Today began simple enough...

Yalonda (a friend of Trinity) and I with a local volunteer Brian loaded a half of pallet of water in her car with the intent to visit a few FEMA trailer parks. Brian, who is a wall of a man, looked at us knowingly and said, "Ya'll be careful." He explained that the FEMA trailer parks can be unsavory places. We promised to be mindful of our context. He sent us away with the admonition, "If you're not back by three thirty, I will come looking for you!"

We made our way to a trailer park on Veteran's Highway in Biloxi. Trees are still bare, skinned of their bark. There is a fair bit of cognitive dissonance to see a naked tree in such a balmy place. A cemetery looked as though the ground hiccupped and grave markers where strewn about like litter. Skeletons of buildings dotted the landscape. Other buildings were in various stages of repair.

We turned off the street into the trailer park. It's really hot here and there isn't much movement but the trailers have eyes. We went to the central gathering place, a shelter in the middle of the park, and began putting water out on the picnic tables. Slowly people emerged from their tiny trailers and ask about the water. "Where did it come from?" "Who are you?" We tell them we are from Christus Victor Lutheran Disaster Response. It is amazing how this church has mobilized and organized us for God's work. Wherever we have gone people speak glowingly of Christus Victor.

We spoke with Kathryn who evacuated only to return to find her house, a hovel. We met a couple, Mr. & Mrs. Brown. Both of them are in their mid-eighties. How do you rebuild in the twilight years of your life? Still, they carry within them God's grace and even humor. In talking with Pastor Gerry Bultman of Bethel Lutheran Church of Biloxi, I learned there is a gentleman who lived on the margins of life and is in need of a burial. His remains have been unclaimed in morgue since the hurricanes until Pastor learned of him and now is in the process of raising money for a funeral. Sisters and brothers, that's when I lost it. I have been teary ever since. I have experienced a miniscule piece of what these folks on the frontlines encounter every day. The Trinity missionaries share the same sentiments. Pray for our sisters and brothers.

There is much pain here, sadness, suffering, and tears but the indomitable hope and trust that the risen Christ abides. The Trinity missionaries will have many experiences to share, please take a few moments to hear how God's grace continues to find expression and is not overcome by nihility. Today began simple enough but grows increasingly complicated but Christ the victor is present, indeed.

Pray for the healing of this place.

Pastor Angela