I love the line from the first movie in the Lord of The Rings series when, the two Hobbitts, Samwise and Frodo, set out on their epic adventure. They come to the the edge of their home when Samwise stops and says ” Do you realise that if we take one more step I will be further from home than I have ever been.” This morning seven adult chaperones and eighteen high school students from The Emmaus Community set off for what wil be an epic journey.

A Mission Trip to New Orleans. There are only a few students on this trip who have any idea of what is about to happen. They went last year to Coahoma, MS. From my vantage point, it was a chalenging trip. The work was hard, the climate was a far cry from our worst Chicago summer, and there was nothing familiar. Yes we were still in the United States but there was nothing close to the South Suburbs of Chicago. These students went and returned changed. One year later they lead a larger team of their friends to the 9th Ward for one week.

For some reason I feel that this trip is going to be, dare I say special? I only say that because of the obstacles that we faced with less than 24 hours before our departure. By no fault of our own or the trip leader, Meghan O’Connor, we were one passenger van short 12 hours ago.

We thank the Lord for making provision and moving us to the top of a long list of people waiting for the only 15 passenger van left in Cook and Will counties and Northwest Indiana. G_d really does hear Meghan’s prayers.

So we prayed with our parents, not a tear shed in public, and I, Pastor J, lead us to I 57. At our first stop all of the adults had to “roll up” on a brotha. I was likened to having the directional skills of Moses. “Why did we take a tour of the South Suburbs to get to the highway?” This was the crack made by one of our three female leaders who she remain nameless… But she is the only one who is married has a son and a daughter, is an Elder and whose license plate says “MSJET” but I’m not naming names.

After explaining why we took a route that had few lights and kept all three vans close together, my critics were silenced.
All of the students are in good spirits all ready to rock t-shirts designed by team member Deima Thompson. I’ll update you on some thoughts from students when we reach Memphis.