Reflection on the Mission Trip to Biloxi

Getting off the airplane at Gulfport, MS I was not sure what to expect. I did not know who my group members were, what Camp Biloxi our “home away from home” would be like, or even how much of a town was there. All I knew was that I was here to help. After I got off at the gate which was nicely redone, my dad and the group leader from Racine picked me up from a waiting room not 10ft away that was completely under construction. I found that this was true for much of the town. Before going to the camp at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the headquarters, we took a ride down I-90, which follows the coast. This in itself was an eye opening experience because this used to be “the strip” yet most of it was vacant lots of live-oak trees and construction sites with dumpsters.

The camp was also located under huge oak trees in the “backyard” of the church. Camp Biloxi offered many amenities including hot showers, flush toilets, cafeteria-style hot meals, air conditioning, and use of a chapel all in made-over shipping containers and large tents. What surprised me was the amount of organization and dedication that kept the camp running year-round. Full-time workers coordinated the volunteers, like our crew, outfitting us with tools and sending us out into the community to complete projects. Our group was split between skilled and unskilled workers. I was part of the unskilled group but I definitely did not leave unskilled.

The first assignment was to work on the house of Stella, a 72-year-old woman living in a FEMA trailer. My dad and a few others began the tedious process of installing floors while my crew earned our reputation as the “wrecking crew” by tearing down Stella’s shed that had been flooded. Stella was quite shy at first but opened up to us as she saw how her house was transforming. While Gary Peterson’s crew worked on completely rewiring a house and my dad remained at Stella’s my crew traveled to five others houses doing various jobs including gutting a kitchen, putting up insulation, painting, and cleaning up. I never knew how much you can do with a crowbar! I also learned how to have a good time and work side by side with people 30-40 (one even 56) years older than me. I came to realize that everyone has a story. Each of the homeowners we worked with showed us a spirit of determination, though they were tired after 2 years of rebuilding. Each of them offered us a chance to help them by completing small projects for them, which had a big impact, more so on the volunteers. A tradition at Camp Biloxi is to sign the wooden boardwalk that goes between tents and shipping containers before leaving. All of the members of my group signed there name and we chose to write this Bible verse.

“Therefore since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart... but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:1, 7-10

From this trip and the people I met, I learned that carrying around the life and death of Jesus in my body allows me to weather any storm, including category 5’s. 1 will always treasure this opportunity to reveal Christ’s life and death in my body. I hope and pray that as many people as possible will be able to sign their names next to this verse and experience what 1 have experienced in Biloxi.                                                                                        

..........Bethany Schowengerdt

WORKING MISSION PROJECT

On April 14, 2007 three members of Our Savior travelrd to Biloxi, Mississippi to help with cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina. They went with a group from Pentecost Lutheran Church in Racine. They stayed at “Camp Biloxi” built by Lutheran Disaster Response in Biloxi. 

Camp Biloxi is currently accepting up to 132 volunteers each week.  Volunteers are housed in converted trailers with A/C and heating.  There is overflow room for an additional 60 volunteers in a large tent with bunk beds.  The facility also includes a shower trailer and a large mess tent.  There are also 6 RV hookup spots available on site.

Volunteers are provided with three meals each day.  The majority of the work being done is repair and rebuilding of damaged homes.  Skilled volunteers are needed, especially those with carpentry, roofing, flooring, electrical, or plumbing experience.  There are also opportunities to serve at food distribution centers, operated by local Lutheran churches.  All volunteers should be 16 or older.

Love, Inc. from Burlington donated sheets and blankets and the “quilters” of Our Savior are made quilts to be taken.