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September 21, 2005
Day 6 - "The Salt of the Earth"
Before we left the church, one of the bankers I had left a message with returned my call. I spoke of our school and our desire to help. He knew of one family for us to speak with and said he would try to find out more. He would call back later with times. Steve spoke with a Christian Red Cross worker who also knew of someone we might speak with. She gave us the name of a Pastor in nearby Nicholson that could help connect us to him.
While getting some coffee, the second banker returned my call and he said that he would try to find some people for us to talk with. He knew of one family from New Orleans and would call us later.
On the top of our bus in large letters is painted "FUMA." This morning a gentleman waited for us to come out of the coffee shop hoping that we were with "FEMA." Steve has said several times he wished we were so that we could give out financial aid.
We went back to Comfort Inn so that we could access our email and I could send off a journal entry. While there, a retired 57-year-old man came in to use the free Internet service as well. I was walking to the restroom when he asked if we were aid volunteers, in which I responded yes and told him what we were doing. He quickly began showing me pictures of his home. It was a large middle class home that had been flooded and many of his possessions destroyed. In addition to his home he lost his new motor home. He went on showing me pictures and telling me about his loss. His family was safe though. His eyes spoke weariness and wonder about the future. Many of those we have spoken with whether volunteers or victims are overwhelmed by their experience. They want someone to sit and listen to their story.
He mentioned that he wanted some Gatorade. We had some that we had been sent with, so we gave him a few bottles. Our conversation steered toward the many volunteers down here. I mentioned that our school was affiliated with the Baptist church. He responded by calling the Baptists, "The Salt of the Earth" for their efforts here. I have seen a lot of relief aid, but the largest majority of them are Baptist.
We had previously decided to go to Biloxi to speak with the pastors and Chaplains at the relief efforts there. Before starting our trek there we stopped by Nicholson to find the pastor. We did not find him but left a message. The pastor called us while we were on the road. He said that a local principal was a member of his church and would inform her of our offer, but did not know of anyone else at that time.
In Biloxi, we met with two pastors who greeted us warmly and took our information. We drove through a residential area where house after house had blue or clear tarps covering damaged roofs. Fences where torn down and trash was littered about. The McDonalds there was serving a limited menu and canned drinks. That area was still using boiled water.
On our way back through Gulfport, we passed over two bridges where boats littered embankments on either side. It was so incredible that we pulled over to take pictures. I will post them on the photos section of our website soon.
Posted by thompsod at September 21, 2005 09:36 PM