Second Tour of Duty in Mississippi

I just got back last night from Gulfport, MS. I went down with a couple of churches from Lexington and some youth from YFC. We got to help 4 different families this time. The first family needed their floor torn out. We discovered termite damage, water damage and fire damage to their main supports for the house. Its amazing what you discover when you dig deep enough. They really appreciated it too. They told us how they literally floated down the street in 5 feet of water looking for help and each other.

The next house, or farm, was out in the middle of nowhere. It took us about an hour to get there. Upon entering, we were greeted by chickens, goats, dogs, geese and ducks. Then the family came out of their trailer. They had nothing left but a concrete slab, a piano, and a burned out oak tree. Apparently, the hurricane had knocked the tree down into their house and then it caught fire. And they had no insurance. And the mother was going through chemotherapy. Our job was to cut down the tree and take the wood out to the field. I have no idea what they're going to do. It seemed so insignificant for us to take care of this tree when they needed so much more.

Our next assignment was to settle a neighborhood dispute over a fallen tree. Apparently, the neighbors were complaining that this certain family had never taken care of a tree that had fallen over into someone else's yard. So, we took care of it. I got to use a chainsaw too.

Our next case took us to the bayou. This family needed help putting a floor in their house. They were very appreciative and fun to work with. They also told us about the 20 feet of water that filled their house. And how they heard the president fly over their house after the hurricane. And how they filled their days with waiting in lines for gas, water and food. They cleaned out the house themselves. The wife also filled her lungs with harmful black mold that had infested their house. She had to go to the hospital for a few days.

We also got to serve dinner to about 300 middle school students and youth pastors who were helping out down there. It was a very interesting and diverse week. Overall, I realized that I can't imagine what it's like to lose your house, your health, your possessions, and be totally dependent on others. I've always been pretty self sufficient. But what I learned from these people is how distracted I really am. I love music, I love TV. I love filling my life with distractions. But they have learned to go without these. One woman said that she had grown even closer to God after losing their home because all of those distractions floated down the river. Even though its been 10 months, there is so much work to do. If you can find the time, please go and help.

Two great quotes that I heard from survivors this week:
"If you can't eat it or wear it, you don't need it."
"When you're reduced to nothing, God meets you there."