Pasadena Update

Hi Everyone,

Sunday morning came early for about 25 Iowans and 6 other brave souls from different states.  We met in the Residence Inn for a very early abbreviated breakfast menu since we had to be hitting the Los Angeles freeway system by 6:30 this morning.  Residence Inn normally serves a fantastic breakfast but set out some simple items for us at that early hour.

 As we got into our cars, instead of zero or below, we were greeted by temps in the 60’s!  Hate to rub it in, but we loved it!

 After our caravan of 7 cars negotiated the California highway system and found our way to Pasadena, we began our day by attending the worship service at the Lutheran float in the Rose Palace building.  LCMS president, Matthew Harrison was the pastor and God’s spirit was indeed in attendance!  He delivered a short, but powerful sermon followed by powerful singing.  I have been to several of these Sunday morning services like this but never have there been so many people.  Instead of the normal 50 people, there must have been in excess of 200 or more.  Our day was off to a great start.  One member of our group, Pastor Ernst, was asked to do a service at the other building, Rosemont, and he gladly served as guest pastor for people in that building!

 

We did several jobs during our work shift.  About half of our group was taken to the flower tent where they vialed roses for most of the day getting them ready to put on the floats in the next couple of days.  Others were cutting status flowers while still others cut yellow straw flowers.  Some of us glued rice onto a railing on the Lutheran Hour float.  I had a job of gluing kidney beans on a window casing on the float, something I had never done before.  Towards the end of our shift, some of us began gluing mums to be glued onto the lead float in the Rose Parade.  It is being constructed in our building and was behind schedule and Petal Pushers were called in to give it a boost!

 

We left the Rose Palace about 4:00 when our shift was over and drove further into Pasadena to eat at the Soup Plantation.  We left totally stuffed and satisfied.  At this writing, we are resting before going to the meeting room for devotions and discussion of thoughts of the day commonly known to IOWAY people as “pows and wows.”

 Tomorrow we will drive back to Pasadena for another work shift, beginning at 7:30.  I know we will be amazed to see how the float decorating has progressed by the work of the night shift.  Temps are high here which affects the way flowers open and the time to begin installing the final roses is being adjusted by the crew chiefs.  We look forward to having all the floats we are working on look absolutely magnificent as they head down Colorado Boulevard in Jan. 1.  The Lutheran Hour float is a knock-out this year with such beauty and intimate detail.  We wish you could be here with us to see it take shape!

 Tonight we will begin the task of sorting all the items we brought in our mountain of luggage to share at Skid Row on Jan. 3rd.  Many churches and individuals sent money for that purpose so a trip to the local Dollar Store may also be on tomorrow’s agenda as we fill all the towel kits we have with us for the homeless on Skid Row as we show God’s love to them in that special way.

 God’s blessings to each of you!

Sincerely,
Lynn Menz