Our time here in M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I is about up! When we woke up this morning and started breakfast we were surprised with quite a bit of rain. So our plans changed slightly! Some of us stayed and cleaned up camp and others went to finish odd jobs that could be finished indoors. The camp is clean and we are for the most part ready to hit the road. Our game plan is to leave by one p.m. Mississippi time. This week has brought so many blessings that I am not sure we know the multitude fully but they will appear! Thanks so much for everyone’s prayers and thoughts!

— Lester

This week is an incredible week of seeing all the different skills that God gives all of his people. The bonding of the team is always a neat thing to see as many of us begin just meeting but continue to build community by the end of the week. I have also been blessed to work and laugh side by side with my daughter Mallery. I would ask that all pray for a safe trip home for the team and encourage all to step out of your comfort zones and travel on a domestic or International missions trip. This is an awesome experience to grow spiritually and also to push yourself to boundaries that you could not achieve without God.

Today was our fourth day of one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It’s hard to believe with all of the bad things we hear about on the radio and TV and in the newspapers that any good still exists in this crazy world. But I’ve found it! And I know I don’t have to come to Mississippi to look for it, but the amount of progress that has been made down here by a bunch of people with little or no experience has shown me the true meaning of good in the world. This is the first mission trip I’ve been on. It won’t be the last. The Lord is working in such an awesome way down here, and I’m so blessed to get to share it with complete strangers that have become friends. Thanks for the opportunity.

We have just finished our third day of working in Gulfport.  Some of us are painting, some of us drywalling and some of us are siding a home. 

It’s really hot here – 108 degree heat index.  So, we are sweating, drinking water, sweating, etc.  We are enjoying our work though.  What keeps us going is that we know everyday we help here is one day closer to a family being back in their home.  God is showing us that we all have something to contribute. 

This morning we watched a video here at Hope City.  It was a true story about a man named Doug Desilvey.  He is a resident of Gulfport.  He took his family to his mother-in-law’s home during Hurricane Katrina because he thought it would be a safer place to weather out the storm.  In the end, he is the only one who survived.  4 of his family members died in the flood  waters that day.  As painful and devastating as it was, he says that he knows God is faithful and in control.  What an inspiration!!  Kind of puts life into perspective. 

On a lighter note:  We’ve learned a lot of lessons here so far:  how to swing a hammer, how to use a paintbrush and how to sand drywall.  But, one of the most important lessons so far…Mark taught a few of us how to spit sunflower seeds today; it kept us busy for quite awhile.  ;)  Even though it’s hot and we are working, it’s also fun.

Can you remember what happened in the southern United States in August 2005?  Hurricane Katrina ripped through Mississippi and Louisiana.   Many people were left homeless.  Almost three years later, we don’t hear about Katrina in the news too often, but there are still many without a permanent home – the need is still great.

To help do our part, WCC has sent numerous teams and hundreds of volunteers to Gulfport over the past 3 years.  Another team of 7 volunteers from WCC will be leaving for Mississippi on Saturday, July 26 at 9:00 pm.  This team will drive 15 hours in one of the WCC vans to Hope City, a volunteer camp in Gulfport.  Hope City houses 40 people per week – and I think the camp is full this coming week.  Even though we are from different denominations, we are all Christian and we all strive to share God’s love.

We will eat, sleep, and this week, sweat(!) at Hope City.  We will be divided into smaller groups and go out into communities to work on projects.  Some of us may be laying brick for a foundation, some of us may be dry walling, some of us may be painting.  We don’t know what we will be doing until we get there.

We just ask that God use us to show his love to people who may be hurting.  Our first thought is to go down to Gulfport and help them by building homes.  Yes, we will be doing that, but more importantly we want to remember to take the time to build relationships – relationships with the homeowners which could point them to the ultimate relationship…with Christ.

This is my first time volunteering on a WCC Katrina Relief team, and I feel so blessed.  I have to admit I’m a bit anxious, or maybe “excited” is a better word.  Please pray for the safety of our team and that we put our own agenda aside and allow God to use us as he sees fit.