Finally I have had a chance to sit down, relax and contemplate the experience of last week.
I arrived back in LAX after my fellow LA crew as I was booked on a later flight. This meant that I had a chance to spend a day in New Orleans and to catch up with some old friends at The Southern Rep Theatre. A theatre now presenting a play on pre and post Katrina. When agreeing to go on this mission it never occured to me that we would be near New Orleans. A town in which I had stayed and worked in on numerous occasions in 2005...just six months before Katrina hit.
It was a relief to see New Orleans as I remembered it and business I was told is up.
What haunted me more than the devastation of where we were was the 50-100 mile stretch of empty towns and villages from Waveland to New Orleans. Houses still standing but desolate. No electricity, no cars, just the shells of empty houses still with water damaged furniture and family possessions left behind. Where are those people? Apparently many people left and have just not returned and all that is left are miles and miles of ghost towns.
It has taken me a long time to gather my feelings into some sort of comprehensive form. I did not have the immediate contact with many of the people we were helping as I was with a small group of people called the 'sparkies'. There were just the five of us. Rick from HUMC, myself, and three from San Diego and we travelled from house to house sometimes just in pairs linking up the wiring. Climbing attics to find which wire was which. We installed new light fittings, one chandalier, smoke alarms, plug sockets, three way switches and all that fun stuff for those who know anything about electrics. What was exciting was that after we left most houses the only thing to follow would be an inspection and then the family were ready to move into their new homes. And they were beautiful houses. We really did get to see the final product. Unfortunately, as we were working on numerous houses we often did not get the chance to develop a close tie with the family waiting to move in and in some cases never even met them.
However, Rick and I were both honoured to meet The Parnell Family. Possibly moving into their new home this week after waiting twenty months. Ray was in his 80's and was one of the kindest people you could ever wish to meet. At 83 he had laid the linoleum in the kitchen on his own and yet he walks with a stick and has benign cancer. His wife had had a stroke the week before. He lived in a small FEMA trailer with his daugher and two grandchildren...4 and 6 years old. His daughter had lost her third child after Katrina as it had to be aborted at seven months as the heart had stopped. Her husband had left his kids and wife and is now out of the State with an ex-girlfriend.
That family have a special place (and I know I can speak for Rick here) in both our hearts. And it was a joy to know that soon they will be moving in. They have a house however, but very little furniture. And this is something I wish to point out. Although these people have houses to move into most have little or no furniture. One family from Idaho had driven for two days to Mississippi, dropped off a truck load of furniture and then headed straight back to Idaho. There is a need for people to do this!!!Many people in Mississippi own nothing.
One wall in Ray's laundry room was unpainted and there imprinted on the wall were the handprints of over fifty people from all over the States who had at some time been there to help in the construction of the house. Each was dated with a message of love. Ray's eyes would fill with tears every time he showed us this. It was his pride and joy. His greatest possession. A wall with the handprints of those who had helped in the rebuilding of his home. Rick and I had the honor to leave our handprints there.
It was a strange week for me. I have worked on other missions around the world and have seen so much extreme poverty from war torn countries that I felt uneasy about the easiness of my work here in Mississippi as we drove our comfortable truck from house to house. I felt ashamed of the luxury in which we lived, the extravagence of our own lives as we ate well and went shopping and also for the amount of happiness exuding from everyone including myself. Added to the beauty of the area it sometimes verged onto the edge of becoming a vacation.
I have thought deeply on the above and prayed for understanding. To which, finally I have some answers.
Maybe it is worse to know possessions and wealth and lose everything than to never have owned anything.
With extreme poverty each little gift of food and water is so precious. Every day is a battle for survival.
But to know a certain level of comfort and by that I mean to have a roof over your head, food, electricity....or in the case of Ray and his family to have known reasonable wealth and then to lose EVERYTHING....how does a person deal with that? To assume if your house is damaged you have insurance....to assume that if there was a tragedy in your country you are part of one of the richest countries in the world and that you will be taken care of...to assume that you have all you need to live a healthy life and then find that one unexpected tragedy leaves you with nothing...and things that you assumed would happen never came through.
So many of these people are dealing with the above and how they cope from day to day is a miracle. The anger, the loss, for some the realisation that they were deceived by the insurance companies...it is this that must surely break the spirit. And yet this is where I saw God's power at work. As the government agencies pull out their support and funding in June this year the church groups continue to come in and help. Why, when the other agencies are pulling out?
I have two answers. First is the obvious reason that there is still much to be done and help is still needed. But secondly it is a tragedy such as this that bonds people both rich and poor alike and gives meaning to our existence beyond the quest for materialistic gain. What joy there was in Waveland. Both at the Missionary camp and also with the people of Mississippi. It was a joy created from the need to be loved and to give love. And it was the people who gave most love who received most back. Now life had a meaning. Community, friendship, people united by a common goal.
I spent my evenings at Waveland talking and getting to know the San Diego group. Why were they here? What had called them to give up a week to join the LA group? And I heard the same story over and over again. These people too had hurt and pain that they were running from or were trying to heal. As the days went by there were more and more smiling faces. We talked about our faith, we tried to understand the tragedy of Katrina and how it related to our understanding of God and his power, we talked of our fears, lives and our Christian journey. We questioned and we prayed. Someone said that each night as he lay in bed he felt honoured that he got to listen to two or three sermons as the ministers he shared a room with discussed their faith and where they saw the future of the church.
It was here that I was most moved. There was tragedy all around us in Mississippi but there was tragedy in each individual who came to help. There were so many broken souls and hurting hearts that I could not help wondering who was healing who. What does our modern life styles do to us? We rush around all day, keeping busy so as not to face the demons within us. And yet when we stop and look around we not only start to understand our own pain but also the pain in others. When we then reach out to those people the healing process can begin for both parties. We start to unite with others in our search for meaning, strength and love. This then surely becomes God's work...if only we could live like that day to day...but life in the modern city does not encourage us to do so.
For anyone who is looking for meaning to life helping others who are bereft will help you. But if you choose to wallow in your own misery you will never release the love that you have that is so powerful to others in it's healing and will be returned to you magnified.
Our last night together was special. Each person relayed to the group their feelings and experiences:- some spoke coherantly others were almost unable to speak as the emotion was too great. After communion the leader likened the experience to the moment when the disciples gathered after Jesus' ressurrection. They understood one another and the profound experience they had gone through. Something that would bond them together as they moved back into the world. This was true Christianity. No religious dogma, no exclusions, no antagonism. This was love. Love with it's true purpose to heal and to bring one another together in the Holy Spirit.
It is a shame that it sometimes takes a tragedy for us to understand the deeper meanings of life: To discover our strength, our power to heal, to give and receive, and to be unified in the common purpose of loving our neighbor as ourself in the name of Jesus Christ.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Home
Home. It's Sunday afternoon and I'm now back home in Los Angeles. There were about 10 people at the airport from our HUMC home to greet us when we got off of our flight. It was so good to see them again. I called home today, and told my parents in PA about the trip. Turns out they've been following along every day here on the blog. Thanks again to John for getting us started on this site -- our home on the web -- it's enabled a lot of folks to experience the trip with us.
These pictures show the house that will soon be Miss Dena and Dennis' home. I wish I could be there in a few weeks when they finally get to move into this new home. What an amazing day that will be for them! I feel so grateful to have been one of many who will have helped to provide a home for this welcoming, loving and joyful family.I was a last minute addition to this team, and didn't really know what to expect, but what I found was a highly energetic team to work alongside of, a city in terrible need of help, a grateful family that showered us with love and thanks, and a renewed sense of how God can lead us to serve while at the same time giving us so much more in return for what we put in. It's inspiring to be a part of something so much bigger than myself.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
The Last Day
Today is friday and it is our last night here. They had told us that friday would be our worst day of all. And they were right having to say goodbye to everyone we have been given a chance to meet was the hardest part of the week.I have been truly blessed to have been able to meet these new people from San Diego and Mississippi. I hope to keep in contact with them all, they have truly made an impact on my life. They will have a place in my heart forever. Especially the home owner of the house I've been working on this past week, Lilly and her family. For me to go on for the rest of my life knowing that I helped build a home for her is truly the greatest gift of all. I am so grateful to have been able to come on this trip it has been an experience of a life time. The friendships that were made here will last a life time. Especially with my sister Stephanie *Jeanine*, cousin Nate *Ted*. While being here it has changed my whole perspective on life. I am so thankful to God and to the congregation at HUMC for contributng to make this trip possably for me and ten others.
More Reflections from Mississippi...
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Another beautiful sunrise today over the Gulf of Mexico... as I sat and watched the sun come up and the waves quietly lapping at the shoreline, I tried to envision what it must have been like that day in late August, 2005, when Katrina struck this beautiful resort area. it was hard to imagine -- with winds reaching gusts of 130 - 170 miles per hour, sending water not only into low-lying areas nearby, but several miles inland, carrying houses, roofs, piers, treasured possessions, trees, lawn furniture -- actually anything in its path -- and depositing them in very unusual locations. Since the waves exceeded 30 feet in height (equivalent to a 3-story building), it was not a surprise to see a mattress lodged high up in a pine tree or parts of houses located on the roofs of other houses. The devastation, some 20 months later, remains obvious... but that is merely the physical destruction. As we have had an opportunity to interact with the local survivors, we have gained insight into the emotional trauma that these people suffered. Not surprisingly, we learned that the divorce rate, the depression rate, the crime rate, and the suicide rate have increased significantly. Yet everyone we have met has been so positive, so thankful, so appreciative. Time after time -- whether shopping for groceries at Super Wal Mart or eating dinner at Rickey's Sea Food Grill in near-by Bay Saint Louis -- strangers have stopped us to say, "Thank you for coming to help us... we could not have made it without you." "You will never know how much your presence has meant to us." "Early on, the media and the celebrities came and stood amidst the devastation, but they soon left and the churches came." Indeed, we began to "put faces" on this diaster, to realize the toll it took on the survivors, each with their own story to share. Yes, Katrina came -- and, over the past 1 1/2 years plus, more than 40,000 United Methodists from 27 states in the U.S.A. have volunteered for the relief effort, primarily in Mississiplpi and Louisiana -- at one of the five Disaster Reflief Centers established by UMCOR. I realize that it is one thing to donate to UMCOR following a disaster in some part of the world -- near or far -- or to contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing -- but these experiences are amplified when we have a chance to give of ourselves -- our time, our skills, our presence -- to those in need. As Kahlil Gibran, in this book, "The Prophet," wrote, "You give but little when you give of your possessions... it is when you give of yourself that you truly give." This week, we have definitely given but we have also received so much in return -- in blessings, in thank you's, in hugs of gratitude, in tears, in smiling faces and laughing eyes of those whose homes are being rebuilt and whose lives are being restored.
Another beautiful sunrise today over the Gulf of Mexico... as I sat and watched the sun come up and the waves quietly lapping at the shoreline, I tried to envision what it must have been like that day in late August, 2005, when Katrina struck this beautiful resort area. it was hard to imagine -- with winds reaching gusts of 130 - 170 miles per hour, sending water not only into low-lying areas nearby, but several miles inland, carrying houses, roofs, piers, treasured possessions, trees, lawn furniture -- actually anything in its path -- and depositing them in very unusual locations. Since the waves exceeded 30 feet in height (equivalent to a 3-story building), it was not a surprise to see a mattress lodged high up in a pine tree or parts of houses located on the roofs of other houses. The devastation, some 20 months later, remains obvious... but that is merely the physical destruction. As we have had an opportunity to interact with the local survivors, we have gained insight into the emotional trauma that these people suffered. Not surprisingly, we learned that the divorce rate, the depression rate, the crime rate, and the suicide rate have increased significantly. Yet everyone we have met has been so positive, so thankful, so appreciative. Time after time -- whether shopping for groceries at Super Wal Mart or eating dinner at Rickey's Sea Food Grill in near-by Bay Saint Louis -- strangers have stopped us to say, "Thank you for coming to help us... we could not have made it without you." "You will never know how much your presence has meant to us." "Early on, the media and the celebrities came and stood amidst the devastation, but they soon left and the churches came." Indeed, we began to "put faces" on this diaster, to realize the toll it took on the survivors, each with their own story to share. Yes, Katrina came -- and, over the past 1 1/2 years plus, more than 40,000 United Methodists from 27 states in the U.S.A. have volunteered for the relief effort, primarily in Mississiplpi and Louisiana -- at one of the five Disaster Reflief Centers established by UMCOR. I realize that it is one thing to donate to UMCOR following a disaster in some part of the world -- near or far -- or to contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing -- but these experiences are amplified when we have a chance to give of ourselves -- our time, our skills, our presence -- to those in need. As Kahlil Gibran, in this book, "The Prophet," wrote, "You give but little when you give of your possessions... it is when you give of yourself that you truly give." This week, we have definitely given but we have also received so much in return -- in blessings, in thank you's, in hugs of gratitude, in tears, in smiling faces and laughing eyes of those whose homes are being rebuilt and whose lives are being restored.
TG -- and IF, too
Yes, it's Friday... and during most work weeks we're grateful for the coming weekend. I guess this weekend isn't much different in that respect, We're grateful this week, too, but our feelings are very mixed. There's just so much more work to be done.
27,000 FEMA trailers in Mississippi are still "home sweet home" for tens of thousands of people who'd love to be somewhere else. And though we'd all love to be in Los Angeles with our loved ones, we want to stay right here, too.
Our crew, the framers, have made such great progress on Dena's house that we're filled with new energy. As we're sitting in here having our early morning breakfast (a delicious cheese-and-spinach strada"!), the crew has been brainstorming on how to finish her porch and roof before we have to pack it all away this afternoon.
Yesterday was especially rewarding, because we wrapped the house in a moisture barrier and installed the windows. Between that and the almost-completed shingling, the house looks very different from when we arrived.
No time for more blogging... You all have our love... See you soon.... There's so much to be done!
27,000 FEMA trailers in Mississippi are still "home sweet home" for tens of thousands of people who'd love to be somewhere else. And though we'd all love to be in Los Angeles with our loved ones, we want to stay right here, too.
Our crew, the framers, have made such great progress on Dena's house that we're filled with new energy. As we're sitting in here having our early morning breakfast (a delicious cheese-and-spinach strada"!), the crew has been brainstorming on how to finish her porch and roof before we have to pack it all away this afternoon.
Yesterday was especially rewarding, because we wrapped the house in a moisture barrier and installed the windows. Between that and the almost-completed shingling, the house looks very different from when we arrived.
No time for more blogging... You all have our love... See you soon.... There's so much to be done!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
What a trip!
To see first-hand what has occurred to this side of the world is both jaw-dropping and exasperating. So many lives have been turned upside down, and in Waveland, MS, a lovely beachside community continues to deal with devastation and turmoil, completely uprooting familes and businesses in unimaginable ways. The pictures on the blog give some insight into what we see with our eyes, but those pictures can't truly share what we emotionally feel in our hearts. The words that we write may be powerful and moving; yet, these same words still can't capture everything that fills our minds. In a way, it makes absolutely no sense. Oh, sure, we can look at this as a natural disaster and what happens in the aftermath; nevertheless, why are we witnessing the continuation of 20+ months worth of horrific after-effect? And they predict it to continue for up to another 10 years!
The faith within this community is utterly amazing and those who remain are steadfast in their belief that God is greater than Katrina and that Waveland will return better than ever. It will be known more than for its moniker of being just "Ground Zero". When folks recognize us in the local stores to shop for supplies, food and the like, the expressions of love, appreciation and kindness come from their eyes, hands, faces,.... They are tremendously grateful for our presence. We, in turn, are extremely grateful to be here.
Personally, I am honored to be "leading" this team from the LA District. Every member of the team is a phenomenal person and there aren't enough adjectives to describe my absolute love for each of them. What a joyful blessing! And to those at Hollywood UMC and who have contributed to the fund-raising efforts to send 11 of us from the church to participate in this mission outreach and rebuild effort, I thank you profusely from the bottom of my heart. You have enabled us to be a part of something wonderfully good and to touch lives and be simulatenously touched even greater.
As my birthday approaches, I look at this week as a gift -- one of the largest and best gifts that I have ever received, and I have each of the HUMC'ers to thank for this experience. Through you, we are examples to Waveland and the surrounding communities that they will not be forgotten -- no matter what. They know it, and you should as well.
The faith within this community is utterly amazing and those who remain are steadfast in their belief that God is greater than Katrina and that Waveland will return better than ever. It will be known more than for its moniker of being just "Ground Zero". When folks recognize us in the local stores to shop for supplies, food and the like, the expressions of love, appreciation and kindness come from their eyes, hands, faces,.... They are tremendously grateful for our presence. We, in turn, are extremely grateful to be here.
Personally, I am honored to be "leading" this team from the LA District. Every member of the team is a phenomenal person and there aren't enough adjectives to describe my absolute love for each of them. What a joyful blessing! And to those at Hollywood UMC and who have contributed to the fund-raising efforts to send 11 of us from the church to participate in this mission outreach and rebuild effort, I thank you profusely from the bottom of my heart. You have enabled us to be a part of something wonderfully good and to touch lives and be simulatenously touched even greater.
As my birthday approaches, I look at this week as a gift -- one of the largest and best gifts that I have ever received, and I have each of the HUMC'ers to thank for this experience. Through you, we are examples to Waveland and the surrounding communities that they will not be forgotten -- no matter what. They know it, and you should as well.
Losses & Gains
So our time here is quickly coming to an end. Hard to believe. For me, it’s even more strange, since a week ago I didn’t even know that I’d be coming here. I was a last minute fill-in for a lady who wasn’t able to come, and so here I am!
Tonight we heard from some folks in our group talk about why they decided to do this, including a few people who were here once before and decided to come back. There were various reasons, but for a lot of people it started with a sense of duty and service, of faith in action. And by all accounts, we have been blessed to be of much service to the families who will soon be moving into the four houses we’ve been working on this week. But it didn’t take long after arriving here for me to discover that I was in for a big surprise. Because service and duty don’t begin to describe the feeling you get when you have the privilege to do something this tangible, meaningful and absolutely necessary for complete strangers. It’s almost wrong to call them strangers, since they hug you when you first meet them and they feed you and treat you like family. I’ve also gained a sense of community with the people I’ve traveled here with, and with the teams who preceded us, and with all of the relief workers from all of the other denominations, ministries and organizations who’ve been here to help.
Tonight we heard from some folks in our group talk about why they decided to do this, including a few people who were here once before and decided to come back. There were various reasons, but for a lot of people it started with a sense of duty and service, of faith in action. And by all accounts, we have been blessed to be of much service to the families who will soon be moving into the four houses we’ve been working on this week. But it didn’t take long after arriving here for me to discover that I was in for a big surprise. Because service and duty don’t begin to describe the feeling you get when you have the privilege to do something this tangible, meaningful and absolutely necessary for complete strangers. It’s almost wrong to call them strangers, since they hug you when you first meet them and they feed you and treat you like family. I’ve also gained a sense of community with the people I’ve traveled here with, and with the teams who preceded us, and with all of the relief workers from all of the other denominations, ministries and organizations who’ve been here to help.
Here are some statistics: Hancock county, where we are staying and working, had a population of about 43,000 people living in 16,897 homes. During Katrina, 11,000 houses in Hancock county alone were completely destroyed. Another 3600 homes were severely damaged. Officials estimate that it will take 9-11 years to rebuild this area. But in the 20 months since this disaster, over 60 million dollars have been raised through the Methodist (UMCOR) relief organization, and over 40,000 Methodists have come to Mississippi, Alabama & Louisiana, for a total of over one million man hours. And that’s just the Methodists. We’ve had close contact with Amish, Presbyterian, Baptist and other groups who have been doing the same kinds of work. It’s encouraging for me to see that kind of effort. I can’t imagine what it would be like for the people who live here. I can only guess that the area would have never recovered otherwise.So we have one more workday remaining. Until next time. Because I realize I have lost absolutely nothing by coming here. I have not sacrificed anything. But I have gained a whole lot.
PS: If you’re following “The Framers” work on Miss Dena’s house, check out the daily timeline on our Flickr page, which is linked here at the left.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Mildred, and Red Beans and Rice
This is Mildred, with the "Mudders" drywalling team of Skeeter, Bill, Debbie, Jay, Rick, (Mildred) and Phyllis. This week we're finishing the drywalling work in Mildred's house, which was destroyed by high winds and flooding when Katrina hit. The house is at least a couple of miles from the ocean, but was hit by a 10-foot wall of water as the storm surge made its way inland from the coast. Mildred is 84 years old, and lives in a FEMA trailer.
_
Today Mildred made us lunch. It was a particularly nice change from our standard sack lunches, but Mildred's red beans and rice, green salad, and porkchops would have stood up against any fare. It was excellent. The other teams are now jealous. Johnny calls us "the Porkchop Team". I prefer "the Red Beans and Rice Team".
_
Mildred visited with us at lunch, and told us about her family, and her fishing. She's known around the area for always catching something whenever she goes fishing, and shared with us the secret bait recipe she uses. I'm not telling.
Tombs with Toilets
This is a FEMA trailer, which some of the locals call "tombs with toilets." They're about 300 or 400 square feet -- by comparison smaller than most studio apartments, slightly bigger than the master bedroom in some homes, or maybe half the size of the narthex at Hollywood UMC. We've seen some with only one window. If you had read about FEMA supplying trailers for Katrina victims to live in, and thought of a mobile home, you seriously overestimated. You've seen larger campers being pulled by vacationers behind pickup trucks on the interstate.
Many families have lived in one of these for 18 months, sometimes four to five to a trailer.
Our job, and the job of other volunteers like us, is to get people out of these trailers and into their homes as soon as possible.
Reflections from Mississippi...
Hi, Y'all...
Greetings from Mississippi where about 40 United Methodists from Los Angeles and San Diego Districts have left Los Angeles to spend a week helping with rebuilding homes -- and lives -- in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This has been an absolutely incredible experience -- different from anything that I have ever had before. The participants are here to serve, to be the "hands and heart of God" in terms of reaching out to people in need. And the recipients of our efforts -- wow! they are SO appreciative and so touched. Their stories are inspiring... and I would like to share a few in this blog. One of the homes being rebuilt belongs to an 83-year-old survivor of Hurricane Katrina. His home is nearly done, but there is a wall in the laundry room area which remains (and will remain) unpainted. Yet the wall is not empty -- there are some 50 hand prints decorating the wall, made by people who have worked on his home. Another home belongs to a woman who just became a great grandmother for the first time; unfortunately, the baby was born with a heart murmur and was transported to Tulane University Medical Center the second day of his life. Yet another story centers around a family that iincluded two elderly men, one of whom was a double amputee, who thought that the worst was over when the winds died down. When they opened the door, the flood waters rushed in, quckly filling the house nearly up to the ceiling. These two men held onto the rafters for 6 hours, hoping for rescue... but no one came. A family member, unable to get assistance, undertook this project herself. Parking more than 4 miles away, she had to use a chain saw to cut a path through thousands of downed trees in order to reach the home to rescue these men. What incredible stories we have heard... it constantly amazes me that these people continue to remain optimistic, to continue to have hope and faith for a better future. They, in turn, support us and offer us hope. Each evening, after dinner, we have a time of devotions and each of the 5 work teams shares a highlight of their day -- and they often involve contact with the homeowners. As one person shared last night, nearly as a Benediction, let us remember the Scripture: "...As you have done it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you have done it to me."
More later...
Greetings from Mississippi where about 40 United Methodists from Los Angeles and San Diego Districts have left Los Angeles to spend a week helping with rebuilding homes -- and lives -- in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This has been an absolutely incredible experience -- different from anything that I have ever had before. The participants are here to serve, to be the "hands and heart of God" in terms of reaching out to people in need. And the recipients of our efforts -- wow! they are SO appreciative and so touched. Their stories are inspiring... and I would like to share a few in this blog. One of the homes being rebuilt belongs to an 83-year-old survivor of Hurricane Katrina. His home is nearly done, but there is a wall in the laundry room area which remains (and will remain) unpainted. Yet the wall is not empty -- there are some 50 hand prints decorating the wall, made by people who have worked on his home. Another home belongs to a woman who just became a great grandmother for the first time; unfortunately, the baby was born with a heart murmur and was transported to Tulane University Medical Center the second day of his life. Yet another story centers around a family that iincluded two elderly men, one of whom was a double amputee, who thought that the worst was over when the winds died down. When they opened the door, the flood waters rushed in, quckly filling the house nearly up to the ceiling. These two men held onto the rafters for 6 hours, hoping for rescue... but no one came. A family member, unable to get assistance, undertook this project herself. Parking more than 4 miles away, she had to use a chain saw to cut a path through thousands of downed trees in order to reach the home to rescue these men. What incredible stories we have heard... it constantly amazes me that these people continue to remain optimistic, to continue to have hope and faith for a better future. They, in turn, support us and offer us hope. Each evening, after dinner, we have a time of devotions and each of the 5 work teams shares a highlight of their day -- and they often involve contact with the homeowners. As one person shared last night, nearly as a Benediction, let us remember the Scripture: "...As you have done it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you have done it to me."
More later...
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday -- The Work Begins with "The Framers"
So it's Monday evening (I actually wrote this last night, but the internet went down before I could post this), and our first work day is completed. Since we have 44 people here at Camp Gulfside between the two Methodist districts, we were split up into four work teams. My team is called "The Framers", and as the name would suggest, we're completing the framing on a house in Hancock County. As the name would not suggest, we're also going to be putting the roof on, at which time our name will change to "The Roof Raisin' Posse" (if they allow me to name us, which I've already been informed they won't).
Anyhow, today was a great day. We arrived at the work site around 8:30 am and got started right away. We blocked the trusses (a new phrase for me), and nearly competed the entire plywood sheathing, and also added the tar paper to one whole side of the roof. A great start. And only once did anyone break out into “If I Had a Hammer”. And for that, I’m very grateful.
A highlight of the day was meeting Miss Dena, the homeowner. She was SO happy to see us, and made sure she gave us all a big hug of thanks. Here's a picture of her, along with team members John Heaner and Nate Turner. Dena told us that her great-grandson had just been born yesterday, and we prayed for him as a group after learning that he was just diagnosed with a heart murmur. Our team has a great leader in Carl, who is actually a roofer, and about 10 more of us who have varying degrees of experience in framing and roofing. It's really amazing to see the work getting done and everyone pitching in whether they know what they're doing or not! We're high on energy, and the results of this first day's work have been very fulfilling.
The scope of the damage in this area is truly vast, and difficult to comprehend. Here we are now, 20 months after Katrina hit, and the rebuilding efforts are evident, yet so much remains to be done. Anywhere you drive around here, you pass by lot after lot after lot of ruins with nothing left but the concrete slab where the house once stood. Or the lone stilts from a supposedly storm-proofed home. Huge pine trees broken in half 40 feet from the ground. A double size mattress high up in a tree. Tangled ruins of aluminum siding, car parts, bicycles and hundreds of other items.It’s good to be here.
Steps
Step by step, Dena's new house is taking shape.
Today, Karl and the roofing crew finished sheathed and papered the whole roof.
And... the building inspector from Hancock County finally stopped by... and gave us a thumbs up! We have the go ahead to
put in the windows tomorrow, which is a good thing since it may rain... and now we can work inside.
Dena and her son Dennis have been just super, greeting us with coffee and Krispy Kremes each morning. Here they are on their post-Katrina "veranda."
This morning, Dena told us that baby Chase has been airlifted to Tulane for more tests. She showed us a picture of Chase, and his parents Cory and Laurie, and the family couldn't be lovelier. Doctors are being cautious, and tests will tell them more soon. Dena believes fervently in the power of prayer, so every whisper for a blessing will be deeply appreciated.
After she told us about baby Chase, Dena asked very politely when some temporary stairs would be installed so she could see the inside of her house.
So some of our team, "The Framers," took care of it for her, spending much of the day putting together a surprise for her to find when she comes out for an evening walk around the site.
The leader of the effort was Howard, who grew up in Ackerman, Mississippi. You can see by this picture just how much Dena and Howard enjoy each other... I can hardly wait to see the hug she'll give him when she learns that he led the team that built her the steps she's been dreaming of.
See that shawl Dena's wearing? That's a prayer shawl, given to her by the group from Santa Barbara that worked on her house last week. It's one of her great treasures now.
Today, Karl and the roofing crew finished sheathed and papered the whole roof.
And... the building inspector from Hancock County finally stopped by... and gave us a thumbs up! We have the go ahead to
put in the windows tomorrow, which is a good thing since it may rain... and now we can work inside.
Dena and her son Dennis have been just super, greeting us with coffee and Krispy Kremes each morning. Here they are on their post-Katrina "veranda."
This morning, Dena told us that baby Chase has been airlifted to Tulane for more tests. She showed us a picture of Chase, and his parents Cory and Laurie, and the family couldn't be lovelier. Doctors are being cautious, and tests will tell them more soon. Dena believes fervently in the power of prayer, so every whisper for a blessing will be deeply appreciated.
After she told us about baby Chase, Dena asked very politely when some temporary stairs would be installed so she could see the inside of her house.
So some of our team, "The Framers," took care of it for her, spending much of the day putting together a surprise for her to find when she comes out for an evening walk around the site.
The leader of the effort was Howard, who grew up in Ackerman, Mississippi. You can see by this picture just how much Dena and Howard enjoy each other... I can hardly wait to see the hug she'll give him when she learns that he led the team that built her the steps she's been dreaming of.
See that shawl Dena's wearing? That's a prayer shawl, given to her by the group from Santa Barbara that worked on her house last week. It's one of her great treasures now.
Monday, April 16, 2007
My First Day
I was finally able to log on. As some of you might already know today was our first day out on a work site. luckily for me i got the Drywall team aka "The Rockettes" So basically i got to put up my very first wall with the help of me working partner thesa. GOOD NIGHT
"Our" House Is A Very, Very, Very Fine House
Work started early this morning. And soreness and stiffness start early this afternoon. (But that's another story.)
This is the house our roofing team started work on today.
Last week, another crew of Methodists from California framed out the structure. We hope to make a lot of progress, too... because Dena Schott deserves a very fine house. She's a lovely lady, who has survived both bone cancer and Katrina, as well as an artificial knee, and could sure use a home that's safe and sound.
Luckily, our crew has some noteworthy skills. Nate, from HUMC, worked one summer as a roofer, so he can swing a big hammer like a pro. Jo Beth, from San Diego, has great talent with a forklift. Karl, one of our crew leaders (also from San Diego), worked for 12 years as a roofer. And HUMC Communications guru Gary Clemmer showed us all that he can do much more than noodle around in the church office.
We met Dena this morning when she made her way outside to greet us. "I need help," she said. "I've just become a great-grandmother, with a new great grandson... and they just called to tell me he has a heart murmur. After Katrina, I just can't take this. I need prayer."
She might as well have asked for an drop of cream in a Vermont dairy. In no time, every member of our crew had joined hands with her -- and Chaplain Howard (from Oahu, Hawaii) lifted up Dena's great-grandson, Chase, in prayer. We invite you to do the same!
This is the house our roofing team started work on today.
Last week, another crew of Methodists from California framed out the structure. We hope to make a lot of progress, too... because Dena Schott deserves a very fine house. She's a lovely lady, who has survived both bone cancer and Katrina, as well as an artificial knee, and could sure use a home that's safe and sound.
Luckily, our crew has some noteworthy skills. Nate, from HUMC, worked one summer as a roofer, so he can swing a big hammer like a pro. Jo Beth, from San Diego, has great talent with a forklift. Karl, one of our crew leaders (also from San Diego), worked for 12 years as a roofer. And HUMC Communications guru Gary Clemmer showed us all that he can do much more than noodle around in the church office.
We met Dena this morning when she made her way outside to greet us. "I need help," she said. "I've just become a great-grandmother, with a new great grandson... and they just called to tell me he has a heart murmur. After Katrina, I just can't take this. I need prayer."
She might as well have asked for an drop of cream in a Vermont dairy. In no time, every member of our crew had joined hands with her -- and Chaplain Howard (from Oahu, Hawaii) lifted up Dena's great-grandson, Chase, in prayer. We invite you to do the same!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Paradoxes
PARADOXES
Waveland is beautiful.
We have clean lodgings, peaceful surroundings and each morning awake to the vast blue of the Gulf Coast. The air is clean, the beach has soft sands and one is surrounded by smiling faces and welcoming people.
But the wind has sounds of tears.....
It is like being in a beautiful church after a funeral. The church resonates the voices of a thousand people mourning their loss. The church is now empty..... the people gone but the pain and intensity of that moment lingers. So it is in Waveland. A year and a half later but you feel the loss. You see the remains of families homes;- teddy bears sodden by the water, an empty picture frame, a small box of beads, broken crockery, Christmas tree decorations, a framed certificate commending an oceanographer for her services, the remains of the book 'The English Patient' the cover darkened by the sun's rays. And with your mind's eye you hear the roar of wind and the loss of the people.
And yet there is beauty.
Entwining the skeleton of the damaged trees is new growth. Death by nature is balanced by the rebirth of nature and all it's healing beauties. New shrubs are blossoming bringing with them new hope and healing.
It is these paradoxes that I am trying to understand this first day here. It is a realisation of our human frailty and the power of the nature we live with. We must never forget the overwhelming power of nature and try to live in harmony with it for we shall never beat or control it. God's spirit is here. It is in the people, the new awakenings of the trees, it is in the very breath of the wind.
I am humbled and glad to be here to be part of this rebuilding project. A rebuilding not just of homes but for many, I am sure, a rebuilding of family and community. It is also rebuilding me. My faith and my own understanding of God. ( A never ending quest.)
It is difficult to write coherantly at this stage as I am still overwhelmed by what I am seeing and I am trying to come to some kind of understand for myself. There is much loss...but in that loss I am seeing hope, rebirth and spirituality. God is here.
Labels: By Linda
Waveland is beautiful.
We have clean lodgings, peaceful surroundings and each morning awake to the vast blue of the Gulf Coast. The air is clean, the beach has soft sands and one is surrounded by smiling faces and welcoming people.
But the wind has sounds of tears.....
It is like being in a beautiful church after a funeral. The church resonates the voices of a thousand people mourning their loss. The church is now empty..... the people gone but the pain and intensity of that moment lingers. So it is in Waveland. A year and a half later but you feel the loss. You see the remains of families homes;- teddy bears sodden by the water, an empty picture frame, a small box of beads, broken crockery, Christmas tree decorations, a framed certificate commending an oceanographer for her services, the remains of the book 'The English Patient' the cover darkened by the sun's rays. And with your mind's eye you hear the roar of wind and the loss of the people.
And yet there is beauty.
Entwining the skeleton of the damaged trees is new growth. Death by nature is balanced by the rebirth of nature and all it's healing beauties. New shrubs are blossoming bringing with them new hope and healing.
It is these paradoxes that I am trying to understand this first day here. It is a realisation of our human frailty and the power of the nature we live with. We must never forget the overwhelming power of nature and try to live in harmony with it for we shall never beat or control it. God's spirit is here. It is in the people, the new awakenings of the trees, it is in the very breath of the wind.
I am humbled and glad to be here to be part of this rebuilding project. A rebuilding not just of homes but for many, I am sure, a rebuilding of family and community. It is also rebuilding me. My faith and my own understanding of God. ( A never ending quest.)
It is difficult to write coherantly at this stage as I am still overwhelmed by what I am seeing and I am trying to come to some kind of understand for myself. There is much loss...but in that loss I am seeing hope, rebirth and spirituality. God is here.
Labels: By Linda
Today has brought a renewed sense of our connection, as Christians but especially as Methodists. Worship at Main Street UMC in Waveland this morning was a fantastic experience, partially due to the instant community created in sharing the worship experience across the attendees from many Los Angeles and San Diego churches and the local Waveland congregation. We were so diverse, but also one.
In addition, we found out today that, in addition to our 45 southern Californians here in Waveland, there are also 110 United Methodists working this week in Gulfport, and another 60 in Biloxi, coming from all over the country.
Indeed, we are part of something bigger than us; bigger than our individual churches, districts, and even conferences.
In addition, we found out today that, in addition to our 45 southern Californians here in Waveland, there are also 110 United Methodists working this week in Gulfport, and another 60 in Biloxi, coming from all over the country.
Indeed, we are part of something bigger than us; bigger than our individual churches, districts, and even conferences.
Sunday Morning
We're off to church in Bay City in a while... Dawn was crisp, with a great fresh Gulf breeze....
Saturday, April 14, 2007
We're Here and We're Bad to the Bone
Saturday 4/14 - 9:30 pm --
The team landed safe in New Orleans at 6:00 pm, although the wind seemed to want to push the plane off of the runway. Fortunately, the pilot won that fight. As we walked up the jetway we could feel the humidity in the air. A sign of the weather to come? I thought we were coming here in April to avoid the humidity! Good thing I packed all those sweatshirts. After picking up all of our luggage (no lost bags -- thanks Continental!), we met up with our contact here, Ken, who took us on a tour of the parking garage before leading us to our four vans. Here we met up with the 25 or so people from the San Diego district, and after packing up the vans, we headed east on I-10 towards Slidel, Mississippi where we stopped at an amazing barbeque/seafood joint called “Bad to the Bone”. (The adjacent seafood place was called “Good to the Gill”). As good as those puns are, the food was even better. John Heaner was thrilled to finally belly up to some deep fried crawfish and all-you-can-eat catfish, while the landlubbers of the group had to “settle” for smoked spareribs, brisket, pork, sausage and chicken with baked beans (the best I’ve ever had), potato salad, bread pudding, coleslaw and peach cobbler. Even though none of us opted for the “Belt Buster”, the house special which consisted of all of the above for only twelve bucks, no one was complaining about being underfed. So now we’re back in the van and should be at Camp Gulfside by 10:00 pm. A long day, but hey, we’re here and ready to start. We’ve already been informed that breakfast tomorrow is at 7:30 and church is at 10:30. So if the mosquitoes leave us alone we should all sleep soundly tonight. See you tomorrow!
The team landed safe in New Orleans at 6:00 pm, although the wind seemed to want to push the plane off of the runway. Fortunately, the pilot won that fight. As we walked up the jetway we could feel the humidity in the air. A sign of the weather to come? I thought we were coming here in April to avoid the humidity! Good thing I packed all those sweatshirts. After picking up all of our luggage (no lost bags -- thanks Continental!), we met up with our contact here, Ken, who took us on a tour of the parking garage before leading us to our four vans. Here we met up with the 25 or so people from the San Diego district, and after packing up the vans, we headed east on I-10 towards Slidel, Mississippi where we stopped at an amazing barbeque/seafood joint called “Bad to the Bone”. (The adjacent seafood place was called “Good to the Gill”). As good as those puns are, the food was even better. John Heaner was thrilled to finally belly up to some deep fried crawfish and all-you-can-eat catfish, while the landlubbers of the group had to “settle” for smoked spareribs, brisket, pork, sausage and chicken with baked beans (the best I’ve ever had), potato salad, bread pudding, coleslaw and peach cobbler. Even though none of us opted for the “Belt Buster”, the house special which consisted of all of the above for only twelve bucks, no one was complaining about being underfed. So now we’re back in the van and should be at Camp Gulfside by 10:00 pm. A long day, but hey, we’re here and ready to start. We’ve already been informed that breakfast tomorrow is at 7:30 and church is at 10:30. So if the mosquitoes leave us alone we should all sleep soundly tonight. See you tomorrow!
And we're off!!
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Here we are at LAX all fresh faced and ready to fly!
Right now I'm sitting on the hard granite floor of the Houston airport. We have a 2 hour layover before we catch the next flight to New Orleans, and then a one hour van ride to Waveland. It's a Methodist version of Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
More to follow!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Methodists in Mississippi
Yes, Virginia, there are Methodists in Mississippi -- and California Methodists are heading south to join them. Teams from all over the country have worked to rebuild Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Now we're joining hands to help, too.
On Saturday, April 14, the Los Angeles District of the United Methodist Church will fly 20 volunteers to New Orleans, where they'll make their way to Katrina's "ground zero": Waveland, Mississippi...
On Saturday, April 14, the Los Angeles District of the United Methodist Church will fly 20 volunteers to New Orleans, where they'll make their way to Katrina's "ground zero": Waveland, Mississippi...
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