Hurricane Katrina hit over 5 1/2 years ago and our community still suffers with reminders of devastation littering the landscape. Last week an energetic team of volunteers attacked a neighboring abandoned property and collected this pile of debris.
Up until recently, most of the clean-up work assignments have come from local folks requesting our assistance. We would like to begin a more pro-active campaign by tracking down the owners of debris strewn properties and offer to do a final sweep.
This project will focus on a few different reasons for the remaining debris including properties of people who have moved out of the area, properties of elderly, the handicap, or people otherwise unable to do the clean-up themselves, and those who have been so psychologically and emotionally scarred by the disaster that they find it difficult to grasp onto the hope of a better day.
Many Hancock County families moved away after the storm and have been unable to return to clean their property. FEMA and the Corp of Engineers may have bulldozed what remained of their home for the bulk of the debris removal, but that sweep didn’t catch everything. The folks now live far away and for various reasons have been unable to return to the area. We would like to go in with volunteers and beautify their property, if not for them, for the folks still living in the area faced with reminders of devastation on a daily basis.
We also have those in the community for one reason or another unable to do the work themselves or have been so overwhelmed by the task, they have all but have given up. We want to minister help and hope to these people by offering a team of energetic Christians to lend a neighborly hand as the gospel takes root in our community.
Pray for Lakeshore Baptist Church as we enter into this phase of the recovery. Collecting names and securing permission will require sensitivity to the needs around us as we continue to infuse our mercy ministry with evangelistic opportunities for the glory of God.
We have a big summer planned, but we still have several open dates on the calendar, so feel free to give us a call and plan your summer mission trip asap. We could use more able hands and willing hearts for this and other ongoing projects for the spread of Christ’s fame on the gulf coast.. If you can’t make it yourself, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the cause so that this work can continue. This incredible ministry that God has seen fit to bless us with, relies on your generous gifts. I can not thank you enough for your continued support.
