St Paul’s Youth Mission 2007

As we get ready to leave Mission on the Bay, please remember in your prayers the workers who are missing or who lost their lives today when scaffolding collapsed on a new bridge here in Bay St. Louis. It was a sad note on which to end an incredible experience. -K

Bonnie and Mary…These two were so great. We spent the day there working on their yard and dry-walling what will be Bonnie’s room. It had been started and we finished piecing it in. Ray is a great drywaller now. Jane knocked out the mudding and Paul’s our taper and corner mudder. I measured, cut, planed the drywall and drilled any left handed screws. Some of the kids left and went back and helped at camp. They raised another quansit(spelling???) hut and had a good day.

These two ladies are full of stories. They stayed and the water line is visible in their house. I don’t think they have ever thrown a thing away… I have to wonder if they hang on to what they almost lost with a vengence. They have 5 dogs they rescued, 5 Mccaws( birds…large birds) that they are desperate to not have fly out the door. They made us homemade chili meat and vegi which was so kind. They loved the company as much as the help.

Everyone here has a story. They want their stories heard. We will remember these people because of their stories. They do feel forgotten. I hope they know they are not with the 16 of us. Maggie

Dennis-Happy Birthday. I hope you enjoyed being sung to this am. I miss being there, I miss you and the girls. They sound like they are well. Mama will be home tomorrow an so get the games ready! I love you, Maggie
Today we learned how to speak Southern as only “the Infamous Mary Biehl” can. After we’d worked at her home all morning, she made us chili that “tasted so good it makes you wanna slap your momma.”

Here’s the recipe, made by Bonnie, who’s Mary’s friend. There’s a meat version, too, but you can guess that:

Chili
Celery bell peppers onions (they call this the “Trinity”)
Tomato puree, diced tomatoes, and crushed tomatoes
Kidney beans
Tsp salt
Chili powder
Put in some tofu about 15 mins before it’s done.

Tonight, we are going to bed at “Dark 30,” so we can get up at the “butt crack of dawn.” Really. We will be up before 5 a.m. for our plane trip home.
Just before dinner, I ran into Butch, who runs Mission On the Bay. He has a million stories to tell, but as we were going in to dinner, I asked him about the plastic baby Jesus in the stone manger outside the church. Welllll. After Katrina, people were finding all manner of things washed up on the beach. Among these, they found and brought to the church : Mary, Joseph and the manger—each at separate times in very different places. Then one day around Easter a year ago, someone found the plastic baby washed up on shore. If you know anything about New Orleans, you’ll understand when I tell you it was from the King’s Cake at Mardi Gras. Someone dressed the baby and put him in the manger, where he has stayed through storms and thousands of people.

We all have so much to tell, but time’s been limited. I am worried that I will miss my kids. I love every one of them. However, we could all use a pedicure. -Kathy

Saying our goodbyes::
Well today was our last day being at Mission on the Bay. We have all had a really great time helping those in need. As I went through the week, each day I learned a new task and met the most extraordinary people. I have never seen something so devastating in my life. Even though the work was hard and it is extremely hot and humid down here I feel like I have been a part of something that is larger then life. I never really thought that something as small as keeping someone company or as large as putting up sheet rock or putting in wooden floors would make such a huge difference to these people. I mean I have herd that a smile could brighten someone’s day and all but I never really fully experienced it. As we talked to Bill, helped Eagle move dirt to her back yard, looked at Diann’s pictures, helped Steve pull out nails or listened to the stories of Mary and Bonnie I felt as if I had been apart of helping them get their lives back on track after the terrible disaster that they had to live through and that was an experience that not a lot of people get the have in their lives. So as I say goodbye to those at Mission on the Bay, I am taking home a piece of understanding of what it is like to live through such an unforgettable event. I am very glad that I came on this mission trip and I feel that I have left a better person then when I came.
Liz Hofmann

P.S.- Ellen, Mom, Dad and St. Paul’s, I went into thinking that it would just be a lot of hard work and something that I didn’t really want to do, but I am leaving a better, more humble and understanding person. Thanks so much for the opportunity. I love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today and the other day were very hot but im glad to be their because it showed that helping someone even if it’s the littlest thing can help some one a lot and it means the world to them, and I am kind of glad of going home I am way tired and it is very hot with a lot of humidity, but it was fun and we got to meet a lot of people, some have a lot of of things they saved from the storm and some people don’t have anything at all, and it was nice having to help people even the littlest thing. Spencer Rallison

Today I helped a old man that had to live in a tent he was one of the nicest people i have ever met and I wonder how something so bad could happen to someone so good it is sad and depresses me—Tom

I’m so excited about going home tomorrow!!!! We are waking up at 5:00 AM though. Today we helped a woman rebuild floor. I have tons of pictures of houses destroyed by Katrina and I will have my camera on Sunday so anyone who wants to see them should ask at coffee hour after the service. It is devastating to see the damage the hurricane caused, but also amazing to see the good that WE have done to these people. He have pulled weeds, hammered bricks, pulled nails and staples, rebuilt floors, moved dirt, and gave the best gift of all to these people which is good company and a chance to share their stories. In all of the jobs we have done, the people have seemed most excited about having someone to talk to about their experiences. Alli, enjoy being a single child because it won’t last long. I will see all of you in a few hours. Can’t wait. Love you Mom, Dad, Alli.

Packing, how tedious of a task. Especially when you are trying to ignore the movie “50 First Dates” while blogging. As much as I love home I kind of wish I could stay longer and help out these people. But basically everyone disagrees with me. I am, though, exited for a hot shower, a blow dryer, and a comfy bed.
Today we realized that I am a pro mudding person. There is something… therapeutic about filling in the holes with white paste, even thought it gets very messy. The job we did today was my favorite one by far, especially due to Mary and the crazy facts she just happens to know. At one point she said “None of my friends like playing trivial pursuit with me because I know everything.” I also was impressed with her wine making skills, and no we did not taste the wine, she did not want to end up in jail. It was an amazing job and I think we all learned a lot from it.
But on a more serious note, a bridge collapsed today. The huge news came as a shock since we were rushed into a room and forced into a quick abrupt prayer. We prayed for help, survival, and an end to bad times. Luckily enough seven out of nine were rescued. Yet one was killed and one is still missing. Mississippi is going through immense trouble right now and this just added to it.
This environment is heartbreaking to experience, but amazing to help. I feel as if we did so much by doing so little. The people we met, the work we accomplished, the things we struggled through; they changed my life. Even thought the bug bites and humidity made you miss the warm corners of your bed, this trip built character, and I believe it changed me to be a better person. I am going to miss Mississippi and I hope to come back extremely soon. –Jane

Okay. I have learned that I am no better at blogging than I am at e mail. I have been here the whole week , feeling much of what has been written. I will tell you all about it when we get home. I was able to let the comments about my navigation skills go and have a very meaningful time. Tonight I am starting to anticipate leaving each other and feeling a little separation anxiety. I miss the young people once we get home and they go home to their real families. Thanks for entrusting their sweet lives to us for this trip. Debbie

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