voss adventures: Pass Christian, Mississippi

It has been a month since we went to Pass Christian with a Southern Baptist Disaster Recovery Team (SBDRT). This town is right on the gulf and was severely hit by Katrina....I know....that was a while ago. But there are still those who were affected that have not yet gotten back home. They are just now in the process of rebuilding the high school across from her. The library and police station are still in portable
buildings.

We joined a team and spent a week helping to complete a home a couple of blocks away from the gulf itself. It was a wonderful week. To be blessed when you are trying to be a blessing is such an awesome experience!! This single lady, Miss Lydia, had lived on this block all of her life. The home she lost was a family home passed on through generations, as were the rest of the homes on the block, now gone. She told me a story, in the 60's, when there was so much discrimination against the blacks going on in Biloxi, to the east, that the blacks were not allowed to swim in the same swimming pool. She said they all just laughed at that because they were allowed to join the whites, and she felt no discrimination growing up! Even when she went to Atlanta with her mother, there was a sign on the bus stating that blacks could sit anywhere as long as they were behind the sign. So she just moved the sign to the front of the bus and sat where she wanted! Her mother did make her move it back to the back where it had been originally! :) I should have asked her if she was related to Rosa Parks!! Her attitude was so wonderful. Instead of mourning what was lost, she was so excited by what she was getting! Before we left, she had us each sign her Bible....I was amazed at how many signatures she had... there were a lot of people who have worked on her home....what a treasure!

We picked up supplies at the Grey Hut. I had heard of the Grey Hut as being an organization formed to supply building supplies for rebuilds, beginning with Katrina, but ultimately reaching out to other disaster relief efforts. What a surprise when I saw the building....perception is a funny thing. I now know how the organization was named...the color and size of the building! Nearly every morning, supplies were picked up at either Grey Hut warehouse or the local hardware store.

The home we were assigned to was almost completed. To be a part of the end of a project is great, because we saw the end product rather than having to try to picture it. When it is all volunteer help, sometimes the quality of work is not the best. Paul worked on the electrical...mostly trouble shooting since there was major problems and walls were already covering the wires. But it kept him out of trouble! I could keep my eye on him!

My original assignment was working in the kitchen. But after the first day, I was bored. We served breakfast, and kitchen clean up was done by 9, they took their lunches to the sites, and dinner was not started until about 4. I helped out in the office the first day, then opted out of kitchen clean up after breakfast and joined the guys. I was assigned caulking and painting door frames and doors, and touching up the walls.

The home was a three bedroom, two bath home, maybe 1200 square foot. Miss Lydia was able to choose all of the colors,

lights, fixtures, cabinets and doors.

The cabinets and plumbing in the kitchen and the bathrooms were installed by our crew.

The SBDRT were currently working on six homes. When we were there, there were several teams from East TN. Mid TN and West TN will be assigned homes in the next few months as part of a blitz to get them finished. The church we stayed at housed an office for the SBDRT for consistency, and Miss Bonnie was in charge of the kitchen and meals, while her husband assisted the various teams in the field. They have been there, in their motorhome since last year, serving people every week. Makes you realize how little you do, when you see such dedication. They are planning on closing the office at the end of the year. Lord willing, most of the work planned will be completed.

Southern hospitality and food are a challenge for us... it is so hard to lose, not to mention maintain, our weights! On Wednesday, another church hosted lunch, as they have done for the past year, every Wednesday!