Friday, March 31, 2006 - Lutheran Disaster Relief

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

Spoke with Judy Bultman at the Lutheran Disaster Relief office in Biloxi....

They are involved with an interfaith disaster taskforce to work together. They are helping a tent city in Bethel and have a free medical clinic and case work management.

Waveland and Bay St Louis are really devastated. Near the coast, the land is cleaned off, because it was all washed out to sea.

200,000 people in the area have been homeless since last September. Words can't describe it.

Over the past 7 months, they have had the help of over 4000 volunteers.

"The greatest thing I can say is how it [the disaster] brought us together."

Some stats of homes and businesses destroyed:

Biloxi 70%

Gulfport 80-85%

Waveland 90%

Claremont Harbor 100%

Claremont Harbor was a small rural community of 400 people, who have been totally displaced.

Friday, March 31, 2006 - Ted, Jim, and Dave

"I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself" Exodus 19:4

Ted, Jim, and Dave met at OSLC at 4:00 AM, Friday, to go to the airport and catch a 6:00 flight to Atlanta. They were in Gulfport before lunch.

In the afternoon they went ot see the area. By the coast "it looks like a giant tsunami hit" within 1/2 to 1 mile, all that is left are the slabs and streets. Everything was wiped clean.

On the way from the airport, they saw a tractor -trailer still stuck up in the trees, where it floated during the hurricane. Abandoned, overturned cars litter the roadside. Trash is up in the trees, everywhere.

On a good note, accomodations are comfortable. They're sleeping in the church and in one of the RV's, parked outside.

In the area, there are a couple of fast food restaurants -- Chinese, Mexican, BarBQ.. Localk stores WalMart and Rite aid are open, though damaged.

In Waveland, there's a church, with it's steeple sitting on the ground, next to it. A sign cautions not to remove it during clean-up. One day they will get a crane and put it back.

"Debris is everywhere.

"It looks like ground-zero at Hiroshima"

Thursday, March 30, 2006 - A Long Drive

Gregg and Troy are leaving after supper to Drive to Waveland. This is a 30+ hour trip. In addition to this project, they are planning to meet with the local Boy Scout Troop in Waveland. Troy is member of Troop 16 BSA in Danvers, MA.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006 -

"The Bricks have fallen down,
but we will rebuild...
trees have been felled,
but we will replace them... " Isaiah 9:10


Wednesday evening, I called Fred Breland, in Waveland.

He and his family live midway between the church and the bay. Closer to the bay, 30 feet of water cleared away everything. The church received 5 feet of water..... Remarkably they didn't get any flooding in their home.

The conditions on the ground in Waveland...

He said "it's impossible to get the true story [of the devasatation], unless you see it and take it in with all your senses"

the Route 90 bridge between Bay St Louis and Pass Christian is still out. To go to Gulfport, they need to go about 5 miles North to Route 10 and then East. This adds a half hour to trips across the bay, when they need to get something.

Lines in building supply stores are often 45 minutes. Everyone needs to get the same things. Also, the help in the stores is less experiences, so things take longer.

The Waffle House, a local coffee shop, and other fast food restaurants are open for business. The coffee shop is very busy with all the work crews going there.

Trains are running.

Some of the prior group report being able to connect to the internet through wireless in some nearby businesses.

At the Lutheran Church of the Pines...

A team from NJ is working on the air conditioning.

A grand re-opening is planned for this July.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - Waveland on NBC Nightly News

The NBC Nightly News ran a Ron Mott's story on Waveland, MS. -- The scenes still look like the pictures in the Waveland video. The Route 90 bridge, over Biloxi Bay, is still out.

The town has a concensus to rebuild. Mayor Tommy Longo says it is estimated at $100Million. FEMA has committed $39M. People have actually received only $2M to date. People are going ahead and rebuilding their property with savings and loans, even before getting their insurance checks.

The volunteers are making a big difference. In the old town center, a marketplace has re-opened outdoors, in tents.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - Letters From Friends

We are so blessed to have the great support of friends, neighbors and relatives, as we start this journey.

Some quotes from the letters:

"I will pray for you and the others

"Thanks for including me in your thoughts. You will be in my thoughts and prayers as well on your upcoming mission.

"I've just received your lovely email (haven't opened the photos yet). Am glad to hear from you, and will be sending a small gift to help with your venture of assistance to great need.

I'm delighted to learn that, as well as being a superb photographer, you are a true Christian. You may or may not know that I was a missionary in the Philippines for over two decades.

"We are on spring break with my family at the moment and send our best wishes for safe journey. The kids did alot of work for Pass Christian, MS through their school...we sent a whole truck load of clothes and supplies for the town.

"We will keep you in our prayers and wish you God's blessings on this wonderful venture.

"I look forward to keeping in touch with you and your fellow travelers, and hope to meet you soon!

"I will be praying for you and the team during your week in Mississippi.

"Very laudable and worthwhile trip; I wish you all the best with it

"We will be praying for you and your team.

"[we] have spent a lot of time on the coast helping our 178 associates survive. 1/3 lost their homes!

"I'll be praying for you and your team that you'll be able to encourage the Body of Christ and have open opportunities to share the Gospel in the process. I also be praying that your blog site and the actual pictures themselves will be used as a catalyst in the Northeast area to open up doors to pray and evangelize in unique ways. Sounds big, but with God all things are possible.

Monday, March 27, 2006 -- Waveland Video

See the Waveland video -- link at the right.

The Boy Scouts of the Tulpe Lodge, Annawon Council, in Norton, MA have made a trip to Waveland, to help with the rebuilding. Their video shows Waveland close-up.

Sunday, March 26, 2006 -- Team Meeting

Matthew Beish - l ( missions coordinator ) and Ted Gray - r (team leader) discussing last minute updates.


Ted read an e-mail from Fred Breland, from the Lutheran Church of the Pines in Waveland.

"We look forward to your visit. We have been blessed with so many good Christian folks coming from all over the country to help us recover. Each group brings us a little closer to restoring our church buildings and creates new friendships.

We are able to locate most everything we need. But it requires patience. Everyone is looking for the same materials and there are long lines at the nearby (25 miles) home centers.

" our greatest need is for skilled workers who can assess the situation, know what needs to be done, how to do it, and can get it done.

"Tree work is not a major need.

"You may stay at our church in Waveland. We have two RV's donated by Mt Calvary Lutheran, in Acton, MA. If they are occupied, when you arrive, you can bunk in the church. We have two air mattresses and two cots. More are available at the local Wal-Mart. The church has a working kitchen, a shower, and hot water, and we hope to have the air conditioners working by next week. (Pray for that as it has been very warm here lately)

"Yes, the church needs lots of work. The details seem endless! (Sheetrock finish, paint doors, windows, trim, floor tile repairs, etc. etc. )

"There is no internet service at the church. You are welcome to come to my home and send your mail.

"Water is on and safe to drink. Most people prefer to drink bottled water, though, which is plentiful in the area.

"

Team meeting - Sunday afternoon

Sunday, March 26, 2006 -- Think Globally, Act Locally

At the sending today were two graduate students, who attend Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, in Hamilton. One is from Africa, and the other, from India. They are both involved in building the Christian church in their own countries.

One of my friends replied back to my e-mail about the trip...

"You may or may not know that I was a missionary in the Philippines for over two decades."

Sunday, March 26, 2006 -- Sending

In today's church services, we had a formal ceremony commissioning the team. This consists of a prayer. During the prayer, people from the congregation place their hands on the team members.

The significance of this is: a) It is a practice that was done in Biblical times; b) it's a symbolic acknowledgment that the team is representing the people of the congregation; and c) it is an act of corporate involvement of the congregation.

Saturday, March 25, 2006 -- Blue Jeans

Saturday, we went shopping for things that would be helpful on the trip -- some comfortable Blue Jeans; T-shirts; sweat shirts; socks; work gloves; and an air-mattress.

This will all go in a box in Gregg's truck, which will leave for Waveland next Thursday Night. I'm planning to leave behind things that will be useful to people down there.

Friday, March 24, 2006 -- Telephone Calls

Part of the trip will be doing some photojournalism.

The new England district can use the pictures in communicating to potential volunteers and keeping visibility on the need. The LCMS world relief is interested to communicate the progress and successes derived from donations they have taken in.

Locally, we hope to get some placement in area newspapers.

Tony Luna, runs the Lowell Food Pantry, and attends the Lutheran church in Bedford. He recently led a team to Waveland and related the progress that had been made

They did substantial repairs in the church and helped out one elderly member of the congregation, who needed to have walls replaced in his house , after water damage. This was 5 months after Katrina, so things are still far from resolved.

A report based on experience a month ago -- The Waveland church has electricity. There is a Wal- Mart around the corner. A post office a short distance away. Cell phones work. The church has a small kitchen, running water and a shower.

Thursday March 23, 2006 -- The Tetanus Shot

I arrived at the Doctor's office on time.

Surprisingly, they didn't collect a co-payment for this (long overdue) booster shot. Vaccination is so worthwhile as a public health measure, that insurance companies want to encourage it.

Word of the trip to Mississippi had already reached the nurse, Jennifer. She was full of enthusiasm. My regular doctor was on vacation... the doctor on call had approved it and said "OK, give the puppy his shot"

"Too bad you didn't bring a camera so we could take a picture for your blog.

"Yeah. Do you have one here ?

a minute later...

"This is Desiree. ( with a cell phone camera )

"Don't worry, these tend to burn a little. You'll just feel a little pinch as the needle goes in.

"I hate it when that happens.