A day May 1

I arrived in Biloxi Mon morning and am staying in the baseball stadium which was purchased by the Salvation Army a couple years ago. There are numerous agencies that stay here but I'm working with Compassion First/Beaverton Foursquare Church (BFS) which partners with several other organizations. All work is done under the direction of East Biloxi Coordination Relief and Recovery Center. Other agencies staying in the village include Hopeforce, Habitat Virginia (in bunk houses), many Americorp (young people staying in trailers). Project Teamwork manages the village and logistics such as place to stay, food, etc. A family of 4 is here for 2 years running the village and live in a trailer. Money can be gotten from Oprah, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Samaritan's Purse, UMCOR (Methodist) and others but each have some different guidelines which makes it challenging at times. One agency gives a $500 microgrant to people for furnishings (household things) when they move in.

We stay in what had been the women's locker room which was divided into 3 rooms with bunk beds. Largest room is for BFS which sleeps 12 but there are only 5 of us this week. Showers and flush toilets are next to us so we don't have to go out into the hall which is really nice. Rooms have been constructed in the hallway with women at one end and men have their quarters at the other end. There is also another ladies restroom with more showers. It will accommodate quite a few people.


Tables go down the center of the hallway where the meals are served and eaten. Drinks and snacks are always available on the counter and the meals don't cost us anything while serving here. The food is actually cooked in the semi-trailer by the Salvation Army. Lunch is served under a big canopy for anyone needing a meal - all volunteers, locals, homeowners, etc. Breakfast is served at 7 am with quite a choice. A short devotion is at 7:45 before leaving for the job site and he is doing it from the "Purpose Driven Life" and we did part of day 11 today.


Last night I was invited to the Orange Grove PDA village in Gulfport. A group from MO were working on the grounds by BFS office and I was talking to them (in their PDA shirts) and they were cooking. I got to see several of the PDA staff people that I wanted to see plus 3 guys from WA that I had met last fall. They remembered me and so I ate with them.

Today has been slow as I'm reading stuff, educating myself as there isn't much going on right now. The case management process is very good. Helping people chose their furnishings is fun but challenging. BFS works on a home until it is mostly completed depending on the skills as they usually have many skilled volunteers here.

The wireless connection is in the laundry room which is where I am right now but that is okay as reception is bad in the stadium. But I don't care as long as I have access. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. Take care.

Phyllis