5 years

(This post cross posted on my personal blog)

It's hard to believe that 5 years have gone by since Hurricane Katrina demolished the Gulf Coast. I've been watching all the news stories, reading a lot of articles and reminiscing over the last 5 years. The focus has largely been on New Orleans, but here or there I've seen little things on the towns all along the Gulf Coast that are still struggling to recover as well. Of course, my thoughts have been on Pearlington...rightly so!

Tom D. and Ms. Denise were featured on CNN briefly, talking a little about the recovery efforts. I'm linking the video, so you can see. They are in the first minute of the 3 minute story.



As Tom and Soledad O'brien were walking in front of the Community Center (the red building) I got a little reminiscent of the first time we saw Pearlington. That lot was filled with blue plastic buildings and was the site of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Camp. Right next door was the parking lot for the Post Office...that wasn't there anymore. Members of our team painted Ms. Denise's house, helped install doors and things inside as well. Her husband, Ricky, is the one who worked with one of our crews out at Captain John's house, digging holes for the pilings and beginning the building process. I've driven past Ms. Denise's house way too many times to count seeing as she lives next door to Ben! Watching that short minute of video, it was like heading home again.

I can honestly say, that when God planted the seed of helping with Hurricane Katrina Recovery, I never, EVER thought that we would be going more than once, let alone 9 times with a potential 10th trip on the horizon. Nor would I have imagined meeting people who became friends within moments of meeting. Hurricane Katrina left a lot of damage in her wake, but she also compelled, at least this soul, to do something worthwhile and important. To tell a better story with her life. I'm proud of the story that God is telling through the team at FPC.

Tonight, as I went to write this blog, there was a comment on my personal blog. It was from Chelsea, the young woman I had the honor of meeting in DC at the Jefferson Awards who lived in Pearlington when the storm hit. Her parents are starting to rebuild. Her school wants to do a service day. They need our help. The story is not done...5 years later.

Pearlington on CNN!

Just got the following from Tom D. Read on to find out more!

Last week I toured Pearlington with Solodad O'Brien from CNN. The story looks at Pearlington five years later. It will be aired tomorrow nite (8/26) on Anderson Cooper 360 around 8pm Mountain Time. Thought you'd want to know. Not sure how much made the cutting room floor but it should be interesting. By the way we are still in Pearlington and while we aren't doing a whole lot we are helping out where we can as crews and money permits. Also our Rotary donated medical trailer is equipped and ready, should we have another storm, thanks to Carbondale, Stennis and Rotary International.

I've been working closely with our friend Paula Buhr from Houston. Between the two of us should we need to activate the trailer it will be staffed by volunteer emergency medical personnel.

We finished our last house in April.Capt. John's place. Thanks to the Greenwald foundation who funded nearly all of the construction we were able to help this elderly fellow.

People still contact us for help and we've had two volunteer groups in town since early spring. There is still some work to do as we've had to go back in and help some people with camp coastal houses that fell short of completion or were in need of repair due to low standards of construction.

We are hopeful that we do not have another hurricane now or in the future but I think we all know better. The up side is that Pearlington is better prepared to withstand another storm and the community remains strong.

Thanks to you all, this was truly an amazing team effort!!!

Tom D.

Mountains to Mississippi

Questionable Future

There are some things that I've trying really hard to not face. The future of the Mississippi trips is one of them. A few weeks ago my brother and sister-in-law started talking about Christmas and the thought ran through my head, "Well, I'll probably be in Mississippi." And then I caught myself. I might not.

I've started the conversation with Ben about another trip. There are a couple of small jobs, but nothing to take a big group to do. In fact, a group 8 would probably be searching for things to do halfway through.

What does this mean? It means that it's time to pray for a couple of things. #1 is discernment and wisdom. #2 is for the electrician that's supposed to be wiring Tom's house to get in there soon and get it going. If that work gets done, then sheet rock can be put up and we've been guaranteed that job.

So start praying folks!

85 days and 184 million galloons

The cap is on, the wait begins. Praying that the gush of oil indeed has stopped as the clean-up continues.

DC and Oil

I had the chance to go to Washington DC, as many of you know, to participate in the National Jefferson Awards. It was an interesting experience, awesome to share about our work in Pearlington and remind people of the continued need in the area. It was fascinating to hear what people are doing and I noticed a common theme of fundraising and hands on work. I'm still thinking about a lot of what went on but wanted to share just one little glimpse...I posted previously on my personal blog, but thought I would repost it here!

All the honorees had to give a one-minute speech. We were separated into two different groups to save on time. There were student in action groups, workplace volunteers and then the media nominated people it would have taken hours if they hadn't separated us! Anyway, after the speeches I went out to the lobby to get a question answered when this young lady came up to me. She immediately said "I wanted to Thank You for what you've done in Pearlington. I grew up there." It floored me. Turns out she and her family evacuated when Hurricane Katrina hit and relocated to Memphis where she is now in High School. It was a stunning moment and I believe the reason I was there. Her parents are planning on returning to Pearlington after she graduates and rebuilding. How cool would it be to help them rebuild??!! (For those familiar with Pearlington, their lot is on Hancock Ave., across from the Post Office.) Being back home, my focus has been on the oil that continues to pour into the Gulf. This article is just a reminder that the spread of the oil is far reaching and will have long lasting consequences for a region that has already suffered tremendously in the last few years. I'm becoming more and more aware of how much I use oil and how I can possibly cut that usage down!