Feb. 19th, 2008 from Ebb's team in Gulf Port

Hello, it's our last full day working in Long Beach (close to Gulf Port) where our team did tiling, painting & "fix up jobs" for Helene. Her roof tiles were torn off during Katrina, flooding her home with rain water from the storm. The bathroom & master bedroom ceiling came crashing down upon them, as she & her daughter rode out the hurricane inside of the house. Our team would finish up the work she needed done in her home this week. Karen & I, Lana, enjoyed painting the dining & kitchen areas, while Ginger worked on the fine lines of the trim. Ebb & Tom S. worked on tiling the bathroom floor, while Mark did an excellent job driving us all over during the week. He also helped in the other jobs our team worked on & took on a garage ceiling job where a 2 by 4 jumped out & bit him! Karen installed the throne & much praising was to be had by all! Here's Karen on the throne in the newly tiled bathroom & me, her humble servant, bowing in happiness & gratitude! Our team had a lot of fun & laughs this week, especially with Ebb as our team leader! Tomorrow, some teams will finish up their projects as various homes & some of us will probably stay here in camp to help with the many endless jobs. We all saw God this week, especially in Helene's large, dark & tearing eyes as she thanked us for all the help we supplied her with. I am truly grateful that God gave me this opportunity to see His face in the hopeless & helpless in the Gulf Coast.

A Different Point of View

Hey, All, It's Becky Shipe. This has been an interesting experience for someone as young as me. I was prepared to do the hard work I've done on trips like Soundview, and the comforting I so look forward to in Idaho. I was not entirely braced for the shock of how long these people have been waiting on anybody to do anything.

I had the pleasure of working on a house for Miss Mary. She is an elderly woman, around 80, who has dementia, and has been living in her daughters' house for the past two and a half years. A tree had fallen on a corner of her living room and the windows were old and falling apart. We tore out the brick surrounding the windows and pulled out those windows. We put two brand new windows in her front room, three in her bedroom and one in the guest/storage room. I was mostly occupied with painting her "sun room" a beautiful shade of yellow.

The daughters were so pleased with all the work we put into that house. It seemed so surreal
to see them that happy. Miss Mary just sat there and cried, she was so overwhelmed. The daughters started to cry a bit too. It was so adorable. I can't wait to see where we will be working tomorrow.

You may think someone my age wouldn't choose to go on a trip with both of my parents, but it's really been an experience. Yeah, they can be a bit annoying, but who isn't? I miss seeing all my friends at home, but Mississippi is such a different place, it's nice to just escape from the everyday drama a high schooler sometimes encounters. There are no cliques, no jocks versus nerds, just everyone loving everyone else.

Last night we played a rendition of "I Have Never" and let me tell you, it got almost as competitive as youth group! Everyone was hooting and howling at everyone else. You'll have to ask who ended up sitting on whom.

Overall this trip has been an experience I will remember fondly my entire life. I cannot believe how many lives we are touching by just being here and smiling at the strangers we pass on the street. I am so looking forward to next year!

With love,
Becky Shipe

Ebb's Team

Pics from Becky Shipe

"Nawlins"

Devastation along the Gulf Coast

Kelsey's Camera 2

Pictures from Kelsey's Camera

Pictures from Day 1 ~ Jim's Team

Day 1

We made it safely to Gulfport! So far the weather has cooperated with us, it was about 70 degrees today with a bit of wind so no bugs!! Last night (Thursday) was chilly but we stayed warm thanks to the 90db heaters. They kept us toasty. It seems a bit warmer tonight.

This is the biggest and the most diverse team we have taken to the Gulf Coast in our three trips. Our team includes young members and not so young members, people who have attended IPC for many years and some newer faces, even one who came from New York to spend the week with us. This is a fabulous group. Already they have impressed the camp director and the job site manager with their willing spirit, cheerful servant attitude, flexibility, and productivity. What a great group!

Our group of 27 was broken up into teams and sent to different sites today after our orientation meeting. One group is working on installing windows and interior painting, another is rebuilding a pump house and repairing a leaking roof and the results of the rainwater pooling in the insulation and drywall. A third team spent the day removing siding and preparing studs for insulation and drywall. Another group worked on a tiling project. All of the groups worked hard at the physical work and yet were able to take time to talk with the residents who were home.

It is striking how important it is to talk about the effects the storm has had. Over and over we are reminded that for the people who are facing rebuilding, Hurricane Katrina is not a quickly passing event. We were reminded that the minor work we can do is like a grain of sand on a beach. Still, that one grain of sand... those 27 grains of sand are important. That whole beach is made up of tiny grains of sand and each one contributes to the whole. We are making a difference here already, and so are those of you who have supported us through donations, assistance and prayer. On behalf of the team I thank you.

Theresa Shipe

What's the weather like in Gulfport?

Weather for Gulfport, MS:

Thu
Mostly Sunny
58°F | 49°F

Fri
Partly Sunny
68°F | 53°F

Sat
Thunderstorm
65°F | 53°F

Also, try this link:
http://www.wunderground.com/US/MS/Gulfport.html

Were is Gulfport?

Gulfport is about 90 miles north-east of New Orleans, right along the gulf coast. It is between Pearlington, were IPC went on a previous mission trip, and Biloxi, MS.

Here is a map:



View Larger Map

Departing soon

Well, tomorrow is the big day, off to Mississippi soon. I am trying to get all my gear collected and into suitcases today. It is certainly a lot like camping, only you have to fly to get there, and then there's all that work once there...oh well, maybe we'll have campfires anyway.
I'm very thankful that it looks like the weather there will be quite nice and the weather here is also quite nice, so no worries about driving through Seattle ice to get to the airport tomorrow. Simon wishes he could come too, maybe next year.

-Brent