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!