As usual a couple of "clowns" had to stop traffic while they cut house wrap.

Here is what a week of hard work looks like finished.

Here is what ya'all started with, and after a weeks work the finished photo don't look half bad.

One thing we do know for sure, is that Mel & Billie would want this team back if possible.

"How many volts did you say were coming through here? That many huh?

But don't worry"Wick", it's the AMPS that will do you in, not the volts"

Rev. Sharon Sabom and her husband left for a eight day trip to Jerusalem on the Monday of our first day of work, so we only got to spend a short amount of time with her. The other members we had dealings with were a great help to us settling in.

George rang the "bell" and won Vicky a prize.

Andrew rang the "bell" and got 2 prizes

"I musta dropped my tester again"

It's not a difficult question. Which way did you come from, Right or Left?

Russel

Jim says, " You want me to do what while I'm under here? No way, isn't it break time yet"

Poor George, on only his second VIM trip was allowed one night on the men's side, then banished to a room by himself, some said because of snoring, but not me George.
" Love the sheets & pillow cases "

After a hard days work, an evening of gambling to determine who wins at Phase Ten.

Excitement abounds!!!!

We're not sure if this is Rev. Tom's bed, but we definitely know it is not Russell's

Two (2) blind moles jacking up house to install new 4"x6" beam, hoping that the jacks don't slip in the Texas Mud, as usual Rev. Tom supervising.

Our home @ LaMarque Methodist Church for the week.

The whole crew on Friday afternoon! Smiling, but ready to come home...

The Crew... (well, most of them, the ones who showed up for the photo...)

The whole Motley Crew!

Front Row: Stephanie;Dottie;Vicky;Carole;Tom A.;Liz;Skip;Jenny;Joanne;Susan

Back Row: Stacy;George;Rev. Tom;Ernie;Rob;Jim S.;Russel;Blogmaster Rick;Lee;Dan;Jim D.

The place we are staying used to be an African-American camp for Methodists. It was purchased illegally in the 20's by the first Methodist African-American bishop. Illegally because blacks were forbidden from owning land. During the civil rights era many prominent leaders of the movement met and stayed here to plan their strategy.

It is now Monday evening and we all seem to have had a very productive day. We are working on 4 different houses ranging from a 'new build'. That is the term used here for a site where the house was completely destroyed and the Methodist Church relief organization is building a family a home from the foundation up. (Sometimes that foundation is pilings that go up as much as 18' above ground because of the new building and zoning laws put in place after Katrina.)

Well, we're here!
The team arrived in New Orleans Saturday evening after a smooth, on-time flight. Several members of the team are still wandering aimlessly on Bourbon Street... (just kidding... we hopped in our rental vans and drove straight to Waveland, Mississippi.) This is Monday morning and I've got to go to work. More later today... (Barb, Liz said she hopes you and Penny and [her other dog] are doing well...)

mudding and sanding at one of our houses

a few of the gang at a meal

Just some random photos from the past few days:

Robbie K. & Denny, Electricians. (Call 911)

Bill says Hi Tami! He really misses you... (some of the people he's with down here are really weird...)

We've arrived at Vancleave UMC and I'll have to be brief. It's after lights out time and I'm on Reverend Tom's work team. I don't want to get in trouble tomorrow! Yesterday was a day of rest. ( they don't allow volunteers to work on Sunday at this church. ) So half of us went to New Orleans (to survey the damage and to save souls on Bourbon Street, of course.) The other half toured the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Biloxi to Bay St. Louis. (Bay St. Louis was under 28 feet of water during the storm!) Today was our first work day and from all accounts it went well. The 5 teams are all busy at different houses. One is helping to construct a log cabin! Several are doing drywall and insulation. No one injured today... lots of sore and tired people... I'll just add some more pictures and let them speak for themselves: Click on them to enlarge...

Well, we're going back... (I suspect we'll keep going back until we're asked not to return.) This is year 3 and things are a little different this time around. Trinity Methodist Church in Gulfport is no longer housing, feeding and co-ordinating volunteers so we've found a church in Van Cleave, Mississippi to house and feed us. We'll be about 30 miles from where we were last year. Believe it or not, there are still houses in the area that have not been touched and need complete gutting! This is over 2 1/2 years after Katrina... So we may be doing some gutting. Certainly we'll be doing drywall and painting, maybe insulation. We've gotten pretty good at these trades.

We fly this Saturday 1/26. This church doesn't allow the volunteers to work on the Sabbath, so Sunday many of us will probably go to New Orleans to see the sights and of course to save some souls on Bourbon Street!

More to follow from Mississippi on Saturday night...

I'm going to try a video upload/link. Never did this on a blog. This is the short video I made after last year's trip to show in church the Sunday after we returned. i hope you enjoy it...

For those of you on last year's trip, you'll never believe what I'm listening to right now... A certain Ms. Angel Snow's 1st and so far only CD! I was looking for some music for this Sunday's presentations and I remembered Ron sending us her Myspace address. The Myspace thing refers you to www.DigStation.com where you can search Angel Snow and download the album for only $9.99! Anyone present at her after dinner performance last year knows that she deserves to sell a boatload of CD's... 3 of the 4 songs she played for us that night are on the album, with the exception being her renditon of John Prine's, "Angel From Montgomery." (A song I absolutely love that was passionately covered by Bonnie Raitt... I think Mr. Prine and Ms. Raitt would have been smiling at Angel's rendition...) Oops, low battery... more tomorrow...

well, it's Thursday night and we're feeling alright... Tonight another group from Ohio cooked up a shrimp feast for everyone, including the homeowners of the houses that are currently being worked on.

Above is the official 'group photo taken tonight... lots of happy, tired people...

Ann, Courtney (Trinity UMC's rebuilding coordinator), Mike, the homeowner , Russel, Carole and Luna Muna...

A team that was audacious in it's accomplishments:

I had no interaction with the homeowner, but heard some great stories... not the least of which is how this team went above and beyond 'reasonable' to get him a blue living room ("White'll show all the grandkids fingerprints!" They were sent to paint and they ended up jacking up a good portion of the house (complete with Muna slithering around under the house with the lizards and spiders...), completely rebuilding his front porch and reglazing his windows (sometimes several times per window, eh, RevTom...) among other improvements... I think this was the spirit of the entire group... go beyond just what's expected, to the core of what is needed. Many times, when we went above and beyond, we used the CCOP's funds that were raised specifically for this mission. Because of the generosity of donors, both within and outside of, CCOP, we didn't have to ask the homeowners if they could afford it or ask Trinity Church's rebuilding coordinator for the funds. Many thanks go out to you who helped us financially, as well as spiritually (ie. all the prayers and goodwill).

Who says men can't cook?

Our esteemed leader putting his love into action...

Some photos of the work and the crew... captions tomorrow,
So far at Trinity UMC: over 450,000 man/woman hours put in by volunteers.
Over 550 houses rehabilitated for occupancy.
Thousands of volunteers from all over the country (and a few foriegn lands...)
All coordinated by the amazing Courtney Allen, catered to and tolerated by the good people of Trinity UMC...

Just going to throw some photos on, maybe some with short captions.... It's getting late and these people expect me to keep getting up at the crack of dawn(ish) to go hang drywall...

I'm in the Rebuilding Coordinator's office writing this... she's the only one with an internet connection and has graciously allowed me to use her connection when she's not here. Courtney has been in Gulfport for over 18 months as the rebuilding Coordinator for Trinity UMC Church. In that time almost 600 homs have been rebuilt or repaired by volunteers, like us, who have come and stayed at Trinity. Tonight a group of Trinity members cooked dinner for 75 volunteers, who knows how many thousands of meals they have served... Over 450,000 man/woman hours have been put in by volunteers who have had Trinity UMC as their base.

Ron, Liz, Todd, Sharon, Colby and I spent today insulating and hanging drywall for a family whose had 2/3 of their mobile home blown away during Katrina, probably by a tornado... They received about $25,000 between insurance and FEMA funds. For 18 months they have lived in a very small FEMA trailer with three of their grandchildren. So Wanda and Dwight have chosen to build something a little more safe and substantial than the mobile home. They've undertaken the construction of a modest one-story home, but halfway through the money ran out. So they called on Trinity Church and here we are... The whole trip was worth the look on their 15 year old granddaughter's face today when she found out we were drywalling her room. She walked in, looked around, smiled and just said,"I'm sleeping in here tomorrow night!" And I believe she will...

Our groups are currently working on 5 different jobsites with a variety of tasks being performed. A lot of drywalling, the Koeller/McGillen crew is doing siding, the Rev Tom crew painted on Saturday and as it began to rain, water began to drip from a light socket. Needless to say, today they painted some more, but they also did some roof repair.

Everyone is in good spirits... Muna went jogging at 2am... Sharons Mom and Father-in-Law came from Florida to take them out to dinner (and maybe gamble a little...)... my snoring is driving Ron and Todd crazy, I suspect I'll be banished from the room if I snore alot tonight... more tomorrow, with photos!!!

Most of the 2007 crew taken at the final preparation meeting.

The CCOP volunteers who flew on Friday and those who drove on Thursday arrived safely at about the same time in Gulfport on Friday. Today they were already hard at work on 5 houses, most near Trinity Church (our 'home away from home'). The crew that includes Ron Wist is travelling 17 miles to get to their site... hey, we go where the need is greatest... I'm flying in tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully some pictures will be forthcoming. In fact, I think I'll cheat and add a few from last year just to test the system (and my memory...)

Community Church at Ocean Pines
Well... here we go again! Back to Gulfport, Mississippi to assist in the ongoing recovery from the aftermath of Katrina.

I'm in Bill Wolf's office at Community Church just firing up the old blog site. (Although Bill and I are such talkers neither of us is getting much done!)

Roughly 30 of us are going, about half are returning veterans from last year's mission. The other half are newbies. (Has anyone told the newbies about the 'wait on the veterans hand and foot' rule yet?)

The first contingent loaded up and left at about 8:30 this morning with Russell Queen driving his pickup and a large construction trailer in tow. My ignorance will show thoughout this blog, as well as my missing all but the final organizational meeting... Riding with him are Ron Wist (the only of last year's returning crew foolhardy enough not to fly down...), Phil (the photographer) Lassiter, and an extremely nice, tall guy (who I am embarrassed to say I forget his name but will be my buddy after this week and someday we'll laugh about this oversight...)

Most of the rest of the crew heads out early Friday morning. Driving together to BWI in a 15 passenger van (oh, yeah, with no room for anything but a toothbrush and a hammer per person as luggage.) Others are coming seperately from the DC/Baltiomore area... Including Liz... (Hi Liz- can't wait to do some 'rockin' with you!) Todd, Sharon and Uncle Tom also heading separatley from that direction. Jim is zooming over from the winter retreat in FLA again, glad to hear you're feeling better, Jim! I'd feel bad abusing you while you're sick... (not that it would stop me...) I'll be heading down on Sunday in time for dinner. (Anybody down there reading this: Get those green beans really cooked up and ready for me!)

Anyway, back to God's work... More to follow... stay tuned...

Ron, Ester Williams (homeowner), Jim and Dottie share a group hug...

 

Tools and supplies by Sherwin-Williams: FREE (all donated)
Labor: FREE (Donated by Laura, Clark and Tom)
Having MLK looking over Rev Tom's shoulder: PRICELESS (see B&W poster)

 

SERVE!

 

'Carpet Guys' Ray and Allen hard at work...

 

Joining us from Georgia (...and Korea and Tennesee?): Brian, 'Angel from Montgomery' and Jason... Roofers, sheetrockers, hard-working all-around great people. Angel treated us to a wonderful, impromtu performance of her singing and songwriting... By now she's a'headed to Nashville to do her thing! Knock'em dead, Angel!

 

The "NO MORE BEANS, PLEASE" team... at the Porters' House

 

I just noticed as I was scrolling through the following photos, if you click on them you'll see a larger version with much greater detail and impact!

A call for photos and videos: Any CCOP Katrina Relief team member who has photos or video (digital or actual film) from the trip, I'd love to get hold of a copy or I'll bring my laptop and download them right from your camera or videocam... I now can do it without deleting anything from your camera (...sorry Laura... by the way Laura I've got all of your photos on a CD for you...) I can also make a (might need several, the numbers are growing...) copy of all photos and/or video for anyone who wants them. Contact Rick: rick@oldprogolf.com or 443-235-6091. Some of you may not have seen the videos given to us by Nelson... taken during the storm by police officers as they evacuate the police station, go to the library and watch the police station get swept away...

entire neighborhoods...

 

where did the houses go?

 

like toothpicks...

 

I believe this was the Route 90 bridge towards New Orleans

 

if you're looking for more CCOP 'doing something about the destruction' pictures... skip ahead, I just got these aerials so I may be overdoing them...

 

in some cases those not on the ocean front didn't evacuate...Katrina was headed more towards new orleans... when it shifted east, it was too late to go... there are many, many stories of survival, the will to live, the courage to forget your own safety in order to help others... each house you see could tell a dozen stories...

 

the railroad tracks were the dividing line between seawater/storm surge and surge from the bays and bayous...

 

the debris you see used to be houses...

 

the following shots were given to us by Nelson in Gulfport and are labeled 'Courtney's Aerials'...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Painters (Dottie and Betty)

 

'The Pile' after a full day's work... (Thanks to Sherwin Williams of Ocean City- they donated all painting supplies!)

 

'The gang with friends at the Williams house.

 

One small step for our Community Church 'Disaster Relief' group is done (we are all home after an extremely productive and rewarding 10 days)... Many giant leaps remain for the people of the Gulf Coast...

The entire crew has returned safely (except for Dan, who is home but brought some sort of flu-bug back as a souvenier...) And what a trip it has been! The Community Church family should be extremely proud of the work it supported through donations, prayers and 'holding down the fort' while loved ones toiled in Gulfport, Mississippi. They should be even prouder of the way in which the group attacked each task with gusto, stopping only to listen to the stories that 'passeth all understanding' from the local people... You (and I) couldn't possibly understand what happened there unless you were there. TV does not convey it. Talking to we who went for a week does not convey it. Even being there for a week (and then returning to a house with a roof, heat, insulation, sheetrock, belongings, furniture, running water...) does not allow us to fully understand the tragedy that these people have experienced. As you view the following pictures pretend for a minute that this is Ocean City (assuming you are from around here... if not, use your imagination...) I'm not attempting to scare you... "Oh my, that could happen here!) I'm am writing this just to help you 'get' what it is like for 'them'... (the residents of the Gulf Coast). If you own property in Ocean City- Boom! All buildings---Gone!!!! Start over, just sand.... (see the pictures...) If you are in Ocean Pines or nearby, you're lucky, your house still exists... you've just lost all belongings accumulated during your lifetime, your house must be gutted (depending on it's exact level above mean high tide) and repaired (you're on 'The List' that everyone seemed to be on... waiting, waiting, waiting... for the lucky few- thank God for UMCOR/Trinity Methodist Church/CCOP...), except that you've lost your job because: A. You're a teacher and most of the kids evacuated to somewhere else so you've lost your job, or B: You're lucky enough to have your job , but most family members weren't, so they've moved into your FEMA supplied 'travel trailer' ( Meaning: 'comfortable for about a week of family camping', now 140 days later...)

Our work crossed all socio-economic, racial and religious bounds (I was told tonight that the Methodist relief organization- UMCOR, who we were working under the direction of, is the only denominational group that doesn't currently restict itself to helping only 'it's own'... ) I speak for myself, but the most bizarre part of the experience is that even in the midst of total devastation, I enjoyed every minute of the work... for me there can be no higher purpose than serving those in need regardless of race, creed, economic level, age, status... MLK must be smiling reading this on his day: 'I have a dream, that one day, a person will be helped by judging his or her need regardless of the color of his skin...' (my paraphrase...).

UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) has got it right. Their motto (official/unofficial? I don't know, but gospel according to Rev Tom...) is 'First in, Last Out'. And out is a long, long way away.... If we did a drop of work, there remains an ocean... There are people near Gulfport (Waveland, Pass Christian... devastated... wiped out...) still living in tents 140 days after the storm! Families, just like you and I, except this particular hurricane hit the Gulf Coast and not the Mid-Atlantic Coast... (Pat Robertson be Damned!- It's luck of the draw... My God would NEVER purposely injure human beings to convey some silly message about who's living 'right'... Talk to the folks who went about 'the stories' they heard. Stories about the will to live, stories about how if you are focused on helping others you feel no fear in the face of insurmountable odds, stories about pure human kindness, and stories of miraculous happenings that confirm (or shake) your beliefs...

Love and Service seem to me the two highest purposes for a human being on this earth. I just spent the purest week of love and service in all of my 47 years. My life is changed. Others on the trip (mission?) have served lovingly in Africa, Appalachia, with MLK during the civil rights struggle... and others have devoted their lives to this end. But I, for one, will probably slip quietly back to my 'real life' until another opportunity like this comes along (or I create it...) to define who I am and why I am here on this earth. (Sorry for the heaviness if you were just looking for some photos of the work we did to help the Gulf Coast residents, skip ahead for those...)

Community Church at Ocean Pines
If you only have a few minutes scroll down and read the most recent entry beginning with the beautiful photo of the driftwood on the beach... this entry is more informational, that one is inspirational...
Mike's carpet crew returned yesterday (Saturday) but had to leave their trailer at the Bridge-Tunnel, too windy to allow trailers across. Had they waited it out, they'd still be waiting because Todd, Ron and Jake are currently in Virginia Beach waiting. Fortunately they are the only other vehicle with a trailer. The others are all right behind and should be home for dinner. No big plans to greet the 'returning warriors' because of the varying arrival times but a few will gather as each group gets to the church. The official celebration will most likely occur not this sunday, but the next (1/29). A portion of each of the 3 services that Sunday will be devoted to a multi-media presentation of our mission to Gulfport and following the Traditional service (the 10:30 service) a more extensive celebration will be held complete with shrimp from the Gulf, a fuller multi-media presentation and I would guess some personal story-telling... (Any the above is subject to change. I am just relaying some info from Rev Tom as he was travelling yesterday. Nothing set in stone, but all of this is probable...)

We all know the beauty all around us, the water, the mountains, nature, etc.,
and we all tend to take it for granted.
Altough this picture was not of the gulf region, I felt it appropriate in an attempt to
convey a feeling of peacefulness and tranquility.
It has been a pleasure to give you all a snapshot of our trip and mission to the Gulf.

Please do not forget these folks.

Keep them in your thoughts and prayers, they will most definetly need them
and appreciate them.

This recovery process will take years.
So if you are moved by the spirit to contribute in any way, whether it be finacial or by going to the gulf and helping, please do so, you have no idea how much it will mean.

May God bless and keep you always.

 

He heard their screams in the Night

by Jack Arthur Underhill


In the terrible storm
He chose to face the avalanche of water
Hurled for by the blind anger of the wind.
He heard them scream in the terrible night.
He heard them scream but did nothing.
He was afraid for his own life.
They may have been swept away
In the rip tide.

And he did nothing.

His friend stayed behind too.
She told him there were no human screams.
It was merely the cry of the wind.
It was the whimper and roar of the water
The surging water
It was the the whine of the wind
Perhaps he could have done nothing.

But others hear his cry
And the cry of his brothers and sisters
They did something.
They came like the water
In surge after surge
A human tsunami of love and caring.

They came with their brooms
They came with their hammers
They came with their shovels
They came when the strong wept
They came when the nation almost forgot

They came with armfuls of Christian love
They came with hearts on their shoulders
And Mississippi opened its generous
And loving arms to them
And Trinity, being holy, opened its arms to them

They heard the scream in the night
And acted out of love.

 

Community Church at Ocean Pines
Quick Update: My Dad almost died on Tuesday: Pulmunary Embolism blood clots to lungs; 60/20 blood pressure; kidneys shutting down... today, Thursday, he's being moved from CCU to a regular hospital room because he's doing so well!!! Vital signs good. I may have to reassess some of my beliefs... maybe this prayer stuff really works... Thanks for all the prayers!
Rick

Rick our faithful traveling companion, worker bee, trailer quartermaster, and "Mayor", seen here in action smiling all the way. Rick needed to leave us early to go be home with his family and his dad who needed him during his illness and recovery. We all miss ya, love ya, and hate that you had to leave your other family behind in Mississippi. We have all of you in our thoughts, prays, and in our hearts. We will see ya when we get back and will fill you in on every last detail of what you missed. Keep smiling buddy.

 

Community Church at Ocean PinesMike, Ray and Allen affectionately known as the carpet guys from Maryland. Have been hard at work "doin'their thang". They have done 3-4 different homes putting in some long hours on their knees, both praying and laying flooring and carpet. Way to go guys, keep up the good work.

They say every picture paints a story, and through it all comes the beauty of God's creation ....... flowers blooming in the middle of rubble and destruction.

 

This home was moved off its foundation into the street, but the pantry stayed full and looks like it was placed in there yesterday, instead of over 4 months ago.

 

Here we are at the Porters home (Larry & Sandy in the middle) flanked by Mike, Ron, Liz & Todd. Missing from the photo are Rick and Betty who contributed tremendously to this project.

 

Today was another productive day in ole Miss we worked on approximately 4 different home the Porters, the Williams, Carrie the church coordinator assistant, and another elderly couple.

At the Williams home we are still hard at it and are close to finishing all the sheetrocking, mudding, baseboard, trim work, and are in process of priming. We have two of the pups adopted and they are Mississippi (Missy) & Katrina. The precious little ones will be making the trek back to Maryland. We still have two more if there are any takers (hint - hint). "C'mon ya'll".

At the Porters we finished the sheetrock and have completed our assigned task. These folks were so appreciative that they brought to tears and couldn't believe that they had sheetrocked walls after 4 months of looking at studs. They also brought us home made cakes, they were to die for.

At Carries' temporary home we finished the roof and the cleanup and is done. So we finished another assigned task.

At the elderly couples home whom we have not met yet we are doing some finishing of a previous groups sheetrock and getting it ready for painting.

Tomorrow we hopefully will finish as much as we can on the Williams home, the elderly couples home and pack the trailer and go "sightseeing". On Saturday we will be up bright and early and on our way home to MD.

See ya'll soon ya hear!
Community Church at Ocean Pines

This shot was down by the water as you can see this car is still exactly where it landed. If you look closely in the background (through the trees) you can make out a Waffle House sign, no building, it is completely gone. Everything around it also gone and this is 135 days after the storm. Utterly amazing isn't it.

 

This is some of the work crew at the Williams home along with a few 1st cousins from GA. and Tenn., that helped us for a couple of days. Everyone is standing next to Ms. Williams car with her license plate that has "AGAPE 44" on it.

 

If anyone is interested, these are some puppies at the Williams home where we are working. They will be going to the pound soon, if you would like one of these adorable little pups lets us know, and we will see what we can work out.

 

Jim if your looking for someting to eat the refrigerator is behind you, but you better hurry because Rev. Dottie is about to sheetrock over it.

 

Now let me see I used to know what a cubit was! Noah give me a break I'm only human.

 

Hey Jim is this were the urinal is supposed to go, if so this pipe is pointing the wrong direction.

 

Clark in the corner again having a blast.

 

Why do they call this "mud" it looks pretty clean to me!

 

Here is Jake happily at work, we keep trying to get him to come out of the closet but for some odd reason he says he is very happy in there.

 

Houses a block off the ocean in Gulfport

 

What's left of a days Inn Motel in Gulfport

 

This is a picture of some lovely oceanfront condos... 4 months ago...

 

Community Church at Ocean Pines
Something's slowing down the loading of pictures to this site. I'll try for more tommorrow... the work is inspirational, but the total desvastation of some areas is overwhelming... more of the aftermath pictures tommorrow. Goodnight all, your loved ones are safe (all sleeping I suspect... I better get to bed, 6am comes early here!)

The Porter's House where we are currently sheetrocking

 

Todd & Liz, hard at it

 

Go Mike, our own CCOP woofer! (CCOP people: He's Julie K.'s sister-in-law's best friend's son...comprende?)

 

"Ya know guys... if we headed just a wee bit west from here we could be on Bourbon Street by happy hour... to, uh, well, uh, save those poor souls from alife of sin, of course!"

 

The 'toolmobile' also the 'Deranged Durango Brothers' mode of transport... (Jake, Ron, Todd & Rick)

 

Jim, deep concentration...

 

Rev it up Reverend Dottie!

 

I think somebody's in trouble...

 

'The Carpet Guys" Mike, Alan and Ray...

 

1st Baptist of Gulfport

 

More roofin'...

 

Roofin' with Mike, Angel, Angel's cousin, Todd and someone else...

 

Lunch on Sunday, went to church at 8:30, to work at 10, lunch at 2... back to work!

 

The "women's dorm"... Actually the 2nd grade Sunday school classroom...

 

Dan "taking a break"... The work is hard, the chiding merciless!

 

A little night roofing... (Jessie from Tacoma, assisted by the CCOP team.)

 

Ester Williams (right) and neighbor.

 

Our first assignment, insulate and sheetrock the Williams house.

 

Arriving at Trinity Church in Gulfport

 

We all wanted to wish a very Happy Birthday to Sam! 

Community Church at Ocean Pines
At long last we have internet access!!! We have not been able to connect due to a satellite problem at the church that has become our home away from home. That hasn't been fixed, but our intrepid blogger has finagled another way to gain access.
There is way too much to tell (and I've been hanging sheetrock all day) so I'll be brief tonoght but I promise more regular entries... Don't leave this site without looking at the pictures, the 'picture's a 1000 words' thing is truer than ever.

We arrived safely (although sometimes at 80 mph trying to keep up with Dan...) on Saturday evening and settled in to our accomodations at the church. Basically 6 to a Sunday School classroom, one shower per sex (at this stage 40-50 people are here, last week: 100!) Most breakfasts and Dinners prepared by whoever volunteers. Lunch prepared by the women of the church. It is Trinity UMC in Gulfport, Mississippi. For those of you from CCOP reading this imagine 50-100 people living in the Sunday School classrooms, eating in the and new gym/fellowship hall and needing food, information, directions, tools, (internet access...) What you might not want to imagine is why they would be there... I'll just refer you to the pictures for that...

We were greeted by Carrie, a local resident, mother of 4 year-old Ashley who we've all fallen in love with, and a woman who has taken on the role of co-ordinating all lodging, food, etc. for the daily 50-100 staying in her church. In her orientation she told the story of not knowing if her husband survived the flooding and wind from the Monday it hit until Thursday and only then by climbing over blocks of debris and rubble (her neighbors' homes...) with her 4 year old in one arm until she got to her house and found him OK. He had saved a family with small children by having them all perch on top of some built-in bookcases as the water rose to more than 6 feet in their home. Their home was the only on their block that remains at all and will probably not be renovated...

Our first assignment was the Williams' home. A moderately-sized house in a very poor neighgborhood that had survived the floodwaters structurally intact, but had up to 3 feet of standing water for half a day. When we arrived it had already been gutted and everything but studs remained inside from 4' down. Most of the Williams furniture had somehow survived ( or perhaps they had items donated) and was still in the house. For 3 days a large part of our crew has been insulating, sheetrocking, cleaning and listening to the stories at the Williams' house. More later.

Another branch of the crew put an entire roof on the staff parsonage of Trinity church in 2 days. (By entire roof I mean we stripped theold shingles, hauled them to the street, pulled every nail out of the roof, repaired the parts damaged by trees falling, laid the asphalt felt, shingled and capped the whole thing. (OK... we had a lot of help from a former professional roofer turned Air Force reserve from Tacoma Washington named Jessie and a builder/'Jack of all trades' from Indiana named Alan. They both had come for a week and stayed as long as they could... The need for volunteers here is so immense. It has been 4 months since the storm and there are still people living in tent cities in parts of Mississippi. People just want to get back in their homes (if they are lucky enough to still have a home- see the pictures...)

Today the 'gang of 4' (Betty, Liz, Todd & Rick) sheetrocked the home of members of Trinity church whose house had 3 feet of standing water on that infamous day. Next door neighbor is Doris, the 84 year old mother of Sandy (mother-in-law to Jerry). Doris came over to tell us thank you and that we all had earned another 'jewel in our crown' when we get to heaven... That about sums up the way we have been treated here. We feel lucky to be a part of this, as Jim said in a meeting/devotional time last night, "We're only a little drop compared to the sea of work that needs to be done here." But we're contributing and several families are closer to being back in their homes because of our work!

The co-ordinator of 'Sites' (job-sites: where the volunteers are needed on that day, with those tools, materials and supplies) is a full-time volunteer named Carrie. Don't tell anyone, but she has graciously allowed me to use her office to write this. Internet service is actually still down in the volunteer part of the facility. I'll tell you more tommorrow (if I can get into Carrie's office...) About our trips to the totally devastated parts of this area, about the churchmembers stories and total graciousness, about the aspiring singer-songwriter staying with us who just wowed us with an impromptu concert... And one final thing before I sleep: HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY SAM! (My son turned 8 today, see the photo, I miss him and Lila, Luke & Rene.) We all miss our loved ones, but know that we are doing the right thing here...
Goodbye for now,
Peace
Be very grateful for what you have...
Rick

Hi Mission Team,

Hope you all are doing well...we are thinking about you back home. Let us know how your first work day went and what is happening. How are the local folks coping now? Just wanted to caution everyone that if you are around moldy areas, please wear your masks and gloves. My doctor (a mold expert) said that the Katrina region is still very toxic. If anyone begins to feel ill, I can have my doc send you a medication to help. Joanie and I wish we were with you.
Blessings to all,
Bev ThomasCommunity Church at Ocean Pines

Community Church at Ocean Pines

Community Church at Ocean Pines
We're on our way to Gulfport! The photo shows 2 of our vehicles loaded and ready to go. We got off at the crack of 7:30 after Dan threatened to string up anyone who wasn't ready to go at 7... 12 hours later and many gas stops (Rick's car drinks petrol when pulling a big, heavy trailer) we are now in Greenville, SC. We ate as a group at the Roadhouse and didn't get back to the motel until almost 11... Bedtime for now, see you tommorrow.

 

Community Church at Ocean Pines

Community Church at Ocean Pines
I just wanted to check this site out before we leave tomorrow. I know we have a great crew, with alot of capabilites. I'm looking forward to all of the driving,(Tom will be riding, looking, probably napping, and hopefully navigating) and a week of satisfying hard work, to help others that I know would be here in MD. to help us if the situation was reversed.
God's speed to all of us.
dan

Yesterday we had our last meeting before leaving for Mississippi. From Left to Right:Front Row; Bev Thomas, Laura Lassiter, Anne Cooley, Rev. Linda Jacobus, Rev. Dottie Clark, Joannie Stearn. Back Row; Mike Strobel, Dan Jones, Todd Peterson, Ron Wist, Rick Schoellkopf, Jake Gattrell and Rev. P. Thomas McKelvey. Members not in the photo but joining the Team in Mississippi are; Jim Duke, Betty Prichard, Clark Prichard, Ray Ulatowski.

I thought I'd attempt to put a photo on our Gulfport relief mission blog... this is a house in Gulfport photographed on 12/30/2005. I suspect it looks alot like what the CCOP crew can expect to find ourselves working in when we get there.