Thursday dawned bright and sunny, but thunderstorms were forecast for late morning. Jim’s crew high-tailed it back to the worksite to try to finish the roof before the rain set in.

Meanwhile, Sarah, Mary, Anisa, Lorie and Sue set off for Sam’s Club to purchase some items to donate to Loaves and Fishes, and got stranded when the brake fluid totally drained out of Sarah’s car. Diana leapt into search and rescue mode, arriving just as the rain started. After a harrowing drive through torrential rain, lightning and thunder, we arrived at the mission house, getting totally drenched just running from the parking lot. We were lucky, thoug, as dangerous storms and tornadoes raced across Alabama, Georgia and northern Mississippi, leaving death and destruction.

Our intrepid roof crew, however, finished off the roof just as a few drops started falling and were able to escape the worst of it.

Our Thursday tradition is dinner at the Half Shell Oyster House. Since there was no trip to New Orleans this year, everyone came.

Before we knew it, Friday came, along with it putting the finishing touches on Miss Corlis’ house. It’s so satisfying to actually finish a job.

For our final dinner, Craig cooked a sumptuous shrimp boil for us, comprised of shrimp, smoked sausage, corn, potatoes, pineapple and mushrooms; and we added mac and cheese, Jack’s famous biscuits and salad. Brownies and ice cream topped it all off. A meal to remember! Home tomorrow after a satisfying week of fellowship, hard work, many laughs, friendships made and renewed, and the knowledge that we have done good work for the people n the Gulf Coast.