|
Hurricane
Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005. This report
discusses the trips that have been under the sponsorship of
the Presbytery.
The Presbytery
sent the first mission relief team down in the first week of
November 2005. There were three teams in November 2005 that
were sponsored by the Presbytery. Several churches sent
teams down from their churches in 2005 and later years.
There have been trips each fall and spring since November
2005. The first seven trips were to the Mississippi Gulf
Coast.
Each member of
the team is responsible for funding his or her expenses for
the cost of the trips. Several of the congregations
provided these funds and in other cases the members paid
their own way. Many congregations provided gift cards and
donations for funds used in the repair and rebuilding of
homes. Initially, some congregations provided equipment and
tools. Teams have ranged in size from 18 in March 2006 to
54 in March 2007. The average team size has been 39
members.
On six of the
trips to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we were at the PDA camp
in Orange Grove. One trip was to the D’ Iberville PDA
camp. On the eighth trip, we went to the PDA camp in Texas
City. On the initial trips, we mucked out homes; on later
trips, we helped rebuild homes along the Mississippi Gulf
Coast. The teams work on the average of five to six homes
each trip.
Team members
have ranged in age from 18 to 87 years. There is work for
all skill levels. We have a strong group of skilled leaders
who have been excellent teachers for those less skilled.
All members come away with new-found skills and feelings of
accomplishment. The survivors served have made a lasting
impact on the lives of each of the team members.
The March and
October 2008 trips were to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where
we worked on eight different homes making repairs from the
damage of Hurricane Katrina.
In March 2009
we went to the Texas Gulf Coast, where we worked on six
homes repairing damage from hurricane Ike. There is much
work to be done to get the damage from Katrina and Ike
repaired and the survivor lives back to as much a normal
state as possible.
David Legg |
