Gulfport Mississippi

Like most of you, I watched the unfolding tragedy in New Orleans and along the Mississippi coast. I was sitting with a friend and we began to discuss what our response should be. Neither of us wanted to be hasty in our actions, yet haste seemed warranted. We decided to spend some time praying and waiting.

After almost a week, no answer seemed to come. I was telling God I was willing to respond, but there seemed no avenue. How could there be this scale of a disaster and no one asking us for help, except to send money, something we had very little of. Later that day, a week after the initial storm, I received a call from some friends at Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Michigan. They were returning from Gulfport having been asked by World Hope International to do a damage assessment and to see what response was called for. They felt I had something to offer and asked would I head down there to help figure out what needed to be done.

I immediately said yes, feeling this was what I had been waiting for, and thought it best to assemble a team of 6-8 people, along with supplies. After a few calls we planned a departure for the following Monday, giving us 4 days to put it all together. The 6-8 people swelled to 10-12, then 16-18, and finally I closed things at 20. Somehow 4 others managed to sneak in, and on Monday 12th September we left with 5 vehicles, towing 2 trailers, over 4000 pounds of goods and 24 people from 8 nationalities representing 5 churches.

Gulfport is 1200 miles (2000 km) from Philadelphia and we drove straight through. Upon arrival we immediately set to work, breaking into 5 crews. These were tree cutting (later to become roofing), counseling, cooking/cleaning, distribution and admin. We found, as expected, things in a hectic state. Those who had preceded us were working tirelessly to help the community, through a local church, Little Rock Missionary Baptist. We were able to come alongside those there and begin to bring some order and cohesion to the work. The admin team focused on finding out everything possible about the community, available services, other relief in the area, and setting up the church to feed and house 80 people.
Other teams began arriving and we were joined by people who had come to Gulfport to help, with no idea where they would be helping, sleeping or eating. Each day we fed and housed not only the “official teams”, numbering about 70 by this time, but also 5-20 others.

The tree cutters moved through the community, cutting tress that had fallen on houses and cars. Few houses were spared. Later in the week they began patching the holes left in the roofs with tarps.
The counselors spent time out in the community, focusing on the projects and Red Cross shelters. Dispensing both food and love they had no shortage of people to speak with.
Our cooks and cleaners kept the rest of us fed and living in great conditions. Four showers were erected and the place began to take shape.

3 days each week a large tent was opened, full of everything a person might need to get by for a week. Over 300 people were served each time it was opened. Trucks would arrive from different parts of the country. No one seemed to know when the trucks would come, nor how they even knew about the work, but arrive they would. Everything from frozen chicken to chocolate to cleaning supplies would be on the trucks.

It is almost impossible to describe the devastation in parts of the town, so I won’t even try. I can say that our team was amazing, God blessed all they laid their hands to, and great things happened. I would ask that you pray especially for the police and military in the area. I was able to spend time with some officers and soldiers, praying with them, serving them coffee and chocolate. At some point they will have to stop and think about all they have seen, and I fear what will happen to them if no one is alongside them to “debrief”.

We are hoping to send at least one more team down this year, and probably continue a relationship with that community long term. At times it felt like the story of the star fish (let me know if you don’t know this old African tale) but I believe God will continue to do great things.

I would like to thank all those who gave items and money for the trip and especially those who up and left jobs and family at such short notice. I have never worked with such a self-less group of people, willing to do whatever, whenever.
Those who went were Nes, Emma, Bobbi Jo, Danny, Gracie, Tony, Jessie, Jonny, Jeff, Sylane, Robyn, Jack, Joel, Rose, George. Greg, Steve, Al, Amir, Wayne, Wanda, Jen and Maher. I must add that we returned with only 23. Jen Mori felt called to stay for the month. In my opinion she was by far the most valuable person to the work there, being a great administrator and leader of people.