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The group photo above is of this year's participants assembled together in South Gate's parking lot for the Commission Service, which was also attended by family and friends gathered for their send off. People are taking their seats on the bus as they are ready for their 8:15 departure to Kentucky.

As can be seen of this year's group, everyone had matching "MasterGod" t-shirts. The "Summer 2003" expiration date will help everyone when looking back at their photos to remember when this special trip took place. The back provides curious onlookers Red Bird Mission's Logo, the name of our church, and if they are willing to take the time to read it, even all participants individual name. (names are easier to read at the bottom of this page)

After a quick lunch in Kansas City we arrived in St. Louis. Our first stop was Union Station. We broke up into small groups and had a chance to pick from a variety of restaurants, which was followed by shopping and site seeing. Union Station is a great example of the early 1900's building style with all of it's elegances. Near the stain glass window was the whisper arch where you could stand in two places on opposite sides of the room and hear each other talk as if you where standing next to each other. The kids thought this was great fun.

After leaving Union Station we traveled to our Econo Lodge for the night. Some kids took a quick swim before we held our nightly meeting to reflect on the day's activities and update everyone on the next day's plans.

Today we traveled from Saint Louis to Redbird. The girls did the normal Hair thing like every mission trip. Both days on the bus we drew names for the Grab Bags. This was a great hit....Thanks Cindy P.

When we arrived at Redbird the bus struggled to get up the slope to the cabins. We had to unload everyone from the bus so that it could struggle up the hill. God's hand of course helped and it made the hill. After unloading our gear and picking cabins for everyone we had supper in Cardinal House. We then gathered with the other mission groups for updates and job assignments. The group met at 9:30 for the nightly meeting. Everyone is excited to be at Redbird and ready to start work tomorrow.

No report.

It rained last night and was raining when we got up this morning. The porch group completed the floor and finished the railings and roof framing. All that is left to do is put on the tin roof and build new stairs. The ditch gang played in the mud, both concrete and real mud. The kids had fun and when we met for lunch they where covered with mud from head to toe.

As we talked to the locals they where telling us about getting bitten by "No-see-ums". Myron, Mark and Rory looked and by golly they are the real thing. (Check your can of "OFF"). At our Monday night meeting we shared this learning information with the kids. Kiersten Mavis did not believe Myron, and thought he was pulling her leg. When she looked at the can she started everyone laughing. It was the highlight of the evening.

Tomorrow (Wed.) we are to be on the bus at 6 AM. We want to be out of the area for our rafting trip before the coal trucks start running.They use most of the road and don't move over for anyone. Hope the kids go to bed tonight at a reasonable time.

Today we made our trip to Gatlinburg for site seeing and rafting on the Pigeon River. The kids had a great time and no rafters were lost to the river. After making it through all the rapids most of the group took a dip in the river before leaving for Gatlinburg.

Once we arrived in Gatlinburg we broke up into groups to eat supper and window shop at the many stores available. Our last stop was Christus Gardens where we viewed a wax display of the life of Christ. Returned to Redbird around midnight and all were accounted for.

Rain Rain Rain when will it stop! Wish we could hook it onto the bus and bring some back. Projects have been going slower due to the rain. They have had rain here every day. The porch group has completed the stairs and only needs a dry day to complete the flashing, roof leak patch and stair railing. The fence group has been challenged getting holes dug in rock and cutting strange angles on the boards needed for the drive railings. Another group has been weeding the flower beds and putting hardware on dorm dressers. The ditch group had lots of help. Several kids decided being muddy was the thing to do. Either getting as muddy as you can or laying in the stream to wash off.

Thursday night some of the kids thought mud wresting would also be fun and joined another church group in the sport in a handy pool under a swing.

All tasks are more difficult due to the quality and quantity of tools available. But with God's help things are still completed.

We wrapped up all our projects. For the porch project, the deck was finished and the flashing added. We also replaced a window, replaced some skirting under the trailer and patched the roof near a vent.

The painters finished painting the railings that we built across all the bridges on campus. We also mowed and weed whipped the campus and even helped load furniture for one of the staff members who is leaving Redbird. We worked at the lumber center and loaded all the vans and trucks with the job materials for the next week's jobs, which included hauling 40 sheets of drywall up to a house that a crew will do the following week.

The picture of the cabin could be titled "Home, Sweet Home".

Everyone should be very proud of our group. Bill, one of the Redbird Staff, said that when he first saw us, that he did not think we would accomplish very much work due to the young members we had included in our group. However, on Friday, he had a totally different outlook. He then said we had surpassed his expectations many times over and could not believe how hard everyone worked. God works in mysterious ways !!!!

Tomorrow we will leave at 8 AM for Nashville. There we will visit the Grand Old Opery and possibly a plantation. Then we will travel on to St. Louis where we will visit the Arch and the St. Louis Zoo. We will return to Lincoln on Monday.

All of the kids are ready to be home. Even though the dorms are OK, they are ready to sleep in their own beds, as are the adults.

We left Redbird at 8 AM and traveled to Nashville after stopping at Knockville for lunch. We checked into our hotel, ate a quick supper and left for the Grand Ole Opry. The show was enjoyed by everyone. We then drove to downtown Nashville and by the riverfront. The kids where able to stop at Hard Rock for a little shopping.

On Sunday morning we left the motel at 7:30 and drove to the Upper Room campus. We held a short service in the Upper Room garden and enjoyed the trees and plantings located there. The Upper Room was not open on Sunday so we where unable to enter the building.

Leaving Nashville we drove to St. Louis, making our first stop at the Arch. Everyone visited the museum and those that wanted to, took the trip to the top of the Arch. Getting to our motel, all the kids hit the swimming pool. We then later ordered pizza and enjoyed cookies before bed time. It was decided that we will return to Lincoln on Monday, rather than Tuesday, as everyone is ready to return home.