For such a time as this ...

Katrina Mission Trip II to Pass Christian, Mississippi
March 14th - March 22nd 2006

Mississippi Journal . . .        By Pastor Ray

It was one of those strange paradoxes between ugliness and beauty, between utter devastation and unbridled hope. The ugliness was evident in the vast, endless amount of damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina’s wind and water. The landscape was riddled with debris, the pieces of lives torn apart by nature’s worst forces. All the news accounts of this tragedy were not enough to prepare us adequately for what we witnessed along the Gulf Coast. There was not a single street or home or business that was left unaffected.

Our March mission trip to Pass Christian, Mississippi was the kind of experience everyone should have, not because it exposed us to circumstances unlike anything we have ever seen before, but because it opened for us a window into the hearts and souls of others, as well as ourselves. And that’s where the great beauty enters the picture. The easiest thing for many residents of this region to do would have been to leave and never return, allowing Pass Christian to become a ghost town. Yet, it was not at all simple to leave lives and relationships behind to get away from so much desolation. It took great courage and determination to make the decision to remain, to rebuild, to make good things come out of so much that was so bad.

From the moment we met Pastor Harry and his congregation at the Good Will Missionary Baptist Church, we had to know that, for them, there would be no giving up. Their faith was crucial in their efforts to reclaim that which had been lost, and as we recognized in so many ways, the dimensions of that faith inspired us as well. How could we not be encouraged by those who could keep going in the face of the worst that life could dish out?

While our focus for the trip was on a particular spot in a certain town, it was impossible to miss the connections with the people of God in so many places. Our trip was possible because of the encouragement and support of the various individuals, congregations and communities who made mission and ministry a priority. A great thrill for me was speaking by phone with our congregation after the March 19th worship service. While I wasn’t sure what to say in those moments, I was reminded very clearly that we were all in this together. Your prayers and words of encouragement, your faithful support through gifts of money and donations of building supplies, school supplies and sports equipment, as well as food and animal rescue supplies really made things happen. You acted to share your faith, to offer the love of Christ to those in need, and in the end, that’s what it is really all about to be the people of God. When we arrived home, we were greeted by a wonderful banner in the social room, a most welcome sight which read: "Welcome Home, Sons and Daughters of a Carpenter. We Are Proud." In truth, all of us who traveled to Pass Christian are proud of you for your active caring and response to so many needs.

Those who journeyed by tractor trailer, pickup, bus, camper, and van to Mississippi were a varied group from a number of congregations. While it was true that we began the trip not knowing too many people outside our own congregations, that quickly changed, with relationships being shaped by our common purposes and tasks. As one of the guys on the bus so eloquently put it as we neared our journey’s end, "We began as a group of strangers, but became a family." Nothing more needs to be said than that when it comes to how well this large group worked together, laughed, cried, and offered a profound witness to our common faith.

I was in awe of our crew of workers, and did not realize at first how many skilled carpenters and craftsmen were present, doing in a little more than five days what might have taken many weeks to do in other circumstances. I was also grateful for the patience of those who brought unskilled people like me into the work, challenging us to do our part. Our days at the church began in the early morning, and lasted (for some) into the next morning. The group was undeterred by illness and by a feeling of urgency to get things done in the time allotted to us. An incredible amount of work was indeed accomplished in the church and in the surrounding area, particularly through the animal rescue project.

All of our experiences certainly point to the larger truth of the power of God’s love at work in so many lives. We saw it in the people of the Gulf area, and in those who went there to serve. We saw it in your commitment and involvement in every possible way. As Pastor Harry and some of his congregation said to us, "It’s not about any of us, but about God." Our looking to God in this experience reminds us of how we can do that in all of life, in our times of difficulty and times of joy. Our organist Kelvin Reinert, must have known how we felt in our homecoming, selecting hymns for March 26th worship that hold considerable meaning in the light of what we have been doing and feeling: "Lift High the Cross," "What Wondrous Love is This," "Wide Open Are Your Hands," and "Give to Our God Immortal Praise!" The love of God, expressed by the cross and empty tomb of Christ, is what allows us to face disasters and calamities and go on, not being overcome and overwhelmed by it all, but emerging triumphant.

Thanks to you for all that you continue to do in God’s name! Thanks be to God for his boundless compassion and care.

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