What is Camp Victor?
Christus Victor Church, located in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, became a hurricane disaster response center within days of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in August 2005. In June 2006, the group moved operations to Camp Victor, a new facility inside a former factory.
Camp Victor is a ministry of Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response and Lutheran Disaster Response.
Find out more at www.campvictor.org.
St. Mark Katrina Relief Mission
On April 21, a group of St. Mark members traveled to Ocean Springs,
Mississippi to volunteer at Camp Victor, a ministry of Christus Victor Church and Lutheran Social
Services Disaster Response (more information to the right).
The Katrina team is Nancy and Gary Snell, Carl and Mary Ann Anderson,
Gene and Pam Bazan, Linda Hessel, Jan Serafini, Mary Sorum, Beth and Ron Freeman,
Sigrid Eddy and Marilyn Gosell
Messages from Camp Victor
Friday, April 27
We had the priviledge of meeting a number of your church members who had come to the MS Gulf Coast to aid in the recovery of Hurricane Katrina. The folks that we got to meet were Gary and Nancy Snell, Marilyn Gosell, Gene and Pam Bazan, Ron and Beth Freenam, Mary Sorum, Carl and Mary Ann Anderson, Sigrid Eddy, Jan Serafini, and Linda Hessel. Our Christus Victor Lutheran Church has established a camp where the volunteers are housed and fed, and directed to homes that they help to repair. This bunch was very busy, and a blessing to us. You are lucky to have such caring people as members of your congregation! Thank you all for your hard work! I know you have meant so much to our friend, Sissie Ryan. She wouldn't have been able to have these repairs done without your help. God Bless you each and every one!
Love in Christ,
Eddie Norris and Barbara Brooker
Pictures!
Thursday, April 26
Here we are on our last night here. It started out to be a rainy day so it delayed our start a little bit. We all went over to Sissy's house to continue our cleaning and whatever. We were expecting to wash her wood floor that we uncarpeted yesterday but she and her neighbors had moved her furniture and other claptrap back into the rooms. The guys took out an air conditioning unit in her living room wall while the girls scraped and painted the outside window frames. Gary sanded and spray painted her clothes line poles and restrung clotheslines for her.
The afternoon turned beautiful with a nice breeze so Marilyn started cleaning up the yard and cutting dead branches and replanting some plants. She was moved to tears when Gary and Nancy came with 2 beautiful hibiscus plants for her yard. We started cleaning up her front screened in porch by taking off the old screening and will continue tomorrow by putting up new screening and cleaning and washing up the porch.
Pam and Gene left today to go on a 3 day cruise out of New Orleans and Mary flew out of Golf Port today to be with her 91 year old mother in Northern Mn.who isn't doing well. We go back to Sissy's tomorrow to finish up and will be on our way home by noon or so.
Gary, Nancy and Marilyn are meeting Lars tomorrow at the Golf Port airport and they will vacation for a few days in the Louisiana area. The rest of our will begin our trip up north stopping again in Memphis and will be home on Saturday evening.
Keep us all in your prayers for safe travel. We have had a great time and hope some more of you would decide to come here as there is a still lot of work to be done.
Mary Ann
Tuesday & Wednesday (April 24-25)
Days 2 & 3.....
Tuesday we were all back at Diann's house. Odds and Ends, touch ups of paint, stuff. Mary Ann and Pam worked together to clear out the accumulation of construction 'stuff'.....6" clay tiles, shop vac, 55 gallon drum, weeds, etc. Buried among all that stuff, a round redwood planter was found in a corner. With that discovery, a brainstorm ensued and and idea was hatched. A welcoming courtyard entrance would be a great way to brighten Diann's vision of her home. Back in Mt. Prospect, all the ladies would be wearily looking at their calendars counting the days until they could play in the dirt and plant their Spring flowers. Well, with temps in the 80's here, they got to get in a little practice! Pam and Mary Ann concocted the idea of putting some flowers in the small courtyard and in front of the front door and Mary Ann EAGERLY volunteered to ride to Lowe's with Gene to purchase the appropriate supplies. Upon her return, all the ladies gathered in the courtyard and couldn't resist getting their fingernails full of dirt......a manicurists delight !! The neatest thing of this project was observed as we were departing for the afternoon. Diann was observed to step out into the courtyard, set herself down in the plastic white chair and just take in the instant beauty the ladies provided her with. Our ladies got some Spring therapy and Diann got some colorful beauty to set and admire in the midst of all the stress and chaos she has been enduring for the last many months.
The men hung closet doors, plumbed some bathroom sinks, (water shut-offs aren't located in the same part of a home as they are in Chicago, as it took us 45 minutes to figure that out) and trimmed out floors and the front door. Power tools....erh erh erh.
On Wednesday, we split up. Most of the ladies went to a new site a few blocks away from Camp Victor. From what I gather, it's a 1940's house that still LOOKS like a 1940's house. The rest of our group went back to Diann's for some final plumbing and punch list types of things. Not that her home is completed now, but she is within reach of that light at the end of her long tunnel. We've done what we can accomplish there. It will now be up to others with skills greater than ours.....although some of our team are no slouches when it comes to this stuff. Thursday I believe we will all descend on the new site the ladies went to today.
For as many times as this has probably been expressed, we feel it bears repeating. You hear the stories on the Internet and the 10:00 News. You see the photos of the destroyed bridges and piers in the papers and on TV. But the more and more we see these images and stories, just like with anything else big that occurs, we become desensitized to what occurred 20 some months ago now. Well to be here in person, see the remaining destruction, listen to the stories of the folks that have suffered throughout this ordeal, and realize that they still have their 'normal' lives to continue on with while rebuilding their lives and homes, it really strikes at ones heart and mind. It puts some of our stresses and concerns into perspective. Yes, many of us have serious issues weighing on our minds and hearts in our own lives, but many of us ought remember and count our blessings and realize what is infringing on our lives, though stressful, pale in comparison to what thousands and thousands of people and families are still enduring here. This recovery will continue to be required for years to come. Our prayers, assistance and help will continue to be needed.
On a lighter note, Tuesday night we went and sampled some local fare. Gumbo, catfish, cajun hushpuppies, po-boys, cajun fried shrimp....all washed down ICE COLD beer. As one food celebrity would say.....YUMMO!!
We've all been pooped at the end of the day and when the lights all magically go out at 10:00, no one's complaining.....in fact, some have been asleep before the lights go out.
Pam and Gene
Monday, April 23
Up at 6:00 am, breakfast at 7:00 am and out to work by 8:00 am. Today our group was assigned to work in a home several miles from the camp. The owner's name is Diane. Diane and her husband have 4 daughters: 1 grown and married, 2 in college and one still living at home.
Diane's husband travels for 2-3 months at a time for his job. Diane is a special needs teacher in the local school. Her husband was away on business when Katrina struck so she and her one daughter left on their own and went north to stay with her married daughter. They were not able to return to their home for 7 days after the hurricane.
When they did return, they found that their home had suffered total damage. Over five feet of water sat in the house for several days and everything was destroyed. The house had to be completely gutted. Diane and her husband are doing the major share of repairs on their own. They had no flood insurance and the only financial help that they have received is $1700 from their insurance company for roof damage.
In spite of this Diane is very upbeat and optimistic. After 18 months they still cannot live in their house. They have a FEMA trailer in their yard.
I cannot imagine what this must have been like for them. I would not know where to begin.
Our jobs today were painting, installing doors, some plumbing and some electrical. We will be back there tomorrow and possibly on Wednesday.
We also went to see Christus Victor Lutheran Church today. The relief effort began there in the church and later transfered to Camp Victor. During the first weeks after the hurricane the church served over 500 meals each day.
We have over 100 volunteers at Camp Victor this week. They come from all over the US. Many of them are returning for their second or third time to help with this hugh rebuilding effort. God is truly at work here in Mississippi.
Marilyn
Sunday, April 22
Hello from Camp Victor! We arrived safely and are getting acquainted with our surroundings. This an awesome place. Had a great trip - weather was perfect. We had a wonderful church service this morning outside in the beautiful weather. We begin work tomorrow. We will be working on a house doing dry wall, painting and clean up. Everyone is looking forward to getting started!
Lunch Break!