A Break In The Dry Spell In Alabama
Oh, sweet home Alabama how we loved visiting you! Our stay in the Gulf Shores Region, or LA (Lower Alabama), as the locals like to call it, was filled with beauty and the southern hospitality you would expect.
We began our stay by visiting the beaches of the Gulf Shores. Having been to beaches down the east coast and southern west coast, I can say the beaches in this area are the most beautiful I have seen. The white, sugary sand was like walking on cotton. Speaking of cotton, it was harvest season. We passed bales of cotton that looked very much like bales of hay we see in the north.
After a longer than expected walk down the beach (by the way, walking in sand for miles is quite a workout!), we enjoyed hiking a part of the 28-mile Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. It was a beautiful park with well-kept trails. We even experienced another encounter with some monarch butterflies!
The lower Alabama area is experiencing tremendous growth, much to disappointment of some local residents. Despite the growth, the towns of the area still have that small town feel. We spent much of our time in the area exploring these towns and visiting the locals. From a walk along Mobile Bay, visits to a local farmers market, a Veteran’s Parade, walks through quant small towns, and even a Christmas tree lighting complete with snow, we began to feel at home. (Check out Jim’s story about Fairhope)
That feeling only grew when we finally had a break in our dry spell of serving. We have experienced difficultly getting responses to our requests to volunteer. Fortunately, that was not the case when we reached out to Catholic Social Services.
Despite the prosperity seen in the growth of the area, there is still great need for the residents of the Gulf Shore Region. We were thrilled to be able to spend two days giving back to the community that made us feel so welcome.
We served in the Catholic Social Services food pantry and Second Hand Blessings Thrift Shop. While at the food pantry we organized recent food donations to free up space for turkey dinners that were expected to arrive the next day.
Given his experience in warehousing, Jim was in his glory. Trust me, he thoroughly enjoyed being my boss!! After organization was complete, an order came in for ninety bags of food for children in need. Our next task was to pack them.
It wasn’t until last year, during the pandemic, that I learned when children weren’t physically in school, many go without food. It is a reality that made our hearts heavy as we packed the bags. What made the heaviness harder was to learn these products had to be easy for the kids to prepare because they would likely be making it for themselves. That is if they are fortunate enough to not have it taken away by their parents for their own enjoyment. How vital it is to receive food donations for children who have no choice in how they live. Despite best efforts to supply healthy items, the food is not as nutritious as what they deserve. I thought about our visit to the farmer’s market earlier that week and how we are blessed to be able to buy fresh produce. We were humbled by what we learned and prayed over the bags as we packed. Among the items placed in the bags were notes written by children. Oh if we could all learn from the little hands of Jesus.
The next day we arrived to learn over four hundred Thanksgiving dinners were arriving at any time. These items were donated by two local schools competing as “Alabama” and “Auburn.” Those who follow college football would know this is a serious competition! We heard Alabama won.
As the dinners arrived, the children from these schools came to help us unload the boxes from the trucks. In addition to buying food and even decorating the boxes, they were now eager to help us older folks with the heavy lifting. They were such a joy to be around; eager, courteous, and happy!
We were told the donations this year were the most seen in 20 years. It is suspected COVID and the 2020 hurricane and tornados that hit the area contributed to the giving. It is refreshing to see that two years later, there are still giving hearts!
We left our second day filled with the joy of serving again but sad to leave such beautiful people and a tremendous need for volunteers. I pray one day our mission grows in a way that blesses this community even more! Phyllis, Anita, Sheila, Sarah, Keith, and Gretchen, until we visit again, may you be blessed and the work you do prosper for your community!
We often only stay in a location for a week, but this time we were fortunate to be able to stay for two weeks. As a result, we were able to visit a church twice during our stay. We had no idea how much of a blessing that would be. Freedom Church welcomed us like family from the moment we entered the doors! People approached us anxious to learn about us and our journey. They invited us to come back the following week for morning services and even a Thanksgiving dinner that evening. Given we were far from family for the holiday, we were so thankful to have chosen a church that exuded a sense of family in our lives.
As we arrived at church the following Sunday, we were again greeted by the familiar faces we met the week prior. One person, Gerre, approached us and asked when we were leaving the area. He wanted to take us out on his boat and show us sites on Mobile Bay that tourists do not typically see. Since we were leaving the next day and about 20 minutes from where we were staying, we had no choice but to take him up on his offer and head for the boat right after church. Given cooler temperatures, I didn’t think we would be hot in our long sleeve shirts and jeans – and we weren’t. But then we arrived at the bluff.
Gerre, a long time resident of the area, has spent his whole life on the water, even taking his boat to the Bahamas. As we headed out, he took the time to point out a shipwreck from a hurricane, various wildlife, jellyfish, and a river bayou.
But the pièce de resistance was a sand bluff known to be the highest point on the shoreline between Maine and the Gulf of Mexico. As we approached, Gerre was not able to get the boat close enough to walk the shoreline. So, what does a true lifelong LA resident ask? Do we want to wade to the shoreline and see the view from the top of the bluff? Of course, we did – jeans and all!!!!
Jim and Gerre quickly ascended to the top leaving me stuck half way down. I thought about crying out for help, but they were having too much fun to interrupt. Apparently its just me that thinks climbing a steep sandy bluff isn’t the easiest thing to do!
We left the Bay with wet, sandy jeans and joy given to us by a man truly living a life of salt and light. Everyone we met while in Alabama exuded a special type of kindness – true southern hospitality!
As we drove away headed for Mississippi, we left with heavy hearts and perhaps a tear or two. To think two people passing through the area, intending to bless others, would be the ones blessed. It is a memory we will never forget.
In a time when there appears to be so much hate and little hope, know that we are seeing quite the opposite on this journey. Kindness and love are everywhere. God IS winning the battle!
