Presbytery of NYC Katrina Mission Trip Reports

report to presbytery

2007-01-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

Today nine of our 21 participants appeared before the Presbytery of New York City to offer our official report on the trip. Sorrel Ann (who couldn't attend) produced a wonderful photo presentation about the trip:

I also delivered a brief report on the trip which you can read as well.

After many months of planning, twenty-one Presbyterians and friends from eight different congregations, including four minister members of the Presbytery of New York City, set out on Saturday, January 13, for a weeklong work trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Months of planning and expectation culminated in this strange and wonderful journey organized through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbytery of Mississippi Disaster Recovery Office, and Handsboro Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, Mississippi.

When we arrived in Gulfport, we were greeted warmly by Mississippians and Louisianans of all sorts – family and friends of group members, fellow Presbyterians and disaster relief volunteers from Missouri and Minnesota, young adult volunteers at our housing site, even the local residents who worked us with over the course of the week. The warm welcome surrounded us the entire week, even amidst a burst of the coldest weather of the winter so far in that region!

Once we emerged below the clouds over the coast that Saturday at sunset, the challenges before us started to become clear. I won’t attempt to describe what we saw – even the pictures we will share with you cannot do it justice, for they do not capture the sheer volume of destruction, the reality that so little was left untouched by the storm.

Hundreds of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. While rebuilding has gone quickly for some, most people still face the challenges of insurance nightmares, long waiting lists for contractors, and limited social support systems. The devastation in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast remains beyond description or imagination, even after 17 months of reconstruction work – and good estimates are that only ten percent of the reconstruction work is completed.

Still, though, we offered what we could in the midst of a place that needs more than any of us can offer – a place scarred by the damage of a storm even as it still suffers from the sinfulness and injustice of our world that began long before August 29, 2005; a place recovering from disaster beyond description as it faces the reality that things will be forever different than they were before the storm; a place with fresh memories of government’s inability to help as FEMA packs up a bungled mess even as other hands from around the world pitch in to do what they can to make a difference; a place coping with despair and in need of great hope.

Our group of twenty-one joined over thirty thousand volunteers who had gone before us to work on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Alongside us for the week living at and working out of Handsboro Presbyterian Church were six men from Kansas City, Missouri, and fourteen men and women from Owatonna, Minnesota.

Over the course of the week, we offered a word of hope and peace as we cleaned out sheds, gutted houses, built fences, removed piles of debris, hung drywall, learned and practiced the fine art of taping and compounding, installed kitchen cabinets, built bunk beds, served and delivered meals, organized office paperwork, worked with children after school, made home visits, interceded on behalf of those in need, and wrote about our adventures for others around the world to read. We took an afternoon off from our work in Mississippi to see the damage in New Orleans for ourselves and to engage in a bit of economic relief work around the French Quarter. By the time our work ended on Friday afternoon, we were exhausted. The direct effects of our work were barely visible in the broad picture, but we hope and pray that a few lives might be changed by what we did accomplish.

We are grateful for the support you offered us along this journey: for the vision and financial gifts you gave that made the journey possible, for the time away to do this important work, and most of all for the prayers which carried us through even the difficult moments. Many of you followed our journey online through our blog, hearing about our adventures, seeing a few pictures, and sharing our trip in spirit even though you could not personally go along.

For all of you, though, we would now like to share a brief photo presentation of our experience made by one of our group members so that you may see for yourself the devastation of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans, the hard work of Presbyterians from New York City, and a bit of hope that comes through God’s work in this time and place.

As you can see, there is much still to be done. Reconstruction is not yet complete, but you wouldn’t know that from watching TV or reading the newspaper. Mississippi and Louisiana have been largely forgotten – but we will never forget our experience there. In the coming weeks, those of us who journeyed to Gulfport have plans to get together again, to respond to the things that we have seen, to seek out a faithful way of response even at this distance, and to encourage others to go to Mississippi and Louisiana to assist in the ongoing relief efforts there.

While this is our only report to presbytery, this will not be the last you hear from us! In the meantime, tell others about all that remains to be done. Think about how you and your congregation can respond to the situation in Mississippi and Louisiana by sending volunteers or financial contributions. Consider joining in another work trip. Work to change the systems that allowed such a limited response to seem to be enough. And most of all, keep praying for all those in this region, that they might not just return to their homes but that they might have new and transformed lives as we all await the transformation of our world into the image of Jesus Christ.

a sermon about the trip

2007-01-21T16:40:00.000-05:00

I returned home Saturday night to the necessity of preaching on Sunday morning. The experiences of the week on the Mississippi Gulf Coast could not escape my attention today, so I share this sermon about the trip, preached today at the First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone in Queens.

Read the sermon

Proclamation
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21

It’s good to be back home. While I can say those words with complete honesty today after a wonderful week of mission work on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I also suspect that Jesus himself could say much the same thing when he went home to Nazareth and stood up to read in the synagogue.

Luke records the beginning of this story in today’s lectionary reading, telling of Jesus’ first trip home after he began his ministry around the countryside. He had started out elsewhere in Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and amazing the people with the power and presence of his message. When he came home, word of his notable teaching preceded him, and so when Jesus stood up in the synagogue to read, there was surely excitement in the air as they prepared to hear this hometown boy’s message for themselves.

He took the scroll of Isaiah that they had given him and began to read:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Without further comment, he gave the scroll back to the attendant and sat down, but everyone there was waiting for him to say more. And so he spoke to the them: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Preachers like this story about Jesus. Many of us tend to identify ourselves with Jesus, for better or for worse, for whatever reason, connecting our call to proclaim God’s word with this story of Jesus preaching in his hometown and the other stories of Jesus proclaiming the good news. I suspect a lot of congregation members like this text too, because it gives them a good way to remind those of us preachers who like to preach long sermons that Jesus’ first sermon was one sentence long!

Whatever the point of his preaching, this text was Jesus’ first mention to the people that he was about proclaiming God’s Word. He didn’t claim this responsibility exclusively for himself, but he was clear that he had come to proclaim this message in his words and in his life. The Old Testament scripture he quotes is very much about speaking – but it also insists that speaking stands alongside doing, for the Spirit anointed Jesus to do actions as well – to bring good news to the poor and to let the oppressed go free in addition to his message of release, recovery, and favor.

Proclamation, you see, does not have to be in word – it can also be in deed.

Yesterday we celebrated the Lord’s Supper as we prepared to journey home from Mississippi. One of the requirements for celebrating either sacrament is that it be preceded by the proclamation of the Word. Since this sermon got written on the flight back to New York last night, and no one else offered to write a sermon for the occasion, those of us planning worship had to think about how the Word would be proclaimed for the occasion. However, we soon realized that proclamation really wasn’t necessary in that moment – we had been proclaiming the Word all week long. We had heard no long sermons or even engaged in Bible study beyond reading a few verses to shape our daily devotional time together, but every hour of our trip had been about proclaiming God’s Word, just as Jesus had been called to proclaim good news in his day.

We offered a word of hope and peace as we cleaned out sheds, gutted houses, built fences, hung drywall, learned and practiced the fine art of taping and compounding, installed kitchen cabinets, served and delivered meals, built bunk beds, organized office paperwork, worked with children after school, made home visits, interceded on behalf of those in need, and wrote about our adventures for others around the world to read.

And so at communion yesterday, there was no need to proclaim the Word again – instead, we remembered the experiences of our week as our different gifts had proclaimed the one word that we could offer to others.

In a week’s time, we did not finish the work of proclamation that needed to be done – we were only a small part of the extremely long and arduous process of recovery – but we offered what we could by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor in the midst of a time and place that needed to hear – and even more to see – the reality of God’s transforming presence. And so I think it is fair to say that these words were fulfilled in some small way in our proclamation through doing just as much as they are fulfilled each time the Word is faithfully preached on Sunday morning.

Just as a good sermon leaves us pondering how we are to be about responding to that proclamation of the Word, our work this week left us all with many thoughts about what is to come – about how we must respond to the things we experienced this past week.

The devastation in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast is beyond description or imagination – and good estimates are that only ten percent of the reconstruction work is completed. We encountered people living in houses that have had practically no work done on them since the storm, and we saw that only a handful of the thousands of residents of the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans have returned. We drove through darkened and deserted neighborhoods and saw debris still awaiting removal nearly eighteen months after the storm. Even us visitors felt frustrated by the slow pace of recovery, as thousands of volunteers and the best processes of distributing aid can only do so much to rebuild after the destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes. Things are certainly not what they were immediately after the storm, but so much remains to be done that it is clear that the commitment to recovery must continue for many more years. Katrina’s destruction is no longer on the front page every day, but it remains an everyday reality for hundreds of thousands of people.

On its own, the proclamation of the Word means a great deal, but it can be multiplied many times over by our response to it. Addressing the problems of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast is not easy, and there are no overnight fixes, but like all responses to the proclamation of the Word, a few seemingly small steps can add up quickly. I hope that you will join Lisa, Rose, and all of us who journeyed from the presbytery as we respond to the Word proclaimed in and through us last week in Mississippi. I don’t think the next steps are clear, but I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will continue to be upon us as we bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

The commitment before us to proclaim this message of justice, peace, and love on the Gulf Coast, in Louisiana, in New York City, and throughout the world is tremendous, but the Spirit empowers us to respond in faith and to proclaim all the good news in word and in deed.

May God continue to strengthen us to respond to the challenges of faithfulness in our time and to fulfill the message of proclamation in word and in deed at home and around the world every day.

Lord, come quickly, and fulfill your Word yet again!

Amen.

We're home!

2007-01-20T20:17:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to say that we're home! In the midst of a windy day in NYC, our flight got in early on a truly textbook landing. I'm home already -- not sure about anyone else -- but already missing the people on the trip (although I'm definitely looking forward to an indoor shower and a heated bedroom tonight!)

More reflections and home posts will be forthcoming, I'm sure. We're not done here yet!

At the airport

2007-01-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

We're at the airport in Gulfport, getting ready to depart on our first flight to Atlanta. While we wait, it looks like they left our new drywall taping and compounding (aka "mudding") experts some work to do....

Communion together

2007-01-20T10:52:00.000-05:00

After cleaning all the sleeping areas, showers, bathrooms, kitchen and fellowship hall and loading the luggage in the cars, a wonderful communion service was conducted by the Reverends James and Schaeffer. With the singing of "Holy, Holy, Holy", "O Sing to the Lord", "Let Us Break Bread Together" and "Song of Hope" and readings from the Bible, everyone was ready for the Word. After a reading from the Mission Book for The day, “God has also called Washington Presbytery to reach out beyond its bounds in response to Hurricane Katrina. Since August 2005, the presbytery has hosted eight mission trips to the Gautier, Mississippi, area. Washington Presbytery has sent truckloads of supplies, held a teddy bear drive at Christmastime through a local hospital, and collected money for mattresses for people who lost everything. The biggest project of the year was adopting nine families from Mississippi and asking churches in the presbytery to develop an ongoing, caring relationship with them and to help them meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. This project has been enthusiastically supported, and Washington Presbyterians have benefited as much as those affected by Hurricane Katrina. God’s people are doing a large part of the rebuilding work after this disaster, and the presbytery is deeply blessed that God has called it to be involved with the people of Mississippi as they rebuild their homes and their lives,” the Word was seen in a slide show of the week’s activities. Communion was then shared along with hugs for the Peace. Everyone left feeling together and ready to return home.

Hellos and Goodbyes...

2007-01-20T02:29:00.000-05:00

Its our last day here in Mississippi. We thought it would be nice to show you who we are and say hello before we say goodbye.

We'll be returning to New York tonight but will continue this blog with post-trip thoughts and reflections. Remember all the times we said, "More later.."? Well, we'll also be adding new content to previous posts. So, we hope you'll continue reading and continue sharing.

When you see us back in the city and in church, feel free to say hi.

NYC Presbytery Gulfport Katrina Mission Trip
Front row: Rose, David, Kate, Betty, Eleanor, Janet
Second row: Randye, Sorrel Ann, Arabella, Barbara, Agnes, Rita, Lisa, Jill
Third row: Bob, Tina, Andy, Kathy, Oddrun, Carol, Craig

It's quiet.

2007-01-19T23:40:00.000-05:00

Based on the blog posts so far, you'd think Friday was a quiet day. You'd be wrong. Most of us wrapped up the projects that faced us for the week -- or at least found a good stopping point so that others could continue our work later. We also faced a number of farewells to our friends from Minnesota and Kansas City, not to mention the on-site staff and long-term volunteers with whom we have worked all week. It is hard to believe that the week is now over! We ended the day with a wonderful party hosted at the home of a friend of one of our group members. It was the perfect way to enjoy some southern hospitality and celebrate the good work we have done. More will be forthcoming about the day soon.

Saturday holds our final preparations to return home. We are scheduled to depart the church at 11:30 A.M. (Central), fly out of Gulfport at 1:55 P.M., and land at LaGuardia around 7:00 P.M. Do keep our travels in your prayers!

Day Seven: Site Work

2007-01-19T09:21:00.001-05:00

Our last full day of work here. It's raining.

in the news, again

2007-01-19T08:33:00.000-05:00

Some people on the trip have mentioned their amazement that the continuing recovery efforts are not more prominent in the news. However, this is the second New York Times article on the situation this week:

Editorial: Nowhere to Turn for Shelter

Reconstruction in Gulfport

2007-01-18T22:26:00.000-05:00

Its not all destruction and debris in Gulfport. Even along the coast highway, where there's the most serious damage, there are signs of life and construction taking place. Driving along the main roads, you see lots of fast food joints, loan centers, storefront churches, employment offices and construction supply stores. It seems either houses have trailers parked out front (which means the homes are not habitable) or there's building material around. Because housing is now so scarce, most new homes and apartments are at or above Manhattan pricing. New construction is only possible for those who can afford it.

Some people though, have less than nothing. They can't afford these new homes. They can't afford rent. They're still making mortgage payments for house that's not there.

As Barbara quoted from Robertson Davies:

Money can't buy happiness, but
it enables one to endure unhappiness
with exemplary fortitude.

(But what do you do when you don't have anything?)

Thursday's Chaos

2007-01-18T22:09:00.000-05:00

Cold, displaced, angry about being forced out of their routine and comfortable surroundings- the feelings of the Gulfport residents? Not on Thursday night as we were given 10 minutes to finish dinner and clear out of the Fellowship Hall to let a Gulfport group that rented it to start their meeting. This after the women who had moved into the sanctuary from the pod were told that they again had to move because a group from North Carolina was sleeping in the sanctuary.

After worship which included “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” settled everyone down in the sanctuary, someone said the Lord does have a sense of humor. Here we were given the opportunity to experience for a short time what the people we were helping experienced 18 months ago and continue to experience. Discussion continued with everyone saying that the people they were helping made the trip rewarding. One of us was actually was surprised when she was recognized by one of her temporary new neighbors in the CVS. Some expressed frustration about not knowing about the political situation and what government is or isn’t doing as well as having worked on Martin Luther King’s holiday without even a mention of it. Bob mentioned that he has left a message with the Gulfport and Biloxi Public Works Directors but hadn’t gotten cold back. He realized driving for kerosene how busy they must be dealing with the ongoing work. Suggestions for action included writing elected officials, the PDA and telling friends, neighbors and church members about what isnot happening. Hymns, hymns and more hymns helped the displaced New Yorkers fill the time until the meeting ended and they could reoccupy the Fellowship Hall. The women moved their “beds” to the nursery and some enjoyed the rocking chair that was moved out. Everyone enjoyed ice cream as the North Carolina bands arrived.

Day Six: After School Program

2007-01-18T18:41:00.000-05:00

This afternoon, Craig, Elanor and Carol helped with the after school program at Cowan Road Baptist Church. Craig returned to teach the kids a dance to go with the songs they learned yesterday.

Here's Craig in action with the kids...

Day Six: Site Work

2007-01-18T11:48:00.000-05:00

After breakfast, assignments were given out and we headed out to work.

A dumpster wasn't available to take more debris from yesterday's site, so most of the demolition people are inside the house doing taping and mudding.

Randye, Lisa and Kate are off to Lighthouse after a long wait. Tina is going through files trying to get an accurate count of how many volunteers have passed through the facility. Some of the Minnesota volunteers are out doing construction, others organizing database and folders.

Agnes, Arabella and Betty are visiting homes in the neighborhood and talking with residents. Listening, information-gathering and processing the huge number of volunteer requests is a huge job. It might not seem as physically challenging as demolition and construction but its just as vital...

Comments from You

2007-01-18T11:12:00.000-05:00

Its great to receive messages from folks reading this blog. They raise our spirits and let us know your thoughts are here, where ever you might be. We're fortunate to have people from all over the country and the world checking in...from Alaska to New York to San Diego to Norway, China, Germany and more.

Concerned in Newark writes:

How wonderful to hear NYC presbytery is down there! I was in Gulfport about 10 + years ago with the Drew Seminary Choir and we stayed at a Methodist Conference Center in Gulfport. They spent years recovering from Camille. I've been wondering what happened to them. If you happen to hear anything, would you please publish in your blog? Thanks

(Editor's note to contributor: Which Methodist center was your host? We'll check...)
(Andy's additional editorial note as a semi-local: I bet it was the Methodist Seashore Assembly. I stayed there many years ago myself. It survived, but not well -- the lower floor is now closed and appears to be so permanently. However, the Methodists continue to maintain a strong presence in the Biloxi area.)

Reggie in Virginia writes:

May God bless you all, for the self-less work that you are doing and in your travels through the devestation of the Gulf area. I have been following the blog because my Aunt Randye is part of your group. I am an Architect in the Norfolk Virginia area and wish I could be there with you. I am seriously thinking of looking for groups that will be taking trips to the Gulf to help with rebuilding efforts. Every single one of you has inspired me to stop thinking and complaining about what has not been done for the people devastated by Hurricane Katrina and get up and DO SOMETHING! I hope all of you take care, stay warm, be careful and may God bless you in everything that you do!

David R. in Manhattan writes:

You guys ROCK! I'm so impressed, not only with the work you're doing but with your newsroom operation! It's been so interesting to read about -- and see -- your exploits. Very best rgds to you all,

Sandra in New York City writes:

I am so inspired by your mission and commitment to helping out in the Gulfport region. You also seem to have a spirit of fellowship that makes the project even more meaningful and one that I am sure you will remember for a long time! It seems as though there is still a lot to be done and maybe I will have the opportunity to donate some time. It was about 20 degrees here in New York when I left for work and I know it is getting colder in your area. Hang in there and stay warm! Sandra - sister of Randye and good friend of Craig representing LAPC

Tony (Jersey City)

"Big "Hello" to the work crews. Jersey City 11.45 am. January 17. 24 degrees, Cold! Hope you have warmer weather for the outside work in Handsboro! Latest photographs and videos very very enlightening, both for the body and soul. For me the following photographs #'s 35-40-63 and158 say a great deal-- ravaged land, magnicent tree still survives in front of church, damaged cemetery and many other images. Kate's drawing and Rita's poem are very poignant and lend a very personal flavor to the vastness of this catastrophe. I would like to give my very warmest thanks to everyone of you, for allowing me to share your very great efforts in helping this community to put their lives back together again.

Mieke writes:

Wow, so great to see the photos and the "youtube" and Barbara in her Pres Welcome tshirt! Hope you are laughing as much as you are working

Joyce writes:

I admire so much all of you who are giving not only of your pocketbooks but of your strength, creativity and time. My friend Eleanor from the Bronx (NY) told me of this blog and it is so thrilling to hear from you just what you are experiencing!

KnittinPreacher writes:

Our congregation will be praying for you all on Sunday and this week.

Bette & George in Pennsylvania write:

What devastation, even after so many months. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you work to rebuild, in His name. Blessings to all of you.

Brooklyn Riley writes:

You people are amazing to give of yourself as you are doing. I have been visiting the blog to keep track of my friend, and have been touched by what I have read and seen through the pictures. The fact that so much destruction is still evident is mind boggling, to say the least. Thank you for what you all are doing
and my God shower her blessings upon you.

Don in Tuckerton, New Jersey writes:

I know the tasks set out in front of you must have seemed insurmountable. But you have made a difference by just being there. From all of us who know and care our heartfelt thanks. My love to each and everyone of you.

(click the word "Comments" below to send us a message)

Day Five: Dinner in the French Quarter

2007-01-17T23:55:00.000-05:00

Late in the day, we visited the French Quarter. We had some coffee and headed over to a restaurant as the sun was going down. The district is slowly coming back to life and many of the historic streets and buildings have been restored. This part of New Orleans wasn't hit nearly as bad as the rest of the city and its fortunate since tourism is a big source of revenue for the city.

Tourists were on Bourbon Street and around the landmarks, but you somehow get the feeling the tourists are still mainly construction workers and volunteer groups on leave. The streets, though nearly deserted, are still beautiful and charming. The city hopes to encourage more tourism by keeping the area inviting and safe.

(left: a sign in the window of a shop -click to enlarge)

Day Five: New Orleans

2007-01-17T20:41:00.001-05:00

We arrived in New Orleans and visited Presbyterian Disaster Assistance office & UNWNOP in the Upper 9th Ward.

The destruction in New Orleans and surroundings is astounding. Unimaginable. Eighteen months after the disaster, there are many many areas, block after block after block, entire neighborhoods, empty, broken and desolate. Damage is wide and deep.

Who were the people who lived in these houses? What are their stories? Where are they now? What will be done with their homes? With these streets? With these communities?

As we drove through the upper and lower 9th Ward, there was a sense of numbness and an overwhelming desire to do something...anything...to help.

More later...

New Orleans Missions

2007-01-17T17:47:00.000-05:00

NYC Presbyterians Visit
New Orleans Disaster Sights
Robert Adamski, Elder
Bay Ridge United Church
Presbytery of NYC (PNYC)

As part of the trip to Gulfport, Mississippi the members of the PNYC traveled to New Orleans to hear and see what is being done to recover from Katrina. After driving an hour and a half to the John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Metairie, Louisiana, they were briefed by a representative of the Presbytery of Southern Louisiana whose church became the site for the first volunteer village in Louisiana. She explained how this occurred after students from Austin College wanted to come to New Orleans to help.

A video was shown about the need and volunteers and told of a boy throwing one beached starfish of hundreds back into the water and his father saying he’d never make a difference. The boy’s response was he made a difference for that one proving that everyone can do something to help.

She described how the Presbytery has just called a new Associate Presbyter for recovery and new church development. They have signed an agreement with Gentile Presbyterian Church to set up an office in New Orleans and are undertaking a new initiative “Home for Christmas” to try to get 300 families back in their homes by 2007. Their web site states:

Out of chaos, hope...Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. -Psalms 57:1

They have estimated that $10,500 is needed for each family and so $3 million is needed for this effort. They have applied to P resbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) for a grant but have been told that materials are not eligible. They have partnered with Catholic Charities and are participating in GNODRP (Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership) which has 50 members and is trying to coordinate volunteer efforts.

Estimates are that of the 400,000 New Orleans residents who left only about 200,000 are now in the city. The City Council passed an ordinance that said they will not pick up any more debris after August 2006 so it is presumed that all of the “gutting” of homes is completed. The Louisiana Road Home Program has been slow to assist victims. Affordable housing is being explored with the “Katrina Cottage” (see below) designed by New York designer Marianne Cusato. It is a 308 square foot prefab that can be built for around $30,000 and installed in five days by volunteers. Unfortunately FEMA will not fund these permanent units, only trailers. It is estimated that 200,000 houses are needed and it took Habitat for Humanity 30 years to build this many.

Volunteers are still needed but the current activities aren’t news as demonstrated when the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA) met in New Orleans last week and one of the attendees was told by their cab driver that everything is back to normal.

The group then traveled to the Ninth Ward to meet with other PDA Young Professional Volunteers (YPVs) at the Desire Street Ministries There they heard about the efforts begun in 1990 to improve conditions in this neighborhood and CURE (Churches United for Revitalization and Evangelism.)

One of their projects was a school that was toured. In partnership with CURE, Desire Street Ministries has formed a Christian Community Development Corporation called CDC 58:12. Based on Isaiah 58:12 which states:

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

The CDC will focus on developing affordable housing for low to moderate income families and providing economic development opportunities beginning in the Ninth Ward for residents who want to return to New Orleans. Of the 5000 people from the area only about 100 have returned. Pastors are trying to stay in touch with the residents by holding services where they have evacuated to like Houston and then returning to restore their homes. The school is now a boarding school that initially was in Florida but is now in Baton Rouge. The group then drove through the Ninth Ward, all through the upper, some through the lower. Everyone was struck by the empty houses which symbolized broken lives and displaced families. There were a few signs of rebirth- one grocery store, one diner, a habitat for Humanity sign, but not a lot. It left everyone wondering where is the hope supposed to come from.

Day Five: Leaving for New Orleans

2007-01-17T12:51:00.000-05:00

A quick update...we're leaving for New Orleans in five minutes...just time for a cup of coffee and a sandwich.....More later.

Day Five: Site Work

2007-01-17T11:04:00.001-05:00

Debris removal, sheet rock and plastering "mudding". Administrative help, following up on case work, assisting with Meals on Wheels.

Casework continues from yesterday. Arabella, Agnes and Lisa visited homes in need and followed up on requests for help. Agnes says yesterday's visits were "Close Encounters of the First Kind".

They visited a man living in his kitchen (the only room livable) and met with families in trailers. One of the things you see everywhere are trailers and mobile homes parked in front yards. If homes are uninhabitable, the trailers serve as "temporary" (eighteen months so far) housing until structures can be rebuilt. Some streets have nothing visible but trailer after trailer after trailer.

A highlight of the day: Jill was instrumental in obtaining funds for a set of false teeth for a lady in the neighborhood who had been without them for months.

Day Five: Waking Up in the Sanctuary

2007-01-17T08:07:00.001-05:00

Having breakfast now before starting out to work this morning.. Some slept in the sanctuary last night..It was way too cold outside!

(Wednesday night update: all but Oddrun have abandoned sleeping in the pod outside and are now in the sanctuary. Even some who were sleeping upstairs on the second floor have decided to move Looks like the cold spell will be continuing for a while)

A Sketch from Kate's Journal

2007-01-17T01:38:00.000-05:00

A broken cemetery along the coast highway.

Send a Us a Message!

2007-01-16T23:13:00.000-05:00

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A Poem by Rita

2007-01-16T22:53:00.000-05:00

The Shell

While digging a fence post hole
Her shovel hits a hard surface
A stubborn rock?
Or root bound piece of rock?

No, she inhales
A shell! she muses
From Katrina's surge of water
Pulled from its place in the Gulf??

Unlikely, say the local folk
Not possible
It was bad, but shells flying
A mile and a quarter?

Yet, the image works for her
Evoking the fear, the destruction
And desolation
Come to Mississippi
Be part of the recovery

-Rita 1/16/07

Day Four: Site Work

2007-01-16T17:44:00.000-05:00

Back at yesterday's site, rubbish removal and sheet rock installation continued.

Some of us today assisted at Lighthouse Apostolic Church, serving meals to elderly folks in the community and delivering food with Meals on Wheels. Others in the group are doing casework for individual families in need and assisting with office work. The Presbytery of Mississippi has many email messages which need to be returned and phone calls which need to be answered.

Day Four: Morning

2007-01-16T08:21:00.001-05:00

It's 7am and we're having breakfast, about to receive our assignments for the day. Those of us in "The Pod" and the barn awoke to a cold morning -- it's a damp 45° Quite a change from yesterday's 70s.

(above: the pod, the barn and Handsboro in the fog)

Day Three: Evening at First United Methodist Church of Biloxi

2007-01-16T01:41:00.000-05:00

For dinner tonight, we traveled east on the coast highway to First United Methodist Church of Biloxi. The church is right on the waterfront only about two blocks from the ocean. We had a delicious dinner of biscuits and gumbo and heard the pastor and members of the congregation speak of their experiences during the storm and working with volunteers afterwards.

From our 'Comments' section:

"METHODISTS HOST PRESBYTERIAN KATRINA VOLUNTEERS
Robert E. Adamski
Bay Ridge United Church Brooklyn, New York

The 1st United Methodist Church of Biloxi, Mississippi hosted the volunteers from the Presbytery of New York City for dinner on Monday January 14, 2007. The volunteers joined the Methodist volunteers in a gumbo dinner prepared by the Church. After dinner the groups heard about the retreat from Katrina and disaster relief efforts underway since.

Over 2,000 volunteers from all over the United States have come to Biloxi to help. They have repaired over 250 churches and built three new houses. The current Methodist volunteers are from Wisconsin and participate in a volunteer effort established to give adults opportunities to “go to camp” and do good works. They have committed to building a house. They began after the New Year and hope to finish by the beginning of February. Some are staying the whole time while others are serving a week at a time.

Ray Marshall and his wife briefed the group on the efforts since the storm. They evacuated north over 250 miles away and while they missed the Category 5 storm were still exposed to a Category 1 that caused power outages. When they returned they were hindered by road closures and security. Because the Church was in a “debris zone” access was limited to reduce traffic and so couldn’t be a distribution center. Using his name and a badge he brought from Texas, Mr. Marshal was able to get past the checkpoints. His wife used candy and chewing gum to get the National Guard troops to let her through.

They told how no house was untouched by the 24 foot “tsunami” on top of the 6 foot high tide and how the population of Biloxi went from 50,000 to about 25,000 and their church from 220 to about 100

They were struck by the first volunteers who came from New York City to repay those who had come to New York after 9/11. To this day they can’t understand why people would come to a strange land (being from Texas they felt Mississippi was strange) to help people they didn’t know. An example was that while the traffic lights were out each intersection was being directed by a different group, Florida Highway Patrol on one, New York City Police on another, and Park Rangers on another.

They are convinced that the legacy of Katrina will not be the destruction but the volunteer efforts to rebuild and the friendships made. The mission of the church has become helping volunteers fulfill their need to volunteer as well as to the people in need. While there are many obstacles to rebuilding things like the bridge to Ocean Springs and houses that FEMA wants 25 feet off the ground, volunteers don’t require paperwork they just want to know what to do.

To assist volunteers that wanted to come they redesigned the web site. To help their neighbors they went and got ice and water for them everyday. Because of the lack of water they learned how to “shower” using bottled water. When one-liter bottled water became available they were very grateful as they were when Red Cross trucks began bringing food.

In addition to the bureaucracy of rebuilding many residents are behind in that they have a mortgage on a slab where there used to be a house. Some who could leave and move to other locations (like some of the retirees) put their houses up for sale and were able to do so in hours. The volunteers keep coming and keep coming back. Some have returned two or three times. One has been back 14 times. Others go home and help organize teams that come.

The Salvation Army continues to provide support with food and paper goods. The United Methodist Committee on Relief specializes in case management and so received a large grant from FEMA to help with that effort.

The evening closed with a reading of “St. Theresa’s Prayer” from “Vehicles of Hope” by Carol and Larry Tebo (about RVers who respond to disaster), prayer by the Pastor and viewing the video prepared to show people what had happened.

The video can be viewed at www.fumcbiloxi.org."

Later in the evening, we held a brief worship service back at Handsboro.

DayThree: Site Work

2007-01-15T11:01:00.001-05:00

Today we received our assignments. Some of us worked on a garage down the street and on fencing around the manse. Another group on computers and filing systems at the church.

The group I was with joined up with a group from Wisconsin doing drywall and demolition... moving debris and busting out walls in a shed...and putting up drywall in a house. The house had been damaged beyond repair and was slowly being rebuilt with new fixtures and walls. The shed out back hadn't been touched since the storm hit.

We arrived on site at 8am with crowbars and sledgehammers.

The homeowners were living outside in a trailer in the front yard, as is common for a lot of families in the area. Their house was slowly coming back to life, but the shed was still totally beyond repair. The insides were in sad shape. Fallen and broken paint cans everywhere, tools and toys and wet and rotting supplies. It didn't smell good.

The reason we were gutting the shed was to convert it to living space for the father-in-law of the family. His own house had been destroyed and he needed a place to call home.

Here's what the shed and debris looked like when we got there:

The first order of business was to clear out all the debris onto a big pile on the side of the house. It was sad to see a family's personal possessions reduced to a pile of rubble: a plastic Ninja Turtles figurine, Mardi Gras beads, books, a child's dollhouse, power tool manuals, pieces of scrap wood and metal for hobbies and projects.

After removing all the stuff we could carry, we set about with crowbars to pull off all the drywall to the beams, essentially gutting the structure. Behind the drywall was wet pink fiberglass insulation which needed to be pulled out, and underneath that, silverfish, palmetto bugs and tiny little lizards.

The drywall came down relatively easy, but the nailed-up pegboard was more stubborn. We also had a tough time removing florescent lighting fixtures and a rusted iron sink (the water main hadn't been turned off, but thankfully demolition was halted momentarily and the valve shut off in time)

Meanwhile, the team inside was busy measuring and putting up drywall. The difference in smell was astounding...it had the 'new house' smell, whereas outside...was something entirely different.

We worked for about six hours before taking a group photo and heading back to Handsboro.

In the News

2007-01-15T08:37:00.000-05:00

The Gulf Coast is in the news today...

Vacuum Maker Hailed as Savior Quits Gulf Town

Long Beach is one town west of Gulfport on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Pictures Online

2007-01-14T22:39:00.000-05:00

Don't miss the literally hundreds of pictures posted in the Photo Galleries on the right. We'll try to upload more every day. See photos of our accommodations, worship at Handsboro, and from our driving along the beach.

Orientation

2007-01-14T22:24:00.000-05:00

KATRINA ASSISTANCE SHOWS THE LORD
Robert E. Adamski, Elder
Bay Ridge United Church
Presbytery of NYC

Psalm 126: 3: “The Lord has done great things for us and we rejoiced.” Just as the Israelites felt this on returning from captivity to a land of desolation, the Presbyterians working on the Gulf coast feel it. As 26,000 volunteers have traveled to the Gulf coast and worked there, this feeling is felt over and over again. From the young adult volunteer (YAV) that started a "bus ministry" to the college student that "didn't do the God-thing" the Lord is doing great things on the Gulf coast.

George and Linda Bates, Area Coordinators for the Mississippi Presbytery, have experienced these great things and share them with the volunteers during their orientation. Dr. Bates is a retired college professor who is busier now than he ever was. His wife Linda is constantly on the move and is questioned constantly if she is OK responds she has never been better.

The bus ministry began when one of the YAVs who was assigned to help at a meals program found the first bus at 4:45 A.M. to get to breakfast. After riding with the same people every morning she began counseling, taking requests for assistance and generally "ministering" to the bus.

Another story they told was of how life and excitement came to two struggling churches in the area. One had pulpit supply for seven years and the other was down to seven members and had petitioned the Presbytery to close. The church with pulpit supply was only open for one hour on Sunday mornings and the Presbytery said the other church couldn't close because it was in a prime area for growth. One of the team suggested a yoked pastorate and discussions began when a former Mississippian returned home from Princeton Seminary to ask permission to circulate his personal information form. At the Presbytery meeting as the yoked pastorate was being discussed the Princeton Grad heard about it and started thinking about his call. He had received a grant to go to South Africa with his family but returned to Princeton to tell his Dean that he was accepting a call to the yoked churches. The two churches became locations for “mini-villages” for volunteers. (The village concept was brought to the Gulf by the Norwegian Relief Agency who had a representative in the area immediately after the storm.) In addition, since the top floor of one of the churches Parish House was vacant, they agree to let the Presbytery use it for a dorm and office. With the min-villages receiving the volunteers, the churches became alive 24 hours a day seven days a week. This activity was noticed by the members who were energized by it and the new Pastor.

Volunteers come to the area not knowing what they will be doing. After the initial disaster response that included removing 45 million cubic yards of debris, the effort has shifted to long term redevelopment. The Presbytery receives work orders for help from many sources and works based on need.
One case involving two premature babies (“preemies”) caught the eye of Linda who has an early childhood education background. A Gulfport couple who had two preemies was looking for assistance with their house. It turned out they had adopted the preemies just before Katrina hit. The preemies were on heart monitors so when evacuation was ordered they knew they needed to relocate to where the power supply was reliable. They left their dogs on the second floor of their house figuring they would be back in a day or two and went to Tallahassee. After the storm hit, they received a call from a friend who sadly informed them that not only was their house gone but his landscaping business with all his equipment was gone also. Their one dog had died in the storm and the other was rescued from the rubble. Another family who had relocated to Nashville came back and saw the damage to their house and decided to sell and stay in Nashville. They put their house up for sale and the “preemie” parents cashed in their life insurance and other savings and made an offer. The offer was accepted but the house needed extensive work. After exhausting his abilities, the preemie father submitted the work order. The first volunteers to be given the work order were from Pittsburgh and asked for a project that they could all work on together. The wired, sheet rocked and taped for a week. They were followed week after week by others until the family was able to be moved in. When asked if they were sorry about adopting preemies when they were in their 50s and would they do it all over again, they said absolutely. The Lord knew what he was doing when he gave them the babies because if they didn’t have them, they would not have left their house and would have died in it.

God keeps making his presence felt as the volunteers work. While stopped behind a school bus in one of the neighborhoods where volunteers were working, Linda got mad about the time being wasted while the bus unloaded. While praying for God to move the bus, she got to see the young children greet and be greeted by their older brothers and sisters. Seeing this demonstration of love made her wonder what might be needed besides the construction work. At that evening’s end of day briefing, one of the volunteers said she was struck by the children in the neighborhood and wondered if they couldn’t see about starting an after-school program. The result is a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon program that includes art, acting and tutoring among other things and provides an unexpected opportunity for the retired teachers and artists who come to the area as volunteers to use their talents. The delay provided another example of how God does great things but not necessarily the ones we ask for or expect.

When a group of students from a Michigan community college volunteered, they said they were a secular group and wouldn’t participate in the nightly devotion. When one student came into the office while Linda and two other women were discussing things at their church, they asked him how these things were going at his church he replied, “I don’t do that “God-thing”.” While speechless for a moment, Linda replied you better watch this week. Later in the week, the student came back to Linda one night when she was working in the office late and said he’d been watching these people from all over the country helping people they didn’t know and he’s been wondering why. Linda was able to share her faith walk with the student. After tears and hugs, he started to think about doing that “God-thing.” Linda continues to pray that he has found a church home and a new life with the Lord.

Day Two: Worship and Touring Gulfport

2007-01-14T20:00:00.001-05:00

This morning we attended worship with the congregation of Handsboro Presbyterian Church. During the children's prayer, Reverend Castleman invited the kids to teach the rest of the congregation the very earliest creed ("Jesus Christ is Lord"). Afterwards, the children helped collect canned food for the homeless shelter.

After services were concluded, we all toured the coast area around Gulfport. Its difficult to describe the devastation, sense of loss and emptiness along the road we traveled.

It was sad to view the remains of St. Peter's By the Sea Episcopal Church. St. Peter's was completely gutted and the entire first floor was wiped away. We have a special connection to the church, as Handsboro Presbyterian is serving as their temporary home for worship while they rebuild. Their services at Handsboro preceeded our 11am worship (above: The former St. Peter's By the Sea Church)

A strip of about four city blocks in from the waterfront was completely leveled by the wind and storm surge. People have compared it to the path of a tornado one hundred miles long.

Along the way, we passed block after block of foundations without buildings, driveways without houses. Many of the structures that were still standing were damaged and falling down. The quick video below shows a part of the road along the ocean and a damaged hotel along the way:

Not much of the debris remains and most of the rubble has been carted away, but here and there you see leftover pieces and boarded up buildings. Lots of new development and construction going on, in stark contrast to the empty lots and structures in partial ruin.

It was a sobering afternoon.

Later in the evening, we had an orientation meeting in the sanctuary at Handsboro. We'll receive our assignments tomorrow.

Day Two: Plans for Sunday

2007-01-14T11:00:00.000-05:00

Sunday is a day of rest for the site workers and volunteers, so we're spending our first day getting acclimated to everything around us. We enjoyed a great breakfast spread provided by Clayton and Joanne James, and the group is enjoying some free time for most of the morning. (As you can probably tell, Sorrel and I made a beeline for the wireless Internet at the coffee shop to check email and update the blog!) We'll be attending worship this morning at Handsboro Presbyterian Church, then take a driving tour of the coast to become familiar with the area and the damage after Katrina. Our official orientation to the week will be tonight, and tomorrow morning we start work bright and early!

Day One: Traveling & Arrival

2007-01-13T22:58:00.001-05:00

We've just finished an amazing (and very filling) catfish dinner at Aunt Jenny's...now time to sleep at the church..

Arrival and dinner

2007-01-13T21:58:00.000-05:00

We arrived safely and are eating VERY well!

At right (clockwise from upper left): biscuits and marmelade, french fries, fried catfish, sweet potatoes, fried chicken, hush puppies...and a little bit of cole slaw ...mmmm

We hope to post a good bit more sometime tomorrow.
Thanks for your continued prayers.

Day One: Traveling & Arrival

2007-01-13T17:17:00.000-05:00

We're about to leave for Gulfport....but where's Agnes?

Oh no! ....Looks like she missed the flight.

Update: Agnes was found! She will be joining us on Sunday afternoon.

Day One: Traveling & Arrival

2007-01-13T15:16:00.001-05:00

A quick update....we've just arrived safely in Atlanta! Changing planes now to Gulfport...

On the way!

2007-01-13T12:46:00.001-05:00

We're on the way. Here's a few of us getting on the plane in New York. Look for more once we arrive in Gulfport around 7 PM Eastern.

Day One: Traveling & Arrival

2007-01-13T12:36:00.001-05:00

We've all arrived on time at the airport, have checked our bags, cleared security and are now at the gate in the AirTran

Pre-Trip reflections

2007-01-12T21:37:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if I speak for a lot of people in the group, but when I think of Mississippi, I don't really have a clear image.

I think of the Mississippi river, southern cooking,...that's about all. New Orleans was the center of attention with Katrina and the rest of the gulf region draws a blank. I don't have friends or family in the area. I've never been there before.

Why are we going to Gulfport?

Because that's where we're needed.

I don't know much about where we're going, but that's good enough for now.

Pre-trip reflections

2007-01-12T14:39:00.000-05:00

I suspect that each of the twenty-one folks going to Gulfport has a different motivation behind the trip. At our orientation meeting, we shared some of the reasons why we were going, and it was very interesting to hear about them. I suspect some people may reflect more on them as we go through the week, but as everyone else is packing I figured I'd write briefly about my reasons for going.

I'm originally from Mississippi -- born, raised, and educated there. Now I am pastor of a church in Whitestone, Queens, New York City, but Mississippi is certainly still a major part of what I consider "home." When Katrina hit in August 2005, I was actually in the state for a few days before beginning work for my ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by St. Andrew Presbytery. I was ordained on Sunday before Katrina hit on Monday, and my original travel plans back to New York had to be dramatically changed because of the hurricane.

Although I'm from Mississippi, I haven't been to the Gulf Coast in probably ten years, New Orleans probably longer. However, my mother has still been advising me that I needed to get ready for what I am going to see. Things there are completely different from when I last visited. The anecdotal story I have heard and used myself is that some things had just been rebuilt after Hurricane Camille (in 1969) -- then Katrina hit, destroying things that even this very powerful storm spared. Nearly a year and a half have passed since Katrina hit, but all indications are that the recovery will be continuing for many years to come.

So as we prepare for a flight in less than 24 hours, I'm not quite sure what to expect when we arrive. The Mississippi Gulf Coast will surely not be what I remember it as -- although things wouldn't have been the same as my memory even without Katrina. (I myself remember the coast from the days before casino resorts became the norm in the 1990s, so things changed dramatically even before Katrina within my lifetime!) Nonetheless, I'm grateful for the chance to contribute a little something to what it is becoming -- not what it was, but what it will be. To use the vocabulary of Christianity, I hope that we can offer the Gulf Coast not resuscitation but a little bit of resurrection.

Preparing for the Trip: The Weather

2007-01-12T12:28:00.000-05:00

This morning we received a message from Lil at the Presbytery office
letting us know what the weather is going to be like while we're down in
Gulfport:

Hello everyone,

Hope you have wonderful experiences in Gulfport, Ms.
Robert sent me the 10-Day Forecast and asked me to tell you to dress warm.
Check out the 10 day forecast below.

Peace,
Lil

Forecast for Gulfport, MS
10-Day Forecast
Today: Showers 70°/59°
Sat Jan 13: Mostly Cloudy 71°/57°
Sun Jan 14: Cloudy 71°/60°
Mon Jan 15: T-Showers 63°/43°
Tue Jan 16: Showers 48°/33°
Wed Jan 17: Mostly Cloudy 51°/29°
Thu Jan 18: Mostly Cloudy 54°/41°
Fri Jan 19: Mostly Cloudy 57°/43°
Sat Jan 20: Showers 60°/45°
Sun Jan 21: Scattered Showers 61°/50°

In reading Lil's message and looking at the weather forecast, I couldn't help thinking I hope it doesn't rain. We'll get soaked. Even a light rain would be no fun.

(Can I even imagine a hurricane?)

Participating Churches

2007-01-11T13:48:00.000-05:00

A little more on the participants from around the presbytery:
In summer 2006, we began to solicit interested people from around the Presbytery of New York City who wished to go on the trip. In the end, we have participants associated with the following eight congregations:

Bay Ridge United Church, Brooklyn
Eastchester Presbyterian Church, The Bronx
First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, Manhattan
First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone, Queens
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn
Second Presbyterian Church, Manhattan
West End Presbyterian Church, Manhattan
Westminster-Bethany Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn

In addition, four of our twenty-one participants are minister members of the Presbytery of New York City. We'll be learning more about each other as the trip begins.

Can You Help Us Test Our Blog?

2007-01-11T10:46:00.000-05:00

As we've mentioned in these days before the trip, we're going to check out some features of this blog before we depart for Mississippi.

Can you help us see if everything is up and running smoothly?

Here's what you can do:

Post a comment.

Let us know what you think of this site and what you'd like to see here. During our mission, you'll be able to communicate with the folks who contribute here and post your own thoughts. We'd like it to be a two-way street....er...a two-way blog.

If you've never commented to a blog before, its easy.

Click on the word 'Comments' at the bottom of each post.
Leave your comment.
Verify in the characters you see in the picture.
This is to make sure you're a real human being, not a nasty spam-generating computer, since computers can't understand the letters in the distorted picture
Choose an identity.
You don't need a Google account and you can post anonymously. Just click the 'Anonymous' button. If you already have a Google or other account, you can feel free to use that.
Click 'Publish Your Comment'.

That's all there is to it.

Thanks!

Preparations for The Katrina Mission Trip

2007-01-10T15:49:00.000-05:00

Well, we're busy making preparations for the trip. Those of us who are travelling to Gulfport received this message from Arabella Meadows-Rogers in our e-mailboxes today, letting us know just how soon our work will begin:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
This is your last reminder... the days are getting close!
We will meet at Laguardia (AirTran) at 10:30 Saturday January 13 for a flight to Gulfport, MS. Please make sure to have your ID, and if you signed up to be a driver, proof of car insurance.

We will be staying and working at:
Handsboro Presbyterian Church
1304 East Pass Road,
Gulfport, MS 39507

Handsboro is the oldest Presbyterian church on the coast. There are washers and dryers on the premises; cots or bunk beds with airmattresses, wireless internet available. We will be renting cars and vans to get us around. Note: showers are outside. It's 70 degrees there today, so cold is not an issue but shoes and bathrobes might be!!

We are arranging a trip into New Orleans.

Orientation will be shortly after we arrive on Saturday night. IF we are late, or if dinner takes longer than we expect, orientation may take place Sunday morning.

T-shirts will be handed out at the airport.

We are invited (encouraged) to attend worship on Sunday morning at Handsboro.
We have not received any emergency contact information, however there will probably be 22 cellphones between us! (if you have an extra power strip, bring it!) The office here will have all our information.

See you Saturday!

Rev. Arabella Meadows-Rogers
Executive Presbyter
New York City Presbytery
------------------------------------------------------------------
So, our Saturday departure date is fast approaching.....

Welcome to the Presbytery of NYC Katrina Mission Trip Blog

2007-01-09T11:07:00.000-05:00

Hi and welcome to our blog!

Check back here frequently between now and January 20th for updates and information regarding the NYC Presbytery Katrina Mission Trip.

The NYC Presbytery Katrina Mission Trip will depart on Saturday, January 13 at 2pm and will arrive in Gulfport, Mississippi in the late afternoon. The area was hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina and we'll be assisting with whatever work needs doing. At this point, we don't know our specific duties, but we'll pass along more information as the time approaches.

While in Gulfport, we will be guests of Handsboro Presbyterian Church, the oldest Presbyterian Church on the coast, founded in 1877. Its present sanctuary was constructed in 1891 and remained virtually unchanged until Hurricane Katrina arrived in 2005. The church was severely damaged during the storm, its windows blown out and steeple destroyed. Since that time, much repair work has been done, though the steeple has yet to be replaced (update: on arrival, we discovered that the steeple has been replaced!).

The Presbytery of Mississippi chose this facility as its base of operations due to Handsboro's central location among the coastal churches that were impacted by Katrina and for its easy access to Interstate-10.

After several years without an installed pastor, the congregation is happy to announce the arrival of their new minister, Scott Castleman, in July of this year. The church is now poised for a new era of growth and service to the community. We're looking forward to working with Rev Castleman, the congregation and others helping to rebuild the area!

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the Gulfport region, here's a link to a detailed map of Gulfport, Mississippi

We hope this web log will let those who aren't able to be with us experience some of the sights and experiences of our work. Many volunteers on the trip will be contributing to this website and Reverend James and Sorrel Ann will be acting as editors and blog managers while we're in Gulfport.

Over the next few days, while still here in New York, we'll test the blog and make sure everything is going to work for next week. We're sorta learning how to blog as we go along, so please bear with us as we familiarize ourselves with the technology.

Having said that...we hope to have lots more to share with you from now until January 20th.