New Years Eve--Happy New Year!

Today seemed much better than yesterday. We have made amazing progress on Miss Anna's house--we have it all primed except for the highest peak and have the first coat of the final blue well on its way. Miss Anna's family has started to arrive for their big New Year's celebration--her grandchildren arrive tonight. She still stopped in the middle of her preparations to bring us our Mexican coffee and treats. She also gave me seeds to distribute from her Confederate Roses which are a multi color rose that she especially treasures.
The connections that came through her have now all received quite a bit of help. Maria's house has a room framed, lots of outlets, fans, chandeliers, smoke detectors wired, etc. Lee was thrilled with the crew that showed up there (Maria's neighbor) ---one group worked on levelling the house with him and others worked on packing up the vase collection from the house to move it into boxes and out to the garage. Tomorrow a big crew will be going to pour the foundation over at the swamp at Captain Jack's. We are all feeling an urgency with only one more day to go.
We had lunch at the Baptist Church and it was good to see Rev. Rawls and his wife--she gave me a big hug as I entered. Saw the team from WVa that we've seen at this time on other trips. Met a retired couple that sold their home and live in an RV, travelling around the country to locations where there is a need coordinated by an organization in Illinois. They have been here for a couple of months and will stay til Feb. 1st. I suggested to Bill that we retire early and stay here for a while but he pointed out neither of us could tolerate the bugs. (Of course there are a few other considerations :) )Those gnats aren't supposed to be out now but they haven't gotten the news and we're all covered with bites. The weather was in the 70's yesterday but cooler today--which was good because the breeze kept the bugs away.
One of the families that we've worked with before is close to being in their home but there is no money to finish--I'm thinking of trying to get a figure as to what is needed and then see if we can't do some fundraising. I'll keep trying to get a response from Ellen (Degeneres) :)'s
It's almost time for our meeting to start so will stop here--I just have a few photos from today so will upload those tomorrow. I hope that this year, with a new administration, will bring some more focus on the plight of people along the Gulf Coast. It is horrendous that there is so much need so long after the hurricane. Volunteers continue to help but that has slowed somewhat--Ben's next group isn't coming for 6 weeks. It is so frustrating to be here and see what is needed and to hear the stories of the abuse of funds allocated for relief and to hear about the lack of help from our government. Personally it is frustrating that this is all we can do--our expenses for these 6 trips and our time are what we have to give and will continue to give until the job in this town is done---but that committment is not enough for all that there is to do. I pray that as this year and our time here come to an end, the work that we've done and the lives that we have touched will help to give at least some of these people hope for the New Year. Happy New Year to all of you and thanks for all of your support throughout our endeavors in Pearlington whether financial or otherwise.
PS Heard at our meeting that Craig, our electrician, diagnosed the problem, got the part, and fixed the man lift for this couple whose home had been completed 6 weeks ago. He was unable to see the inside of his new home because they had installed steps instead of a ramp and because the new lift wouldn't work. Craig and his crew stopped by today just in time to see them use it so that he could enter his new home for the first time. Certainly that made for a happy new year for all concerned.

Part 2: Photos from 12/30

Miss Anna's house--the oldest house and 1st school in Pearlington, Mississippi
The addition's wall to the right was taken off by Katrina and all her furniture and dishes washed out with the 9 feet of water that swept in. She found things blocks away but managed to retrieve an amazing number of family treasures in the mud--she had almost 2 feet of mud in the house!
Sammy and Sandy putting the finishing touches on the garage--all we were initally hoping to get done--we have now done the addition and started on the house!
Douglas was overwhelmed by the warm greeting Miss Anna gave him when he arrived to help after lunch!
Jeff, Sandy, Debbie, Me, Miss Anna, Melanie, Sammy, and Ellen after our special lunch
Jeff in the foreground and Douglas on ladder in the back working on the primer for the house
The cross and the rocks (from Mexico) survived Katrina intact and in exactly the same position--Miss Anna calls it a miracle---with a wall of the house gone along with 36 trees, this cross survived in it's vertical position, unmoved!
The girls wanted a picture in front of the "old thing" so Bill & Guy stepped behind them :)
The college kids and teenagers at the beach
The Walton Family--Bill and Lynn each on their 4th trip and Douglas on his 6th
Far left a new house down the road--to the right of the hydrant the ruins of another......
The Gulf of Mexico from the beach in Waveland...and 2 shoes!
Sunset over Bay St. Louis looking in places much as it did on our first trip............

More than halfway done..... 12/30/08

We realized this morning that we were at the halfway point--3 days of work complete and 3 days to go. Today seemed a little "off" for me. Part of that is the usual frustration that hits now as we realize how much we have to do and how little time we have to do it in. It was also frustrating to have things interfere with our ability to help--the late check for materials, the lack of money for materials, the store not having the paint, the absence of the man who needed to direct a crew, etc. We ended up with 12 of us working on Miss Anna's house--which is huge and can use the crew but, she is in her home and there are so many that are not. Perhaps I was feeling guilty that I have so enjoyed working for this delightful woman and especially listening to her stories---I asked how she had met her husband and will share that tale another time but it was a magical story. I think that God has us where he wants us to be and as long as I remember that my frustration fades somewhat :) We had crews at Maria's again--Bill and Craig are still working on wiring--and will be for weeks--could be for weeks. A crew went over to Phyllis and Lee's home but he wasn't there to direct the work and the house has to be levelled before doors and windows can be done. We had a special treat today--Miss Anna made our crew lunch--excellent soup and sandwiches. The other crews went to the Missionary Baptist Church which is still serving lunch to volunteers 3 years later. The new and returning members of our team really enjoyed seeing Rev. Rawls and of course the fine food provided by the ladies there. We ended the day a little early and went for our usual drive to the Gulf Coast beach area through Waveland and Bay St. Louis (we're on a bayou a little inland.) It was bittersweet as we viewed new construction but still saw so many places where houses once stood still not rebuilt or even started. I'll post photos from today after dinner and our meeting in a Part 2 :)

Too tired to write but hopefully photos are worth.....

The first day--getting ready to head out to our jobs
Jonathon and Douglas sleeping at lunch break
Lunch--note Gail on the tractor in back!
Sandy painting at Maria's

Bill working on the electrical outlets at Maria's house
Gail & Regina on lunch break
Melanie & Sammy working on primer on wall of garage at Miss Anna's

Jeff finds the King in his piece of King Cake at the end of our meeting
Melanie on stepladder finishing the final coat of blue paint on Miss Anna's garage
Miss Anna, Ellen, Lynn, Debbie & Sandy on our coffee break with her special Mexican coffee
Lynn on a stepladder working on the prime coat of paint on Miss Anna's house

Ellen & Miss Anna in front of the house

Connections--Sunday, December 28, 2008

Not sure what Douglas and Brittany were trying to explain to Jonathon at lunch.....

Today was summed up by the following two words---connections and patience. (I'm not very good with that 2nd one!) Rain was forecast so painting was our for our crew so we followed up with Miss Anna to find out about the friend she had that needed some help and we tried to get in touch with Sam, the dog person, to see if we could do any work for him. Doug's crew was back doing finish work and Bill back out installing appliances. We went to Maria's house after calling her first without any idea of what she needed done. Having spent most of the morning trying to track down folks and make contact we were ready for just about anything. (Remember that there were 16 other people out working at other sites.) Maria showed us two rooms that had been badly painted--one needed another coat as what was there was very uneven and the previous painters had gotten paint on the ceiling and ceiling paint on the walls.... Maria spent a lot of time with us telling her story---one of the most important things we do is to listen to those. She has to be out of her Katrina Cottage by the end of February. Evidently today's paper talked about recent evictions as the cottages were taken away and the people left homeless!!! They were desperate for electrical help so Bill came over later in the afternoon too.
So much to tell and so little time at this point---the FEMA trailer that made them all sick, the missing check that hasn't arrived and to reissue will take 2 months which they don't have to meet the deadline...how she and others in the community help each other....etc. She was very concerned about her neighbors who have been so depressed that they haven't really been able to do much and they have the same deadline. Maria and Ricky don't have plumbing or floors in--no electricity, etc. and she is taking us over to see if we can help her neighbors!! Phyllis is an artist and invited us in while she finished the color she was doing on a painting. She gave us a list of things that needed to be done and would love the help. One group has already gutted the house and another worked on the roof but didn't finish. The house needs levelling, windows and doors, electricity, plumbing, etc. She was hoping to buy the Katrina Cottage and keep working on their house but she's been told she can't have 2 residences on the property.... Connections brought us from Sam to Miss Caroline--The Cat Lady --20-50 cats in residence the crew there has reported and then Miss Anna led us to Maria's family and she has led us to Phyllis and Lee. Our crew is pictured above with Maria and Ricky.
The death defying daredevil award goes to Debbie today as she climbed scaffolding to scrape and sand paint off a beam (left when other volunteers painted) so that the beam could be stained.
As always the day ended with dinner, singing, sharing about our days and devotions led by one of the kids. Not only are there connections between us and the residents but we build connections with each other as well. Hoping that it won't rain tomorrow I'm off to get some rest!

1st Day of Work--Saturday, 12/27/08

The day started for us at 6AM and by 7:30 the 10 of us at our house were dressed for work, had eaten breakfast and had made our lunches. We then waited for our leader (in Vanna White) to show up. Turns out they had a really good excuse for being late--they were pulled over by not one but 2 police cars--one blocking them from the front and the other in back! Evidently there was a BOLO out for a white van...... We climbed into our white van--Van Halen, and followed them over to Ben's house where Sue's group of 7 merged with ours and we got our instructions for the day.
Bill exercised his electical skills in a variety of places and worked briefly with Douglas who was in charge of a crew that was installing (and cutting--33.9 degree angles?) crown molding. There were some tales from Doug's group about the use of the stud finder....
I ended up in a group at Miss Anna's house which is the oldest house in Pearlington. Records only date back to 1835 due to a courthouse fire and the house was in existence then. It also was the first school house. It is a beautiful 2 story house on a wonderful piece of property. Miss Anna needed us to put the prime coat on the garage and eventually the house---and maybe actually get them painted. She was very concerned that it was going to rain and that it would ruin the paint so we gathered in a circle and prayed that the rain would hold off for a day. It did! An hour later the sun was out. Sandy, Debbie, and I were the "oldtimers" on the crew and we were joined by 3 college students--Sammie, Melanie, and Elizabeth. We sorted ourselves into those that could go high on ladders, those that could work close to the ground and then me ---I handled the middle :) Throughout the day Miss Anna told us stories and brought us drinks. Now in her 70's she has lived in the house for more than 30 years. Katrina brought in 9 feet of water taking out one of the kitchen walls and strewing her belongings all over the neighborhood. In the photo at the left she is sharing the story of the bottle collection that she and her children had that survived intact except for one bottle, they were found buried in mud in the bathtub. She showed us other wonderful family heirlooms and keepsakes such as baby cups and spoons that she miraculously found in and around her home--which was filled with 1 1/2 feet of mud after the water receded.
In the middle of the afternoon Miss Anna made Debbie and I her special Mexican coffee (no not that type Randi!)--she used cinnamon sticks and Kona coffee and it was great.
When we were cleaning up, a huge owl settled in the tree across the street and was calling to his mate. Miss Anna wanted to cook for us tomorrow but we gently refused. We totally finished the blue primer along with the pink trim primer on the garage and actually started on the wall that was replaced on the house. The final colors will be dark blue and burgundy. We took a picture with her--at the right---and hugged her goodbye promising to return on the next sunny day (it's due to rain tomorrow.)
We went back to our house, showered, and met at the other house for dinner followed by our meeting/ sharing/singing time and talking about the schedule for tomorrow. Vanna White then headed out on the daily evening expedition to Walmart.
I end the day feeling overwhelmed---frustrated at all the work that there is still to be done and all that these people have been through, and amazed---at how seamlessly our team functioned and at the wonderful spirit of Miss Anna and how thankful she was for even the smallest thibgs we were able to do. Once again I am humbled to be reminded that we receive so much more from the people in Pearlington than we are able to give to them.

December 26, 2008

It's a little after 9PM. We made it. We are in both houses in Bay St. Louis and a contingent is on the way to pick up food for breakfast at the local Walmart. We were up at 3:45AM and on the road just before 5AM. We picked up Meggie who also lives in Boulder Creek. At the airport, the lines were long but all 20 of us made it through in time. Brittany had checked us in online so we would all be in the first boarding group on Southwest. The first leg of our flight was from San Jose to Denver and the flight crew was hilarious. They inserted things into the regular spiel such as: "Federal Law prohibits disabling smoke detectors and web cams in the restrooms." When we took off and did the steep ascent, they had a race that they called over the PA featuring the blue bag of peanuts and the red bag of crackers--racing to see which got to the back of the plane first along the floor.
They were very professional when the situation warranted due to a medical emergency. They asked for a doctor and found one and then when we landed in Denver we waited for the paramedics to take the girl off the plane. They were very calm and administered oxygen, etc.
They switched back to humor as we had a bumpy approach for the landing with a song over the PA that warned us not to throw up and had everyone laughing.
The second leg to New Orleans was much less entertaining although they did thank us over the PA and the 2 other groups that were also heading to do disaster relief work. When we arrived, Brittany, Gail, Bill, and Craig went to pick up our 4 reserved vans at Alamo. I was in charge of seeing that the remaining 16 collected all the luggage and stayed together while we waited. We have decided that this part of the trip always teaches us patience. There were no vans and no cars either!! When they called me to tell me the situation, Sandy and I headed to the car rental counters---no vans, cars--at all! The guy at Hertz gave me the number for "Nifty Car Rentals" but they only had one car. Evidently due to the Sugar Bowl all cars from all agencies were gone. No one was helpful--either at their 800 numbers or in person. After AVIS told me they had nothing, Craig found a 12 passenger van there and then they found a second one! It limits our flexibility but it sure was better than the sit in we were planning at Alamo! :)
We start at 7:30AM tomorrow as we'll head into Pearlington to get our work assignments for the day. We could have done without the stress, drama, etc. but we're here safe and sound and ready to work which is what counts!

Getting Ready 12/24/08

Getting packed and organized so that we will be ready to leave on Friday morning at 5AM. We fly out of San Jose on Southwest to Denver at 8:10AM and arrive in New Orleans around 4PM. We will then drive to the 2 rental houses in Bay St. Louis which will be a 30-45 minute drive--once we have all the luggage and rental vans. There are 20 of us going--12 returnees and 8 new folks. Brittany, our group leader will be keeping a blog as well: www.ca2ms.blogspot.com This is my first blog so am hoping to be able to keep it daily while we are there. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel!