Hurricane Katrina 2005
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Katrina roared through the Gulf in August 2005. Several Calvary Chapels from
California began a relief effort in Bay St. Louis, Missouri. They got cleaning and
clearing houses, and ministering to people whose town was largely destroyed. Eight
months later, my seventh grade class from CC Sarasota joined the effort.
It was hard to believe that the hurricane had struck eight months before. There
was still so much damage that it looked as though it had occurred perhaps eight
weeks ago. The town had endured a forty foot storm surge. The flooding affected
properties up to two miles inland. A seven mile stretch of beach front property
was completely devastated.
We arrived in the evening and I met with the base leaders to find out how we
would be helping. I sensed some resistance from the leaders but figured I was
misreading so I dismissed it. Our biggest role would to plug in right at the base,
cooking and cleaning so that the experienced workers (translated: big boys with
power tools) could be out in the field. My students got right to work. Marilyn
Troyer became second-in-command in the kitchen and I headed up the bathroom
cleaning crew. The kids got to clean port-a-potties, organize storage areas,
prepare and serve meals, and do dishes. They all seemed to love doing the dishes.
I think it had something to do with the squirty hose.
We met many interesting people. One local official had sent his family to safety
and stayed in town during the storm. Of course, all power was lost and he was not
able to contact with his family for three days. No one knew if he was even alive,
nor did he know if his family was safe. He shared with tears in his eyes how
terrible he felt for putting his family through that. He also gave the people and
places in the area. It was very evident that his heart was broken for Bay St. Louis.
All in all, my students worked very hard. Later, I would find out that the leaders
at the base weren't very excited about having a bunch of seventh graders around.
They didn't think the kids would be much help. By the end of the week,
leadership had become very impressed with and quite fond of our group. They
sent us away with prayers and blessings and many thanks, and even some
sandwiches!
That work became a church plant, and today, there is a Calvary Chapel Bay St.
Louis and work for the Lord is going strong.
Mary Jo authored this.
California began a relief effort in Bay St. Louis, Missouri. They got cleaning and
clearing houses, and ministering to people whose town was largely destroyed. Eight
months later, my seventh grade class from CC Sarasota joined the effort.
It was hard to believe that the hurricane had struck eight months before. There
was still so much damage that it looked as though it had occurred perhaps eight
weeks ago. The town had endured a forty foot storm surge. The flooding affected
properties up to two miles inland. A seven mile stretch of beach front property
was completely devastated.
We arrived in the evening and I met with the base leaders to find out how we
would be helping. I sensed some resistance from the leaders but figured I was
misreading so I dismissed it. Our biggest role would to plug in right at the base,
cooking and cleaning so that the experienced workers (translated: big boys with
power tools) could be out in the field. My students got right to work. Marilyn
Troyer became second-in-command in the kitchen and I headed up the bathroom
cleaning crew. The kids got to clean port-a-potties, organize storage areas,
prepare and serve meals, and do dishes. They all seemed to love doing the dishes.
I think it had something to do with the squirty hose.
We met many interesting people. One local official had sent his family to safety
and stayed in town during the storm. Of course, all power was lost and he was not
able to contact with his family for three days. No one knew if he was even alive,
nor did he know if his family was safe. He shared with tears in his eyes how
terrible he felt for putting his family through that. He also gave the people and
places in the area. It was very evident that his heart was broken for Bay St. Louis.
All in all, my students worked very hard. Later, I would find out that the leaders
at the base weren't very excited about having a bunch of seventh graders around.
They didn't think the kids would be much help. By the end of the week,
leadership had become very impressed with and quite fond of our group. They
sent us away with prayers and blessings and many thanks, and even some
sandwiches!
That work became a church plant, and today, there is a Calvary Chapel Bay St.
Louis and work for the Lord is going strong.
Mary Jo authored this.
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the
darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isaiah 58:10
darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isaiah 58:10
