MS Gulf Coast October 2021

We have spent much time on the road during this amazing Stateside Assignment.  We truly love to be out meeting with people, sharing in churches, and seeing new sights.  Last weekend we had another opportunity to do just that.  

We headed out on Friday in route to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We were weekend guests of a precious prayer supporter who we met years ago while speaking in the area.  She generously offered us a stay at her guest condo. 

 

This is one of our favorite sights- wide open highway spaces.  Oh, how we miss driving in the States while in Guatemala.  It is a different world there with the traffic, overcrowded streets, motorcycles, buses, and cargo trucks.

 

Along the way, we stopped for lunch at Ed's Burger Joint in Hattiesburg. We had heard about it and were eager to try it.  Thankfully, it did not disappoint.  The burgers were delicious.

 

We then continued on our journey and arrived late afternoon in Gautier, MS.  That is where we stayed during our visit.

 

 

We had evening  plans at a Baptist church in Ocean Springs.  We left a little early so we could drive by the beach before arriving.

 

That night we had a fellowship meal at  Emmanuel Baptist in Ocean Springs.  Our host, Ms. Ann, had planned it for us and a few other former IMB missionary families that she knows who now live in the area. We had a great meal but what we enjoyed most was the fellowship around the table.  We all shared memories and stories of our time on the mission field.  We each shared a favorite Bible verse in the language of the people we had worked with.  That was a highlight.  The pastor there is a former IMB missionary to Europe.  We enjoyed meeting his family and visiting with them.

 

our group with Ms. Ann (shown standing in front of me)

 

This group of present and former IMB missionaries represent many years of service in Central America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. What a blessing it was for us to meet them and know them.

 

The boys playing at the church that evening.

 

 

We were up early on Saturday morning and drove back to beautiful Ocean Springs. The downtown area is so charming and quaint.  We love getting to visit it each Stateside Assignment. 

 

Our first stop of the day was a favorite place in town, The TatoNut Shop. We love their donuts!  You know it is a popular place when people are patiently lined down the sidewalk just to get in.

 

Our assorted dozen.  I prefer regular glazed donuts.  Cruz likes chocolate covered and maple.  David likes blueberry, and Ben likes strawberry.  I added in an iced pumpkin spice also.

 

After trying the iced pumpkin spice I was wishing I had ordered a dozen.   It was absolutely delicious!!!

 

We took our donuts and drove down to the beach for a picnic.  It was a cool, breezy morning but beautiful nonetheless. 

 

After eating, we walked up and down the shoreline. 

 

The boys took a football and enjoyed tossing it around.  They also did a little swimming before we left.

 

We picked up lunch and drove back to the condo to eat and watch a little football.

 

Cruz and I snuggled on the couch watching LSU beat Florida.  

 

 

Mid-afternoon we got back out and drove over to Pascagoula. We drove by Ingalls Shipbuilding and the beach before stopping at the park.

 

The boys spent some time playing at the Pascagoula Beach Park.  This was our third Stateside Assignment to take them there. 

 

It was a good way to burn off a little energy.

 

We spent the rest of the day watching more football.  We enjoyed watching Georgia vs. Kentucky, Alabama vs. Mississippi State, and ended the day with that wild Ole Miss vs. Tennessee game.   It was a good day for football.

 

On Sunday morning we were back in Ocean Springs at Emmanuel Baptist for their worship service.

 

Our family with Ms. Ann after church.  She is a great prayer partner and encourager to us.

 

We will be back at this church in December for their Lottie Moon promotion.  We look forward to another day of worship with them.

 

We had a delicious Mexican meal before we got on the road for the drive back home.

 

We now have had a whole week to be home before we travel again.  We plan to head out early next week for another fun adventure.  I will share about it once we return.