It’s January, and that means we’re back in Biloxi to help the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, under the auspices of the Back Bay Mission. Traveling at this time of the year is always risky, but for the past several years we’ve been blessed with fair weather for our trip to and from. This time our luck ran out.

The blizzard predicted to dump nearly a foot of snow on Connecticut had us obsessively checking our weather apps and wondering if our flight would be cancelled. Most of us stayed overnight at hotels by the airport to avoid a white-knuckle drive to arrive at 4 a.m. on Sunday. But Delta assured us that the flight was on schedule to depart at 6. Alas, then the plane had to be de-iced and the catering truck delivering water (required on every flight) got stuck in the snow on the tarmac. A couple more mishaps stretched the delay to 90 minutes past our departure time, eating up the connection window we were counting on in Atlanta.

Our plan was to fly into Gulfport, right next door to Biloxi and a much easier drive than the 90 minutes from New Orleans that has been our usual. However, there were no seats available on flights to GPT on the later flight Sunday or on any flights Monday or even Tuesday. So our only remaining option was to drive the 5 ½ hours — which turned into over 6 ½. Meanwhile, we learned that Delta was sending our bags on to GPT. Needless to say, we were tired puppies by the time we arrived and collected our bags (though Delta’s baggage claim was closed by the time we showed up, a kind airport employee took pity on us and unlocked the storage room). So much for Gulfport airport being the easier option.

Thus ended Patience Sunday, to be followed by Patience Monday, when Craig met with us to introduce new staff members and catch us up on BBM’s latest efforts to help the unhoused in Biloxi. He has three projects for us this week, but bad weather is predicted beginning Monday afternoon, so Monday and part of Tuesday are dedicated to helping homeowner Diane, who needs carpet pulled up and replaced with engineered hardwood.

Right on schedule came the rain. The crew returned just ahead of some serious thunder that shook the mission house. Tomorrow they’ll put the finishing touches on Diane’s house; then, assuming the weather clears, will start on the other two projects.

Today Lori and Ginny went to the food pantry to help them get organized. We’re joined again this year by Elizabeth from southern Indiana and her friend Trish, who motored down from Batesville with a van full of clothing, shoes and miscellaneous non-perishables for the Micah Center and the food pantry. We assisted in sorting some of these donations.

Tonight I’m watching the usual cards, cribbage and crosswords, while avid fans are tuned into football. It’s a congenial group, as always, with ages ranging from 18 to 75. But tonight they’re uncharacteristically quiet — a hangover from our trying day yesterday, maybe?

Good night for now.