Crofton POP Disaster Relief

Hi, everyone. This is Erik. We had a light day on the job site today. We started out doing some cleanup at the camp and arrived a little bit later at the home. We then did a few hours of work and went to a po-boy picnic hosted by Barbara and Carol. Delicious! Then our team served dinner. It's been a great experience. I also had a chance last night to talk with Dr. Ed and learn his story and a little bit about what it is that God put in him to prepare him to lead and organize the D'Iberville Volunteer Foundation. Both he and Irene are superb citizens who say they were just doing what a citizen does when the need arises: they stand up. It's a great challenge to me as I ask myself if I would have stood up the way they did. Would I give of myself as they do?

Hi, this is Dave. Erik told you the high points already. The only things I have to add is that with Irene and Ed gone today, Roger was left in charge of the camp...that's right, he is not only working hard down here, he is cracking a mean whip! Today as we were leaving for the job site, he was fielding a request for initial assistance from a lady whose steps and platform surrounding her mobile home do not meet code. All we have left on the house are a few window pieces, corner connectors and checking the screws for proper depth in the drywall. The homeowner's current landlady stopped by today to let us know that she is in the hospital, but stable. It's amazing to see the community in action takign care of each other. This afternoon we toured to Ocean Springs to se the William Anderson art museum, and came back by way of Biloxi. It's amazing to drive through a city in which the casinos are back full force, but most of the rest of the buildings are still razed.

Gabriele here.
An extraordinary day. Of course! When don't we have extraordinry days in D'ville?! God offered me an interesting day: sat by a river, seeing and watching nature. Then stood in a museum and saw an artist's love of animals and the outdoors through his eyes and the talent of his paintbrush and both were breathtaking. Anyone traveling this way MUST take in the Walter Anderson museum. See his murals and be transported to a beautful world.

take care and see you Sunday!
Gabriele

Howdy Y'all,
Things are going well here. We're becoming professional-level drywallers down here. Stephanie used the "roto-zip" yesterday and showed her capability with the power tools. Barb and Erik have honed their skills to a methodical perfection. Gabriele is confident with any number of tools in her hand--from measuring tape to knives and saws. Roger "has the conn" as we say in the navy. He's keeping the camp on course. We will finish drywalling Miss Abby's house tomorrow, Lord willing. We are having a great time down here but we're looking forward to returning to our regularly scheduled program, too. See you soon!
Amree Wilcox
Pictures tonight are a before and after picture of the same wall, Steph trying to get away from the dust and Amree and Gabriele talking. This will be our last blog entry, as I am leaving tomorrow to go to Tampa and see some baseball for a week. See you all Easter.
Stephanie

Short blog tonight Drywalled today--our leader thinks that we will finish the house before we leave! Ate crawfish at Rusty's place. LONG meeting after devotional tonight--we will tell you about it. Warmer today but chilly at nightfall. I'm going to bed.
Stephanie

Good evening from D'Iberville. Rain this morning, which means mud and soggy clothes. Up for breakfast, then back to drywalling. Amree and I did ceilings in 2 closets and the laundry room. I did some transportation after lunch, then helped Amree and Matt do walls in the kitchen. Had a LOVELY dinner with Barb's mids parents, which I will let Barb tell you about. Continue to feel good about our work.
Stephanie



Barb here! I continue to work with Erik on the drywall. We learned how to do the detailed drywall around the windows and started drywalling the walls of the second bedroom. Our team leaders are wonderful, patient teachers. We have learned a lot! Dinner was marvelous. Our mid's family is very generous and dinner was delicious - regional dishes - crawfish and gumbo. They shared pictures of hurricane damage in their town of Ocean Springs and Biloxi. Before we knew it it was 9:30 p.m. and we had to get back to camp - another drywalling day tomorrow and we need our sleep.




Hi all! Its Matt, I made it down yesterday evening from the Naval Academy so today was my first day of work. The morning started off a little cold and rainy, but was certainly unreflective of our mood. We swung into the dry walling and ended the day with closests finished, one room done, and awesome progress on the walls. Overall it was a great time, especially the chance to try the local hot tamales! We want to thank you for your prayers, so far the work has been fun, and we look forward to much more fun and progress over the next couple days!



Hi Everyone! This is Amree. I am exhausted :] It's my bedtime. Good night :]

Barb here! Today we worked with Mike and Bob hanging drywall. I worked with Erik drywalling the second LARGE closet. We finally came out of the closet around 2 p.m. and started on walls. The highlight of the day was spending about a half hour with the owner of the new home, Miss Abby.

Hi! This is Amree Wilcox (with the Navy crew). Today, as Barb and Erik were squaring away their closet and room, a few of us were putting the ceilings in the kitchen and a bedroom. It is exciting to see the difference the group has made at the end of the day. Miss Abby was amazing. Although we were all covered in dry wall dust that aggravated her severe asthma, she gave us each hugs and thanked us. We'll finish the ceilings tomorrow. I am thrilled. My neck is tired from looking up :] Tomorrow we'll hit the walls.

Hi, this is Erik Blair. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with and being part of the Prince of Peace crew. I've never done sheetrock before, and it's been great getting to know my teammates. It was a real treat to meet Miss Abby today. She was brimming with thankfulness. It is very nice to have a face and a persona to associate with the work we are doing.

Hi, this is LT Dave. Stephanie may tell you that she didn't do much today as the duty driver, but she performed yeoman's service picking up Matt from the airport. His luggage is still not with us, but the camp is more than well equipped with required bedding, toiletries, and most important of all, work. That's right, there will be more of us tomorrow, and we are rapidly moving through our drywall...almost done with the ceilings, and nearly an entire room of walls as well as 2 closets. Tomorrow night we will have dinner with Barb's sponsor mid's family, who lives in the next town over. It's a small world indeed!

Greetings All,

Arriving early on Saturday, I didn't realize my work week started early on Saturday, not on Monday! I have logged 15 hours in the office working on various projects and transporting folks around to work sites and it is only Sunday night. Ed has the flu and is trying to make himself scarce in the office, so it looks like a busy week from this standpoint. We are all safe and sound...our crew is working a house on Race Track Rd. in southern D'Iberville doing drywalling.


God be with you all and keep D'Iberville in your prayers,

Roger

Hello from D'Iberville which is still COLD at night. Had a good and busy day. Got up and went to the Episcopal (sp?) church where Barb's cousin's husband is a pastor. Good service. Then back to the camp to meet with "Uncle" Bob and his friend Mike to go do drywall. It's a new house on stilts and was ready for our unexperienced work. Bob and Mike split us into 2 groups--Bob worked with one group to drywall the ceiling in the living and dining area while Barb, Eric and I did a closet. Bob and Mike are from St Louis and both do Habitat work, so they are very experienced. They were kind and patient and we did get a lot done. Didn't get home until almost 6pm, so no dinner before the orientation meeting, but we had had a very late lunch, so we were okay. Tomorrow most of the group is going back to work with Bob and Mike, but I have been pulled to help with transportation and facilitate things at the camp. Having our usual good time and meeting interesting people.
Stephanie

Greetings to all --We have arrived! Barb and I arrived in Gulfport yesterday after a late and rather bumpy flight BWI to Atlanta and on to Gulfport. We travelled to the camp and met with Irene and Ed. Got our new nametags and were given our assignment, which is to help in the kitchen and do some office work. We took charge of the kitchen and dining area for dinner, as Irene and Ed were being honored at a Chamber of Commerce dinner--it was too cold and windy to eat in the tent, so we crowded into the food service building. Met some nice people and enjoyed ourselves. Heard about the evacuation of the camp Monday because of tornado warnings and the tornado that came thru the town Thursday night and took roofs off of several buildings. Slept fitfully because of continued wind and some rain.
Up early Saturday. Most everybody left after breakfast. Barb went to pick up Gabriele and I helped inventory tents for the next group. They got back and we helped inventory kitchen supplies. Took Irene to lunch then went to Sams and bought LOTS of groceries--filled up the big van. Back to camp and Barb picked up the Naval Academy group. Late dinner and more new people to meet. We are delighted to be here and look forward to the next week.
Stephanie

Barb here: Upon arrival we were met with hugs from Irene saying "Welcome home!" She and Ed relayed information about the tornado. By the end of Friday the damage from the storm had been removed, roofs had been completely replaced. The volunteers from this camp worked diligently with a mennenite group, who are incredible builders, to put much back together. While in the office, a community member was being interviewed for assistance. This all amazes me. Irene and Ed are preparing to disassemble the camp and have already made plans for all the tools, equipment, appliances, etc. to be donated to area food banks, homeless shelters, etc. Irene again commented that it was time to end. The hurricane relief for D'Iberville is done, but continued assessments and emotional support will need to continue through the churches.

Hi my POP friends!

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be back. Yes, as Irene tells us, we are home. So odd. My beloved husband, family, friends are back in Maryland, yet... I have been waiting - anticipating - for this return trip. The amazing spirit, joy, friendship and whole-hearted appreciation of God's grace bestowed on us all, continues.

Take care and pray for our continued success in helping our brothers and sister's in our Father's name.

Gabriele