The Last Three Days

The last three days went fast. Thursday and Friday work continued at the Fleming home and they are thrilled with the major change from Monday to Friday. Thursday, a crew went to Wiggins, Mississippi (about 30 miles inland) to complete exterior painting on Valda's home. Valda is elderly and ill and really appreciated the improvement to her home. Friday we had a team in Kiln, Mississippi (Brett's hometown). In just 5 hours, we were able to get all the windows and exterior doors installed.

Thursday night, our 15 minute devotion lasted about an hour and a half. We biblically expored our mission and relected on our ministry for the last 5 years and three months. There was laughter and more than a few tears. It was the most difficult devotion I have ever experienced. And it was the most meaningful.

God Bless this wonderful team.

God Bless the 27 teams that preceded them.

God Bless the people of Floris UMC that have made this ministry possible.

God Bless those with whom we have shared our lives.

And, God Bless those we leave still searching for the day they go home.

Tim

Oh! I Get It!

This is my fourth trip to the Gulf Coast and every one has had several "Oh! I Get It!" moments. My first trip, I learned how to hang soffit (and what soffit is) and how to hang and finish drywall. If you've never done this, trust me...there are lots of "I Get It" moments. My second trip, I learned how to do drywall so you only have to sand once. Sanding drywall is a miserable experience so this was a GREAT "I Get It"moment. The third and fourth trips had theirs as well as I learned tricks to laying laminate flooring easier, how to hang door, and other little tidbits. But to steal a concept from the camp coordinators, those are things you learn from the tasks on these trips.

What is just as important are the things you learn from the mission of these trips. The healing of hearts as well as homes.

I knew there was a storm. Everyone knows the name, "Katrina". But coming down here for the first time one of the landmarks I used to help get around (there were no street signs) was a boarded up house on 20+ foot stilts - the house itself was another 12 feet or so up to the roof. It was boarded up because the house - the ENTIRE house - was under water during the storm. Surely the owners thought this was hurricane proof - and to their credit, the structure survived the worst Katrina could throw at it, however the storm still flooded it. A year after the storm, there wasn't much else around to see until you walk around and find empty lot after empty lot where the houses USED to be. Half a mile of empty beach where there used to be conference centers and homes. Seeing this was a huge "Oh! I Get It!" - the devastation was total.

I knew there was a need. My second year, I could still use that house on stilts for a landmark because a year later it was still there. A little more weathered, but otherwise untouched. And there were still no new homes within site of the camp where we stayed. More than two years after the storm and not a single building, other than the temporary one known to us as Camp Gulfside was even started. Is there need now, five years later? You bet. Reflecting on this provided me with a big "Oh! I Get It!" moment.

I knew there would be fellowship. We work hard and we have fun here. On my second trip, I went with John Newcomer and Craig Mosier. By the time we were headed home, John just introduced us as his sons and we whined, "Are we there yet?!?!" while in the car. Why? Because it was fun. And last night I was witness to the loudest, most outrageous, entertaining, and fun game of Yahtzee I have ever seen. I wasn't even playing and it was a blast. Fellowship is a huge part of these trips - they have to be as you are going to be very, very close to your team for some quite a long time - but the degree and speed with which a team forms is amazing to experience.

But the biggest "I Get It!" moment is when I met homeowners. One of the most popular bible readings during devotions on these trips is the parable of the sheep and the goats. When asked when his faithful followers has provided him food or clothing or drink or companionship, he replies, "what you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." and it's a great passage. But Jesus uses a very worldly definition for "least". I've gotten to hear the stories of what these people endured and how they are coping with it. I've worked on the home of a retired lady who spent her days driving people to doctor appointments and delivering food to people. She had everything in her home destroyed, as well has the business she owned and operated, and she spent her days helping others.
This week, I've worked on the home of a single mother with six children who has a full time job and STILL has found the energy to work on getting her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. These people have endured the loss of every physical thing they owned and come out the other end fighting and striving and succeeding. Yet when they walk into their house and breath, "I have walls" it melts the heart. I'm humbled by what they have done and the stories they tell.

I don't think I fully get it yet, but I'm trying.

Jeffrey Hoyt

Delicious Christmas Dinners in a Bag

30 Christmas dinner baskets were prepared for our friends at Valena C. Jones UMC in Bay St. Louis, MS. Many hands made fast work assembling and decorating the bags, filling them with love and best wishes for a very Merry Christmas. This may very well be our last opportunity to serve this congregation in such a meaningful way. It has been a joy to worship with and get to know them over the last five years. We wish them a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year.

"Jujy" and "Nancy"

How Firm a Foundation

So one of the rookies on this trip seems to enjoy catching me making mistakes. Reference the picture of me accidentally stepping through the plastic covering (instead of on the areas of the floor that had wood) and, hence, the title of this blog.

On a more serious note, as Tim said the other day, this is a bittersweet trip. Sweet because I'm on my 10th mission trip to this very distant and different, but comfortable state of Mississippi. Bitter because this is the last trip being scheduled by my church Floris UMC.

I've been trekking down here twice a year for the last 5 years and, thankfully, seen the area improve tremendously since my very first trip. I remember, fondly [honestly], my first night even on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and wandering around in a rainstorm back and forth across a mud field in the middle of the night trying to find absorbent materials to stop the flood that was flowing into our ceiling less bedroom. That combined with the lack of hot water and very cold temperatures made the first night a major hurdle for us UMVIMers, but our challenges were nothing compared to those of the residents that had either lost or had their homes seriously damaged. We persevered and the Wells found us better lodging conditions in the dry preschool rooms of the Bay St. Louis UMC and we helped 4 families during that first 10 day trip. We mucked, we demolished, we cooked turkeys, and we dry walled with the minimal supplies we could secure.

Now we sleep in warm, cushy bunk beds, the hot showers are adjacent to the bunkroom and you can even get to the tool without leaving the building! During these trips I have also roofed, sided, painted, spackled, put in wood laminate flooring, and just today got my first experience at sub-flooring. I've enjoyed this ministry in so very many ways. I mean where else is the significantly younger than me female cashier at the local Lowes going to call me sweetheart when I ask for help finding something?

The fact that this mission has allowed me to provide service and "witness" to people through my works and that the recepients have been very thankful of my work despite its obvious lack of craftsmanship has been a welcome diversion for me and I think I've done some good.

Jill Morganwalp

First Timers First Day

How wonderful to be a part of finishing a project. I stood in the home and tried to visualize the Pastor moving into his new home. After a day of scrubbing, touch ups and laughter we closed the doors on our first project. I'm meeting new people with great ideas and a smile wherever we go. Tomorrow is going to be a new adventure.

Ellen

New Parsonage for Pastor Willie Gore

Today we removed construction debris and completed the final cleaning on the new parsonage for Pastor Willie Gore in McHenry, MS. The brick structure was converted from a church to a parsonage, with a new floor plan and internal living spaces. We installed a new electric range and a couple nice new easy chairs, after we scrubbed the floors, finished some touch-up painting, and cleaned the windows. A new refrigerator should be installed within the next couple days, and the home will be ready to serve a new family.

Allan

Have You Seen Jesus Today?

As I was working at our house today a lady drove by, waving her hand and said hello. In the tone of her hello there was also a thank you for being here and helping us.

In Matthew 25:40 Jesus said-
"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of these least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.'"

Sunday Worship at Valena C. Jones UMC

Today we worshipped at our home church away from home. We were moved by the message from Reverend McGill. Particularly meaningful was their powerful embracing of the team at the end of the service. We love this church and they certainly showed love for us today (and every time we worship there). We will miss our friends here.

November 27 - on the road again!

We left the church today at 7:30 headed south again. There are 15 of us and we will be in Trussville, AL tonight.

Update: after a very long day of driving in heavy traffic, we are all here for the night - 9:30 PM CST.

Tim

Team Picture

We worked about 40 hours each in 4 and 1/2 days. The construction expertise of Ken, Jerry, John, Ed and Joe was matched by the quick learning curve of Shannon, Troy, Connor, Rachel, and Jessica (and even the rest of us slightly older folks: Tim, Susan, Gina, Karen, Jeannette). Thanks to the whole team and to UMVIM for giving us the opportunity to be servants and to serve Jesus Christ.

Please pray for the people of the Gulf region. We saw very little tourism on the Gulf Coast, but we did see lots of people in coveralls trying to keep the beaches clean and we did see evidence of the spill on the beaches. Please pray for the people of Louisiana and Mississippi (and Texas and Florida) as they deal with this crisis. The seafood industries and tourism have been severely impacted by the oil spill and the mood is serious there. People are faithful and hopeful and we must join them with our prayers.

Fay's Home

John and his crew worked most of the week at Fay's home (about 100 feet from railroad tracks). The two houses beside hers are still abandoned and there seems little hope they will be repaired. But Fay is only a month from coming home and this industrious crew is a big reason!

Working at James' home

We put in ceramic tile, laminate flooring, doors, and base board/quarter round. His house was transformed in one week!

James in Long Beach, Mississippi

James on Day 3 of trip. We worked here all week with 8-10 team members per day. James has been in trailers for nearly 5 years and is currently in a FEMA trailer. He hopes to be living in his new home by September/October. We hope for even sooner.

The Trip Down

Saturday, June 26/Sunday, June 27

There are 15 of us ranging in age from 14 to 68 and we have to complete the long trip from Herndon, Virginia to Waveland/Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi in the next day and half. After a prayer for safe travel shared with many family members, 12 of us started our 17 hour trip (two are driving down later in the day and one is flying in to Gulfport, Mississippi). Saturday night we stayed in Trussville, Alabama and early Sunday we headed for the Gulf Coast. Arriving in Bay Saint Louis at 11:30, we joined in progress worship services at Valena C. Jones UMC. We frequently worship here and the teams find the worship style quite different from any they have previously experienced. We are always warmly welcomed here. The sermon title was roughly stated: "he would have, he could have, but he didn't". The speaker talked of many things, including how the folks on the Gulf Coast are dealing with and should be dealing with the oil spill that is on their doorstep. I think we all got a lot out of the message. It is clear there is a lot of emotion and concern about the oil spill crisis and how it is impacting people at the individual and business level. After the service and many thanks from the congregation, we moved on to Benignos for our first helping of Po-boy sandwiches and other authentic local food. The first (but not last) impact of the oil spill was felt there. No oysters. They stopped bringing in oysters about 10 days earlier and have no predicted return of the #2 favorite seafood for that area (shrimp are first).

After lunch we began our visits to families we have helped in the past and who are now living in the homes we helped build. Connie and Glenn Strong had called me well before the trip to find out when we were coming down and to invite us to visit. They were our first stop and the group met them, viewed their home and discussed the work we did to help build it. Steve Dripps and Chip Hulbert were leaders of the Student Ministry Team and a spring team that did the framing and other significant portions of the construction of this home. Connie and Glenn spoke warmly of Steve and Chip. It was a fun and emotional visit and I look forward to seeing them again when our next team visits in late November this year.

We next visited Thomas Mayne and Simon Arcineux. Thomas and Simon are old friends we met back in February 2006. They have stayed in touch and even visited Floris, attended services there and got the DC tour. They looked well and also spoke of Steve and the work he and others of us did to save Thomas' home and other work we did to help Simon and him.

Our last Sunday visit was with Betty Necaise. She was delighted to see us, since several of this team had helped rebuild her house. We did nearly all her flooring (vinyl and laminate), doors and door frames, etc. We also, as with the other families, formed a bond with her that will never be broken. She will always remember many of us and we will always remember her, long after this ministry has ended.

We then went to our home away from home north of Gulfport, Mississippi at Camp Love, next door to Nugent UMC. Of course I forgot the code to get in the building and we spent 15 minutes scrambling, before we were able to get in. Once there, we were amazed at the setup - it was far bigger and more capable (from a materials available point of view) than our prior, beloved home at Camp Gulfside.

With a few administrative and move-in tasks and the arrival of our other 3 team members, we now begin to get ready to meet our new families and help build homes for people who have suffered the loss of their homes for nearly 5 years.

Tim Wells