Hello friends and family of this awesome Petal Pusher team!
Things are getting crazy in sunny California! As I told you in the last update, there were
ten servants in our group who answered the call to work a double shift
yesterday. After devotions, group
sharing and bonding time, they drove all the way back to Pasadena to help
finish decorating floats after the second shift ended at 11:00 p.m. They returned to our hotel about 3 a.m. this
morning.
The rest of our group headed back to Pasadena by 6:15 a.m. Those who did the double shift stayed back to
get some much needed rest. Or, most of
them did at least. Hats off to Pastor
and Vivian Ernst, who after two hours of rest, returned with us to Pasadena
once again! The only thing I can figure
out is that being filmed for Australian TV yesterday has affected Pastor’s judgment!! J
Our understanding was that the floats in our building were
to be finished when we arrived early this morning. We thought we were coming to watch the final
judging and to get our first clear view of the floats with all the scaffolding finally
out of the way. It didn’t work that way.
Some of the float crews were still working and had not gone home at all
last night. We were quickly brought into
service doing heavy work. The entire
building had to be completely cleared of boxes, buckets of unused flowers, sticky
glue containers, stacks of styrofoam flower
holders for the vialed flowers, all work tables, and the entire building had to
be swept. All scaffolding had to be taken down and moved
by the float building company, Phoenix Decorating. Needless to say, the place
was a beehive of activity. Many of us did
more physical work in an hour and a half this morning than in the previous days
combined. I even ended up on scaffolding
again helping a volunteer cover some exposed spots with pieces of evergreen
boughs.
At 8:30 the judges began their work. The place was totally silent so they could
talk to each other. Our float was the fourth
one to be judged and when they were finished we broke out with loud
clapping. The crew chief, Jennifer, was
crying as the job was finally completed.
She has done this job for so many years and we have learned to absolute
love and respect her so we were emotional as we said our goodbyes for yet
another year! The float is absolutely
gorgeous! It is a beautiful witness to
Jesus with exquisite art work by His people and covered with the flowers of His
creation!
Dick Gast, the LLL man in charge of the Lutheran float,
thanked Ellie for sending ten of her people last night and for our coming this
morning to help get it all finished.
However, after the judging we were leaving and he said they still needed
more help at the other building where floats were being built. With the driving skills of Pastor Ernst as
our leader, we headed over to Rosemont to see how we could help. Long story short, we joined the chaos in that
place and helped where we could although there seemed to be a lack of
organization there. It was good to be there and watch those floats being moved
out onto the street and getting lined up for the parade. Most of our group had not been there before
and enjoyed seeing the activity there.
The Rose Bowl is visible in the distance from this building site.
About noon we were
dismissed so we drove over to Colorado Blvd to have a look at the street which
will be one big all-night party. It was
too early in the day for much to be happening, so we headed back to the
freeways and returned to our home away from home. Many took naps upon returning to the hotel. Some of those who had volunteered for the
night shift had gone out to eat and spent time at the beach as well.
As we were driving back to Los Angeles we had a call on our
two-way radio from one of the other cars.
By cell phone they had been informed that some who had stayed back this
morning had turned on the TV and saw an update about the float building in
progress. They saw Ellie and I, David
Dose, and Jeanne Kuhlmann standing outside the building waiting for a work
assignment! Now, how crazy is that? The Iowans on L.A. TV!! I will admit, not as impressive as being
filmed for Australian TV, but TV nonetheless!
Again let me say, “Who would have thunked?”
At 4:00 Ellie called a group meeting. She assigned each car load
of people a list of things needed from the Dollar Store to finish filling kits
for the homeless on Skid Row. For
example, one car was to buy 325 small toothpaste tubes. Everyone had fun with it, especially when 30
people entered the same store all dressed alike in Petal Pusher shirts! We do draw attention to ourselves that
way. After that, some drove to Ralph’s
Grocery with another assignment. One was
to purchase our evening meal from the deli and pick up the 80 pieces of broasted
chicken that was already ordered. There
is no meal at the hotel tonight so we ate as a group in the meeting room. Another group was to purchase items for our
very early breakfast in the morning as we will be on the road for the parade
route by 5:15 a.m. Yet another group was
in charge of the tailgate party in the parking lot after the Rose Parade
tomorrow. We learned years ago there is
no reason to try leaving Pasadena for at least an hour after the famous
parade. If you do, you only sit in
traffic as a million people try to clear out at once. It is much more fun to have a parking lot lunch
and simply drive away when we are finished.
The evening concluded with some group games, sharing time and
devotions once again. It is time to
catch some sleep. Some are getting tired
to the bone! We anticipate the big day tomorrow as we take
our spot along Colorado Blvd by 6:00 a.m. and watch the famous Rose Parade in
the warm California morning sun. We wish
you were here to experience it with us!
To God be the glory! Have a great
time welcoming in 2014. We will be
sleeping by then I’m afraid!
As Ever,
Lynn Menz
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