Devastation in Haiti

Our thoughts and prayers must be with the suffering people in Haiti. We can never know their challenge without living day-to-day trying to survive on $2 per day with barely any shelter or things.

In the U.S., we are still rebuilding from Katrina nearly four years ago. In that time, we have seen our fully capable government provide necessary support to its people. Even in New Orleans, we watched knowing that our government would help with search and rescue and cleanup. And yet, the work and help continues in its own way.

But Haiti does not have a capable government to provide any real help immediately, nor later or long term. And they have to pray and beg that the capable neighbor countries, mostly the U.S., will step in.

Our church and Presbytery supports Hearts with Haiti. They help with Wings of Hope and St. Joseph's Home for Boys and Trinity House in Jacmel. Some word has arrived that the buildings are destroyed with some injuries but no deaths. Years of building up the orphaned boys and special needs children is wiped out in less than a minute.

While the people there had little and said they were happy, now they have none, scrambling for survival. Hopefully, we find just ways to help restore the Haitian people. Should that way be repopulating them in the U.S.? Haiti has no resources to support its people before the earthquake.


And, not long after the initial help, the politics will start with restrictions on how to help, who to help, etc. What priorities do we have? $700B and counting this year for wars for the Pentagon and how much will be pledged to help Haiti?
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Pictures from Pearlington - April 2009

Here are pictures from the Summerville, SC crew that worked on Lester Dell's house in Pearlington. We were honored to be part of a chain of crews to work on his house, almost 4 years after Katrina. Until recently, Lester helped everyone else rebuild. Now, it was our time to help him. The biggest part was rebuilding and reattaching the deck to the raised house. And, we had a few people willing to go 30+ ft in the air to hang the fascia and soffetts.

Click here for the pictures.

How Did You Spend Your Spring Break?

This is how Mark Jr. from PA spent his Spring Break. I caught them catching some rays after working hard (you decide). Their family did spend a couple of days in Biloxi. If you check some other pictures from our group, then you will see him high up on scaffolding and dangling over bannisters to hammer in framing or fascia. Mark, why were quarters scattered all over the floor in the shower trailer?

Pearlington PDA Village #6 closing in October 2009

After almost 4 years helping residents in Pearlington, the camp will likely be closed because Hancock County will not renew the occupancy permit for the temporary facilities of the PDA at the former post office along Hwy 607 in Pearlington. Here is a copy of the letter that our church received.

This letter shows the helpful spirit that Hancock County has shown the organizations "from outside" that have tried to help. In many ways, Hancock County feels insulted that outside organizations have stayed. But, if the county helped its residents more then the organizations wouldn't feel the need to stay. I believe that organizations like PDA, One House At a Time, and the PRC have helped a lot more residents find grant and relief money and get FEMA trailers and now MEMA cottages than the county did.

Yes, the Storm would have overwhelmed any county staff, especially as small and rural as Hancock County. But, rather than support the organizations, they are business as usual.

Maybe Hancock County is trying to get back to normal; whatever that now is. And, the temporary pod structure that PDA set up needs to go away. Maybe, PDA should have planned a more permanent facility. Maybe, PDA should plan some kind of facility to help the community develop. Jane Els put some of these ideas in my head; they are settling in better after my initial disappointment with the county. The county caused some issues when PDA was restoring the camp after Gustav. I guess that we should have gotten the message.

I have been to Pearlington 4 times, and our church has been on 6 trips there. I don't feel like an outsider while I am there. I know where most of the streets are and I know people on both sides of the highway. We will work hard to get travelers there to finish the 49 cases still open, but the summertime is a struggle there with the climate.

I think that the conspiracy theory that Stennis Space Center was disappointed that groups like PDA came to Pearlington and is a thorn to their land grab for buffer is probably a good theory. Just like ignoring the rebuilding of Ninth Ward will lead to it being largely left alone, maybe in the end Pearlington should have been left. The next destruction by any type of storm will certainly highlight that direction.

Pearlington PDA has allowed me to connect with other Presbyterian churches across the country. I now have friends in TX and PA to connect with on a regular basis. Maybe, that was a good thing for me. And, I now have a reason to stop in at Pearlington on my drives across I-10.

I will see you in Pearlington for the next few months working hard to finish the 49 cases. See you there!

Pictures from Lester's House

Here is a link to pictures taken by Lester's pastor Gary from the Pearlington Church of Christ next door. Pictures include before the house was lifted and conclude with Tony and Scott working to put the soffetts and fascia up high on the side of Lester's house.

Click here for pictures of Lester's house.

Neighbor Night in PDA Village #6, Pearlington

Neighbor Night on Thursday night is always a special dinner at the camp. We invite the homeowners that we are working with to join us for dinner and discussion. Thursday night for Holy Week has been special the previous 2 years because we had Pastor Kevin Porter from Germantown who provided a communion service.

Two years ago, Teddy and others from our church organized a wonderful Maundy Thursday service and Kevin with the group of youth from Germantown played a huge part. Well, last Wed night I learned that Kevin had been in town last Holy Week with Jane Els as the village manager. She remembered the year earlier Maundy Thursday service and asked Kevin to "do it again." Kevin didn't have the youth this time, so the music wasn't as good but he served communion.

So, thinking that it was our group's turn for devotion and not being a preacher-type, I asked if Kevin would like to continue his Holy Week tradition. He said "sure." But, the Germantown group was working late on completing roof repairs before expected rain on Friday and they arrived late for dinner. And, with an unexpected repair job on my front tire due to a nail, we had to change plans quickly. Don O. from our group stepped in for me and carried a wonderful devotion that ended with Jimmy Buffett playing "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On."

Our neighbor, Lester, was there and almost had all of us in tears speaking from his heart with appreciation for our help and everyone's help in the past few weeks. Then, Ken Short spoke to us as he has done for the past few weeks. His call sign as a first responder carrying critically ill patients to Meridian (some 200 miles away) was REDBALL 247. His story is amazing; and almost unbelievable. His description of almost no help from the government for 3 days is hard to fathom in our country. But, being here is believing it.

Progress is slow in Pearlington, but after a few trips, you unfortunately lower your expectations when you come back. Three families that we have helped are back in their homes. Hopefully, Lester now makes four. At first, I wasn't sure of the continued value in going back to Pearlington again. But, after Ken's inspirational words expressing the need for us to continue helping, I will find a way to get another group to go in October.

For Jane, we missed you and I was only teasing about you getting down there (well maybe a bit serious after speaking with Kevin). The corny-dog stand that we looked forward to for lunch, is closed and has a "For Sale" sign on the trailer.

Back from Pearlington, April 2009

Almost 4 years after Hurricane Katrina, our group from Summerville, SC along with groups from NC and PA were able to help the remaining residents make progress in rebuilding after the Storm.

At Lester's house, the big project was getting the deck and pool area ready for his family for Easter Sunday. A deck may not be considered important when your entire house has cracked drywall because of your house being dropped while being raised. But, for a family that is used to spending most of their time outside on the deck around the pool, it is a huge thing.

We were driven and energetic to complete the deck as the excitement grew from Lester while he invited family members over for Sunday afternoon. And, I bet it was a great party. We did our best to get the deck and grounds stable, level, and in shape for visitors this weekend.

Our group helped Lester and family for the week. The other groups were each at different family. From PDA volunteers, four families were moved forward towards returning to normal more than 3 1/2 years after the Storm.

We will go back in 6 months. Will I see you there?