We had a group of 30 people from Michigan travel down to Pass Christian MS the first week in April. We chose that time because it was Spring Break for both, the schools and the legislature, which enabled entire families to come down together in the continuing effort to rebuild homes and lives devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Even after a year and a half 75% of the people who lost their homes are still unable to move back in, most are still in FEMA trailers, located on their property, next to their damaged homes or where their home once stood. They expect the rebuilding process to take another seven years.

 

We arrived the first night and were treated to a barbeque by Leonard & Patsy Jordan, whose home we worked on previous trips, and are now living in their home again. They are a wonderful couple and have been a blessing to us and their community. Isaiah 58:12 and our 30 volunteers spent the next week helping a handful of families get closer to that goal of moving back into their home. The volunteers consisted of the ever faithful and talented Micah, Josiah, Nathan, Hannah & Sarah Kissling family - Dave, Kathy & Will Alderman – Earl, Judy, Brandy & Jack Kranz – Keith, Jamie, Rebecca, Tommy, Andrew & John Bonte – Corey, David, & Erin Michaels – Bruce & Loraine Lenardson - Brian & Bud Winn – Nathan & Ashley Clifton - Steve Perkins – Matt & Matthew Artis and myself.. We stayed at the Bible Community church which for the second time this year opened their church and volunteer facility to us. They have been a blessing to our group and have housed numerous volunteers week after week to help rebuild their community. They have truly laid down their lives, opened the doors of their church and ministered to so many in the Pass Christian Community.

 

In our January trip we had worked on Stacy Peterson’s home hanging drywall, taping, and mudding and putting up siding. This time we continued to tape, mud and sand, as well as plumbing, heating and cooling and put up the rest of the siding. We also got the primer coat of paint on the walls. We also went to Gloria’s daughters Laura Ladner and dug a trench and put in perforated pipe in it and covered with gravel to get the puddled water from underneath her home on two foot stilts to the culvert along the road.

 

We also replaced three ceilings a bathroom wall, bath surround, and fixed the bathroom plumbing for Pastor Albert & Lois Dedeaux. Albert is the music minister in his church and Lois works for the Defense Department. Albert, Pastor Dave & Kathy Alderman and I had some great fellowship while putting his house back together again. In the closing days Pastor Dave, Kathy, their son Will and myself started hanging drywall at Didi Lewis. Should Dave ever want to venture out into the trades, the vision of Alderman Construction began in Pass Christian MS.

 

About 15 of us had the opportunity to meet Conrad a builder from NC, who has spent the last year and a half helping rebuild the Pass Christian/Waveland area. He then introduced us to the Mayor Tommy Longo of Waveland MS and his staff, who graciously spent almost an hour with us and shared many stories of all that happened to Waveland. Isaiah 58:12 on their next trip this summer will be working with Conrad and the city of Waveland to help them in their rebuilding process. At the conclusion of our meeting we prayed for the Mayor his staff and the people of Waveland.

 

Our next trip will be over a two week time period between June 29 – July 14. You can come on either trip or stay for both. In between the two trips, many of us will attend “The Call” in Nashville TN on Saturday July 7, 2007; anyone who would like to join us is welcome. This one day conference is sponsored by Lou Engle and JHOP. For more information on The Call go to www.thecall.com . Isaiah 58:12 is also in the process of putting together a team of 8 to 12 volunteers, 3 to 4 trucks and trailers, which will mobilize in a 24 hour period and be deployed anywhere a disaster strikes. If you would be interested in being apart of this effort please email me back and let me know. In preparation for the next disaster as well as our continued efforts in Mississippi, please consider making a financial contribution, being a future volunteer and most important remember us in prayer.