Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

For four Advents since Katrina, the cabinet and I have traveled to Seashore District to offer our labor in the rebuilding of homes. This year, it was for me again a time of repentance, of connection, of renewal, of blessing.

It was very cold at the worksites - two homes identical in design 10 miles apart. Three bedroom, two bathrooms, one kitchen/dining/living room, front and back porches. These "builds" are on the site of destroyed homes. The families watch and engage in the work with the teams, living doubled-up near the first house and in a small FEMA trailer and pup-tent beside the second.

We worked with a skilled team from Augusta, GA - joyous folks who do this often and well, engaging in disaster response all over the US and in mission abroad. They led the work and we followed, expanding the capacity by taking on tasks as needed - flooring, outlets, ceiling fans.

Putting up a ceiling fan is a complete change-of-pace for clergy, who work with people and not things. So many parts, such detail in the step-by-step directions!

I came home awakened. As I plugged in an applicance, I remembered the outlets wired and covered. As I felt the floor beneath my bare feet, I remembered the subflooring under the surface. And with the house a bit drafty in the cold of late, I did not turn on the ceiling fan but I did think forward: when it is hot next summer, the blades of those fans will refresh those who have waited so long to go home.

Thank you for your perseverance in the long, blessed work of disaster recovery in Mississippi. Your gifts and prayers and efforts are a means of grace.

With Advent anticipation,

Hope