Fourteen Missionaries and Volunteers from Union Lutheran Church flew to Biloxi, Mississippi to help rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.
February 19 - 24, 2006

Six months after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, volunteers and relief workers continue to descend on Biloxi. We found strangers bonding over common experiences, and from talking with the residents it's apparent there is still pain from all they have lost. On August 25, 2005 a thirty foot wave of water from the Gulf of Mexico pushed inland 2-3 miles. Houses and businesses directly on the shoreline were destroyed. Homes inland were filled with 4-5 feet of water and had roof and exterior damage due to high winds. Damage and mold is preventing families from moving back inside their homes. Small FEMA trailers lined the front lawns on many of the streets. Cabinets, drywall and household belongings are piled on the curbs. Homes are covered with blue tarps.

We were hosted by Bethel Lutheran Church <-link. We slept on mats amidst their pews, in classrooms and in small trailers. We installed and patched roofs, sprayed for mold, hung and spackled drywall, installed doors, dug and framed for concrete footers and slabs, and worked in the church kitchen. Daily meals had to be prepared for 70-80 volunteers. Near the end of the week, we had a team going out to meet with homeowners to evaluate and assess damage for future work. We spent time listening and tying to comfort the residents of Biloxi and to let them know us Lutherans were there to help and they had not been forgotten.

The following are some pictures from Biloxi, of our work and the volunteers:

A common sight in Biloxi

Pastor Dennis Moore

We thank all the Union Lutheran volunteers and Dale's nephew Steve and wife Elaine for their hard work. Our reward was the gratitude and smiles on the owner's faces (such as above), our own satisfaction, and the sharing of our mission to help others. Thank you to the members of Union Lutheran Church and Sunday School and to the Krause Disaster Relief Fund for paying our airfare and living expenses for the week.

Web Page Design by "Carl Gillikin "
March 3, 2006

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