Salem Katrina Team Report from Gautier November 16

We hope our Karen doesn’t mind that her teammates had to laugh when she, obviously a rookie, blurted out the direction to the driver to “turn left at the blue roof”…. nearly every roof has the regulation bright blue tarp provided by the Corps of Engineers, to imit water damage. After just two days, one doesn’t see them anymore, just like you stop noticing the roadside trash.
We were joined by more folks from Salem today….Salem, Ohio, that is! Welcome, y’all!
Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Morella Larsen today. What a gem! She became invaluable as the assistant camp mayor, answering questions when Mayor/Chief-of-Staff Julie Putnam couldn’t be reached or was on other tasks. Morella, an experienced pilot, is another one of those marvelous people we seem to have so many of in First Pres who can do just about everything…and with a smile on their face! Morella, we hope the storms over Houston allowed you to continue your journey homeward safely.

Another day, another breakfast. Thankfully, Mary Swanson knows what she’s doing and that meal and lunch always turn out okay. Mary is up with the chickens to get breakfast ready, then helps clean up and even goes out after dinner to get the “fixin’s” for the next day. Around here, high praise is “Mmm-mm, them’s good eatin’!”

Today Karen and I went over to Keesler AFB hospital, then to the VA Hospital to try to get help for some local veterans. One fellow is totally disabled, lives with his mother because he’s lost his house, and has lost his glasses, hearing aids, leg braces and dentures in the flood. We came across some leads for getting an Army tent for our use…find out tomorrow. I was discussing the dentures situation during dinner and later, during Vespers, another team member came and gave us $100 towards the teeth! Somebody upstairs was listening!

Our drive took us along the Biloxi coast so terribly damaged by the storm. We saw the casino barges tossed onto land and across a four lane highway. We saw a Denny's diner with only the sign on a pole left. We saw whole neighborhoods...not single houses or even blocks...whole neighborhoods being leveled. We were stopped for checks at Army roadblocks. It is a strange feeling for an American to encounter an Army blockade. They're nice guys, trying to do their best to assist in the emergency, but still, we can't but help feeling like somebody crossing into a Checkpoint Charlie or a DMZ somewhere.

Regarding breakfast tomorrow, prepared by Wes and Mary. Some variety has been requested. Okay, we exchanged peaches for pears but they want more serious variety. So, tomorrow we'll put the onions into the egg mix, rather than putting the egg mix into the onions. We do what we can, right? Actually, our "customers" from our little tent city have been wonderful to be with each and every day. Today was so much nicer than recent days, with the temperature about 30 degrees lower. Heaven sent! Tomorrow, we'll work on our houses, we'll try to find dentures and glasses, we'll try to beg/borrow/or steal (naw...not actually steal, but maybe borrow with vigor!) an Army tent for better protection in the cold weather sure to come to Gautier.

And here we have it: proof that Mary and Karen don't pay attention during Vespers. Our meeting tonight included one team reporting on a local homeowner they're helping and his problems, summed up with his statement that he could put all he owned into a small plastic box! Amazing, but the gentleman had come to services to thank the very team mentioning him...a surprise to all and what an emotional outpouring! We are doing good work. We are doing the Lord's work here.

Good night, Oregon. We miss you so much.