In August 2006, four associates from Legacy arrived in Bay St. Louis, MS, and immediately recognized the destruction of the hurricane. Along the coast, in place of beautiful waterfront home, were stilts that once supported foundations of houses. Clothes hung in trees, mattresses lay fallen in the grass, and trash and debris were scattered as far as the eye could see. Many houses off the coast still stood intact, but the rising water during the storm had rendered them uninhabitable. Now, next to these empty houses sit small FEMA trailers. Read on to learn more about Kelly Thomas and her mother Pat Jenkins, Mary Lou Spittle and Tram Chau’s trip to help rebuild Bay St. Louis.Rebuilding Homes, Rebuilding LivesThe small, dedicated CityTeam staff set up headquarters in a local baseball field to coordinate and house volunteers like us. Large tents were used for serving meals, prayer meetings, and community gatherings. Sheds complete with fans and air conditioners were being used as sleeping quarters. The kitchen/pantry — also once a shed — now served as a food storage and preparation area. They had even built four fully-functional outdoor showers, which, Mary Lou noted, provided the volunteers much needed relief from the sweltering heat. This was where we would spend the next seven days.
We soon learned we would be working to restore damaged houses so families could move back into the homes they had been forced out of almost a year ago. A group of construction volunteers from Hatboro, PA drove over 20 hours in their work trucks so they would have the necessary supplies to make a real difference. Kelly recalls that not being construction workers ourselves, we were unsure how much we could help, but everyone played a crucial role — whether it was making eggs in the morning, filling the Gatorade jug before a long, hot day or installing kitchen cabinets. Our days started at 5:00AM and didn’t stop until 10:00PM. But with the Hatboro remodeling crew’s skills and our man power and determination, we were able to turn three ruined houses back into homes.
A Family’s Breakthrough
Partway through our trip, we were fortunate enough to meet Geri, one of the homeowners whose house we rebuilt. A year after Katrina, Geri and her family were still living in trailers — she, her wheelchair bound husband, her son and his fiancée, and her autistic daughter all together. Geri was still amazingly optimistic and tearfully appreciative of all the work done on her house. And when the time came for us to leave, Geri’s daughter serenaded the crew with a song — amazingly, it was the first time she had communicated since Katrina.
Reflecting On Our Experience
It was an emotional week full of countless memories, extraordinary experiences, and amazing people. We all came away with a greater appreciation for the gifts in our lives we may take for granted. We were inspired by the volunteers, CityTeam Ministries, and all the people affected by Hurricane Katrina, and will be forever grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of those who really need it.
As Tram pointed out, a year and a half after Katrina hit, media coverage of the Gulf Coast restoration project is almost non-existent. But the areas most affected by Katrina still have a long road to recovery. CityTeam and similar organizations are slowly helping families return to their homes, but volunteers and donations are still needed. We hope our experience will inspire others to donate their time and energy to rebuild an area in need.Even though the week came to a quick end for us, those still living in Bay St. Louis have a beginning — a chance to return to their homes and families to start a new life.
