Mission of Hope for Biloxi

Following the Sunday worship service on November a team of 12 church members from MPC set out on a 15-hour journey to the Gulf coast. Their destination: a make-shift Presbyterian disaster assistance camp set up at a Presbyterian church just outside of Gulfport, Mississippi . Established as a home base for mission trips for Presbyterian churches across the nation, this is only one of many church-run camps set up across a 300-hundred-mile swath of the coast ravished by Hurricane Katrina. From this camp, MPC’s missionary team was given daily assignments to directly assist the residents of Biloxi . Their assignments were not to rebuild—sadly, for most residents such events are still well ahead in their future. Rather, on the surface their tasks were to gut houses and to clean up the countless volumes of debris that is everywhere. It is but one step of a painfully long restoration process. But as the team eventually came to realize, their real mission was much more than tearing out dry wall and pushing wheelbarrows; it was really about bringing hope to good folks who have lost so much. What follows are the images and the personal accounts by some of the participants who proudly represented our church on this mission trip. 

  Perspective: Skip Wissinger 

 Due to previous on-the-job experiences with various disasters - from the mudslides in Puerto Rico to the fires at Yellowstone - I felt qualified to envision what the Gulf Coast area would look like. During the trip preparation phase and the actual travel to the Gulfport, MS area, I felt confident that my expectations would be relatively accurate, even as we approached parts.

 What I was not prepared for  was the unimaginable magnitude  of damage across the entire city  of Biloxi – a city roughly the size  of Harrisonburg . We later learned  that within Biloxi , 5000 homes  had been destroyed and who  knows how many others severely  damaged. I tried to imagine a third  of Harrisonburg destroyed with  many of the remaining homes  severely damaged. The high  water flood mark at eye level on  the interior walls of the homes  provided a visual link to the storm  surge footprint, but the personal  impact to a family’s home I  could only partially comprehend.  Heartbreaking scenes the Gulf coast area and began seeing trees along the highway broken mid-way high and further south as blue tarps appeared - temporary repairs to roofs. I found it interesting that the damaged trees and need for roof tarps showed no consistent pattern – some areas had little or no storm damage but nearby areas were devastated. I thought – how capricious a storm can be!

Upon arrival at our camp (home base for the week) near Gulfport, MS our group was given our first assignment in nearby Biloxi, MS for the afternoon. That’s when my expectations began to unravel. Granted, the physical work unfolded somewhat as expected – removing interior wall and ceiling board, sub-floor material, wet insulation, etc. leaving only bare exposed framing  block after block, of sidewalks piled up  with broken house parts and ruined interior  furnishings will forever remain with me.

 As the week  unfolded scenes from  the south side of  Biloxi yielded sights  beyond even my  initial experiences.  The coastal edge of  the city, most directly  impacted by the storm  surge from Hurricane  Katrina, sadly showed  the incredibly powerful  force that water  wields. Here, the only  remaining signs of  previous homes were  empty concrete pads  upon which family  lives had once been  built. Now, I understood the source of the huge  volume of building-material debris we had seen  scattered inland. The streets were partially  blocked by houses that had been lifted off their  foundations: houses deposited on top of cars,  boats or other debris – all marked with eerie  spray painted symbols left by earlier search  and rescue people denoting the number of  bodies found at that location, date searched  and by  whom. An overwhelming feeling of compassion  came over  me – what  these people  of Biloxi had  experienced!  That’s when I  realized that  all my mental preparations and expectations  had fallen far short of this immense and grim  reality. Neither media reports nor my own  previous experiences had prepared me for the  sheer magnitude of  this disaster or for  the immeasurable  personal loss within  the region.

  I remind myself that we saw only a  small portion of the  Hurricane Katrina’s  path of destruction. I  also now understand  that the area’s  recovery will be a very  long-term ordeal, and  I am proud to have  represented MPC in  contributing in some  way to Biloxi’s hope of  the future.  

 Perspective: Tim Miller

 As I departed on our trip with 11 other willing  souls to the unknown in Mississippi , I  wondered what lay ahead. My mind raced here  and there, hoping we had everything we needed  and praying for safe passage. I reflected on what  compelled me to take this trip. I thought about  what mission means. The definition I like best  is; Calling: an objective or task that somebody  believes is his or her duty to carry out or to  which he or she attaches special importance  and devotes special care.

  After arrival at Camp Orange Grove, we quickly set up camp and set out into the Mission Field. What I saw was complete devastation beyond belief. No picture can tell this story. It is something that has to be witnessed in person.

  We quickly “learned the ropes” of stripping the homes of their pasts to prepare them  for the future. Everywhere we turned, people were genuinely grateful that God heard their call for help. With hope to continue living in their community, many just simply did not know where to start.

 The stories they told are truly heartbreaking. I can’t even imagine the terror they endured during Katrina; the man who stood for five hours with water up to his chin, or the family who rode out the storm on the leeward side of the roof during the height of the wind. The stories are countless. True survivors!

 Out of Chaos: Hope. This is the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance motto. For those who would like to be involved in mission work, but have not for whatever reason, make the time.

 After this experience, I have returned with a different outlook on life and my spiritual well being. When you truly open your heart and mind-listen. You’ll be amazed at what you hear. I urge all of you to listen for your calling and to respond when help is needed. It will change your life. It changed mine. .

 Perspective: Larry French

 On November 6th I left MPC with eleven others on my very first mission trip. As a carpenter’s son, I packed a few hand tools for our expected work. After entering Mississippi I saw wind damage that set the tone for my curiosity. When we arrived in Biloxi , seeing the effects of Katrina was heart breaking and shocking. The damage to these homes and businesses has changed many lives forever.

 I will never forget talking to a 34-year-old Vietnamese man named Mike who has a wife and five children, ranging in age from 7 months to 10 years. Mike and his family climbed into the attic of their house to escape the flood waters that rose to seven feet in their home. The family survived the storm but their lives are forever changed. Mike’s restaurant business was also flooded as were the family’s two cars. With no job he now receives $200 per week from state unemployment for the family to live on. He has no money to repair their home because the banks did not require him to carry flood insurance. The family continues to live in their home that has been mostly gutted. Their kitchen and bathrooms have mold, but there is no money to remodel. I pray for Mike and his family; their problems are significant. Mike is only one of thousands of people who are victims of Katrina…

 I read the newspaper differently now. I read every article about Katrina, reflecting back on my one-week experience in Biloxi . My heart is more open to people who have more problems and are less fortunate than me. This single-week mission trip has changed my life. I hope and pray for the people of Biloxi . .

Perspective: Sherry Gordon

 What a tremendous experience our short time in Biloxi was! After 2 1/2 months the destruction and upheaval of people’s lives was still so evident. I’m sure it will continue for months to come. Each day we were given assignments by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance director at our camp in Orange Grove. We were sent into East Biloxi approximately four blocks from the ocean. The water levels on these home reached approximately 6-7 feet. Our job was to clean up outside debris, which included outbuildings and gutting homes. We pulled out drywall, plaster, ceilings and floors. The homes are ready then to be treated with a chlorine spray in an attempt to kill the mold that saturated everything. At that point more volunteer groups will arrive to help rebuild. We were able to meet several of our homeowners and they were very thankful for our efforts. As our pastor-director at camp stated repeatedly, “Our job was to give hope out of chaos.” It was better for these homeowners to see work and progress on their homes even though we were tearing down instead of rebuilding. It is a process they understand and emotionally it gives them strength and hope for tomorrow.

 It was wonderful to see the many Presbyterians and other church groups from all over the country volunteering their time to help others. The churches certainly appear to command the most active presence in the Gulf and are doing the majority of the work there. It should make us all very proud to be a part of organized religion and see first hand the church at work.

 Of course, the best part, as always, was the comraderie that developed throughout the week among our group of twelve. We had great times around the cook stove and grill each evening as we reviewed our day (no campfires allowed). We ate well thanks to Dale, Phil, Dwight and Mark who brought and prepared great meals for us. Who would ever think that 12 people could actually eat 36 hamburgers? Thanks also to Betsy Newman for her homemade goodies.

 We hope to send another group in March to help rebuild. I hope that you will consider being a part of this wonderful experience. .

 Perspective: Phil Miller

 The devastation and the needs of the people in Biloxi was an eye-opener. It was a pleasure working with the eleven other church members and the residents of the houses we worked within. I especially enjoyed getting to know the members I traveled down with; working with them and cooking with them. Overall it was a great experience and I’m ready to do it again. ..