Gulf Coast Mission

Mission to Ocean Springs - November 2009

CMPC's support of Katrina victims continues with the November 2009 trip to Ocean Springs, MS.  This is our 4th trip back but first trip away from Westminster Presbyterian in Gulfport which has closed its camp.  We will be rebuilding the home of Mr. Joshua Jessie. 

Mr. Joshua  moved into his house more than 50 years ago, and he and his wife raised their adopted children there. He was in the army during World War II, and after being discharged spent many years being a truck driver, but also worked with the Ocean Springs and Gautier police departments for several years. Today he is living next door in a tiny "FEMA cottage", where has spent the last three years.  He is very excited to have help coming, and hopes to be back in his real home by Christmas!

When Hurricane Katrina started coming in, Mr. Joshua sent his wife and children to stay with relatives in Alabama, intending to evacuate himself a little later, but by the time he was able to leave, Mr. Joshua found bumper-to-bumper traffic on both Interstate 10 and Highway 90. Realizing he had waited too long to evacuate, Mr. Joshua decided to stay with his neighbors across the street. From the doorway of his neighbors house, Mr. Joshua watched as Katrina tore most of the roof off of his house and knocked over several nearby trees.

While the storm surge did not reach so far inland as to reach Mr. Joshua's home, there is extensive water damage because of the rain that fell through his open roof. Most of the people who first looked at Mr. Joshua's house told him there was nothing that could be done to fix it, but there were a few who saw some possibilities. Since all of the inside walls have now been torn out, we can see that most of the framing is still usable, but the flooring is still in place and will all need to be redone.

We will be starting work on Mr. Joshua's house November 8th and try to accomplish as much as possible by the end of November with December spent doing cleanup so we can have him home by Christmas. Our base will be Camp Victor (www.campvictor.org), but there is a small hotel/motel nearby - Indian Head Station Hotel for those wanting to stay there.  Three daily meals are included in the $125/week charge to stay at Camp Victor.

 For more info contact Pete Berlowitz at (410) 440-6715