Web Letters

 There seems to be a great lack of photos of the "dry-wallers at Farm Ln."! What a team we had: Bill and brother-in-law Bart (the brains) and Ann, who wields a mighty power drill, dry-walled three rooms in the basement of a house that had been completely filled with mud following the levee break. With the help of several members of the family, we mudded, taped, sanded and textured the two largest rooms. Later in the week, Pat and Art, from Novato, gave able assistance to our crew.

by Andrea Davis

By Alicia De Toffoli

You wait in a crowded airport at an unthinkable hour for a flight taking you far away from your home. You endure a dull plane ride, then a layover in a maze-like airport larger than anything you can comprehend (let alone navigate), then a final plane ride. Only this one is different. It is taking you to the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport in Mississippi. Compared to the plane you rode in from California to Texas, this plane is a pea next to a pumpkin.

In Pastor Greg’s sermon last week we heard that “God calls us to live our faith, and that out spiritual practices push us out into the world to do God’s work”.

My week in Biloxi with the VIM team gave me the opportunity to do both of these things and to watch many others doing the same. A million volunteers have come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast over the past two year to practice their faith and as a result there has been a profound impact on the lives and culture of the region.

Today, this area has

It's not about you. In Biloxi, this message was constantly drilled into our minds, and rightfully so. Nobody wants a bunch of volunteers complaining about how their lunch didn't taste good, or how much they want a better bed. For many, including myself, this transformation was difficult. In everyday life we are constantly worrying about ourselves, what errands do have to do? When do have to wake up? Who do have to meet with?

I would like to explain first why I speak more about the people than the work. For me construction is second nature. I can design and build in my sleep and often do. I understand how pro athletes feel. When you recieve money for doing what you love it sometimes taints the joy it brings you. For me the best days in construction have been working with Habitat for humanity, Rebuilding together and on mission as a representative for the church through VIM. So for me, the greatest joy is in the relationships and the people I meet. I write about them because it is the part I enjoy the most.

So much went on today. The morning started with a fun surprise for me. The team awarded me with 5 minutes which were about me. Bill Croker acted as master of cermonies. First I was presented with a bob the builder hat. Then my own toolkit complete with nails and tools. He commented that he was not sure what I would do with the actual tools as I had loaned my bags to Bryan all week proving I just drive around from donut shop to coffee house and then on to lunch :-)

Our week is coming to a close. The teams are really starting to focus and worry about what they will really get accomplished. At this point we all want to get as far as possible. We were told that the camp seashore facility will be closing in two weeks. The families we are helping may not have other teams arriving to help. Big Bob and Karen will be leaving so no guarantees. We all are trying to tie up the loose ends on our jobs.

It's the day after we returned from Biloxi.  And it is a trip that none of us will forget.  Yes, I could tell you a LOT about the trip and the work that we did, but it wouldn't do justice to what we experienced.

Don't ask me if I had a good trip, or if I enjoyed it.  It doesn't do the work we did justice.

Last night Gary Bunas allowed us the opportunity to celebrate with him his seventh anniversary of being cancer free. He reflects on his life on this day each year and writes his surgeons a card letting them know that thanks to them he is still around to enjoy his family and life.

Nancy had found a dvd filmed by a local of the 90 freeway the day before, during and 5 days after the storm. It was eerie to see what was here prior to the storm and our arrival. It was amazingly clean on the coast as the wave swept most of the debris to the back bay.