I'm Baaaack

My trip to Pearlington, Mississippi with 13 of the men from my church began at 5:00 AM, Sunday, March 19th. After an uneventful trip down, our truck, with three men switching the driving, and perfect weather, arrived at 6:00 PM Indy time. Our goal was to build wooden 12 x 16 buildings for hurricane Katrina victims.
We slept within sight of the Pearl River and the Gulf of Mexico in some kind of fold out plastic huts. It looked like corrugated cardboard, but it was made of plastic. There were two guys to a hut. The temperatures ran from 75 degrees during the day to mid 40's during the night. We had portable outdoor showers.
The first two or three days some of us worked near the huts in a yard where we had jigs and patterns to build "kits" of four walls and rafters. As we finished the kits, others of our group took them to the prearranged sights to be assembled. The buildings had elevated floors, two windows, one door, a tin roof, and were wired for electricity.
We had wonderful lunches each day in a building nearby that was next to a hurricane damaged Baptist Church. We were fed meals that were true home cooked southern delights such as fried chicken, fish, vegetables and even pie. Most of the people that were fed there were volunteers, but anyone who needed a meal was welcome. One day they fed over 260 people. A lot of college and high school kids were there on their spring break volunteering. There are still a lot of good kids out there, but a few dumb a---- make them look bad at times.
Reverend Willie Rawlings, the pastor of the church that fed us the lunches, invited us to a Wednesday night revival at a nearby church. We all were happy to go. This was a southern black Baptist Church. Not being familiar with the area we got lost. We called Reverend Willie and he sent someone to get us. We got there a little late. We all had on matching bright blue shirts, and our light complexions made us stand out like a sore thumb. That church was really rocking. After the service several of the members talked to us about how much they appreciated us being there. We all so enjoyed this different wonderful evening.
I talked to a man who was 78 years old and had been a preacher from 1951 until 1997. He told me his experience during hurricane Katrina. He said the water came very fast. He, his nephew and his dog got next to a large tree and hung on to it as the water rose. He said snakes were moving over his arms as he hung on. He didn't think the snakes would bite him because they were trying to survive and reach high ground as he was. The water got deep enough that he could stand in a fork of the tree. He said a prayer that the Lord could take any of His trees, but to please let him have this one. The three of them stayed in the tree from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM before they were able to get out. He still has nightmares about his time in the tree. He talked about being crazy before this, but now.......... What a great guy.
I saw a lot of boats and barges on land. I took a picture of a good sized boat, The Captain Chip, sitting on top of a car. People have asked me why this boat hasn't been removed after seven months. I tell them it is not a priority at this time. Houses are completely destroyed with only the front steps remaining and others with trees still on them. What you see on television cannot show what has happened. I can only compare it to when you see pictures of the Grand Canyon and then you see it in person and there is no comparison to the size.
We had our work pretty much done by early afternoon on Firday, March 24th and our lumber was running out, so we decided to leave a day early. We left at 1: 30 PM Indy time and got to Greenwood at 1:00 AM, 795 miles - don't do the math....
We built seven wooden buildings while we were there. I wish I could tell you that all of the buildings went to people that needed them, but I can't. We had a list of people who were to get the buildings, and this is what we did. I am sending an E-mail to the Building Goodness organization with my concerns and I hope to hear from them. I don't think I will work with this group again, but I will go back. My other trips south to work were not with the Building Goodness people. One was a minister in the area contacting someone he knew at our church and the other was connected to Billy Grahams Samaritans Purse.