I Love M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I

HEY Y'ALL!! (did i mention i love it here?!)

i just wrote my family an email...and thought i'd post it. it gives a bit of an update about things so far...it's a bit personal, but i wanted to share about things...and i'm getting tired and don't feel like writing some thing new! :) by the way....they have sweet tea galore here...yet another reason why it rocks here!

hello father, mother, brother, sista, and johnny cakes!! :) just wanted to let ya know that we made is safely to MS!! it's an AMAZING mid to high 60's here, humid and muggy and i could NOT be happier!! oh my word. we went to the beach, took off our shoes, and walked straight into the ocean...BLISS.

i am soooooooooooooooooooo happy to be here, i can't even tell you. we made it to our "dorm" tonight. the building is used for: church, dorms (upstairs), kitchen (super nice, and i see LOTS of coffee and syrups so that makes me so happy!! i also see eggo syrup so that makes me happy as well!), and there's the "thrift store" out back. this building is just super nice!! we found out there's another small group coming, too. as of yet...i am still going to be the ONLY girl! haha! i feel a bit weird, but hopefully i can be a benefit in some way that only a women could be! i have this huge room full of bunk beds all to myself....the up-side is i get my own shower!! :) i found this little door at the back of the huge room and it's got a single bed in it, a shelf, and the roof is slanted so i hit my head if i'm not careful...it decided to "move in" there, as you know how i am! plus, the door to the little closet/room locks, so i'll feel safe.

as for the state of mississippi...the only way i can describe it right now is eerie. i can not imagine how it was a couple years ago!! it's just really eerie!! it makes me so sad that it almost takes my breath away- just the shock of it all. they are just STARVING for volunteers!! how BLESSED beyond BLESSED i am that God chose to bring ME here! why am i so honored??

a couple of the volunteers are here from vineland, nj. i guess the guy that used to lead this thing was from there and he donated a bunch of trucks and stuff....typical NJ landscapers!! cracks me up. i am curious to find out the original NJ pastor's name...

i have been laughing an awful lot, and having so much fun!! so far, so good...i am nervous about the work though...seems like a lot of labor, and hours....i've never done any thing like this before. 2 of us have to be down in the kitchen at 6am tomorrow morning to help with breakfast, and then orientation is at 7:30am. jamie and i are gonna get up...it's later then i usually get to sleep i guess! it's just me and all guys...so i could care less about showering and stuff. they have signs on the door that say "lights out at 10pm, lights ON at 7am"...ISH. i've never heard of lights ON.

haha! oh! i looked up the nearest sbux before i left....33 miles away. we found it tonight and i was able to load up with a double tall soy, no whip, mocha!! :) YUMMMMM!!

my heart already aches for the people here...we met one native MS guy...the accent is nothing like i've ever heard! almost sounds like a speech impediment. i couldn't help but love him! his mom died, just last night! so sad.

i do have GREAT cell phone reception in my room! don't be afraid to call- i won't be "too spiritual to talk" like i was in utah!! HAHAHA!!

i want you to know that you are all heavy on my heart as well...with grammy and grampy...it's constantly on my mind, and i am praying...it's deffinately some thing that is at the forefront of my heart and mind. i am sordof grieving...and just thinking so much about grampy. it's hard not to cry a lot! as i'm sure you're all experiencing!

i should go...i love you all! i'm so thankful to be here! THANK YOU ALL for your huge help in getting me down here. i am blessed beyond blessed!!! we are at the chrisitan life center in waveland, ms. if you do a google search, i think you can find their site.

love, love, LOVE to you each and every one.... ~daughter, sista, shish :)