Salem Katrina Team Report - Gautier, November 9

The best laugh today was through David Dyer. He spoke with mock horror of the huge size of local "pimento" bugs. The locals, after laughing their heads off, mentioned the proper name is "palmetto" bug..the pimento is a red pepper! Anyway, Dave keeps us happy...he's "our other brother Darrel". For those readers "who just don't get it", remember the '90's Bob Newhart show?

Today also brought stories we're not proud of. Scam artists abound down here. Easy pickin's. We learned of migrant workers hired to work, paying their own living expenses and then the labor contractor abandons them on payday, skipping with their salaries in his pocket. Another situation where an elderly victim was again victimized by scammers charging her $9,000 to remove her soggy carpets...and then stealing her furniture as well when they left without even doing the work! Lots of fly-by-night crooks charging for labor up front and then disappearing when the homeowner's back is turned. For non-code work there is nothing about what standard of performance is required...truly buyer beware.

We sent off one of our fellows from another team to the hospital this afternoon. Didn't watch his fluid intake and he'd become dehydrated to the point he needed IVs. He's okay now and was a strong voice singing at services tonight.

Our team is already tired but happy as heck to be here. Wes and Mary continue to whip up breakfast and today even included hot homemade rolls! Write us, folks...tell us what's happening back home.

Today's pictures are again gifts from Rick who, along with Joan, Wayne, and David, are out doing such wonderful work for the Lord. We hope the Lord will watch the humidity a bit for these poor folks from Oregon who are used to much dryer (or should we say "Dyer?" weather!

Here's an article by Rick Pollan:

Tuesday Nov 7th;

Dave Dyer and I spent our second day working with the crew from Virginia. We went back to Patricia’s home to finish removing the drywall and tile floors from the remaining bedrooms. Patricia was the most gracious lady, insisting that she be allowed to buy something for us, do something for us. We ultimately agreed that some Gatorade would be great, she returned from the store with 2 8-packs for us. This from a lady who had lost nearly all and was living in a FEMA trailer on a fixed income while awaiting the final outcome of what would happen to her home.

She shared a story I’d like to share here with you readers, a story not of herself but of God's unlimited power over all things, even incredibly powerful storms. She told of how she and her husband stayed in their home during this storm, they had evacuated a couple of years ago for another hurricane and nothing became of it. She is in terrible pain when she walks, her ankles and knees and hips require medications and limited travel. The couple of days they spent in a hotel far inland during the last storm were so uncomfortable they decided to “tough this one out”.

Fortunately the water only rose to 3 feet in their home. It was scary, and tense, and there was a moment when they realized they should have left, but it was too late now. They would either survive or perish, they prayed and left it up to the Lord, accepting whatever fate he had in store for them that day. The water never rose more than the 3 feet in their home, and receded quickly. Patricia used that testimony as a backdrop for the REAL story she wanted to share with us;

In her same neighborhood, and closer to the water she has a dear and more elderly friend who is confined to a wheelchair. This friend also did not evacuate for various reasons of her own, but had asked for someone to come move her to higher ground, a safer place. No one came. As the storm moved in and the waters began to rise she was frantically calling her church and anyone she could get to answer. No one could come. The fire department would not try without a complete and proper address, they couldn’t risk their vehicles and equipment with the storm so rapidly approaching. With the water rising to the height of her bed Patricia’s friend resigned herself to her fate, and began to pray. She told the Lord she was ready, if it was His will then she was ready to go, and thanked Him for such a good life. Then she closed her eyes and waited, the rising waters covering her bed.

The fire department DID get out, making a last minute decision to attempt to locate the woman. The woman’s garage door had been left open, her car pulled inside. The fire department rescue team was pushing down the flooded street, wind screaming and shrieking, looking for a couple of loosely described landmarks they’d been given. What they saw they did not expect. The lady’s car in the garage was now covered with rising water. The battery had apparently shorted out, and with the rescue team desperately trying to find her before they had to give up and return without her… one of the team noticed an unusual thing. The lights on a submerged car in a garage were blinking. On… and off. And on… and off. They checked the hastily given description of the home they were looking for and decided this one looked close enough to attempt a rescue. It was the right house. She was there, still alive, nearly covered with the floodwaters. When they took her to the rescue vehicle someone noted the lights were no longer blinking in the garage. The waters rose another foot that night, the night that friend of Patricia literally gave her life to God’s hands.

I thank you dear God, for allowing me to be here. I thank you for allowing me to witness all of the miracles, big and small that I have seen. I thank you for allowing me to witness and to be witnessed TO. For allowing me to participate in what I KNOW is your work. I thank you for all of the other volunteers that have been allowed to pass into this holy ground before me, and for all of the countless number that will follow. May we accept your will for our lives, whatever that may be. In Christ Jesus name we pray. Amen.