Sammy in one of the holes dug for the posts.
Debbie enjoying her beignet on Good Friday. (She gave up sweets for lent)
The story of one little church's efforts to bring hope and healing to a small town after Hurricane Katrina
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Found on my phone
Couple of picks from the last trip that were on my phone that I forgot to share!
Sammy in one of the holes dug for the posts.
Debbie enjoying her beignet on Good Friday. (She gave up sweets for lent)
Sammy in one of the holes dug for the posts.Debbie enjoying her beignet on Good Friday. (She gave up sweets for lent)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Reflecting
I had lunch with a friend today who asked about Mississippi. Actually her first statement was "I keep expecting you to tell me you're moving to Mississippi." Me too.
Anyway, my friend asked about the trip and my thoughts on being home. Our conversation got me thinking. Unlike the last few trips where I've gone into them saying out loud "this might be our last time in Mississippi" only to come home and start planning the next trip, this one really did feel like it might be our last time in Mississippi...at least in the way we've been going to Mississippi. Yes, there is still work to be done, but it's slowing down. The need is slowing down and the teams coming in to help are slowing down.
While in Mississippi we heard about a program being started in Hancock County, where the County and FEMA will buy out property owners, tear down any existing structures on the property and then let the land return to it's natural state, never to be sold or built on again. My first take was to be a little outraged, admittedly at first that they seem to have lost hope in the County's ability to recover but then, upon reflection, that it took so long for the local and federal governments to start this program. It makes sense but also is frustrating. We also heard that there are still homeowners waiting on settlement checks from their insurance company...WHAT??? It's been 4 1/2 years...what is the problem??!!
Driving around it was apparent to me that there are many who have just left. They aren't returning. The houses sit empty, mildewing. And those who might want to return don't have the income, the means to make that happen...and that's where our desires to help and the reality of the situation meet up.
The days of taking a group of 20 to Pearlington seem to be done. The days of a group of well-meaning but not completely able people heading to work may be done. There are more physically challenging jobs ahead, there are fewer jobs for those who are limited in knowledge of how to do certain things and especially few jobs for those with limitations on what they can do. It's hard to admit all of that but it's necessary. The day is coming when we will say "we used to take a group to Pearlington..."
We will always have memories of doing something GREAT with God's leading...
Anyway, my friend asked about the trip and my thoughts on being home. Our conversation got me thinking. Unlike the last few trips where I've gone into them saying out loud "this might be our last time in Mississippi" only to come home and start planning the next trip, this one really did feel like it might be our last time in Mississippi...at least in the way we've been going to Mississippi. Yes, there is still work to be done, but it's slowing down. The need is slowing down and the teams coming in to help are slowing down.
While in Mississippi we heard about a program being started in Hancock County, where the County and FEMA will buy out property owners, tear down any existing structures on the property and then let the land return to it's natural state, never to be sold or built on again. My first take was to be a little outraged, admittedly at first that they seem to have lost hope in the County's ability to recover but then, upon reflection, that it took so long for the local and federal governments to start this program. It makes sense but also is frustrating. We also heard that there are still homeowners waiting on settlement checks from their insurance company...WHAT??? It's been 4 1/2 years...what is the problem??!!
Driving around it was apparent to me that there are many who have just left. They aren't returning. The houses sit empty, mildewing. And those who might want to return don't have the income, the means to make that happen...and that's where our desires to help and the reality of the situation meet up.
The days of taking a group of 20 to Pearlington seem to be done. The days of a group of well-meaning but not completely able people heading to work may be done. There are more physically challenging jobs ahead, there are fewer jobs for those who are limited in knowledge of how to do certain things and especially few jobs for those with limitations on what they can do. It's hard to admit all of that but it's necessary. The day is coming when we will say "we used to take a group to Pearlington..."
We will always have memories of doing something GREAT with God's leading...
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Back home...
We made it back home safe and sound. There are more stories and pictures and hopefully a video or two to come but today, I'm taking the day off! There are books to read, movies to watch and naps to take after a good weeks work.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Done
Team Sawzall and Broken Drill Bit/Plant the Posts were determined to do the most work possible before the day was done. And we did...BDB/PTP ran out of materials and Sawzall finished all the work inside before the furniture arrived at Captain John's. It was a good day!
Sammy and Brittany made a great team and rocked out on placing the decking for the ramp. Jonathan tried to help for awhile but got kicked out of girl-land. Joe is a master at the chop saw...even had enough time to make some bookmarks for us all. Jonathan helped here, helped there, helped everywhere. Michelle started out on a roll but quickly got overwhelmed by the no-see-ums (whoever came up with that name was SO out of touch with these little biting bugs), took some anti-histamine and wound up sleeping most of the day. It was a bummer but totally understandable!
Debbie, Kanda and Harold finished installing the closet shelving, put a shelf in the utility room, got the hot water heater, washer and dryer all in place, installed towel racks and other necessities in the bathrooms, installed a storm door on the back door and prepped the floors before the arrival of the furniture. 
The truck rolled in around 3:30 or 4 and the attention quickly turned to helping the furniture movers bring in all the furniture, setting it up and getting things ready for Captain John and Joel so that they can sleep in their homes for the first time tonight.
Joe worked really hard to get thing set up so that Captain John could enjoy his TV.
Amongst all that there was a trip to Lowes and Starbuck$ (hallelujah!). Oh and a stop for a team picture.
It was SO good to see Captain John sitting on his couch in his house but there was a sense of frustration as well. 
Though we put great effort into it, the ramp isn't complete. There isn't another team coming in after us that will finish it either. And while that isn't completely our fault, it is hard to leave the job unfinished. So while the joy of seeing Captain John in his house was FANTASTIC, the sense of needing to do more is palpable. And we know that the ramp, while helpful once the waters start to rise, isn't the ultimate fix that needs to happen at this house...Captain John ultimately needs a lift so that he can easily leave his house...which costs money.
There are many things we are contemplating as we head home.
Sammy and Brittany made a great team and rocked out on placing the decking for the ramp. Jonathan tried to help for awhile but got kicked out of girl-land. Joe is a master at the chop saw...even had enough time to make some bookmarks for us all. Jonathan helped here, helped there, helped everywhere. Michelle started out on a roll but quickly got overwhelmed by the no-see-ums (whoever came up with that name was SO out of touch with these little biting bugs), took some anti-histamine and wound up sleeping most of the day. It was a bummer but totally understandable!
Debbie, Kanda and Harold finished installing the closet shelving, put a shelf in the utility room, got the hot water heater, washer and dryer all in place, installed towel racks and other necessities in the bathrooms, installed a storm door on the back door and prepped the floors before the arrival of the furniture. 
The truck rolled in around 3:30 or 4 and the attention quickly turned to helping the furniture movers bring in all the furniture, setting it up and getting things ready for Captain John and Joel so that they can sleep in their homes for the first time tonight.
Joe worked really hard to get thing set up so that Captain John could enjoy his TV.
Amongst all that there was a trip to Lowes and Starbuck$ (hallelujah!). Oh and a stop for a team picture.
It was SO good to see Captain John sitting on his couch in his house but there was a sense of frustration as well. 
Though we put great effort into it, the ramp isn't complete. There isn't another team coming in after us that will finish it either. And while that isn't completely our fault, it is hard to leave the job unfinished. So while the joy of seeing Captain John in his house was FANTASTIC, the sense of needing to do more is palpable. And we know that the ramp, while helpful once the waters start to rise, isn't the ultimate fix that needs to happen at this house...Captain John ultimately needs a lift so that he can easily leave his house...which costs money.There are many things we are contemplating as we head home.
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