2006 Katrina Mission Trip

Pass Christian Mississippi

                                

          I’m very happy to hear of the interest in the Summer Mission Trip.  I believe that it is important and it allows us the opportunity to make a significant difference in our world.  We’ll be returning to Pass Christian, Mississippi, 45 minutes east of New Orleans, right on the coast.

 

We’ll leave by caravan on Saturday June 2 and return the same way on Saturday June 9.  There is no age limit, as long as the parent is going and the child understands what we are doing.  It’s not a pleasure trip.     Last year we had a (50ish) mother go with her 4^th grade son.  It merely requires the parent to keep an eye on the child and make sure the child knows this is a work-mission trip.  Her son stayed in the guy’s tent and we always kept an eye out for him.

          We had work for everybody, regardless of their skill level.  I did a lot of sanding on walls, painting and helping create a textured ceiling.  I have a lovely picture of me at the end of the day.  Others did more construction.

 

          On the first day I was working fine until 3 pm (I remember the moment well).  I simply ran out of steam.  So I sat down.  Nobody said anything.  And I never had another problem the rest of the week.  I think I got used to it.  On Friday others were tiring out, but I was going strong.  You pace yourself and if you need a break, you take one.  We don’t have slave masters to over see us.  It’s pretty laid back.

Note the dining tent behind  Rev. Doug Baker, Jim Eikenberry, Dick Norris and Bob Nicholson.

           American Baptists have rented a portion of land where we have tents set up.  Today I’m told they are air conditioned.  They weren’t last Summer.  L   All the equipment, tools and building supplies are on site.  We use them.  Clean them and return the unused portion back to the supply tent. 

          We usually went to work around 8 and finished at 5 depending on how close we were to finishing one part of that job.  At the end of the day, we would return to our camp, shower, and dress as comfortably as possible to sit in the hot sun until evening.  Now they have shade.    The meals were always ready for us.  As a worker, I would be very tired by the end of the day.  It was simply marvelous knowing that the food was prepared by someone whose main job was to purchase, prepare, serve and clean up.  We ate like kings and still lost weight. 

We had Margie and a guy from South Bend to buy and prepare the food for us. They would bring snacks and drinks to us on site.  Lunch was prepared in one of the two kitchens.  We also had a dining hall.  Mind you, these were all non-air conditioned tents.  I think they are now all air conditioned.  It’s still very hot and humid.  That is why we want to go as early as possible this year.  I want to avoid a more humid date.  But we have no way of knowing what the weather will be like in Pass Christian, Mississippi in June.

        There is another group of American Baptist from one of the Dakotas who will share the camp with us this year.  Last year there was a group of 40 American Baptists from West Virginia who shared the camp with us.  This year we’ll have about 15 from our church go and some from our sister American Baptist Churches as well.

The accommodations are not a 4star hotel. We’ll sleep in air conditioned tents, but it will be warm.  You’ll have a cot.  Women and men have separate tents.  We had outhouses for the necessities of life.  We had 17 showers.  My they were wonderful.  They are private and made you feel human again.

It was rough and it’s not for everyone.  But I know that I was serving Jesus Christ.  I sincerely want to make a difference in my world.  I want to sense HIS pleasure in my service.  So I organized our small band of volunteers because I wanted others to have the chance to help, in response to the commands of Christ. 

We had devotions each night and tried to focus on why we were there, not to complain.

I want to encourage you to join us this year.  All I’m asking you and others to do is to tell me you are interested.  We’ll work out the details later.  You may need to back out at a later date, but let’s talk about it now.  No commitments.  Just let me know if you might be interested.                                                                         

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

 

The only cost to the team last year was each persons own personal expenses.  The congregation took up an offering which helped pay the gas and meals down.  They donated food which we used.  One of our own business men donated a large van, the gas and a son to go with us.                                                                                                                          

I am glad I went.  I want to encourage you and your family to join us as we serve Jesus as we help our fellow man.

Let me know if you are still interested in going.

          For the Cause of Christ,

          PJ