Team Reflections on the Trip

Lee Crockett
My return trip to Mississippi left me with three impressions. First, I was impressed with the rebuilding that has taken place. In particular, St. Pauls UMC, where we worked last year, looks great! Our contributions of time and money really made a difference. Second, I just could not get over how much still needs to be done. I’d estimate that 80% of the damage still needs to be repaired. Finally, the spirit of the people in Mississippi and New Orleans is truly amazing. Despite living in FEMA trailers for nearly two years, the families that we worked with, or just talked to, were very upbeat. I wonder if we would be the same under similar circumstances.

Jennifer Dover
I very much enjoyed the experience. To see the perseverance of the families we were able to help and the community at large as they try and put their lives back together. There is still much to be done and I know I did not have a complete understanding of the devastation until I had the opportunity to join the VIM team. It was a wonderful team to be a part of and I hope to participate again in the future.

Eliza Hamner-Koenig
I was so glad to have the opportunity to return to Mississippi this year. The signs of change and rebuilding are heartening--it was especially great to see St. Paul's as a worshipping congregation, rather than an empty building. But some of the signs of change only underscore the continuing difficulties of life on the Gulf Coast. If last year (10 months after the hurricane) the great hope was to get a FEMA trailer, this year (22 months afterward) the goal is to get out of the trailer. Like the other members of the team, I was honored to work side by side with families who were striving to rebuild their homes. Our week as a team, working together with the families, helped me to remember that we are all in the struggles and the triumphs of this life together.

Jeremy Koenig
I was fortunate to return to Mississippi with a dedicated group of people willing to sacrifice the most valuable of assets, time, to continue the rebuilding efforts in areas ravaged by hurricanes two years ago. Although the French Quarter and what you see of New Orleans in postcards is back to "picture perfect", the surrounding areas need considerable work. My greatest pleasure this summer was working alongside a family who were fiercely resilient in their desire to rebuild their home. The need for volunteers is great. My question is: What kind of team can we put together for VIM Mississippi 2008?

Austin Rector
After spending a week down in Mississippi working on repairing a couple of houses, I noticed that despite all the work that we were doing and the work that I saw other groups doing, there is still so much to be done. It’s almost like the rest of the country has forgotten about what occurred down south. We drove through areas where there had been so much destruction and it looked as though no one had really attempted to fix most of the homes. The only sign of people having been there were markings showing that the houses had been checked for survivors.

Clark Rector
To those of us who don’t live on the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina is a piece of history, a horrific event that occurred almost two years ago. To those who live in southern Mississippi and Louisiana, Katrina is still very much a part of each and every day. Our work seemed like a drop in the bucket compared to all that still needs to be done. But just as each drop of rain contributed to the destruction, each of our “drops” helps with the healing. As I look back, I am struck by the resilience and optimism of everyone with whom we came into contact. I hope that I can handle the (comparatively minor) hardships in my life with a portion of their grace.

Craig Scherer
Mississippi was once again a wonderful experience. The camaraderie and appreciation of those we served made the work possible -- giving is surely a gift. The common local wisdom was that about 25% of the middle class of the Pass Christian area have been able to repair their homes. The evidence of class differences was visible, many of the expensive shore homes were reconstructed, but the less well-off are still fighting for insurance payments and grant money. The irony is that now as the residents are getting money to buy materials, the stream of volunteers is shrinking.

The house I worked at with Lee and Clark Rector and a rotating cast of others, is the home of Sharonda and Quinten and their three children, Leah, Quinten and Xavier (13, 9 and 6). Tuesday afternoon, Sharonda and the boys came to see the house. Lee had hung most of the kitchen cabinets and Clark and I had hung some of the doors. Sharonda and Xavier were wandering about looking at the changes. Quinten came to the porch steps and covered his eyes. Slowly he climbed the steps, crossed the porch, and took a couple steps into the house before uncovering his eyes. I will never forget his face! I’m looking forward to returning in 2008. I have no doubt that more unforgettable moments await us.

Lindsey Scherer
While there I worked with two families. One was a couple and their three children. Their house was nearly finished and they could not have been more excited to see their struggle coming to a close. The oldest son asked me where I was from. I told him I was from Washington DC and he asked if it was pretty there. I said, “Yeah, I think so.” He then asked, “Is it destroyed?” I was not quite sure how to respond to that. Later I realized that this kid’s life for as long as he could remember has been destroyed.

The other family, a father and his two teenage sons, was a very different story. They were rebuilding their own house to make sure that everything is water proof. They used cement drywall instead of regular drywall. The point was for the house to withstand shaking, turning upside down, and floating in the next hurricane! They have been rebuilding their house ever since they returned a few days after the storm and still have a lot of work to do. In spite of their constant struggle, they have maintained a happy atmosphere in the house and willingly teach volunteers how to rebuild their house.

Despite some progress, an unbelievable number of people are still living in FEMA trailers. Katrina may not be in the news as much, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need our help anymore. The volunteers are slowly petering out but the number of people who need help is still very large. They still need our help.

Bruce Sponsler
My VIM trip to Mississippi was truly a rewarding experience. Working together with fellow Christians to do God's work where it is most needed was a great opportunity to show His love. The people we helped were so thankful, as you might imagine. But they showed me the real meaning of patience - the kind of patience I don't often see. Working hand in hand with volunteers, many who, like me, had no real experience in rebuilding projects, they never once showed any frustration or impatience. After what they have been through, I thought this was remarkable. My fellow team members from MMUMC could not have been more welcoming to me. I received so much more than I gave, and for that I am a truly thankful servant. Please consider God's call and join us next year!

And so we reach the end

As I sit and write this entry, much of the team is cleaning our lodging space in the church and preparing for our departure (I guess there are advantages to writing the last night's blog). We are tired, but happy at knowing we have made a least a small difference in a few lives in this devastated part of the country.

For those of us who usually sit at a desk all day, there is a great sense of satisfaction at seeing tangible results of our work, be it hanging drywall, cabinets, doors or ceiling fans, painting, wiring, carpentry and much more. It's amazing what can be accomplished with limited ability, but a willingness to try (then again, we are Christ's hands in action, and he was a carpenter). But the greatest rewards are the smiles and thanks from our owners, and the looks on the faces of the children who see their home coming back to life.

Unfortunately, there is also a great sense of frustration at knowing there is more we wanted to do, and so much more that needs to be done - not just in the homes of Sharonda and Jake, but all across the Gulf Coast.

It is unbelievable that nearly two years after the hurricane so much work remains. In New Orleans, block after block after block consist of homes in various stages of rehab or still waiting to be destroyed. Throughout the city countless families are still living in Katrina trailers, many in yards that would have seemed hardly big enough to hold the trailer before the storm.

In contrast, the area around Pass Christian seems defined by what is not here. As opposed to last summer when MMUMC sent a team here, there very little debris. The area has been cleaned up very well. But in driving around, one becomes aware of something else that is missing. There are entire blocks where each lot still has a foundation, but the houses aren't there any more. It is not unusual to see front steps leading to a home that is no longer there.

Lindsey received a stark reminder of how Katrina remains in many ways the defining characteristic of the lives of those who live here - especially the children. As she was painting in Sharonda's house with Quentin and Xavier, they were talking about her home in Washington, DC. The boys wanted to know if the area was pretty, and if it was destroyed, too.

So we may leave Mississippi, but Mississippi will never leave us. As we return to our homes and day to day lives, Sharonda, Jake and all those down here who are still struggling to put there lives back together will long stay in our hearts and prayers.

Richie and Tracker, Big Jake and Little Jake

Sharonda, Xavier and Quentin under the watchful eye of Craig

Eliza was a constant source of cheer for all the team

Craig, Clark and Mike from New Jersey trimming a door

Jennifer was so intent on her work we couldn't get her attention for a picture

Bruce and Jeremy putting the finishing touches on cement board drywall at Jake's.

Austin displays his new skill

"Mr. Fanman, build me a fan . . ."

Lee enjoys the opportunity to work instead of training his many apprentices

Clark supervises his subcontractor, Quentin

Lindsey and Xavier apply a coat of paint

Back in the Saddle Again

We returned to work today reinvigorated by our trip to New Orleans. Jeremy, Bruce, and Jennifer were joined by Lindsey at Jake's house. There they continued installing the cement board that will help make his house better able to withstand the next hurricane. When the next one comes, as Jake is sure it will, he hopes to power wash the mud and debris out and move back in. The cement board installation requires painstaking measurements, like those pictured below.




It also requires teamwork to cut the cement board with diamond blade saws. Here Jennifer and Jeremy team up to trim a little off of a tight fitting board.




Teamwork was also required for making cuts on the table saw. Here Howie from the New Jersey team, and Bruce and Lindsey demontrate their cutting technique.

At Sharonda's house, Lee, Craig, Clark, Eliza, and Austin were greeted by a large pile of electical and plumbing fixtures and carpet from Jocelyn's trip to Lowe's on Wednesday. So, while we were eating, drinking, and being merry, she was shopping!




So, we spent the day finishing the baseboard and door installations, installing electical and plumbing fixtures, and begining to paint. Here Austin demonstrates the proper technique for installing outlets -- if you have a sprained ankle.






Here Clark prepares a vanity before mounting the sink.


Rejuvenated by the trip to New Orleans, Eliza was so intent on her painting she wouldn't even stop a second to get her picture taken.



Tomorrow will be our last day and we are planning a big push at Sharonda's house to get as much done as possible. If things go well, she and her family should be back into her house in early August -- nearly two years after the storm.

Our Day in New Oeleans

Today was a scheduled day off so we piled in the vans and headed to "The Big Easy", New Orleans! Our first stop was in the lower 9th Ward to see first hand the devastation these families have been living with for nearly two years. Words are inadequate to describe the level of destruction that this part of the city has suffered. Some homes are in different stages of rebuilding but far too many are abandoned with an unknown fate.

We walked up to the levee at the Industrial Canal at the Holy Cross section of the Lower 9th Ward and could only imagine that area during the storm and its immediate aftermath. Next, we drove to Lake Pontchartrain and saw some beautiful homes on Lakeshore Drive. These homes were also in various stages of rebuilding but were generally far ahead of most of the other areas we visited.

We were all ready for lunch and headed downtown and had a great lunch at Mother's, a very cool and well known local restaurant. After lunch, we all split up and set off to see downtown New Orleans - Canal Street, the French Quarter, the Voo Doo House and so many other little stops and shops that give this city such a great culture. The French Quarter seemed to sustain minimal damage and to still have the tourism dollars coming in is a blessing for the whole city.

At 6 o'clock, we all met at Jackson Square and heard a great street band before we set out for dinner. We went to Acme Oyster House, a very popular spot in the French Quarter. "Oysters stewed, oysters fried, oysters on the half shell that never died..." They were delicious and we almost all tried some. After a wonderful dinner, we had to start thinking about starting for home, Pass Christian, MS. It was a quick trip back, with Jeremy and Lee doing a great job behind the wheel, as they have done the whole trip. God has blessed us with another safe day (and Coast 102, the Greatest Songs Of All Time) and we are looking forward to our last two days of work. (Don't forget to ask Austin about the oyster shooters.)

As we started our day with a relaxed breakfast, we split into two teams to serve others in the day ahead. Lee, Craig, Clark, Lindsey, and Jennifer headed back to the house where rebuilding had occurred on Monday. The work continued today as baseboards were measured, cut, and laid. Doors were installed, a bathroom vanity was put in, electrical work began, and a floor was scraped. A day of progress as we look forward to meeting new challenges when the group returns on Thursday. Photos below are of this project.

Jeremy, Eliza, Bruce, and Austin joined another volunteer team from New Jersey and worked on a house which had been flooded over the roof line during the hurricane, but some structure remained. The homeowner is taking an approach of making a "hurricane recoverable" house. The outside of the house is anchored with a 2 foot thick exterior cement slab, and wooden joists and hurricane metal straps run throughout. The homeowner uses foam insulation and cement wall--in place of regular dry wall. This is where our team came into play. The group installed cement wall--a very heavy undertaking. Challenges included cutting the cement board with a diamond blade table saw--lots of sparks and precision. Overall, the project went very well and they look forward to returning on Thursday. Photos below are of this project.

After a day of service, everyone returned back to First United Methodist and enjoyed a great hamburgers, corn on the cob, salad, lemonade, and s'mores. We look forward to a trip to New Orleans tomorrow.

First Day of Work

Today the groups woke bright and early to a Mississippi sunrise and then traveled out to our job sites. Groups spent time working on installing dry wall, hanging cabinets, sinking screws, and hauling debris. The homeowner at the site where the cabinets were installed was in awe of the progress that was made today. She reveled in the fact that her kitchen now "looks like a kitchen". All were very appreciative for the work that was done today.