Remembering Katrina

I can’t believe it was 1 year ago today I left for Mississippi with 8 other men and a family of 5 from church on a relief trip to help people who were suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I remember watching the news for a week after the storm hit and how the destruction seemed so bad on the news. A 32 hour drive later we arrived to witness something that news cameras and reporters could never do justice in conveying to us even in today’s high-definition world. The extent of the damage and destruction left me in tears as we drove into Pascagoula Mississippi, and later into Biloxi where the total devastation looked like a war zone.

The people we met and helped for a week left a lasting impression on my heart and mind. The long days of grueling work gutting water and mud filled houses was so rewarding for all of us as we saw God bring people across our paths that we could help out in practical ways, listen to their stories, give some hugs and cry with them and pray with them.

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Although this past year has undoubtedly seen me become a year removed from this experience and probably all too comfortable again back home with my family and all the amenities of everyday life, I know that the week I spent in Mississippi and the things I experienced during this entire trip, changed the way I think about material possessions (especially after seeing so many people that lost everything they owned in an instant). I am intentionally more thankful for the blessing I have in life and I believe that I am much more aware of those around me who are in need than I was a year ago. I think its important for us to look for the people in our own communities who are struggling with tragedy in their lives every day - whether they are homeless or have lost a loved one, lost their marriage or in financial despair – we need to see the need and reach out to them to share love and meet needs with compassion. I hope that this next year I can grow in this even more.

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be."
Matthew 6:19-21

I will try to get a slide-show up soon with the rest of our pictures from the trup. For more on my (and others) remembrances of our Katrina Relief Trip, see the blog about our trip http://www.palmvalleyrelief.blogspot.com

Top Story

Labor day is apparently a slow news day... Top story is that that the Crocodile Hunter was finally killed by one of the animals that he messed around with - I have to admit that I watched him do some pretty crazy things, it was just a matter of time. CNN was prepared though - they already had a special ready to commemorate him. Hopefully this doesn't sound too heartless, but the guy seemed to take it too close to the edge many times. Hopefully there aren't too many young wanna-be's following in his footsteps.