Missions

Katrina Relief - God's Work

Richard Mullenax’s Report on how we are using Katrina Funds

First, I want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to do God's work on the trip to the coast with the group from Trinity Presbyterian Friday evening, May 26th and returned on Monday May 29th during the Memorial Day weekend. We arrived Friday evening about 9:30 or so at Gulfport where we stayed at Sandra Price's FEMA trailer. Others were quartered with Gail Cotton who has a house and ministry just across the street from Sandra. I do not have the words to convey to you how hard these two women work daily to help others in need. They work from daylight to dark and from can to can't. They are both ordained Presbyterian ministers and if we have a place for sainthood in our denomination, these two certainly qualify.

Our assignment for this trip was to completely demolish two houses. Previously, when our groups have gone down we were concerned with removing sheet rock and mucking out houses. This time we got a running start on tearing down a house but discovered that the gas and electricity had not been turned off. So with that, we went down the street to house number two and within one day, the house including the roof was on the ground. The good news was that we did not have to clean out mud and remove sheet rock.

We had depended on Sandra and Gail to help us find needy people to help with purchasing appliances. I honestly believe you could knock on any door south of the railroad track and each and every one would need help. I kept asking myself how I would cope in such a situation. Can you imagine going to bed one night feeling content that you have your family safe and together, your house in good shape and full of appliances and conveniences of all types, you have two cars and money in the bank. The next day your house is gone along with everything in it or the house is damaged to the point that it will take months before it is restored to the point that you can even move back. Your children are traumatized and you have no place for them to stay so they are shipped off to relatives or friends in other parts of the country. Your two cars are gone and you cannot even locate them. If they are located, they are of no use. The money you were saving for whatever reason is now needed just to make it through the hard days to follow. This describes the plight of most of the people we met.

We touched the lives of 12 families by buying them various appliances to include: washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, blenders and a toaster oven. Their names are listed below:
Mary and Walt Walton --washer, dryer and refrigerator. They lost everything they had. I will say here, that all those named below lost everything they owned. None of them wanted handouts but they were so grateful and thankful to receive anything. As this process proceeded, there were many tears. They cried and I cried (just a manly amount.) It was one of the most touching things I had ever been involved in. These people are desperate. I am not particularly pleased with our government right now. These people are being ignored. Enough of that!

Karen Cleary--stack washer and dryer

Gail Cotton-- two refrigerators. Gail is running a ministry where she feeds folks and she lost these appliances in the surge. I felt it appropriate to replace these so she could continue her ministry.

Cece Vallot: Stack washer and dryer. I have also told Sandra to let us know when her (Cece's) house was restored and we would supply funds for a refrigerator. Several contractors told her that her house should be demolished and that it was beyond repair. By chance she met an architect who told her that indeed it could be restored. I met a group of Presbyterians from Birmingham who have made several trips to Gulfport to restore her house. She hugged and thanked me. She said it was Christmas. Gee!!

Mary Kay Deen: washer, dryer, refrigerator. She too lost everything. What a nice lady and a retired school teacher.

Robin and Owen Craft-- big refrigerator and stove. He is a policeman and she is a second grade school teacher. They have five children of their own and what a delightful couple. He recently had a mild heart attack.

Joyce Holston--food blender. She is an older person and has to have her food blended before eating it due to difficulty in swallowing.

Tracey Holliman: They have real problems. She and her husband are in mid-30s and he is in the fourth month of six months to live and has cancer with has spread throughout his body. They have three children. Pray for them.

Bryan Holitan-- Washer and dryer. After the storm his wife left him and three children and returned to Pennsylvania. He was so thankful to receive these items because this meant that he would no longer have to go to Laundromat along with his children where they would spend hours waiting in line to wash clothes. He is living in a FEMA trailer.

Curates Martin--washer and dryer. He is in mid'30s and a cook at one of the major restaurants. He also has had a heart attack. This strain is taking its toll on the population.

Billy ("Radar") --Small refrigerator like those the college kids get for their dorm rooms. I did not get his last name. He again is one of those who lost everything.

Theresa Williams--refrigerator. She is an elderly lady from England who married a U.S airman in WW 11 and moved to that area. Her husband recently died.

Broussards--He is a former Catholic priest who left the priesthood to marry the lady he loved. They adopted five children and they have nothing left but their house, which was severely damaged and is almost restored to the point they can soon move back. I told them we would commit $1456 to purchase a refrigerator, washer and dryer. Sandra will email me when they move back to their house and we will send check to Sandra to purchase these items.

Cece Vallot, mentioned earlier, when she can get into her house, she needs a refrigerator and the same applies, Sandra will let us know and we will send money other. I committed $532 for the refrigerator.

>From what I can determine, we spent $9,946.92.
The commitments to the Boursards and Cece Vallot total $1,988. We need to keep this money until are requested.

The grand total is $1,988+$9,946.92 = $11,934.92.
We do qualify for rebates and I am not sure how much it will be. I will send the rebate receipts to Lowe's and will submit the cards to our committee when I get them. May I suggest we give these to the women on the coast to assist them to do what ever needs to be done?

Finally, please pray for the people on the Mississippi gulf coast. They are hurting. Many are struggling just to make it through the day. Also please pray for Sandra and Gail asking God to continue to bless their ministry.

IHS
Richard Mullenax