Hurricane Katrina has been described as the largest national disaster in the history of our nation leaving thousands homeless and an entire coastline devestated. It is estimated that it will take years to rebuild the communities that were destroyed by the power of this storm.
The Rebuilding Phase includes working with insulation and sheetrock and occasionally just being a good listener. We continue to send teams every two weeks. If you are available and would like to join one of these teams, please find the current details and sign up form on the next page. A schedule of planned Gulf Coast Mission trips can be found in "Upcoming Events" on the Missions Ministry web page.
Disaster Relief Teams Things You Should Know
April 2006, Editors Note
Even though a year has passed since Katrina, Mt. Bethel continues to support the recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast. We currently have three trips scheduled during the fall and will add more as volunteers are available. For accomodations we do have some weeks reserved at Trinity, our partner church, but we are also beginning to stay at other churches and sites constructed just for relief workers. I have attempted to make this document generic, but without staying in or visiting all the possibilities, it is impossible to know what each location offers. As you are hosted in different sites and there are things that need to be passed along to the next team about that site, please let me know via email at Missions@mtbethel.org.
If you are interested in joining a 4 day trip or a 5 day trip, please complete this form. We will follow up with you within 48 hours. A current schedule of Katrina missions trips can be found on the Mt. Bethel Mission Ministry web page under "Upcoming Events"..
Sincerely, Paul King
Things to Know for Mission Team Members: This information is to provide you with the current conditions, as we know them. With each team we are finding that FLEXIBILITY is the key ingredient. Things change rapidly. This document will be updated weekly from information gathered by returning teams - our best source of current conditions.
Items to Bring · Love of Christ and His people · Work gloves (we have a lot of gloves, but if you have a pair, you may want your own) · Rubber gloves (only if working ‘wet’ areas) · Work pants · 1 or 2 work shirts per day. (A long sleeved T-shirt will help to protect your arms if you are removing insulation) · Bandanas, sweatbands, and/or hats · Hard sole boots or shoes · Insect repellent · Sunscreen · Small container of hand sanitizer for worksites · First aid supplies (we have First Aid kits) · Personal hygiene supplies Soap, shampoo, toothpaste etc · Cell phone · Flashlight and batteries · Bath Towel & washcloth · Sleeping bag, pillow, sheets, and/or blanket · Earplugs · Air Mattress/sleeping pad/cot · Backpack to carry items to the worksite and/or to the showers · Rain poncho · Flip flops or causal shoes to wear in the evenings · Mask & safety goggles (we will hopefully have enough for all, but to be on the safe side, feel free to bring your own) · Extra T-Shirts (3 a day) · Extra Towel and wash cloth · More than one ice chest per team · Extra socks
Warm/Hot Weather Considerations: During the late spring and summer it can be very hot and humid along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Often, things that get wet on one day will not be dry by the next day. Please take this into consideration when packing. It is a good idea to check the weather channel at weather.com for the 10 day forecast.
Health A Tetanus shot is a must. Cobb County Community Health Center has a facility on Lower Roswell Rd. at the Parkaire Triangle that gives shots for $14.00. Check with the health dept. for specific times.
There is quite a bit of dust from removing or installing sheetrock & insulation, therefore, wearing mask and goggles is advised.
The water in Gulfport is drinkable.
If you have special health issues, please make sure someone else on your team is aware of them if appropriate.
Trip It is taking approximately 7 hours to drive down. Remember there is a one-hour time difference. Feel free to bring snacks or personal drinks, etc. Coordinate with Team Leader to have one cooler per car.
All meals for trip down and back are provided.
Transportation for Monday’s Team will be in the white 15-passenger van and white pickup truck with trailer carrying tools and luggage. If there is no Monday team, then these items defer to the Thursday team.
If there was a Monday team, transportation for Thursday’s Team should be coordinated with Team Leaders. Please contact your Team Leader for specifics.
Typical Day · Breakfast · Group prayer before leaving for worksite · Worksite 8 am - 11:30 am · Lunch (back at church or worksite) · Worksite 12:30 to 4:30 pm · Dinner · Showers · Devotions
Work Projects At this point, we aren’t given our actual work assignments until the night before or the morning of our workday. Hence the need to remain flexible.
It could be very hot there, and the work is dirty and exhausting, however, there are work duties that are less strenuous (i.e., cooking, sweeping, and light lifting).
Hard soled shoes only should be worn at worksites.
The work in early 2006 consist mostly of hanging sheetrock. This continues as we enter the summer. Do not worry if you are not a skilled sheetrocker. You will be when you leave. During the summer of 2006, we expect to be doing more painting.
Coolers should be taken to work sites filled with bottled water and other soft drinks. Some of the churches provide bottled water. It’s crucial that we stay hydrated to be effective. Pace yourselves with rest and water breaks.
Our mission team will most probably be asked to share in the responsibilities of preparing meals and cleaning facilities for mission teams staying over night in the church. Sign-up sheets for rotating these responsibilities will probably be utilized.
Individuals with any ongoing medical conditions should check with the mission’s office before making the decision to sign up.
Ministry We are there not only to help victims with cleaning up their homes but ministering to them is equally important. Spend some time speaking with the homeowners or looking at special items that may have survived, such as photo albums. Most of them have little material goods remaining, but their human spirit is incredible.
Try to create an opportunity for group prayer with the homeowners at the completion of the work assignment.
As the Mt Bethel teams complete their work on each home, they will provide the homeowner a new Bible. These Bibles are a gift from the Mt Bethel Congregation. Please pick them up at the Missions Office.
It will enrich your experience if you arrange to have a short devotional at the end of each workday to reflect and share stories as decided by each work team.
Creature Comforts There are showers respectively for men and women. Most locations have a limited number of showers and the demand frequently is greater than the supply, so be respectful of others and shower quickly.
The sleeping rooms are air-conditioned. If you bring an air mattress, check it before you leave home. The floor gets hard at 2 am in the morning when the mattress has deflated.
Three meals a day will be provided during your stay. But restaurants are now open and it is the team’s option to eat out if they choose. The cost of meals eaten away from the church are your responsibility. Mt. Bethel pays the hosting location a small daily fee for food and shelter.
In some locations the church Sunday school rooms are our sleeping quarters, and separate rooms are provided for men and women (several people in each room). If you are a light sleeper, you might want to bring earplugs.
Please remember that the folks in Gulfport have been living in these conditions for a while now. Be very considerate if accommodations are not up to your expectations.
Miscellaneous There is power in most areas but not everyone has telephone service. Cell phones are essential and work fine.
There are a few stores open in the area - Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Home Depot, Winn Dixie along with Walgreens. Most of the stores away from the coastal areas have reopened.
It is our policy that if you are offered ... In the spirit of our mission we are not to accept gifts/property/money unless it can be used to assist in the relief efforts.
There may be internet/ethernet access at some locations for those that want to check email.
Bear in mind there is no area to secure valuables.
Options for lunch: You can go back to the church (or the place where your meals are served) where lunch is served. You can also make sandwiches and take to the worksite. If the homeowner is present at lunch time, invite them to return to eat with you.
Remember to take care of each other and have fun!
For more informations click on the attachments for newsletters and updates from the surrounding areas.
