On the way!

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

1. Click on the word 'Comments' at the bottom of each post.
   
   
2. Leave your comment.
   
   
3. 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
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
5. Click 'Publish Your Comment'.
   

That's all there is to it.

Thanks!

Preparations for The Katrina Mission Trip

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.....