ABC Great Rivers Region: "Friends of Jesus" in Biloxi MS

"Friends of Jesus" in Biloxi, Mississippi

Friends of Jesus Team from GRR

This is the photo of the team that just returned from Biloxi/Gautier, MS There were 23 from the Great Rivers Region. [George Meyer was the team leader. Team members: Ellis Loper, Gary Short, David Harman, Les Sorensen, Earl & Phyllis Troyer, Chuck Searcy, Cliff & Thelma Hopwood, Dan Brogdon, Paul & Candice Stivers, JR & Faith Heikes, Ron Greenfield, Charlie Schumaker, Jerry Smoczyk, Alice Sausaman, Glenda Callahan, Juanita Lanham, Ron & June Kinner.]

It was a great trip! Unseasonably and wonderfully appreciated warm weather, low humidity provided perfect working conditions for us. We had the opportunity to work with other groups, organizations and churches from Michigan, Maine, Maryland, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida.

The bulk of the GRR group worked on three houses – primarily installing trusses, sheathing, roofing, doors and windows and organizing the shipping container/tool sheds. The remainder of the group were the “finishers”. We put the finishing touches on three houses readying them for new home owners --- caulking and painting trim, installing door knobs, strike plates, mirrors, cleaning tubs, washing windows, cleaning debris from the yards and transferring tools from one shipping container to another. Not many people are willing to do the cleaning prior to occupancy. We were told these three homes have been waiting for this tender loving care since November. Very soon families will be in these homes.

We had a wonderful time serving others and getting to know one another better. The meals and housing at the Yankie Stadium were plentiful and comfortable. There are many more homes to be built. Habitat-Salvation Army-ABCUSA and many more are working together to bring normalcy back to the Gulf Coast. There is always a need for more help and it was said, that when the weather turns warm the volunteer base diminishes. Much has been done – but much is yet to be done.

For more information go to: http://www.nationalministries.org and click on the Katrina Build logo. Click on the hyperlinks and get the details. . Many hands make the task light.

Candy Stivers
candy@abc-grr.org