Day Five Journal

I told you yesterday what a whirlwind we've all been on since we arrived in the Big Apple, and because of it, I have indeed lost track of what day it is, but will try to recapture it as I write.  Keep in mind that this schedule only relates to the group of six we were a part of until the group grew to 12 on Wednesday.  The balance of our crew have yet to fill me in on their activities, and I suspect from the schedule we're all keeping, that the information will not be forthcoming before we get home and have time to recover.

• Day one: Sunday the 16th was Travel day.  My delightful bride was up at 3 while I slept in until 4.  We finally arrived at the hotel at midnight, after which she tumbled into bed, and I attempted to write the journal of our travels from Sky Harbor, through Midway in Chicago, on to La Guardia in New York with Ted, Diann, Dick, Patti, Pat, Sharon, Paul, Marian, Sandy and Anita.
  
  
• Day two: Monday the 17th was breakfast at 9 with the whole group of 18, our Harvest Ministries Orientation and then oof or off on the subway to St. Joseph's Chapel to feed Ground Zero workers until midnight.
  
  
• Day three: Tuesday the 18th I rolled or fell into bed after 2 am, after writing of the events  of the past day.   We had a leisure breakfast (at lunchtime), wandered through the Plaza Hotel and Central Park before returning to St. Joseph's at Midnight.
  
  
• Day four: Wednesday the 19th found us getting off work at 8 am.  I did manage to do a bit of writing on this fine morning, then grabbed about 3 hours sleep, before we went over to the Salvation Army Headquarters for our orientation and security clearances for inside the perimeter of Ground Zero.   We went to work at the Salvation Army tent inside Ground Zero at 11 pm on Wednesday, where we served food until 3 am Thursday (half our shift)....at which time some kind soul sent Wayne, Bev, Mary Jane and I back to our hotel to get some needed rest.  The rest of our tiny group which had grown to 12 that day, worked until 4 am . . . also getting off a bit earlier than our schedule called for, as they too had put in three long days.
  
  
• Day five: Thursday the 20th was a little slower paced.  We arrived back at our hotel at 4 am and did have a chance to sleep about 6 am for a few hours after I finished writing then spent the afternoon walking down to Time Square and wandering through Macy's, before going back to the tent this evening for the 11 to 7 shift.
  
  While it may seem to someone who reads this, that the pace of our groups is difficult, it is easy to adapt when considering what our purpose here is all about,  and when we open our eyes fully (even though sleep filled), and see just a part of what the people of NY have gone through. Our hearts continue to be softened by their warmth, and from the way they are handling the difficulties brought about by the terrorists attack and continued threats to their city.   Then we see the outpouring of help from around the world, and the magnificent effort expended and extended by those in the various ministries, and our vigor returns, as we want to give fully of ourselves for the very short time we are here.
  
  We appreciate your prayers, and know that God is giving us the ability to push on, trusting that He will use each of us to show Christ's love in this needy place.