Thursday, November 17, 2005
Farewell and Godspeed
I cannot describe how much it meant to me and to others to have Karoline, Olga and Bergen here. They all three worked incredibly hard.
Karoline was all over the kitchen, cleaning, baking and being bubbly Karoline. She was, what I would call, the “food marketing expert.” When people were unwilling to eat baked beans for breakfast, she came up with the idea of calling them, “Ocean Springs Baked Beans.” After that, they started going like hotcakes, which is a good thing to go like at breakfast. I cannot tell you how many times I saw Karoline talking with people, listening to their stories, calmly standing as a witness to the Peace of Christ, and serving God and others with a strength and resolve that was inspiring to those in the community, and the volunteers around her.
Olga is an inspiration. She is always bright, always intelligent, always focused and attentive, and always caring (even when she is complaining about my jokes.) I don’t know how she got out on the distribution line, but I encountered her out there yesterday, not complaining about the cold, cheery, and working hard. She said that someone had asked if I was her and Bergen’s father. I pointed out that perhaps, she should stop referring to me as “Pastor Mike” and start referring to me as “Father Mike.”
Bergen worked harder than some people I know who are two or three times her age. She is often quiet, yet always looking for something to do (that others might be missing) and she worked so hard I am surprised that she did not drop from exhaustion. She can’t hug people enough, and her and Olga made it a point to go around and tell people goodbye before they left. It will not be the same tomorrow without her here to hassle me about my jokes.
Karoline, Olga and Bergen served at Christus Victor with honor, faith, compassion and grace. I wish they hadn’t left tonight! Thank you for coming and for representing God and Good Shepherd faithfully.
Karoline was all over the kitchen, cleaning, baking and being bubbly Karoline. She was, what I would call, the “food marketing expert.” When people were unwilling to eat baked beans for breakfast, she came up with the idea of calling them, “Ocean Springs Baked Beans.” After that, they started going like hotcakes, which is a good thing to go like at breakfast. I cannot tell you how many times I saw Karoline talking with people, listening to their stories, calmly standing as a witness to the Peace of Christ, and serving God and others with a strength and resolve that was inspiring to those in the community, and the volunteers around her.
Olga is an inspiration. She is always bright, always intelligent, always focused and attentive, and always caring (even when she is complaining about my jokes.) I don’t know how she got out on the distribution line, but I encountered her out there yesterday, not complaining about the cold, cheery, and working hard. She said that someone had asked if I was her and Bergen’s father. I pointed out that perhaps, she should stop referring to me as “Pastor Mike” and start referring to me as “Father Mike.”
Bergen worked harder than some people I know who are two or three times her age. She is often quiet, yet always looking for something to do (that others might be missing) and she worked so hard I am surprised that she did not drop from exhaustion. She can’t hug people enough, and her and Olga made it a point to go around and tell people goodbye before they left. It will not be the same tomorrow without her here to hassle me about my jokes.
Karoline, Olga and Bergen served at Christus Victor with honor, faith, compassion and grace. I wish they hadn’t left tonight! Thank you for coming and for representing God and Good Shepherd faithfully.
# posted by Pastor Mike @ 10:50 PM 
