I put this picture that I took of this beautiful oak tree with the hanging moss on this quiet road in a little town called Pearlington, Mississippi onto my screensaver on the computer in the KPIG Sty and my computer at home. It’s such a quiet, peaceful scene. Look at it…then imagine the entire scene covered in water as high as those branches hanging out over the road.It’s hard to imagine, but that’s what the residents of Pearlington woke up to the day after Hurricane Katrina made landfall…not that any of these residents slept that night!
Hurricane Katrina was the costliest hurricane of the 2005 season, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall. It caused severe destruction along the Gulf coast from central Florida to Texas, much of it due to the storm surge. Huge waves, as high as 40 feet came up the Pearl River right into Pearlington. Cowabunga!
I took this picture last December when my wife and I went on a mission trip to help the folks of Pearlington continue the clean up and rebuilding of their quiet little town. When you stand there on this road now it looks almost like nothing happened, but when you look to the left and right you see the remains of homes… you see foundations…homes wrecked and abandoned, empty lots, rebuilt homes, half built homes, temporary trailers where people are still living...and many people are now in danger of being evicted from this temporary housing.
I think of that Johnny Cash song, “Five Feet High And Rising”…only this was more like 18 feet.
That little sign up on the pole that I’m pointing at is how high the water rose! Yikes!
That little sign up on the pole that I’m pointing at is how high the water rose! Yikes!
It seems appropriate that I was looking through these photos today, since this month marks the
4th anniversary since Katrina hit.
4th anniversary since Katrina hit.
My wife and I, and 15 to 20 others from our church will be heading back in December to help in any way we can. The trips usually happen during Christmas break and Spring break
, because many of the people who go are high school and college age kids…certainly not what I was doing on my school breaks, how ‘bout you!!
This will be the 8th trip that a group from our church has made in the last four years…just one of many churches and groups going to help Pearlington and any number of towns all along the Gulf coast. There is actually a camp in Pearlington that houses volunteers year round…and after four years far too many of the residents of Pearlington and many other towns, including New Orleans, haven’t been able to return.
Heckofa job Brownie!
I had posted several blogs before, during and after our last trip, on the KPIG blog page, but we all know that page mysteriously vanished (maybe not so mysteriously!)
, because many of the people who go are high school and college age kids…certainly not what I was doing on my school breaks, how ‘bout you!!This will be the 8th trip that a group from our church has made in the last four years…just one of many churches and groups going to help Pearlington and any number of towns all along the Gulf coast. There is actually a camp in Pearlington that houses volunteers year round…and after four years far too many of the residents of Pearlington and many other towns, including New Orleans, haven’t been able to return.
Heckofa job Brownie!
I had posted several blogs before, during and after our last trip, on the KPIG blog page, but we all know that page mysteriously vanished (maybe not so mysteriously!)
Soooo…
If you want to help, or know more, start with http://www.pearlingtonms.com/ or Google it and find many other sites. Maybe some of you reading this on-line live somewhere near one of the many towns affected by Katrina…spend a weekend and go help…even if you don’t have any particular skills, just being there helps! Another good place if you want info, or to donate your time or money is www.pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/gulfcoast/index-gulfcoast.htm
If you want to help, or know more, start with http://www.pearlingtonms.com/ or Google it and find many other sites. Maybe some of you reading this on-line live somewhere near one of the many towns affected by Katrina…spend a weekend and go help…even if you don’t have any particular skills, just being there helps! Another good place if you want info, or to donate your time or money is www.pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/gulfcoast/index-gulfcoast.htm
Maybe some of you could help support me and my group. We do fundraisers throughout the year to help with the cost for building materials, food and clothing, but each team member is responsible for paying their own way there….generally costs around $800, and anything we raise beyond that goes into the general fund. If you felt so inclined you could donate to the “Get Ralphie To Pearlington Fund”…or just the mission trip in general! It doesn’t have to be much…I know that you Pigs have big hearts…I also know that, given the state of the economy, many people don’t have two nickels to rub together…so, just do w
hat you can, do what you feel, that’s all anyone can ask! Hey, it’s tax-deductible!
If you want to contribute to my trip, send a check to:
hat you can, do what you feel, that’s all anyone can ask! Hey, it’s tax-deductible!If you want to contribute to my trip, send a check to:
Felton Presbyterian Church
Attn: Brittany Overbeck
6090 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
And put Ralphie/Pearlington in the memo line…and if your address is not on your check, include that, so they can send you a receipt (remember, tax-deductible!)
Attn: Brittany Overbeck
6090 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
And put Ralphie/Pearlington in the memo line…and if your address is not on your check, include that, so they can send you a receipt (remember, tax-deductible!)
There are lots of places that need help, and you can find them on-line…get involved!
And remember…you don’t always have to go across the country or the world to find someone in need…sometimes you just have to cross the street.
I love you Pigs!
Ralphie
P.S. Brittany Overbeck has been planning and coordinating these trips and has been blogging about them since the beginning....read more about Pearlington and the work there at her blog page www.ca2ms.blogspot.com/ You can also donate at her blog using PayPal...just click where it says Donate and tell 'em its for Ralphie!
And remember…you don’t always have to go across the country or the world to find someone in need…sometimes you just have to cross the street.
I love you Pigs!
Ralphie
P.S. Brittany Overbeck has been planning and coordinating these trips and has been blogging about them since the beginning....read more about Pearlington and the work there at her blog page www.ca2ms.blogspot.com/ You can also donate at her blog using PayPal...just click where it says Donate and tell 'em its for Ralphie!
