Ron, Ester Williams (homeowner), Jim and Dottie share a group hug...
Friday, January 20, 2006
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)
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!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
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...
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 Pile' after a full day's work... (Thanks to Sherwin Williams of Ocean City- they donated all painting supplies!)
Monday, January 16, 2006
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...)
Sunday, January 15, 2006
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 Nightby 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.
Friday, January 13, 2006
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
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
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.
