Thirteen work team members returned recently from a three-day weekend of sheet rocking, mudding, sanding, and painting in homes damaged from last summer's floods in Waterloo Iowa.  Although the temperatures outside were very cold, we were warmed by hard work and the fellowship that we shared with each other.  Even the cold showers did not dissuade us from our mission!  We stayed at the wonderful facilities of St. Paul UMC where we prepared our own meals (thanks to Dr. Bob for all the fantastic food!), shared in morning and evening devotions, and were blessed as we worshipped with Pastor Sheryl on Sunday morning.  All of  these blessings were capped off by the time we were able to spend with our good friends from Pennsylvania who we first met at our earlier mission trips to Mississippi.  Members of our team were Larry and Judy Long, Tom and Sandy Halford, Tim VonEngeln and his daughter Melody, Jan DeGraffenreid, Jim and Marsha Stewart, Bob Koch and his mom Charlotte, Bill Salyers, and John Tincher.  We hope to be able to share personally some of our experiences with our church body very soon.

Larry Long

Nelson Memorial UMC, Boonville MO

P.S. that the Water Heater Got Unplugged when we had to clean out from our own flood due to frozen pipes--and that after the Mission Team plugged it back in, the showers were FINE!  (Don't want to scare people to death about staying with us!) Pastor Sheryl