could empty it out for her. Some times I get frustrated because she doesn't ask or doesn't care that she keeps asking Joel to do it on his time off but then I remember the words of our beloved Pastor Rufus in California. Ministry in never convenient. Something will come up when you don't want it to. Examples: a car on the side of the road when you are late for something or a call at 4 am by some one that really needs you when you have a 6 am meeting. Things like this. So I just try to do my best and not say anything and Joel doesn't really complain just winces and does it for her. He is a wonderful guy.

So that is it for the past 36 hours. Hope everything is going great with you guys.

Love you LOTS!!!!