UMCOR Bright Spots
IN TODAY'S ISSUE
September 14, 2006
"God Helps You Take Bigger Steps Every Day" Out of the Storm: Hope and Renewed Faith Biweekly Newsletter Features Recovery, HopeSalvaging Family KeepsakesHelping Those Who Need Help MostRecovery Stats This Week's Quote One Community (Slide Show)
"GOD HELPS YOU TAKE BIGGER STEPS EVERY DAY"
By Susan J. Meister, Gulf Coast Communications
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Jack and Paula stand inside their |
Weeks after the storm, Mr. Jack and Ms. Paula found two pieces of the hand carved crucifix given to them by Jack's son. They lay in the mud and muck left by Hurricane Katrina at their home in Bay St. Louis, MS. Although the figure of Jesus is missing some fingers on the right hand, the cross is still a powerful inspiration to the couple as they rebuild.
"You start out with baby steps," Paula said. "And God helps you take bigger steps every day."
Jack and Paula met case manager Annette Zeiderman from Camp Gulfside when they were looking for materials to help rebuild. "She said she would really help," Paula exclaimed. "She was a light at the end of the tunnel so we could see our way out."
Zeiderman is the case management supervisor at Camp Gulfside, located on the site of the former Gulfside Assembly. From the Quonset hut and modular building on the grounds, she and the staff reach out to residents of Hancock and Pearl River counties, including Waveland and Bay St. Louis, in southwest Mississippi. Camp Gulfside is one of the stations of the Mississippi United Methodist Katrina Response.
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Paula holds the hand-carved crucifix found in the rubble of their former home. |
After she met the couple, Zeiderman scheduled two volunteer groups from Liberty UMC, Macon, GA and First UMC, Starkville, MS to assist with their rebuilding efforts. "I'm a big old boy, but I felt like crying," Jack said. "I wish I could adopt all these people."
Zeiderman carries an angel memento in her pocket, a gift from the couple in gratitude to her for being "their angel."
"God is taking care of us," Paula continued. "For two or three months we didn't know what to do. We just held each other and cried. But we've come a long way."
"Katrina made Camille look like a thunderstorm," exclaimed Jack, a lifelong resident of the area. "But we're survivors."
OUT OF THE STORM: HOPE AND RENEWED FAITH
On the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the altar table at a Service of Remembrance, Reflection and Thanksgiving held a cross fashioned from wood from an affected home, two specially made communion cups, roof shingles and other reminders of Hurricane Katrina and signs of the rebuilding effort. Courtney Allen, rebuilding coordinator at Trinity, reported that the church has hosted 2,850 volunteers and helped rebuild at least 500 homes in the Gulfport area.
BIWEEKLY NEWSLETTER FEATURES RECOVERY, HOPE
Bright Spots is a biweekly newsletter mailing on Thursdays to pastors and recovery ministry staffs in the Louisiana and Mississippi conferences.
Each issue of "Bright Spots" includes a story of an individual or family affected by the hurricanes of 2005 and working toward recovery. Issues will also include additional photos related to rebuilding, recovery statistics, a brief slide show for use by churches in worship and meeting venues, and links to Gulf Coast conference and other web sites. The email list for Bright Spots will only be used to mail the e-newsletter and will not be shared or used for any other purpose.
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Miss Carolyn (left), Tori and Debbie |
SALVAGING FAMILY KEEPSAKES
Even before Miss Carolyn was a client of the Abbeville Station, she was a childhood friend of case manager Debbie Boudreaux. Debbie and her daughter Tori braved mud, snakes and the smell to rescue some items from Carolyn's home after it was destroyed by the wind and water from Hurricane Rita. Tori painstakingly cleaned dozens of salt shakers that had been collected by Carolyn's late father during his travels in World War II. Debbie and Tori also salvaged her some of her dad's WWII medals. Miss Carolyn displays the salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen of her new home in Abbeville, where she is starting her cake decorating business.
For more on the United Methodist recovery work visit these web sites:
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
UM News Service
Mississippi Conference
Louisiana Conference
Texas Conference
Alabama-West Florida Conference
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