I just returned from a mission trip in Gautier, Mississippi helping to rebuild the homes there. It is still an incredible mess with so much need even 9 months after the hurricane. The debris right on the coasts is still horrific. Further in you don't see as much because the damage is to the interiors. I'll post more photos and you will see what I mean.

The greatest need is roofs. The inside work can't get going much 'til the leaky, damged roofs are replaced. There are blue-tarped roofs sprinkled everywhere. The hurricane season begins tomorrow and the people there are very nervous. They haven't even recovered from last season!

If anyone knows of a church group, family or organization willing to go down South and help with the effort I can hook you up with the details. The cost to your group is negligeble- just the getting down there, since everything you need once you get there is paid for, including food. We found a couple of churches that were willing to put us up for the night on the way down and back so it was just gas and food money for the travel. Of course, they will accept donations, too and we took a hefty check down from our church.

You do not need any specific skills as they have folks there that can show you what to do and the people are so anxious to get back into their homes and out of the FEMA trailers that they prefer a quick job to a fine and lengthy one. There is, of course, a special need for electricians, and others with special skills but anyone can get a small amount of training and do the most-needed jobs such as tearing out sheet rock, hanginging doors, putting up sheet rock, roofing and painting. What is really needed is people with a willingness to work.

Our group was mix of 60 to 14 year old men and women with varying levels of skill and knowledge but all with a heart to serve. We were there 6 days and replaced roofs on two houses, painted the interiors of 2 others and set a toilet and two of our helpers cooked for all the volunteers down there at th Gautier United Methodist Church. You do as much as you can and then another group follows and finishes whatever they can....a long slow process..but it get's it done. They say "we are helping one family at a time" and that is what keeps them going and from being disheartened by the overwheming need. We shared floor space and broke bread with people from Maine, Nebraska & Pennsylvania.

Marcia, who runs the Relief Effort at the church says there is enough work for the next five years if they continue to get the same amount of volunteer workers. Remember, just about all the work being done is by volunteers! You get paid in hugs and heartfelt thank yous. I feel incredibly grateful for all I have and for the opportunity to be God's hands. It was an uplifting, rewarding and humbling experience for me... I want to send others! I want to go back!