December 16th Mission

Our work will benefit the Monument Crisis Center. We will be putting together toiletry kits, making Love Soup (a high protien ready to make soup mix to feed a family of four) and discussing the Millenium Development Goals

Everyone can help! Make announcements in your church as we are in need of supplies for our projects.
Encourage donations of toiletries - soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, hand sanitizer etc.
Also needed are dry goods for the ingredients of the soup: beef or chicken bouillon granules, dehydrated onion flakes, split peas, alphabet pasta (any small pasta is fine), barley, lentils, and non-instant white rice tricolor spiral pasta. Cash donations accepted as well.

Contact your youth minister if you wish to participate in this day of service.

Serving a Meal of Thanks

Saturday November 18 GodSquad will host our second annual Thanksgiving Dinner at St. George's Episcopal Church, Antioch.

We will prepare and serve a full thanksgiving meal for the community. The meal is free and open to the community; especially the homeless and lower income neighbors in Antioch.

Each congregation is asked to support this mission by providing cooked turkeys and pies. We will also gladly accept donations to cover the cost of supplies for the day.

There is a sliding scale youth participation fee of $5-10.

Minutes from Mission 2007 Planning Meeting

Held Monday Oct. 30 7pm @ St. Paul's Youth Center
Next Mtg: November 20 at 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s

We began by listing some of the aspects of the 2006 (and earlier) trips we liked. The list looked like this:
• Flying
• Meeting people
• Getting far away from home
• Free time
• Staying at the beach
• Creative expressive worship
• Helping people
• Getting to know God Squad
• Ultimate Frisbee
• RICHARD
• Richard
• Lots of work
• Small groups

There was a fair bit of discussion around some of these items; these items tended to cluster around four ideas:
Service
Worship
Community (within God Squad and reaching out far beyond to new people)
Newness (of place, experience, and people)

We then listed many potential places we might go, along with a short description of what we might do there:
• New York City – work with kids/youth; renovate a park; “inner city” ministry
• San Diego – Head Start; little kids (as done three years ago)
• Los Angeles – same work as NYC
• Navajo lands – work in same area visited four and five years ago; fix & paint a church, etc.
• Alaska – assist in building a camp, and work in that camp; work with native Alaskans
• Hawaii – work in leper colony
• Idaho – assist in building / fixing up a school (as done two years ago, Lilian Vallely School)
• Chicago – Same as NYC
• New Orleans / Mississippi – possibly more hurricane relief, possibly inner city ministry (see NYC)
• Canada (quickly ruled out)
• Mexico: Build houses, migrant worker / immigration issues
• Wyoming – quickly ruled out.
• Taize – The Bishop is taking a group of youth and young adults to Taize France; many are interested in going, but this seemed to be separate from a Mission Trip.
• Florida – Hurricane / Inner city / migrant worker issues

As we discussed each of these possible places and work activities, we grouped activities into four areas:
Social work, especially with inner city youth
Construction
Environmental (inc. landscaping)
Teaching

We also identified potential resources in each location, which I will now misinterpret and misspell:
• NYC: somebody’s new rector?
• San Diego: Episcopal CS
• Los Angeles” Claire’s aunt?
• Navajo lands: Michael Carney’s earlier contact; the Bishop
• Alaska: Shana, the Bishop, Carol Luther, Sarah Crawford
• Hawaii: Michael Carney, Shana
• Idaho: Lilian Vallely School, Richard
• Chicago: Phil, Shana
• New Orleans: ULM, Marc Jones
• Taize: Bishop
• Florida: Katie Taylor’s sister?

After discussing many of these options for location, work, and resources to help in planning, we voted. Everyone could vote for four potential destinations.

The results were:
• New York City: 11
• Alaska: 9
• Hawaii: 7
• New Orleans / Mississippi: 6
• (Nowhere else got more than 4 votes, most got 2 or 3)

We decided that these four offered plenty of diversity, and there was good enthusiasm for each of them, so we assigned people to look into the following:
• Transportation costs, both to get there and while we’re there
• Where we could stay
• What we could do while there (work, recreation, program activities)
• What potentially good or bad dates there are for that location
The following teams were appointed:
• NYC: Erin, Meghan,
• Alaska: Rob, Rob, and Shana
• Hawaii: Sam and Sam
• New Orleans & Mississippi: Calvin, Richard

We had a discussion about dates as well, during which we discussed date conflicts with BREAD camps, the Bishop’s trip to Taize, and more. The weeks with the fewest conflicts (although there are conflicts for all possible weeks) were the weeks of:
• 7/23
• 7/30
• 8/6
• 8/13
An overall trip of approximately 10 days is the target, depending on budget and dates of availability at the destination.

The next meeting will be held on November 20 at 7:00 PM at St. Paul’s. At that meeting, the four teams will report their findings, and we will narrow down the field of potential destinations, possibly to one.

Elizabeth P's Sermon (St. Anselm's)

I suppose you could say that I’m a veteran of these mission trips now, having journeyed on three separate occasions to do God’s work, and I can definitely say that the phrase ‘third time’s the charm’ applies in this case. Our whole group knit together into one body that laughed and cried and listened. Throughout the trip, it really didn’t matter that there were a few of us who were feeling down at the end of the day, because there was always someone around to lift us back up again. And it was an extremely emotional trip, at times very trying, but I know I am much stronger for having witnessed both the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and the reactions of its victims to our help.

It was truly heartwarming to see the faces of those we helped, some of whose houses had been ruthlessly toyed with by insurance companies, or overlooked by FEMA. One such house hadn’t been glanced at by a volunteer since the storm hit nearly a year before. It was the first house we worked on, and had been protected by a mere four feet of brick wall on the coast side. The couple who lived there was older, and the man had been having back problems, but there he was, out there with us in the sweltering heat, telling us stories and gently directing us as to where all the debris could go. His name was Robert James, but he insisted on being called RJ, and his wife, a talkative French woman with a definitive accent, was bubbling over with goodwill and gratitude. We were still adjusting to the heat, and moving bricks in that weather was no laughing matter. The sweat and dirt were layered on us before we’d been at the site even an hour, but I, not wanting to appear idle when all my buddies were slaving away under the heat, kept at it, and after awhile someone noticed my flushed face. That someone happened to be RJ, and as he led us all away from the formidable pile of bricks to take a water break, he asked me how old I was. He seemed really surprised when I told him, and he kept an eye on me for the rest of the time we were there, making sure I didn’t keel over. I didn’t, but it really struck me that we were all out there to care for and help each other—the God Squad wasn’t just brute labor to these people, but friends to be loved and cared for.

It encouraged me greatly to see that both of them were out there with us, really wanting our help. They couldn’t do it alone, but they had been doing their best for months before we arrived. Volunteers and victims were in this together, picking up and putting lives back together.

When I sat back to think about what we had accomplished as a group in the five days we worked, I knew that most of what we had done couldn’t be seen, if one was to travel to Biloxi and inspect the houses. We had painted rooms and moved and bricks and heard stories, but most of the change will stay locked up in our hearts, and in the hearts of those we helped, because now they have hope, and we have newfound love and friendship. I was wishing the entire time we were there that we could have done more, could have stayed longer, because these people are going to need help for years to come. All that aside, I am so indescribably glad that I was able to go in the first place, and give the gift of my hands to RJ and all of the others who are forever linked to ours.

Down there in Mississippi, we were all doing the work that we felt God had called us to do, but you don’t go have to go as far as we did to find this kind of spiritual fulfillment. There’s bound to be a calling for all of you, even just down your street. Take the time to look around, every once in a while. Regardless of age, all of us can be of help to each other, and reach out our hands to make a difference.

Episcopal Charities Walk-A-Thon

A small dedicated group from God Squad made it to Grace Cathedral by 7AM for the 12 mile walk through San Francisco. Stops along the route included St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Family Link, Ohlhoff Recovery House, Episcopal Homes Foundation, St. Luke's Hospital, SOJOURN chaplaincy at SF General Hospital to learn about the important work of these social ministries. Following the walk we enjoyed lunch in the Cathedral Plaza, received permission from The Very Rev. Alan Jones to soak our tired feet in the fountain, prayed to close the day's activity and rode BART home. All in all a great day out to kick off the year of God Squad Missions.

We raised close to $1000 to support the many ministries of Episcopal Charities.


Reflection by Liz P:
I wasn't so worried about it at the start, but when you get right down to it, twelve miles is a long way, and all the uphill makes a big difference.

But, blisters aside, I'm glad we were able to see the different agenicies that Episcopal Charities supports, and as we walked, I was reminded again that God Squad is always going to be needed. I was particularly touched by a group that works mostly with single mothers and children who are homeless, finding them education and jobs so that they can move on and up in life. Overall, I'm just glad that there are so many of us who are willing to help.

...Although the numbers seem to drop sharply when 'helping' involves getting up at five in the morning.

Step out to Change Lives!

GodSquad will participate in the Episcopal Charities annual Walk-a-thon on Saturday, October 7 starting at Grace Cathedral. Join us for an inspirational 12 mile walk through San Francisco , and visit the EC partner agencies working on behalf of the homeless, poor, displaced and ill. Funds raised through the walk-a-thon will benefit the social ministries of Episcopal Charities.
* Providing meals
* Building transitional and supportive housing
* Teaching job skills
* Offering recovery programs
* Providing childcare to single working parents
* Creating programs for people with developmental disabilities
* Tutoring at-risk youth

25% of the GodSquad funds raised will return to the GodSquad mission trip budget.

When: Sat, Oct 7; be at Grace Cathedral by 7AM - return home 3PM (breakfast & lunch provided)
Where: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St , San Francisco
More inforamtion & forms: http://www.episcopalcharities.org/walkathon_06/index.html

Each participant (youth & adult) needs to collect a minimum of $35 in sponsors. Make announcements during Sunday services, ask for a blurb in church e-newsletters, be available during coffee hour to collect sponsorships, ask your family and your neighbors to support you.

Be sure to download the registration and sponsorship forms linked below.

Contact your youth minister by Sunday Oct 1 to confirm participation participation. Travel arrangements will be organized by congregation.

Episcopal Charities Walk-A-Thon Weblink

Each youth & adult must complete the Participant Registration Form

Collect donations & keep track with the Sponsor Form

We're talking the long way - check out the Route Map

If you need help asking for sponsors here's a sample Sample Request for Donation Letter

Post the Flyer of Event around your church!

Reunion!

Mark your calendars! Bring your friends!

What? The Mission Trip Reunion
When? Sunday 9/17 from 4-6p
Where? St. Paul’s, 1924 Trinity Avenue Walnut Creek
Who? All Mission Trippers (open to friends in high school)

Bring a snack or beverage to share - it's a community thang (aka potluck)!

The Mission Trip Leadership Team agreed that leftover money from the budget will be donated to a charity of Dr. George & The Rev. King's choice. You are invited to contribute cash to increase our gift of gratitude for the time we spent with these two civil rights leaders. We'll pass a collection plate at the party!

Also - GodSquad Mission Trip Blog is being promoted on www.episcopalbayarea.org - check it out!

Sammy F's Sermon (Church of the Resurrection)

Response to the Epistle

Faith. Hope. Religion. Community. Love. Service.
These are a few reasons why 35 individuals took the journey to Biloxi, Mississippi to help rebuild the houses and lives of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We began our trip with good intentions, but I don’t think any of us knew what was actually in store for us. We got the opportunity to touch the lives of so many people, and when that opportunity arose, we did not hesitate to take it. We looked at this mission trip as a privilege, not as a right. I believe we truly experienced the difference between giving charity and giving yourself through service. Charity is given when someone feels they need to contribute. Service is based on love, and a want to personally help the cause. I, myself, feel that the God-Squad lead their mission out of service. By the end of our trip, it was obvious that our motives were clear to all of us. We had come to do the work of the lord, with our own two hands. Not only did we make friends, and have fun, but we gave all of our love through service.

Rob O's Sermon (St. Paul's, WC)

Our trip to Biloxi was life-changing and heart-warming, but I’m not going to lie; we had our fair share of drama on this trip, that’s just what happens when you put 30 teenagers together for an extended period of time.

There were times when youth felt disrespected and ignored by other youth, and some didn’t know what to do with these emotions, until it was too much for them to handle, and they had to let it all out. Paul says “Let no evil come out of your mouths.” But from time to time, again, I’m not going to lie, a few choice phrases, what my mother would call “bad words” and probably what Paul would consider “evil” escaped from more than a few mouths.

On this trip, though, we did help each other out. It helped to vent. Often when someone else voiced the frustration I was feeling, it took the edge off my own. I think it put us all in a better mood and a more receptive mood, where we could help each other out. Out of these same mouths would come good words. We would talk over our problems to other youth and put our own emotions and feelings on hold for someone else’s benefit. This helped us in turn, to turn outward, to focus on the problems of others (other youth and others in the community we were staying in), and to help them out.

On the second day of work, we were told that we would be tilling a lawn and then raking out all of the loose grass and vegetation. It sounded like very tedious and boring work, but we tried to keep an open mind as we drove out to where we would be working. The first thing I noticed when we got there was that it was a very nice neighborhood, many of the houses were the same size or bigger than the ones in Walnut Creek, and except for the lack of grass the homes appeared to be completely unaffected by the hurricane. I wasn’t the only one who noticed either, many of my friends were complaining saying thing like, “we might as well be mowing lawns in Beverly Hills”. So it was clear that from the start that not a lot of people felt very passionate about our new job assignment. The general grumbling, after a morning simmering in the sun, turned into a dull persistent buzz of discontent. The work was getting done very slowly, due mainly to all the complaining. Instead of raking, people were standing around and talking about how they didn’t want to be there. After four hours of accomplishing only a circle of tilled dirt, we went back to Camp Biloxi. Back at camp, the venting continued, but this time a few adults and other youth made some statements that changed everybody’s perspective. “We don’t know these people or their circumstances. Maybe there is a real need for what we are doing here.” “If we complain less, the work will get done faster.” “If you don’t want to be here, work hard, get the work done, and we’ll move on to someplace else.”

We realized that we shouldn’t question what work we are doing or what work needs to be done. That’s not why we went there. We should, as Paul put it in Ephesians 4:25: “Let no evil come out of our mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need….”. So, we went back to work tilling the lawn. Very few people complained and the work got done a lot faster. By lunch time the entire lawn was tilled, front and back.

When we helped each other with the work, as well as mentally and emotionally, we were able to grow more cohesive as a community, get more done, and have a better mindset about what we were doing, The experience, even the struggles we worked though, strengthened our faith in each other and our belief that what we were doing together was for good.

The experiences I had during the ten days on the Mission Trip taught me the following:

We are stronger when we work together. We are stronger when we use our words to build each other up. We are stronger when we trust that what we are doing together is good. And, together and strong, we can do a lot of good for others. Good that could be uplifting, even life-changing for those we helped in Biloxi, and also for us.

The One Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Collect of the Day
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working out of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Suggested Readings and Hymns:
Isaiah 61: 1-4, 10-11 539
Psalm 130
Revelation 21: 2-7 582/583
Matthew 6: 25-33(34) 667/709

Other hymns:
549/550
608
551
564/565

Prayers of the People
We gather before God in faith and hope following the devastation our community has suffered from Hurricane Katrina. To the God of all creation we bring the tears we have cried; but with our hearts set on the future.
Hear us God of creation.

God of Creation and Lord of all seasons, hear the thoughts of our hearts for the year that has passed and our hope for grace and protection in days yet to be.
Hear us God of creation.

Lord God of all seasons, you sustain us throughout the year.
You are the rain that refreshes the earth.

You are the light that shines upon all things.
You are the miracle of birth and growth.
.
You write the times and the seasons on the face of the earth
You set it in motion for the benefit of all.
.
You are the Creator who blesses.
You are the Guardian of all that you have created.

The eyes of all look to you, O Lord.
You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
.
We have faced and endured the might of the winds, thunderous rains, and surging waves;
Hear us God of Creation.
.
We have known uncertainty, and we carry concern for our brothers and sisters who have stood in harms way;
Hear us God of Creation. .
.
We seek the gift faith that can move mountains and remove all fear;
Hear us God of Creation.

We give you thanks for your holy strength that has sustained us in the year that has passed;
Hear us God of Creation.

You are the God of hope; grant us the grace of your Spirit in the seasons to come;
Hear us God of Creation.

We give you thanks for the courage to rebuild and renew the face of our communities;
Hear us God of Creation.
.
Be our light in the darkness, our hope in the storm and the calm, our serenity in the chaos and peace, and our hope and trust in the future;
Hear us, O Lord of life.

Almighty and ever living God, we bring our grateful hearts to you in thanksgiving and praise for bringing us through the year that has past. Yet we are mindful of those who have suffered injury, damage or loss and ask that you would comfort them with your healing love. Guard as well those who yet remain in harm’s way. As we continue through the days to come, help us always to place our hope, our fears, and our trust in you, for in you alone is life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Suggested Preface
Dedication of a Church, BCP pgs. 567-579

Alissa's Sermon (St. Paul's, WC)

On our third day working in Biloxi, our group arrived at eight a.m. at two newly reconstructed homes just feet away from the coastline. While the homes appeared simple in construction, they looked inviting and comfortable compared to the mere foundations surrounding them. Our group was introduced to the owner of one of the homes, a man in his seventies named Willis, who explained that the house next to his which we would be landscaping belonged to his daughter Barbara and her husband. While our group raked soil and pulled weeds, preparing the earth around Barbara’s house for sod, Willis kept a watchful eye on our work, offering stories, advice and bathrooms when needed. Like her father, Barbara showed her gratitude to us by opening her home and her heart, offering us her story of destruction and showing us pictures she had taken of her and her father’s homes before and after Katrina destroyed them. Barbara explained that at one time many generations of her family had built homes on the surrounding property, and each structure was destroyed by Katrina. Not only had Katrina ripped apart the family homes, but also the family, as other relatives living on the property had decided not to return after the hurricane.

At one point during our working day, Willis explained to me that his and Barbara’s houses had been built from the group up in only four weeks by volunteers from Nebraska, and he was extremely thankful to have been blessed by their generosity as many of his neighbors had yet to receive help. He told me that he had recently realized that staying at a volunteer camp was costing us money, and questioned why anyone would spend their own money to come to the Gulf Coast just to help reconstruction.

At the time I wasn’t sure how to respond to Willis, why had I spent two hundred dollars plus numerous hours of fundraising and planning to come to Mississippi, a place far away from my community at home.

Besides my love and investment in the God Squad, I came to recognize several reasons why helping in the wake of hurricane Katrina was important to me. Firstly, if a natural disaster, such as an earthquake were to rattle the Bay Area, I would hope that we would receive help from unaffected people from all over the country, as the people along the Gulf are. Also, I knew from stories in the news before heading down South that many residents were complaining about the lack of help they have received from the government, that we are putting time, money and energy into foreign affairs when there are still many families living in FEMA trailers on American soil; obviously government aid is needed on a large scale, but going down to help with my own two hands was something I could offer if the government couldn’t. Working on the Gulf, I heard many stories from residents about the abuse they are receiving from insurance agencies. As if having all personal items and a shelter stripped from you isn’t traumatizing enough, many people are having to battle insurance companies who refuse to honor damage claims because flood insurance doesn’t cover floods caused by water moved by wind or massive amounts of rain. If insurance companies aren’t going to give money to their clients to help them rebuild, then people in the place to donate money or time need to help those people get back on their feet. My final reason for spending my time and money to rebuild on the Gulf Coast is because that is what God called me and the God Squad to do. As we heard in todays’ reading from Ephesians, we are all members of one another and we are to live in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a sacrifice to God. Although sometimes sacrificing for one another includes time or money, when we do make sacrifices for each other we are acting as imitators of God, loving one another as God calls us to do.

Tierney's Sermon (St. Paul's, WC)

At the Lutheran camp we stayed at in Biloxi, our cultural and theological differences were apparent from the moment we arrived. Outside from stricter dress codes and different graces before dinner though, I think I witnessed one of the biggest theological differences for me in a more subtle way.

One night at dinner the camp director asked one person from the different groups from around the country to share a story about where they saw God in their work. All the stories sounded the same, the workers recounted how those who survived through the storm told of how they were saved by God’s grace from the brink of death or total destruction. One older woman even told of asking God that if she’d done anything good in her life to save her from the storm.

While it was somewhat uplifting to hear stories of these people who were putting their lives back together one brick at a time with our help, I couldn’t help but wonder where God was with the thousands who lost their lives to the hurricane. This idea of a micromanaging God who performed miracles where he deemed fit was completely irreconcilable to me with the scale of the tragic destruction we had witnessed.

I expressed my misgivings about what was said at dinner to Father Michael Carney and we discussed the many different ways the people view God, and the disparities between the way that the haves and the have-nots, even from the same denomination, describe the Christian God.

As a fairly privileged group of people that were staying at the camp, it was generally easy for us to believe that every good thing that happens is the grace of God, and dismiss everything else as some part of God’s greater plan.

Michael explained to me that often people less privileged than us accept suffering as a part of life to a much greater degree, and that this is often what helps them get through their hard times.

These themes of differences between the privileged and the unprivileged also echoed the themes of civil rights and social justice that we had a chance to investigate on the trip. In the end of our lengthy conversation in which I came to a better understanding of what I had previously viewed as gaping inconsistencies in religion, Michael asked me what I thought about God, and the only thing I could honestly say was that I believe a higher power exists, but we need not depend on him to perform miracles or dismiss the bad things in life as part of his greater plan, we need to take action with our own two hands and make the little changes where God cannot with him in our hearts.

Michael said that all he knows is that we need to give love wherever we can, and I couldn’t agree with him more. As today’s psalm states, “For with the Lord there is steadfast love”, and I believe we need to take this love and transfer it to others that are suffering instead of glossing over or trying to explain the suffering.

Whether that love is in the form of direct support to individuals like we gave on the trip, or trying on a larger scale to right the injustice and inequality that we witnessed and learned about on the trip, what I am most taking away from my trip is an affirmation that I want to take the privileged life and chance at a higher education that I will have next year and give love in as many ways as I can.

I want to use it to not only help those in need, but examine the system that continually keeps these people in need. And the amazing experiences that I have had for the past two years on mission trips and God Squads, the incredible community that has been achieved and the obscene amount of fun we always manage to have to me is just further proof that we must be doing something right by starting to give love where it is needed the most.

HURRICANE AFTERMATH

Click to read full article: HURRICANE AFTERMATH: A year after Katrina, residents of New Orleans' impoverished Lower Ninth Ward are feeling forgotten / Families crammed into trailers wait for aid to rebuild their lives

Mission Trip Sermon—August 13, 2006 By: Erin Searfus, Samantha Haycock, Samantha Vethavanam of St. George's, Antioch

Planting Seeds originally posted on July 19 by The Rev. Michael Carney, St. George’s
Last summer on our way home from Idaho we stopped in a little park for lunch and frisbee. The youth all filled out evaluations, and every single person said they'd like to go on another mission trip.

Driving along, I wondered how we would decide where to go. There are so many possibilities. It was three weeks before Hurricane Katrina would devastate the Gulf Coast.

In the fall I got to meet a number of times with a group of young people who brainstormed every possibility from a retreat in Alaska to inner city work in New York (and many in-between). They kept coming back to serving in the hurricane area, despite the cost and logistical challenges of going there.

I remember the evening when the youth leaders made their presentation to adult representatives from all the churches in the county. They described their vision--hard questions were asked and answered--the group voted unanimously to approve the plan. Then the adults walked out of the room shaking their heads, wondering how we would ever pull it off.

With God's help (and our participation), nothing is impossible.
~The Rev. Michael Carney

Mission Trip Sermon—August 13, 2006
By: Erin Searfus, Samantha Haycock, Samantha Vethavanam
George’s Episcopal Church, Antioch



ERIN: I can change the world

ALL: With my own two hands

ERIN: Make a better place

ALL: With my own two hands

ERIN: Make a kinder place

ALL: With my own two hands

ERIN: Look at our hands. Think of all the hands we’ve held.

SAM V: I met a girl who eagerly explained to me what a hurricane was. It is three things. One it is very dangerous. Two its two winds chasing each other. Three it changes people’s lives. She told me she stood inside her house behind a sliding glass door and watched the winds raged. Her house was so ruined she had to move to Indiana where she spent the next year. Even though she didn’t want to leave her home, she had to make the best of her situation. She quickly became accustomed to her surroundings when it was finally time for her to return home to Mississippi her class threw her a party and where she received a card from every student but one, who happened to be sick that day.

ERIN: I met a woman named Barbara. She had a husband and daughter who was a senior in high school last year. She had lived in a town in Mississippi her whole life with her parents, grandparents, and aunts & uncle. That is, until the hurricane destroyed all their 70 some year old houses. When returning to the neighborhood several days after the storm, the family was silenced by the sights. Her husbands truck was blocks away from their house, her fathers home was now only a foundation, and her house was torn open to expose her kitchen and other rooms all combined together. She recalled the week before the storm and all her normal monotonous activities. Her family was at a school football game on Friday night and she never could have imagined not having a house on Monday morning.

SAM H: I met a seventy-some-odd-year-old man named Robert James, who went by RJ for short. He lived about two bocks from the beach. When he and his wife found out the storm was coming she decided to seek shelter farther from the coast while he rode it out. In order to protect his house RJ tucked towels along all the doorjambs that led outside. About an hour into the storm he realized how ridiculous this was. RJ watched through his front door as the winds blew debris in and the waves dragged rubbish out. The water rose higher and higher till it reached his chest. In the middle of the storm RJ looked up to the sky and screamed you are God and I am man prove it and God did. RJ’s house was surrounded by a five foot high brick retaining wall which during the storm protected the house from flying debris. The wall eventually crumbled but RJ’s home was salvageable, suffering only from water damage. When the storm died down RJ laid down on his floating bed. When his wife returned to town she found him laying in bed covered in a blanket of mud drinking from a six pack of Heineken next to a squirrel. In RJ’s last words with us he said everything is temporary. That could never be more true.

ERIN: I can make peace on earth

ALL: With my own two hands

ERIN: I can clean up the earth

ALL: With my own two hands

ERIN: I can reach out to you

ALL: With my own two hands

ERIN: Look at our hands. Think of all the tools we’ve held.

SAM V: I worked for four days in Biloxi, Mississippi.

ERIN: I built a brick wall with my own two hands.

SAM H: I painted a porch with my own two hands.

SAM V: I roto tilled a lawn with my own two hands.

ERIN: I raked through grass with my own two hands.

SAM H: I pulled weeds with my own two hands.

SAM V: I leveled a yard with my own two hands.

ERIN: I cleaned up remains of destruction with my own two hands.

SAM H: I spackled, painted, and sanded with my own two hands.

ERIN: I’m gonna make it a brighter place. I’m gonna make it a safer place. I’m gonna help the human race.

ALL: With my own two hands

SAM V: I saw what was left of Hurricane Katrina. The visible changes are still prevalent in every moment of native’s lives. There is still garbage in trees. Toys and personal belongings scatter the ground, not yet claimed. Bent poles and broken signs indicate locations of stores that once stood and now are non-existent. I passed a cemetery every day whose mausoleums were flattened to the ground and whose tombstones were knocked over or shattered in pieces. Blue tarps marked the tops of houses who had been damaged during the storm. Whole floors were missing from buildings. Spray paint marked the doors telling me brief stories of the families who lived within. Water lines reached up over my head showing me where a flood once stood. A thirty day notice warned residents of a FEMA trailer their time was running short.

ERIN: I can hold you

ALL: With my own two hands

ERIN: I can comfort you

ALL: With my own two hands

ERIN: But you got to use

ALL: Use your own two hands

ERIN: Look at your own hands. Notice all the lines, all the wrinkles, the calluses and soft spots. Think of where they’ve been for the past two weeks. Who have they touched? What work have they done? Who have they held in comfort? Who have they congratulated in joy?

SAM H: What can you do in a world where people are forced into homelessness by others, where the government refuses to take action, where repairing is left up to volunteers? How can you use your own two hands?

Youth Sermons of the (Y)COR/Resurrection

In the reading today from 1 Kings 19:4-8, Elijah, the prophet, asked for death. We don't know why he wanted to die, but that he did feel regretful and angry about his past. Instead of granting him death, though, an angel tells him to get up. "Get up", he says "and eat". In Mississippi, the people’s lives had been destroyed; their homes were gone, their loved ones lost, and their futures uncertain. There were probably many who wished to die or just forget everything. There were also probably many who were angry; angry at the government for not taking better care of them, angry at God or the earth for letting this happen. We saw many shirts and signs against FEMA in particular; some of them were just enraged, but most of them were a little funny, poking humor at the storm and the government, like a well-needed laugh to shake off the hopelessness.

When we got there, I expected people to still be angry at the world; I was surprised though, that people seemed to have accepted it and focused on moving on. They had given up their bitterness and gotten up to return to their homes in the hopes of rebuilding; they took it and used its energy to instead focus on moving forward.

Now, personally, I love living in California, and would much rather live here; but Mississippi and Louisiana had a certain affect on you, a certain air of old age that was thriving and moving around. The people certainly seemed as if they were filled with the presence of hope and God. For some reason, after two hurricanes, and another possibly on the way, these people were crazy enough to try to rebuild! Their entire state had been crushed through a wall of water and wind, and nothing was left in place or untouched by the chaos. At first, it didn't make much sense; I realized though, that these people loved their state, and felt that old age, like a well-known scent from childhood. When we were learning to cook New Orleans-style at the New Orleans School of cooking, we learned a lot about the history of the food and the culture of the city, and it struck me how deeply God ran through this place of old souls, old food, and new people. It captured the people and drew them back.

The people had enough hope to get up, off the ground, and shake off their bitter feelings. They had more hope than anyone I have ever met, and instead of letting themselves focus on their anger at the world, they rebuilt. The angel told Elijah to get up, and shake off his bitterness already, so that he could eat and move on with life; in this way, he was filled with enough strength to get through 40 days and nights. The hope these people have has taken their anger, and will show THEIR holy selves as part of Jesus Christ, like in Jeffrey's sermon, and will get THEM through these days and nights on the road back to rebuilding.

-Adrian Guerrero

+ + +

Each youth and adult who went on this trip, left the Gulf Coast with their unique personal experience shaped by other people on the trip, the work we did with our own two hands, and a new sense of personal growth.

One of the most rewarding parts of this trip, besides being able to help such a devastated area and hear the residents’ stories, was going to the south and experiencing a culture and an environment that is very different from what I am accustomed to. The teen leaders were very involved in the planning of this trip from the beginning and had a rough outline of what the trip was going to look like. But then they gave the other youth the freedom to decide if certain activities interested the group as a whole. Many of the activities on the trip were planned as we went along. The “Flow Team”, a group of 3 teens and 1 adult worked to make our transitions as a group from place to place as smooth as possible and gave the teens on the trip a greater voice in what the group wanted to participate in. This sense of freedom to do what you want (for the most part), made our time in the places we visited more valuable and unique because we were able to explore for ourselves and develop our own opinions about what we have seen with our own eyes. It ultimately granted us teenagers what we yearn for the most: independence. Being able to make what you wanted out of your personal and group experience will make this mission trip even more unforgettable. The adult leaders treated us with more respect than we are used to and showed interest in our personal opinions. And unlike our parents, they understood that the best way for us to grow in this environment is to let us discover this world for ourselves. For me, I think that is one of the most valuable aspects of growing up. Self-discovery and independence are two things that contribute to who you become as an adult in the “real world” and being placed in an unusual environment tested everyone’s life skills in working and co-exisiting with others. Because we were encouraged to explore within ourselves in a place far from home, in a loving community outside of our normal comfort zone, each youth on this trip gave something unique to the Gulf Coast and in return received a gift even more special. This trip greatly contributed to our own personal growth and sense of independence by giving us the confidence that when the time comes for us to live on our own, away from our families, we’ll be ok. Many of the teens on this trip experienced God in ways that are impossible for others at home to understand: by working with their peers and feeling a sense of purpose in doing God’s work in a community that needs faith the most. All the leaders placed emphasis on each teen’s personal experience allowing everyone to come away from the trip with one of the most memorable weeks of their lives through spirituality, love, work, and friendship all seen through the eyes of God.

-Claire McConnell

I have seen God on this mission trip of ours,
Just as sure as you can see Mars.
He’s been with us the whole way,
Just as sure as it rains in May.
His presence was in the people we met,
Who are always so thankful for the help they get.

God was with us each step of the way,
We could see that everyday.
He gave us an air-conditioned car,
When the humidity felt like tar.
His presence was in the places we went,
It was like an agreement that could not be bent.

God was with us throughout the week,
Even if times looked meek.
We were quite surprised to see Him so much,
It wasn’t hard to keep in touch.
Even as I write this poem now,
I look back, and can only say wow.

-Luke Doylemason


This being my first mission trip, I feel that I have to express what a wonderful experience it has been for me these last 10(ish) days. The friendships I have formed and the feelings I have felt on and off the worksite have been truly inspiring. Being able to find a whole group of such wonderful people my age can seem so hard to find sometimes, yet, here I have struck gold. The kids in this group express a kind of unity and friendliness that I just can’t get over. I have decided that I am officially addicted to the God Squad and all that it stands for: the work, the bonds, and the fun.

To be able to view first hand the destruction here on the Gulf Coast was an eye-opening experience for a “weather-sheltered” California girl. The idea of a huge wall of water leveling everything in its path is almost too much to comprehend, something that should be reserved for Hollywood back-lots. Yet, I assure you, it is very real for the residents of those cities that looked like they had been vacuumed up and spit out again. To hear their stories was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. They went through such a profound experience; to be able to hear them speak about it was such a treat for the journalist in me. Their strength and optimism after all that had befallen them was awe-inspiring. I felt like I got so much more than I gave from every day of work.

To conclude, I absolutely loved this trip with all my heart, for reals yo. I am so thankful I decided to come. Yeah I’m done.

-Leslie Corona, signing off.

Parting Shots

This being my first mission trip, I feel that I have to express what a wonderful experience it has been for me these last 10(ish) days. The friendships I have formed and the feelings I have felt on and off the worksite have been truly inspiring. Being able to find a whole group of such wonderful people my age can seem so hard to find sometimes, yet, here I have struck gold. The kids in this group express a kind of unity and friendliness that I just can’t get over. I have decided that I am officially addicted to the God Squad and all that it stands for: the work, the bonds, and the fun.

To be able to view first hand the destruction here on the Gulf Coast was an eye-opening experience for a “weather-sheltered” California girl. The idea of a huge wall of water leveling everything in its path is almost too much to comprehend, something that should be reserved for Hollywood back-lots. Yet, I assure you, it is very real for the residents of those cities that looked like they had been vacuumed up and spit out again. To hear their stories was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. They went through such a profound experience; to be able to hear them speak about it was such a treat for the journalist in me. Their strength and optimism after all that had befallen them was awe-inspiring. I felt like I got so much more than I gave from every day of work.

Now for the fun stuff…New Orleans was pretty legit I must say. The French Quarter was a little dirty, but otherwise, very similar to what I imagined. I did see a transvestite, and as a result, I feel my experience is now complete. One of the biggest treats for me was when our whole group attended a cooking class/exhibition at The New Orleans School of Cooking. We had this lady Anne, (whom I thought was a major crack-up by the way) who showed us how to cook some of the best gumbo and jambalaya I have ever tasted. Ok, ever tasted, period. As for the pralines, only one word comes to mind: heavenly. They were really some of the best candy I have ever had, and I have had my fair share of candy. I usually don’t go for things with nuts in them, not being a big fan myself, but these were AMAZING.

To conclude, I absolutely loved this trip with all my heart, for reals yo. I am so thankful I decided to come.

Yeah I’m done.

Leslie Corona, signing off.

+ + +

Like Leslie, this was also my first mission trip. As someone who has adopted his faith relatively recently, this trip has given me a unique opportunity to both test, and reinforce my newly found faith.

Being in the wake of an ‘act of God’ has this effect on people, and I was lucky enough to experience that effect profoundly over the past number of days.

I am so lucky to have gotten the chance to experience something that most people never will. That said, The Mission Trip has been more than just another story I can tell people, or thumbtack on the map, its become a memory that I believe will truly change my life. Of course as I write this here on the plane, flying over the grand state of Kansas, I am not sure what exactly this trip will do for me, and more specifically - my character. On a basic level, I believe that The Mission Trip has helped to increase my tolerance for heat (I have always enjoyed cold weather much more). I anticipate that upon arrival, the moderate Oakland climate will cause me to long for a jacket somewhat warmer than the paper-thin windbreaker I am wearing right now.

Upon the first day we landed in New Orleans, all of my own personal problems seemed so much smaller. I was surrounded by a place awash with destruction, somewhere where you were lucky to have half a house, much less a car or garden. I began to attack myself internally, realizing how pathetic and inconsequential the classic teenage problems of not finding a date to the prom or breaking up with your girlfriend are. That mentality now helps me whenever I feel like pitying myself, and I believe strengthens my character.

I am so impressed with how the church has reacted to this crisis, a crisis unseen historically. When I say ‘the church’ I don’t mean any specific denomination, Episcopal or otherwise, I mean the people of God as a nation. I do not know why but it seems that secular response to this disaster (federal or otherwise) has been somewhat lackluster and ineffective. The people we helped seldom asked ‘what organization are you from,’ but rather ‘what church’. When people speak ill of the effects of organized religion, I believe that they forget the profoundly influential and beneficial effects of the church community as a whole. As Christians, it is important to remember our covenant with God, to help those less fortunate than us.

The funny thing is that I don’t really know if I want to go back or not. This trip has made me want to change things externally as well, such as the relationship with my family, and I am eager to start that. I miss my friends, my car, and my mattress (one not filled with air) but I am also cognizant of how much work is still left to be done along the Gulf Coast. I guess its time for me to give up the computer. All I really know now is that the way I felt flying west to east was very different than how I feel now, flying towards the setting sun.
California, I’m comin’ home.

Chris Nomura

+ + +

An excerpt from a letter that I wrote today to my partner, Colette Mercier:

I sat on one of 36 bunk beds in our tent shaking and crying as I felt this thing in me. Realizing the beauty and radical potential in this amazing youth-led Mission Trip and in my practice. We are a traveling band of lovers & workers living in community, looking at history, struggling for justice, making art, singing, meditating and having serious fun. If things like this can't change the world, I don't know what can.

-The sp Lovin' aka Sean Potts

+ + +

I’m sitting here thinking of what to say about this experience. I’m thinking about all the lives I’ve helped change- RJ, Willis, Barbara, Florence, and countless others. I’m recalling all the sights I’ve seen- destroyed houses, piles of debris, foundations of houses that no longer exist, childrens toys covered in mud and flood water, and that’s only to name a few. I’m cherishing the friendships I’ve gained and the ones I’ve made stronger. I’m considering every adjective in the book- amazing, mind-blowing, life changing, binding, incredible, and all the other over-used descriptive words. Still, I don’t quite know how to describe this mission trip to Mississippi. It’s more something that can’t be described. Something that isn’t tangible. Nothing I can hold or show off but something worth way more. But you know what I couldn’t be more okay with that.

-Erin Searfus

+ + +

Do know that I am a musician, not a poet….

I have seen God on this mission trip of ours,
Just as sure as you can see Mars.
He’s been with us the whole way,
Just as sure as it rains in May.
His presence was in the people we met,
Who are always so thankful for the help they get.

God was with us each step of the way,
We could see that everyday.
He gave us an air-conditioned car,
When the humidity felt like tar.
His presence was in the places we went,
It was like an agreement that could not be bent.

God was with us throughout the week,
Even if times looked meek.
We were quite surprised to see Him so much,
It wasn’t hard to keep in touch.
Even as I write this poem now,
I look back, and can only say wow.

-Luke Doylemason

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Return-logistics

Parents,

I have been blessed and inspired by EACH of your youth, and thank you for sharing them with me and my home state (I'm a Mississippi expat). They are hard workers, caring hearts, and signs of Christ!

We know you are looking for information about our return. All the information you need should be available in the packets distributed to all of you before the trip.

Someone will post or send an email with more information by tomorrow. Until then, you should be able to find flight information, including arrival time at Oakland in that packet. Main Group returns Delta Flight #1280 at 10:06 and Richard K, AlissaG., Tierney A., Rob O., Rob H. wil return on Flight #1245 at 11:36pm. My number is 925-324-7663.

Please remember that we are not providing shuttle from the airport, so you need to make arrangements for your youth and carpooling.

So, while I do not have the exact flight information as I write this post, please know that more info will be coming soon (and is also available in your trip information packet).

Thanks,
Michael Barham
(St. Michael's - Concord)

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Hurricane Camille Mosaic Memorial at Church of the Redeemer on the coast in Biloxi. The church and memorial were completely leveled. We brought our own church to the site by holding small group activities and having our closing Biloxi compline on the site where their altar once stood.








Sign posts made by volunteer groups at Camp Coast Care in Long Beach show nationwide support for the camps efforts. We celebrated Sunday morning Eucharist with the community there.










Dr. Anita George spoke to the group along with Rev. Ed King about their involvement in movements for civil rights in Mississippi. Dr. George was expelled from college for participating in a sit-in. Rev. King has been imprisoned 10+ times for his involvement in non-violent civil disobedience actions for civil rights. Many youth were brought to tears hearing about their experiences and how high schoolers of the time were key members of the movement.




Swimming at the local country club that welcomed us from our less lavish accommodations in Biloxi.






Dr. George swore on her grandmother's bible to attest to her academic record when Alcorm A&M had expelled her and refused to release her transcript because of her involvement in an anti-segreation sit it. Dr. George invited us to pray with the bible and that her grandmother would be praying with her.

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Mr. Willis whose family lived on his land for numerous generations before it was destroyed by the hurricane. He and his daughter next door have had their houses built completely by volunteers. We leveled out his yard to prepare it for sod.

Day Seven

Our final morning at Camp Biloxi consisted of cleaning and packing, then we drove to Camp Coast Care to attend a church service at St. Patrick’s (Episcopal). I was really excited to come to CCC because I had friends from BREAD Camp who volunteered there earlier this summer and talked endlessly about what a great experience it was. The service was really similar to how services used to be at Resurrection where we had to look up all the readings and hymns in the books. Of the small part that we saw of CCC I especially liked all the wooden arrow signs naming different Episcopal churches whose groups had volunteered there and the number of miles away their homes are.

Then we drove to Jackson, MS. The drive wasn’t too long and it was a relief to finally be in real buildings (houses) with plumbing. Then St James’ youth minister, Heather, took us to the local country club where we got to swim and live the “high life”. It was interesting to talk to Heather about Southern culture and customs and life in Jackson and where she lived in Alabama. This was the first time that we got to speak with someone who was honest about life in this area and how it’s shaped by history. The culture shock has been pretty intense and I don’t know if any of us really know how to react. We don’t want to be disrespectful as guests in their state and at the same time it’s hard for us to understand why they have certain expectations.

Mississippi has more history than California in terms of events that have shaped the entire history of the United States and it’s such a weird feeling to be a witness to such an important part of our history as Americans.

We had an amazing dinner of truly southern cuisine and stuffed ourselves full of delicious food that hadn’t been available to us at Camp Biloxi.

Before and after dinner we had two stunning speakers, the first was Dr. Anita George who talked about growing up in “the bottoms” of Vicksburg with other blacks. Her personal story was unbelievably moving. As someone who loves history, stories like hers make the Civil Rights movement so much more real because she took action, she didn’t just wait around for someone else to end injustice. All the time she was describing her life as a young girl though her college experience, my most prominent feeling was disgust and it brought up new emotions when I put myself in her shoes and the thought constantly in my head was “for what purpose? And how can everyone just sit back and watch racism grow?”.

The Reverend King also spoke about his activism as a white priest in the Southern community. I was touched by both of their efforts to push for equality and civil rights and I’m so glad I was given the opportunbity to meet them. It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly how I’m feeling currently, I guess it’s an overwhelmed emotion towards a sensative period of history.

-Claire McConnell

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The Blessing at the Community Send Off








Learning about the history of Mississippi, we knelt before the the St. Paul's Chapel reenacting the Kneel-Ins that activists staged outside segregated churches

































Our Friend RJ who lives on the coast of Biloxi and waited out the storm in his house while it was heavily damaged. We moved building materials for him.

Day Six

We were awakened by U2’s “The Streets Have No Name” this morning. Those opposed to getting out of bed were drug outside… the only one actually being Carli, by Rob Howard, Taylor M. and Kevin. During breakfast, the camp director discussed the dress code with our group, of which we were horrible offenders. It is apparent that the culture here is quite different then that at home. We had eggos for breakfast with bacon. After breakfast we went to the Urban Life Ministries where another tent city was built. This is where we were given our assignments. We signed our lives away, yet again.

The group was split up into four groups. One group stayed at camp to help clean and cook. Their day included a long nap, cleaning, reading, showering, preparing meals and for the harder workers, cleaning out a shed. One other group went to a lady's house in East Biloxi where the hurricane hit the hardest. The woman’s house was quite far along in repairs so the group worked on sanding, painting and spackling. Another group met three volunteers that came from Kiesler Air Force base and they helped them work on Florence’s (a sweet old lady) house. Here they worked on spackling, sanding and putting up dry wall. The last group worked on stapling down flooring.

After that, we went back to camp to enjoy hamburgers and salad. After that, some of the group enjoyed an intensely hilarious game of Apples to Apples. From there we went to an Episcopal church that was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The only thing left was a cros s, some of the structure, some of the foundation and a mosaic dedicated for Hurricane Camille victims. It is quite haunting and we are sitting in the narthex typing this right now. On the way here, “The Coolest Small Group Ever” had the tightest car ride, EVER. With Taylor M. as our D.J. It included a Ethnically Neutral Car Fire Drill, head banging by Richard and it was an all out celebration. [Krsssch] Over and Out [Krsssch].

Signed,
“The Coolest Small Group Ever”
Carli, Tierney, Sam H., Rob Howard, Taylor M.

Day Five

Today started out fairly normal... well as normal is it can go around here. Between the 6:00 am wake-up call and breakfast that seems like it has just been poured from a can ( which in fact it probably is, I’ve seen the kitchen!) let’s just say we envy you the pleasures of home.

A small group was needed to stay at camp to help with camp duties. The rest of us left for todays assignments, which were not exactly what we’d hope for, but Surprisingly sufficient to the point that I can’t complain (Amazing!). We started off with a fairly easy task helping out some very nice people weed and level the yard of their very nice house, which consequently had also been recently built by volunteers after it was leveled by Katrina.

One thing that made us appreciate how much this man had lost was the fact that although he had only received 4,000 dollars from his insurance he spent 60,000 dollars of his own money in order to begin rebuilding his house. This makes the work we do seem all the more worth while, because we know that this is something for which the individuals we are aiding are willing to work themselves.

Finally after working around electrical wires and fabled buried water meters (we never found one!), we managed to clear the yard of unwanted plant life. We had a short detour to Winn-Dixie for some lunch and snacks to take back to the work site. Before leaving, we gathered under a sprawling (about 500 year old) oak tree to take pictures with the owner, who wanted us to send him copies to add to his memory book, which we all signed before parting.

After lunch and pictures, we moved to another work-site, where we proceeded to clean a lot from debris and trash; from bricks to shoes, forks to broken china-plates. We worked until rains came, and we were forced to return to camp. Adrian said the rain was a force to reckon with, while most of us simply enjoyed the reprieve from heat and humidity as we frolicked in the blissful rain.

Back at camp, our “flow team” decided a visit to Dairy Queen was in order. After paying homage to her majesty, and indulging in delectable delicacies, we returned to camp where we enjoyed another post-can dinner. We met with small groups, attended compline, and then volunteered to write this entry.

Hope everyone is well, and lots of love from everyone here at Camp Biloxi.

-- Robert Haycock and Nate Fuentes.

Day Four

7:45- Left camp for the morning’s project

8:00- Arrived & continued roto-tilling an over-grown lawn with the whole of the group divided into two teams.
Each team spent half the morning working on the roto-tilling project, and each group played a game developed by Sean to simulate post-disaster life, which helped us better understand necessity of resources, how social status effects people, and how difficult it is to distribute necessary goods to the people in need.
While Rob Howard and Jeff tilled, the rest of the group raked and collected the turned up grass. Much to our surprise, Alissa found a baby turtle buried in the dirt. We named it Michaelangelo and gave it a home in the bamboo plants nearby.

9:30- Piled into vans and rushed over to Winn-Dixie (aka the “Safeway of Mississippi’) for a quick bathroom break

10:00- Groups switched roles back at the job-site

12:30- Groups arrived back at the Tents on the campsite to eat bag lunches in the Dining Hall.

1:30- We got our new job from work supervisor Randy, and followed him out to the worksite. When we arrived, the clouds opened up and began to pour out the heavens. Lightning was an added bonus! Randy came back and informed us the conditions were unsafe to continue working and we headed back to camp for a second time.

3:00- Back at camp, we decided to go swimming on account of the heat and more importantly the humidity. Even though us Californians are used to heat over one hundred degrees, here in Mississippi, even ninety degree heat can be stifling, when combined with humidity levels easily reaching 95%. Michael C. located an indoor pool and as the weather miraculously began to clear, we set off, hoping that in the time it took us to arrive at the “Natatorium” the pool would be open, in spite of the adverse weather. Upon arrival we discovered there were 22 listed rules including the rule that all swimsuits had to have a real lining (they checked everyone!) which resulted in several people going to Walmart to buy new suits (sorry Phil and Sarah, all the local shops are destroyed).

5:30- We left the pool (all pruney!) and headed back for dinner.

6:00- Dinner and then free time

7:30- Small Group Time: During small group time different groups partook in various activities, while ours (Erin, Liz, Chris, Robert Haycock, and Nate) wrote this blog.

8:45- Compline

10:00- Lights Out
___________________
Dear God,
Thank you for this day; the chance to serve you, and worship you, and love you. Your creation is awesome and I am so happy to be a part of it.
You ROCK!!!

First Day of Work (Wednesday)

Today we woke up at six a.m. to the sound of Father Michael’s recorder. The tent was surprisingly cool. After a breakfast of biscuits and sausage gravy, a mixture of potatoes and eggs, and bacon and sausage, we were split into two groups and headed off to a worksite on the Gulf Coast, one block away from the ocean.
A third of our group worked at the house of an old woman named Mae. Mae’s house appeared to have been protected by the houses around her and she only received about three inches of rain. At her house, ten youth painted her deck and railing, as well as stained a table. Mae’s friend Charlie Mullins showed the group photos he had taken after the hurricane, and told many stories. Mae was so appreciative of our work that she baked us brownies and gave everyone kisses and hugs when we left and threatened to hound us for all eternity if she ever finds out we came back to Biloxi and didn’t stay in her spare room.
Across the street, the rest of our team helped Bob and Michelin reorganize bricks and cinderblocks so that they could repair a wall which spared their house from major disaster. Bob remained in the house throughout the storm, and when Michelin came to the house to find Bob, she found him asleep under a blanket of mud, a dead squirrel, a pinecone and a six-pack of Heinekin. Bob gave the group some wisdom gained from his experience: everything is temporary. Taylor Burt rescued many baby geckos at Bob’s house.
After breaking for lunch, we were relocated to another part of town in which we began tilling a front lawn. Halfway through our work, the RotoTiller broke and we had to continue by hand until the work day ended at four thirty p.m..
Upon returning to camp, everyone rushed to the showers and ate dinner of chicken n’ things...

Rob Orton’s small group’s highlights of the day:
Rob- Watching Richard show us how to brush our tongues
Sammy- Paint fight and serving dinner for everyone in Tent City
Justin DeYoung- Hearing the locals’ accents
Luke- Surviving a fall off his chair and hitting his head (he’s fine mom!)
Alissa- Having God Talk with Tierney and Michael Carney AND taking a shower
Taylor B- Having a random woman working in the kitchen tell her about the new house that was being built for her AND saving the geckos

Day One & Travel

Monday...
A great program that followed a timeline of Mississippi history.Prayer beadsAfrican and indigenous oppressionBlack code simulationCivil RightsA Taste of the South,by Sammy ForcumNew friendships are made, Revive the last,We talked to the locals who have paid the costThe infectious heat we strive to beat,is burning up our little feetWith lots of good food and barely any sleepOur anticipations for Biloxi start to creepWith two plane rides and six mini-vansWe are running on schedule, according to plansWe have nine days to go and we're hardly bored...I CANT wait for Mississippi to do the work of the LordDay One...The landscape is a lush green on an overcast gray, sort of like a photograph in sepia, or one of those old hand-colored photographs that were popular in the forties. It seems that the past comes through to our time in the form of rusty old windmills hodgepodged with the new shopping centers. There is no real evidence of the disaster except for a few boarded shops, a few garbage piles, and the fact that none of the telephone poles are straight. As we go further towards the coast I see massive roadwork... We're getting on the freeway.(Next Day)Scratch that, over the past day or so I've been educated as to the plight of New Orleans. When I look at the destruction I feel as I think I would feel if I was looking at the corpse of someone I never knew; sad but reverent. I notice the signs that Search And Rescue spray painted in the sides of the houses notifying us with all the feeling and description of a bar code of the lives lost inside these houses. And then i see it... the head of a statue of The Virgin Mary sticking out of the mud like a lilly among the thorns. A small gleam of beauty in the face of unspeakable horror and adversity. I think i might write a song about this... There is a man mowing his lawn, he has no neighbors. Many of the abandoned houses on his street bare markings that their owners are dead. This man must have a lot on his mind as he is mowing his lawn. It must take a lot of strength to mow your lawn when chances are there is no one to enjoy but you. However, it is a break in the silence that here is as thick as the humid air, for that I'm thankful.-Justin C These last few days have been pretty intense. When we gat on our red eye flight everyone was so excited. Pretty much o one got any sleep and the layover in Atlanta wasn't too long but we were sitting in the airport at about 3 am which was weird. When we finally rrived on New Orleans we rented vans that look realy creepy when we're all lined up together because they're the same model but 3 are blue and 3 are white. The drive to Biloxi wasn't too long but we made lots of stops which got annpying because the humidity was unbearable at first. The air felt really thick and you didn't want anyone else to be close to you. The damage we saw on the drive was unbelievable. Lots of trees are mangled and broken, we even saw one huge tree that had fallen on top of a house and has been there since the hurricane happened, almost a year ago. There is junk in piles everywhere and all all the homes and former businesses don't look usable and you can't help but thinking, "I wonder what it looked like before?". It's sad to see such beautifu homes and neighborhoods virtually abandoned and hopeless looking. You truely get the impression of sadness that must overcome the residents. Yet at the same time, lots of homes have trailers in their front yards were the home owners live while fixing up their own house slowly but surely, attempting to return life to normal. A lot of the business that are open have help wanted signs showing that much of the population still hasn't returned which isn't that surprising but it's what this area needs the most. The sense of destruction and lonliness is so strong and it's hard to imagine so much damage, with buildings completely wiped out besides the basic frame. And the spray paint on the doors give a small indication of the tragedy that occured here in terms of deaths and the day it was inspected which was sometimes 3 weeks after the hurricane. I am so glad to be helping, there is so much work that needs to be done. Everyone is really really tired/exhausted, we've all been up for 38 hours with a few hours of sleep here and there. We're also happy to have finally gotten settled and it is obvious our bond as a group is growing everyday. Love to all at home!-Claire McConnell}

What to expect upon arrival...

10 Day Local Weather Forecast for Biloxi, MS - weather.com: "
Scattered T-Storms high: 90° low: 77° Humidity 71-77%

planting seeds

Last summer on our way home from Idaho we stopped in a little park for lunch and frisbee. The youth all filled out evaluations, and every single person said they'd like to go on another mission trip.

Driving along, I wondered how we would decide where to go. There are so many possibilities. It was three weeks before Hurricane Katrina would devastate the Gulf Coast.

In the fall I got to meet a number of times with a group of young people who brainstormed every possibility from a retreat in Alaska to inner city work in New York (and many in-between). They kept coming back to serving in the hurricane area, despite the cost and logistical challenges of going there.

I remember the evening when the youth leaders made their presentation to adult representatives from all the churches in the county. They described their vision--hard questions were asked and answered--the group voted unanimously to approve the plan. Then the adults walked out of the room shaking their heads, wondering how we would ever pull it off.

With God's help (and our participation), nothing is impossible.

Michael+

Packing List

Information about packing

We do not have the luxury of throwing loose items in the back of a van. Everything must be packed to go through the airport security/baggage system.

You can bring three items: a daypack, a sleeping bag, and a suitcase. You can carry two items on the plane (day pack and sleeping bag) and check your suitcase.

We have very limited space in the vans, so your bag should not be larger than about 25”x12”x12” (Duffle style bag is best. No hard sided suitcases)

Remember, you will have to carry everything you bring: Through the airport, to the vans, and in camp. Please pack accordingly.

The airline has a strict rule of 50 lbs for luggage. Any bag over 50 lbs will be assessed at $25 charge, and you will be responsible for paying this charge.



What to Bring

□ Signed copies of required forms
□ Picture ID (If 18 or older, it must be government issued. i.e. Drivers License; Under 18, school ID or copy of birth certificate is OK)
□ Sleeping bag
□ Inflatable sleeping pad
□ Personal hygiene items
o Shampoo
o Toothbrush
o Toothpaste
o Comb or Brush
o Chapstick
o Soap
o Deodorant
o Razor
o Feminine products
□ Sun screen
□ Insect Repellant
□ Prescription Medication
□ Bath Towel
□ Beach Towel
□ Flashlight
□ Water Bottle – MUST!!!
□ Camera
□ Watch
□ Personal music player
□ Sun Glasses
□ Clothes for work projects and while in camp and traveling
□ Long pants (for work projects, painting)
□ Long sleeve shirt (that can be thrown away if needed)
□ Sturdy shoes (closed toe for work projects)
□ Work gloves
□ Hat or bandana
□ Shorts
□ T-shirts/tops
□ Socks
□ Underwear
□ Swim suit
□ Pajamas/sleeping wear


Some Things You Should Not Bring
□ Cell Phone
□ Expensive or heirloom jewelry
□ Weapons