Saturday, August 16, 2008 Last Day ... or is it?

Today is our last day in Biloxi. Yesterday Chris, Mel and I did our best to finish up doing the siding. It was a project because besides settting and nailing siding we had to build scaffolding. Scaffolding is awesome; it's basically a jungle gym for adults!

I'm a bit sad to be leaving because being here was such an experience. But, at the same time, I know it's not the end. I'll be going home, bringing this experience back and sharing it. Then hopefully this experience can influence and encourage others to come back and help.

This trip has been fantastic!

In Love & God,
Becka
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I'm thankful for John and Barb's commitment to bring us here. They are a special couple! I love working with Barb; I'd be her "sous" chech anyday. May God continue to bless them ever. Evy
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I'm thankful for this trip to Biloxi --with my two daughters -- I truly felt like a disciple of Jesus --by doing his work -- helping others and sharing kindness --I was also blessed by the friends I mad through this mission. Marilyn
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Reflections as we prepare to leave Biloxi:
The area continues its recovery, one house at a time.
Patience is truly a virtue. The folks here have had to live with incredible patience; waiting, watching for their homes and the neighborhoods to recover, THREE years later. Our impatience to finish one project was nothing compared to the patience they have had to endure.

The neighborhoods have been redefined. Mrs. Davis told me that four of her neighbors homes have been demolished and the families have relocated. She and her family have been back home since February 2008. the peipe in the sidewalk whwere Pam Tripp tripped last year is still there.

Best wishes to the folks of Biloxi.
Pam Hoffman
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Trash bags are being emptied, recyclables recycled, brooms are in motion. There's lots of activity as VIM Team 75 cleans up the spaces at Saint Paul's UMC where we have shared meals and experiences this week.

Susan and I had the opportunity to tour Yankey [sic] Stadium this week, the "temporary" long-term housing for the HOPE Force and Salvation Army volunteers at a former high school football stadium.

Under one side of bleachers an incredible volunteer village has been carved out, with men's and women's dorms, a kitchen serving three hot meals a day, and even an exercise corner with two weight machines. On a raised area an entire recreation area has been created with sofa, foosball tables, a skeeball game and large TV. The Salvation Army offices are housed in a huge domed tent, but will soon be moved under the bleachers as well.

But it's the interior decorating that is most moving, using human hands as templates and magic markers for color. Each volunteer leaves behind a tracing of their hand, with their name and date of volunteer service inside it's outline. Handprints cover the concrete columns, headers and walls. More artistic groups add drawings or their college logo -- we saw Texas A&M and a big group of names around a UConn Huskey. Jimmy, our HOPE Force guide told us the hands represent all the love and caring Biloxi has received since Katrina, the hands symbolic of the hands-on work provided by volunteers.

When the stadium is demolished, the plan is to remove all those decorated columns and walls and place them alongside the man-made barrier. reef in the gulf, so that all those hands that offered help and love to the city after August 2005 will continue to protect and bless Biloxi as it rebuilds. --Donna
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It's our last day in Biloxi. I can't believe a week went by so quickly. I am just back from a series of nightly beach walks with fellow group members and my heart and mind are full. In only a few short days this group has had to contend with less-than-ideal weather, tedious or challenging jobs, constantly changing plans, and plenty of heartburn. But through all of that storming I hope that all of us were able to stop, take a deep breath and listen to His still small voice because in the end it's not about how much was done, how many successes or failures there were or even if we got the chance to "do good" in a community. It's about being together as human beings and finding God in our actions, our deeds, ourselves and each other in hopes of glorifying His name. This trip has confirmed for me what I have known for a long time -- I am my happiest when serving others to serve Him and already I can feel my life shifting to accomodate this revelation. So, thank you Biloxi, thank you Team 75 and thanks unto Him. This was exactly what I needed.
M
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May God continue to bless and restore you Biloxi. We love you. Team Blogger

Friday, August 15, 2008 Last Workday

It feels sad to say it is our last workday in East Biloxi, we are attached. We'll be in the same locations as Thursday doing as much as we can on the open projects until about noon. Then the plan is that we'll get UM VIM Disaster Relief Trailer loaded back up with our tools and clean up at St Paul's, our home base, where we've been eating almost all of our meals and having our fellowship and devotions.

It's hard to leave the homes and the people we've been working with knowing that so much is left to be done. Sam and his wife are supposed to be moving back to their home on Copp Street and we're still siding and painting the outside. Sam says he has lots of work inside too. I know the same is true at Mr. Davis' house. We worked on the outside, but they were waiting for grants for the inside work. It's not easy administrative task to navigate the system to get assistance. Many people got very little insurance money, maybe some more insurance money with the help of a lawyer on commission, some grant money, added their own money in and still are not "whole." A lot was lost, in some cases all was lost.

Everyone thanks us so much for coming and playing any part in restoring their homes and their lives to normalcy--after three years of displacement ... it's hard to go knowing we're leaving so much to be done, but I guess that is for HOPE and the next teams. We're all doing what we can and we're thankful that we are able.

Donna asked to publish the famous John Wesley quote in our blog for us and for our readers:
"Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can."

Off to Copp Street to join the team already at work ... caulking, taping, painting, hanging cement siding. We did as muc as we could, HOPE and the next teams will continue from here.

Tonight we are planning a BBQ with our families to spend some time with them. Looking forward to it ... It was fun to talk with the families from this trip and past trips and to the HOPE Crew. We had lots of burgers, hot dogs, chicken salads, chips and desserts for all.

And some assistance for all of God's creatures happened. There were lots of cats and some dogs raoming around our projects. One cat was obviously in need of medical attention and very affectionate. We couldn't find a humane society with room, but we did find a vet who is treating now, so our little friend Beau is safe and getting the medical care he needs ... more details will be worked out this week from home. We may have a new New Yorker soon. We were also able to drop some pet food off at the end of the day for a homeoner who took in lots of Katrina orphans to help out a little. Team Blogger

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Well, we've had two days of sunshine in a row and the humidity is still moderate. We are blessed! It's a typical crazy last day working in Biloxi. There are sites to be "finished off," "last" pictures to take, and prayers to be said at the sites we worked on. I know the feeling of not doing enough; I have it one every trip. only God can do enough. We need to be joyful he chooses to use us to spread his love. What amazing love he has for us to include us in giving this gift of love to the people in Biloxi! God is great! Love, Fritz

Thursday, August 14, 2008 We Got Sunshine

Today most of the team is at Copp Street at Sam’s house. We started the morning caulking around the already hung blue siding while additional siding was going up. After lunch we will go back. This is the home that HOPE wants our group to work on and will hopefully complete soon in good weather. Others have a painting job on Bernachi Street.

Lots of homeless cats are on the street. Sam says they help with the rodent population, but there are a lot. Jenny says the Humane Society message says to call animal control. Not sure if any no kill rescuers are down here to spay/neuter or assist anymore. Both the humans and the animals need help … Jenny from HOPE rescued a dog on the street. Looks like help might be done on an individual basis ... more to come.

Sam's house is like so many we visited--lots of waiting for grant money, for supplies, workers. Many homes have been completed and many are still waiting for assistance. We've seen some of the homes completed by other VIM Teams. Hope lots more are coming. If you're thinking about it East Biloxi still needs you.

Tonight we are looking forward to a Team dinner out at a local BBQ restaurant -- The Shed.

Today is Bob’s birthday! This is the third birthday on this trip. Team Blogger
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Blessed by bright sun we are finally going to the job site that the HOPE folks intended for us at Copp Street. Most of the team is there. Four others, with Carole as “straw boss,” are across town in West Biloxi (other side of 110) painting a house’s trim work. It is getting hot, but the humidity is not too high yet. It is starting to feel like August in Biloxi. John Fritz
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The youngest members of our crew are a joy to behold and interact with. Ah -- if all the people of the world could emulate their example! At any rate it's good to be together in service to one another and our Biloxi brothers and sisters. Evy Hartley

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Workin’ in the Rain

It thundered, flashed lightening and poured overnight. By the time we were done with our French toast breakfast it was pouring again just in time for our workday. Back at Lee’s and Mr. Davis’ today to finish work. Too wet a day to start anything on Copp Street another destination with lots of work for the Team, we are told. At Lee’s we painted and hung some Lemon Drop colored cement siding between rainstorms. I loved the color; it looked like warmth and hope. At Mr. Davis’ we caulked windows and worked to finish up the ramp and railing on the porch. In all this rain am looking forward to a comfort food dinner of meatloaf with chocolate peanut butter pie for dessert prepared by the Chef’s. Today is Carole’s birthday! Team Blogger
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“Ready” (Marilyn) and “Yes” (Linda) Boxed 12 windows and framed eight of them with trim with the help of Melissa’s sawing and measuring. Then Susan caulked the completed ones. What a team we made! All of this was done at the Davis home. We worked through rain and downpours, hot sun and humidity. What a blessing to accomplish what we did. Meanwhile Chris (G), Becka, Bob and Susan tirelessly assembled a vast expanse of railing. While struggling with the seemingly boundless angles of the inclined ramp rails, Chris and Becka did not fail with a nail once perfecting our technique of nailing the rails together and winning the day. Finished the day they posed gangsta’ in front of the well made rails.
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Lee’s house is certainly coming along. She said that no work had been done for about four and a half months no work was being done on her house. For the last month and a half, everyday someone has been working there. Everyday she says she is so happy and glad and grateful for everyone’s help on her house. When she walked out this afternoon and she saw the siding going up she had tears in her eyes and her hand on her heart. She said it’s finally starting to look like a home.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 In God We Trust

We trusted that today would be a better day. We woke up to sun and had some showers throughout the day and night, but had enough sun and breezes to get a nice workday.

Our subgroups went to Lee’s house, Mr. Davis’s house, the Salvation Army Barracks and the HOPE Center. Susan and Donna were at the Barracks and the HOPE Center. They repaired a trailer there and another trailer at the HOPE Center. The helped convert a temporary pharmacy into office space and repaired a rotted wood floor and replaced a door. Their biggest adversary was a Black Widow spider under the rotted wood floor! The Davis team got to meet their homeowner, Mr. Davis, today. They were excited to meet him. Lee’s team constructed headers and hung tracks for pocket doors. They also got to meet some of the cats and kittens she took in after Katrina. Spit Spat, Peep Peep, Tip Top, and Big Boy showed themselves to us. Lee lost everything herself, but still had a heart for other creatures in need. Carole found two pennies in the mounds of soil at Lee’s – on the In God We Trust side. We felt it was a reinforced reminder that, that is what we and our friends in East Biloxi were doing. Today is Linda’s birthday! Team Blogger

Monday, August 11, 2008 Showers of Blessings

Did I mention that Saturday and Sunday were dry days with blue skies? We are starting our Monday in the rain with a forecast of 50% rain for the week … and it rained all day.

Our team broke into subsets who worked with HOPE leaders today. One group stayed at St. Paul’s to paint closets indoors; another worked on a wooden ramp and railing for Mr. Davis on Main Street, who was handicapped; the last group worked on framing an indoor partitioning wall at Lee’s house on Water Street. Lee had written a book about the horrors of the Katrina experience and gave a signed copy to each team member for being a concerned soul -- a blessing to the team.

HOPE had some issues getting organized to give the team jobs that could be done in the rain, but we got through it and got some work done for our homeowners through the showers – a blessing. Team Blogger
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And we are off on a very rainy day to do whatever is asked of us – with anticipation. Marilyn May

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I gaze around and wonder how I’ve come to be in Biloxi, MS on a rainy, humid day in August. Was this my plan? Was this my longing? And THEN I remember…the gentle whispers in my ear. 911-NYC; but did not get there; dangers just might be closely lurking. The Biloxi 2007 trip; the timing was not right in my life. Biloxi 2008 and the whispers became loud and clear, “Put your money where your mouth is.” or is spiritual terms, “Follow your heart.” So – now I know and understand and my soul begins to be satisfied. Carole Lishness

Sunday, August 10, 2008 Need of a Blessing

We started off our Sunday at Pastor Robinson’s churches. He has a two-point charge: St. Paul’s in Biloxi and Pleasant Valley UMC in the Turkey Creek section of Gulfport. The sermons were about prayer, God providing our needs, security, forgiveness, peace, healing, … our everything. The Gentle Giant preached about faith, love, hope and joy in a powerful way. The congregations were filled with singing and Amens. It felt like the Holy Spirit was with us, like we all had exactly what we needed. Pastor Robinson also had an altar call for anyone in need of a blessing today – aren’t we all in need of a blessing, whether in post-Katrina Biloxi or AZ, CT, NY…or anywhere in the world?!

Our team felt blessed by the thankfulness of the congregations. One lady thanked us for not forgetting them, which made my eyes well up. Others said they were happy to see another New York Annual Conference Team. People even waved at our conference Disaster Relief vans on the road. Already we were blessed.

We started work on Sunday afternoon – a small tear-down job on Magnolia Street. Team members John, Bob and Wayne were up on the roof of a house sawing and dismantling, throwing sheets of corrugated tin, tarpaper and wood to the ground, while team members carried the debris to dumpsters. We made good progress and nearly finished between 2:00pm and 5:30pm.

Later in the evening, after dinner we gathered for prayer and debriefing. John led us in a centering prayer based on Psalm 62, verses 5-7 NSRV. Our hope is in God. Then, we each gave a word to describe our day. The following words best describe the team’s collective experience of the day:

Happy – Miss McSwayne was here and some team members saw her for the third year. After Katrina she lost two homes and four family members and she still says she’s blessed. She said she was down in the ashes and we lifted her up.

Gratitude – That we could all be together, all of God’s children black and white, brothers and sisters worshipping as one body.

Passionate – The congregations we worshipped with were so open to God, so enthusiastic in their worship. We’d like to be more like that.

Appreciative – To see faces light up and people waving at our vans. We were so warmly greeting at the passing of the peace during the services.

Juxtaposition and Surprise – Some parts of Biloxi are built back up and others still show the destruction. The down seems desolate, but the pre-Katrina population was 65,000 and is now 60,000. The land seems dry, but is still covered with shells washed up during Katrina.

Cooperation – We all worked together to clear debris from our work site.

Humor – The community laughed off small blips that occurred. They demonstrated taking it in stride, not sweating the small stuff.

Meaning – In all the welcoming and gratitude before we even began there was meaning. Our presence meant something to the community. We felt like we were bringing the right things, caring and hope, not just tools.

Wet – When we finished our days work in the heat and humidity we were soaked. All in all, our day was a blessing. Team Blogger
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This was a day of blessings – two worship services – with great people and fellowship – we shared communion. And also, I personally found a new message of the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer. We also worked as a team today – helping at a site. We were tired, but felt good about our service to others. Marilyn May