Mission Trip to Mississippi

November 3

The volunteers worked hard today. Both construction crews continued to tear out houses in Biloxi, and the kitchen crew cooked up a wonderful meal of red beans and rice with kielbasa for a hungry crowd.

The medical crew saw 32 patients in the Biloxi medical clinic at Bethel Lutheran Church. Inez and Carolyn spoke with one mother at the clinic who came in with her five children, all who were living out of their van. Although the young boy had a rash on his arm, they were reportedly in good shape. The red cross issued their family a special permit allowing them to go to a hotel every day to take showers. Carolyn said that they did not complain about their situation. "They are probably still in shock," commented Carolyn.

Crews piled household goods, drywall, appliances, insulation, and lots of mold onto the curbs to be picked up. Folks from Mississippi said that a few weeks ago entire streets looked like this.

ACTION SHOTS

Drywall Karate	Phil Sawzalls the Kitchen Cabinets
Workers Continue to Break the Walls Eight Feet Up	Crew #1's House Finally Getting There
THE Best Way to Remove a Ceiling	Tony Begins Work on Cleaning Out the Closet

Mike grabs lunch for crew #1. The Red Cross vans circulate regularly through Oceana Springs and Biloxi neighborhoods. Some homeowners in the area are still living in their homes, but most have arranged a makeshift living out of their cars or with family members.

One crew member spoke with the owner of this house as he came back today to salvage the front door frame. "We save what we can," commented the home owner. As another crew member commented, "Words and photographs can not describe the destruction and devastation. Large parts of Biloxi looks like they have been bombed."

Tony Kramer comments, "The utter and complete devastation is incomprehensible unless you see it with your own eyes. But the people of souheren Mississippi are so determinded, grateful and courteous; they are confident the entire area, and their lives, will be rebuilt."