Mission To Biloxi, Mississippi - January 2007
 (Photo Index below)

Monday, January 15, 2007, a VIM team of 20 folks from various churches in the Baltimore / Washington Conference began work on what was to eventually be four (4) different homes in the Gulport/Biloxi MS area.  Four people (Beth Lingg, Jody Kelley, Linda and Bill Owens) were from St. Matthew's - the sponsoring church.  Eleven (John Carns, Susie Printz, Tom and Ouida Starbuck, Tammy and Wayne Buckler, Charles and Sandra Wheeler, Laura and Wilma Tinsley, Howard Gofus) were members of or associated with Mt. Zion UMC in Mechanicsville, MD.  The others were from  four different churches. (Capitol Hill UMC, Faith UMC, Rockville, Timonium UMC, and First Lutheran, Catonsville).

 The team was housed and fed at Camp Seashore - formerly a Methodist retreat center.  The work done was mostly interior repair of homes damaged by water from hurricane Katrina.  This work included: tearing out damaged sheetrock, insulation, flooring of various types and ceiling tiles; replacing removed products with new; installing kitchen cabinets; priming and painting; general small repairs; and yard clean-up.

 This was the first trip to the area for most of the team.  The reactions ranged from shock to dismay - that it didn't appear much had been accomplished in a year-and-a-half.  There was evidence of progress, however, because there weren't many roof tops with blue tarp on them, an indication that they had been repaired and hopefully, work was being done inside the homes.

Team Leader report here