Twin Ports

Greetings to our friends & families of the north!

Today we embarked on many endeavors from multiple areas within the land of Mississippi. After lunch, six of us delivered 11 beds to some homes today with the help of some of the guys from down here. Both crews had some very excited children who wanted to help get their beds ready, so we had some great little helpers!

The other group for today continued to power through bed-making and we got 50+ beds done in each of our first 2 days. I’d say that’s some good soup (but not literal soup)! At the end of our work day, we had a delightful pizza dinner and learned some fun new sayings from the pastor (some of which are listed below).

A few of the new word terminology’s we’ve learned are as follows: “full as a tick on a cur-dog” (aka a stray dog), “the crud,” “working as hard as a government rented mule,” and “fine and dandy,” “yur’n,” “spadge,” “slugs/slug-burger,” and “y’all”… We hope y’all enjoy some of the fine new vocab we may take home with us!

Farewell for now & we’ll see y’all next time!

Today, the group woke up early to prepare for the first day of working with the bed ministry. We all gathered in the fellowship hall for a southern style breakfast (featuring chocolate gravy). Once we were done with breakfast the group headed out to the bed barn where we began our day of learning the process of making beds! We were joined by several volunteers from different churches in the area who showed us the ropes of how to use the equipment. A few of us went out to deliver some beds (with Dan) to a family with four kids that needed them. 

The group ate lunch with the volunteers from the bed ministry and had fellowship with them. After lunch, the group continued to work in the shop till dinner time. To end the day, the group gathered in the church’s basement and did a group devotion along with discussing how the first day went. 

P.S. Who knew chocolate gravy existed?

Today Street Level started the day off with a hearty, southern style breakfast, followed by a short presentation on the history of Beds for Kids. 

Later that morning, SL attended Mt. Olive’s regular Sunday service by Dr. C. Directly after, we were able to join the congregation for the dedication of the “bed barn” where the beds get made each week. 

After, we piled in the church vans and went to Tupelo to gander at Elvis’ humble birth home, take pictures by his statue, and then get some soul food at Aunty B’s. On the way back to the church to get even more sweet food, SL stopped at a somber civil war sight. 

The day was finished with good ole’ fellowship in preparation for the work week ahead. 

While it was still dark this morning, we disembarked in Memphis, and were very thankful to have Billy from Mt Olive Church waiting for us there at the station. We had breakfast together and headed straight for the church in Baldwyn, Mississippi. As we settled in, we took a tour of the church building and the bed ministry workshop that we’ll be spending our next week in. We’re very grateful for their hospitality, and they’ve been using the pole barn we built a lot for the bed ministry.

Later, we visited the city of Corinth nearby and took the afternoon to explore the town and have some pizza together. We are thankful for your prayers and are looking forward to attending church tomorrow and getting to know the people here more!

Street level left Menomonie this morning on its way to Mississippi for spring break! We will be working with bunk bed ministry in Baldwyn Mississippi next week helping to build beds for kids who need them.

Today we made it to Chicago and to the train station successfully. We got some dinner and enjoyed watching various stages of wedding developments (a bride and groom taking wedding photos and a marriage proposal (*no one from our group)) as we waited…

The train is leaving soon and we’ll travel overnight to Memphis, arroving bright and early at 4:00 a.m. Pray for us that we get some decent sleep on the train, and make it to Memphis in one piece!