Thursday's Chaos

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 Five: Waking Up in the Sanctuary

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)

Day Four: Morning

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)