Our first entry

This is a new adventure for us. In a couple of weeks we will be packing up our 2 small dogs and the 2 of us into a camper trailer and head to Pascagoula, Mississippi to work as disaster relief coordiators. Hurricane Katrina's results will be felt for many years to come and just because it is out of the news headlines doesn't mean it should be forgotten.
These are people living in a city the size of ours (Bloomington, Indiana) and only a 12 hour drive from our own home. They have lost everything! Homes, vehicles, jobs and in some cases family members! We cannot imagine such losses! They are living in small camper trailers parked in front of what is left of their homes. They live disaster 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is everywhere they look, in everything they touch and in every conversation.
My husband and I took a trip there the first week of December with our church, Vineyard Community Church. It was life-changing! I cried when it was time to come home!
I have been called to return and do what I can. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to get there and help these people, our people!
We will be working out of an Assembly of God church in Pascagoula. This is not only a church, it houses an elementary school and daycare.
We will be coordinating the needs of the victims with the volunteers who are coming to help. We will be there to meet with the people, go and access their needs, reasure them that we are staying there to help, and then coordinate that information with those who are coming to help. We will be able to inform the volunteers what is it that we need and how they can best help. If there are special skills/trades that may be needed, that information will be relayed and those who are skilled may want to come and help.
This is new to us. We are going with the awesome support of a group of ministers here in Bloomington who share in our desires and calling. Without them this would not be possible.
Without you---the volunteers---this rebuilding will not get done.
It is time to step up, stand up and take part in this! We are Americans, we are family.
"There, but for the grace of God, go !"
Keep reading. I will try and write as often as possible.
If you would like further information as to how to help or just to let us know you are praying for us please send a note to:
Vineyard Community Church
2375 S. Walnut ST
Bloomington, IN 47401
Thank you and God bless!