This was a good day for our team as we accomplished many good tasks. We started by working on the home of the woman who is coordinating all the teams coming into Trinity UMC. They were 2 blocks from the coast and the only reason her 100+ year old house still stands is likely because of some apartments between her and the beach. They had no insurance so we were focusing on saving as much of their possessions as possible. Our team was really looking forward to this and we got quite a bit done. Her husband had specifically mentioned a few things he wanted and when he was given his Boy Scout badges once we found them he got all choked up.
We have a pastor on the team, and she took over the visitation for Trinity's pastor for the day while several members of our group fed the city workers lunch at the church. Afterward, they and several others from the group loaded up many supplies from the church and delivered them to the Christian Life Church relief area we had seen the day before. They were ecstatic to get everything we brought. When one of our trucks went back for a second trip (35 min one way), they were recognized by someone who brought over the cook. He hugged them and said they wouldn't have to use some of their lunch supplies for breakfast tomorrow. They cried when they saw the 3 boxes of fresh fruit that was in that load; some people are getting sick because they are lacking certain foods or vitamins. This church's ministry is making 2000 servings for each meal and feed the rich and poor alike because they all have nothing now. The cars park all along US 90 and Route 603 to get a meal. The critical needs are bedding and fresh fruit but they will take anything. After Bruce and I dropped off our load,we drove to the coast and finally got to see the real devastation. This is the view down Hoffman Lane in Waveland just on the other side of the tracks.
I'm glad had gotten to see so much already because I probably would have broken down at what I saw. While everything is gone along the Gulfport/Biloxi coastline, it only extends inward for 1 or 2 blocks while it's well over 1000 feet at Waveland and Bay Saint Louis. It's incomprehensible. I found it odd that they don't have checkpoints you have to pass through over here like they do in Long Beach to Biloxi. Perhaps they figure there is nothing to loot here? There were several homeowners who were camped out on their slabs or land, which you don't see in Gulfport. It was clear a couple were guarding their property though there wasn't anything to guard.
Here is my (almost) sunset picture of the day. This is an Episcopal church in Bay Saint Louis.
We have a pastor on the team, and she took over the visitation for Trinity's pastor for the day while several members of our group fed the city workers lunch at the church. Afterward, they and several others from the group loaded up many supplies from the church and delivered them to the Christian Life Church relief area we had seen the day before. They were ecstatic to get everything we brought. When one of our trucks went back for a second trip (35 min one way), they were recognized by someone who brought over the cook. He hugged them and said they wouldn't have to use some of their lunch supplies for breakfast tomorrow. They cried when they saw the 3 boxes of fresh fruit that was in that load; some people are getting sick because they are lacking certain foods or vitamins. This church's ministry is making 2000 servings for each meal and feed the rich and poor alike because they all have nothing now. The cars park all along US 90 and Route 603 to get a meal. The critical needs are bedding and fresh fruit but they will take anything. After Bruce and I dropped off our load,we drove to the coast and finally got to see the real devastation. This is the view down Hoffman Lane in Waveland just on the other side of the tracks.
I'm glad had gotten to see so much already because I probably would have broken down at what I saw. While everything is gone along the Gulfport/Biloxi coastline, it only extends inward for 1 or 2 blocks while it's well over 1000 feet at Waveland and Bay Saint Louis. It's incomprehensible. I found it odd that they don't have checkpoints you have to pass through over here like they do in Long Beach to Biloxi. Perhaps they figure there is nothing to loot here? There were several homeowners who were camped out on their slabs or land, which you don't see in Gulfport. It was clear a couple were guarding their property though there wasn't anything to guard.
Here is my (almost) sunset picture of the day. This is an Episcopal church in Bay Saint Louis.
posted by Michael Ray at 12:10 AM
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