Presbytery of San Jose Katrina/Rita Response

Our Presbytery

Responds Katrina/Rita

Hurricane Disaster

in the Gulf Coast

with Generosity,

Hard Work to

Repair, Clean Homes

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

UPDATE ON DENOMINATION'S DISASTER RELIEF

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, much of the repair of hurricane distroyed homes, churches and buildings has been done by church people ... people like us!

Cross proclaiming hope in the midst of tragedy

Reports from people that were there in 2006:

Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church's Youth Caravan

Takes 90 youth, adults to Long Beach, Mississippi

This from Deb Stoddard, Sunnyvale Church member, Youth Advisor:

The approach to Long Beach, MS revealed nothing of the devastation that lay beyond the railroad tracks. Crossing over the tracks and entering the small town were the remnants of a once thriving community. Everything from the beach to 4th Street was completely gone. The storm surge took everything in its path. Those who lived above 4th had severe flood damage. It was amazing to think that the ocean could take a condiminum complex, a 4-story hotel, Walmart, a bank, churches, countless businesses, many homes, and so many lives. Remnants of what was still remains as we walked through the foundations.

LIves have been changed forever in ways that we will never understand. The most amazing part of the trip was the stories of survival and incredible faith in God. We listened to the story of the couple whose home we worked on. This couple remained in their home because they were above the line of the storm surge of Camille. They watched as the storm surge approached, engulfed th eir home, and then flooded their home. The couple escaped into the attic space and sat on 2 x 4's for the next 12 hours waiting for the wind to cease, never wavering in their confidence that God would protect them through the storm. As they emerged from their home, the damage was beyond belief. There was not one recognizable thing about their neighborhood. They waited for days for someone to come and help. When help finally arrived, they were forced to leave their home. With no car, no money, no help or assistance, they hitchhiked out of state to stay with a relative until they were allowed to return.

Their jobs were washed away, and with little hope of full employment in the immediate future, they have looked to God to provide what they need. He has gifted them with incredible faith and hope. Even in the face of such a devastating hurricane, these two have God's love and light in their hearts. That light shines brightly in Long Beach.

I could have written a dissertation on this. It is unfortunate that so little attention has gone the MS coast. There is nothing left from the Bay St. Charles to Gulfport to Biloxi. The entire coast for 25 mile for 1/2 mile inland is gone.

This from Ginna Traina, Office Manager, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church:

We have all read and seen on television the devastation in New Orleans. However, not many folks have heard of Long Beach, Mississippi, or the numerous other towns along the way of the hurricane who were devastated as well.

I was blessed to be a part of the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church Youth Caravan this last August. The Long Beach Presbyterian Church converted its church into dorm like rooms and 86 youth and adults stayed for one week, working on homes each day.

We worked in very humid and hot conditions-something we are not used to here in California! Each day we hammered, cleared brush, painted, installed wallboard, windows and did what ever was needed.

These people were grateful beyond belief and most importantly, were given hope. Hope that they would be back in their homes with a roof over their heads. Hope that if it ever happens again, they would not be alone.

The lesson we learn from Jesus in the garden asking his disciples to stay awake and pray with him is a strong one. As people of God, we need not only to stay awake and pray, but to take action when someone needs a helping hand.

...and from Marsha Dyslin, Youth Parent Advisor, Sunnyvale Church

I spent a week in Long Beach, Mississippi this past summer with 86 high school youth and advisors. I was excited to go and get to know the students better, but my expectations were surpassed as they week progressed in Mississippi.

Our workgroup of 12 people worked on one house during the week and really got to know the homeowner. As we listened to their stories during the week, it wasn’t just news stories of a devastating hurricane, but stories of individual people that lived through the past year of uncertainty. For us to be called “angels” was a new experience for many. As we left Gary and Sunny’s house, we knew we had made a difference during our week. We also saw that even with the work we did, the house was still not inhabitable, but it was one step closer. It was good to know that as the 10th group to work on this house, more groups would be coming and the house would be completed.

Our homeowners talked many times about how they would give back to others when their house was completed, just as others had given to them. The week in Mississippi taught us all about community within our high school caravan group, and also across the nation to Mississippi.

Felton Presbyterian Church Takes

21 Youth, adults to Mississippi

This from Brittany Overbeck, Director of Youth Ministries, Felton Presbyterian Church:

I have never thought of myself as a Missionary. The idea of going to different countries, learning new languages, or in any way going outside my “comfort zone” has never been appealing. I’ve done the Mission Trip thing because that’s what any good youth director does, but my whole heart hasn’t been into the experience. And then Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and I found out that God did want me to be a missionary to the people in a little Mississippi town called Pearlington.

In April, I led a team of 21 people from Felton Presbyterian Church to the PDA Volunteer Camp in Pearlington, Mississippi. Over the course of a week our team worked on 5 different homes, tearing out drywall, carpets, toilets, showers, sinks, cabinets and debris covered in mold. We spoke with residents who had lost everything in the Hurricane: homes, cars, loved ones and jobs. We had lunch everyday at the First Missionary Baptist Church, a church that celebrated its 100 birthday and renovation the week before the hurricane hit. The church was devastated by the hurricane but the people kept going and now serve lunch for all the volunteers, Monday through Friday, for free. We worked alongside home owners to rebuild their homes. We prayed for the people of Pearlington, for those we had met and those we hadn’t. We were humbled by the generosity and thankfulness of everyone we met, from home owners in Pearlington to business owners in New Orleans. Along the way we learned a little about what it means to be a missionary, to give of ourselves and our time for God’s glory in this world.

This December, just two days after Christmas, our team is going back to Pearlington. 15 of our original team members and 10 new team members will be heading to the Pearlington Recovery Center for a week to continue the journey we started in April. We know that God has placed this town on our hearts for a purpose and we are eager to do God’s will as we become missionaries to a little town called Pearlington.