2008 Pearlington, MS, Mission Trip
May 3 - 10, 2008
************************
OUT OF CHAOS, HOPE
This page promotes Trinity’s second Mission Trip to Pearlington, Mississippi. Here, you will learn about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on Pearlington, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the rebuilding efforts and this year’s trip.
Pearlington is a very poor community with many recovery needs. It was dubbed ground zero because the eye of Katrina passed over it. Ten feet of water came within 12 minutes followed by another tide of 20 feet in the houses. All of this happened in eight hours. Houses, the post office, churches, gas station, bank, fire department, and local store were destroyed. Everything in Pearlington was gone. About 800 people have returned two years later. Recovery has been slow with about 85 per cent of the reconstruction done in partnership with faith-based volunteer groups from across the nation.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. It enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. to witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic events. For more information about PDA: (web site) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, then look for the section about Katrina.
Last May a team of 19 people sponsored through Trinity went to Pearlington. We weren’t certain about what to expect when we arrived. ALL we knew for sure was that it was a tiny town struggling to recover from the damages of Hurricane Katrina and we were there to help. We met volunteers from Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington D.C. There was work for everyone! We helped cook lunch at the First Baptist Church for all volunteers and community members, and had the opportunity to help pour the concrete foundation for the new sanctuary.
Our group worked on four sites. The Dawsey family’s new house was almost completed, stairs to Buzzy Knowles’s new home, which is now fourteen feet above the ground were complete. Our other teams built a 10-foot wide by 80-foot long deck around the Walter’s home and worked on “Mama’s” home. Mama is Amanda Nichols who is 89 years old and can’t wait to move into her new house.
This May 3-10, the Mississippi Mission Team will be returning to Pearlington. Once again, we will join PDA to assist in the rebuilding efforts. Adults 18 or older are welcome and encouraged to join the team. We need skilled and unskilled laborers. There is work for EVERYONE who is interested. What the team experienced was the kind of love that only comes from taking an active part in the Family of God and seeing the fruits of your labors reflected in the eyes of the people you have served. We went to be a blessing and returned blessed!
“Since there will never cease to be some need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbors in your land.’”
Deuteronomy 15:11
If you are interested in joining the team or supporting our efforts, contact:
Ted & Liz
Benson at 522-2390 or Click to send email 