Pictures and thoughts from our journey

When I first went on a mission trip (last year), I didn’t know what to expect. I believe many of us (if not all) didn’t know. Some of the others on the 2007 mission trip to Biloxi had been on other missions (including Tyrand). I believe that most of us last year went to Biloxi with the idea of building at least one entire Habitat house that we could point to as “our” or “Dueber’s” Habitat house. We quickly found that this would not happen.

What we did was to finish what others had started (sometimes redoing shoddy work of others). We were not able to claim any one house as “ours,” which is entirely appropriate, as the work was not about us.

Actually, I eventually figured out that the mission isn’t really about the physical work, either.

Of course, the physical work (or helping others in some way) is a “vehicle” or agent for those on a mission trip to learn (more) about God’s will for us.

The work is necessary, but it is the mental/spiritual growth that is available to us when we are out of our comfortable environment that is essential. If others did not learn from this or last year’s experiences, it may be that they were not ready for it yet.

The following is a commentary from a Dueber Mission Trip member who was not on the previous year’s trip.

MMP

Some thoughts about what I saw —

I could say that God really laid this mission trip on my heart and that I just couldn’t resist His calling, but that would be a lie. This trip just kind of happened. I was asked to go, did some fund-raising, and figured the worst that could happen would be a small case of heat exhaustion and maybe, just maybe, God would use me in some mighty way… so here I am.

After seeing just a small part of where the hurricane hit, I am stunned. It’s three years after the storm, and there are so many things still completely destroyed. There are so many people here that are volunteering, and I’m not sure that any of us really understand what a huge thing that is. The families moving into these houses that we’re helping build will be forever impacted by this labor of love, if you will. I realize now that I don’t need to be used in a mighty way. Painting, hanging shelves, and washing walls is just as important as anything.

There is a part of me that is glad to see the church working together to help each other. There is also another part of me that is at peace with the fact that though time has gone on, people are still volunteering money and labor to support our family in Christ.

However, there’s a part of me that wonders why this is the first thing that I, myself, have done for Hurricane Katrina victims. A part of me that wonders why there are people (Christians, no less) all over the world who have contributed nothing.

I’m not passing judgment. However, I am praying that the support will not stop as the years pass and that the “church” will be able to respond to even little needs with such “oomph” in the future.

THE TRIP: Three groups–Blue van leaves early, second groups flies, third group to leave Sunday, after ALIVE at Clay’s Park.

Most of these pictures are from those in the blue van group.

Slide Show Number 1 :
We leave early to take our time and to sightsee a little before our scheduled rendezvous at Yankie Stadium, Biloxi on Monday night.

We stop in Hattisburg to thank Heritage United Methodist Church for the use of their Prayer Book for our ENGAGE fundraiser.

Slide show Number 2:
Still on our way. The blue van does a quick buzz-through of New Orleans before heading to ANTIOCH Dominion Restoration Center in Pass Christian for the night.

Slide Show Number 3:
ANTIOCH Dominion Restoration Center in Pass Christian, Mississippi, is a wonderful refuge for those helping to restore the area in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

At Antioch, we stay the night. In the morning, the blue van travels to the Biloxi Airport to get our Dueber folks who traveled by jet.

Back at Antioch, we have food and fellowship, then leave with our Hosts’ prayers and good wishes.

Slide Show Number 4

Before meeting our Dueber group from the white van, we buzz through New Orleans (less than an hour?) for Dueber people who just flew in, and then head for Biloxi. Our deadline to be at Yankie Stadium (Habitat for Humanity/Salvation Army HQ in Biloxi) is 5 pm on Monday. Because of a traffic jam on the bridge, we barely make it—-phew!

Slide Show Number 5:

Nightly devotions took place in different locations. One night, we got to visit the beach at Biloxi. Other nights we met at picnic tables or on the bleachers at the stadium.

Slide Show Number 6:

These slides are from on the work sites. It was difficult to take pictures while working in many cases, but we made sure to get pictures of some of the people who came to work with us. Some were far from home, such as the young woman from Colorado who worked for Habitat, but some were from the Biloxi area and working toward a home. All had their story to tell, and most (but not all) told of how God had come into their lives and saved them. Some of their stories will appear in future posts.