Pearlington Recovery & Resource Center

Pix from Pearlington

2009-08-30T19:00:00.018-04:00

Laurie Spaschak, Charlie Holmes

Tom Dalessandri

Paula Buhr, with microphone :)

August 31, 2005

August 31, 2009

Photos Copyright Jon S. White

News from Pearlington

2009-08-30T10:44:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, in a packed Community Center, County Supervisor Rocky Pullman officiated as that beautiful new building was dedicated to the good people of Pearlington. Spear-headed by Building Goodness Foundation - the very same people who built 125 large sheds in Pearlington after the storm - it stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the people of this coastal community in staying put and rebuilding their town in the wake of the third most damaging hurricane in American history.

Officially named the Pearlington Recovery Center (for funding reasons), Rocky pointed out its real purpose and folks here will call it what they will; that's just their nature [*Jon smiles*]. Regardless, it's a beautiful building, built to last by Martin Horn, Inc., it is the product of a vast amount of volunteer labor and the generosity of many, including the city of Weston, Mass. It is just what Pearlington needs and it has already hosted weddings, family reunions and town hall meetings since it actually opened a few months ago.

It was also an opportunity to honour the volunteers who came to Pearlington to leave their blood, tears and sweat equity on virtually every aspect of the recovery of Pearlington. Paula Buhr reminded all present of the early days after the storm and some volunteer representatives - including yours truly - will be honoured on behalf of the tens of thousands of volunteers who helped in Pearlington, with the locating of a plaque on the side of the new building.

Following the presentation, Paula, Tom Dalessandri of Mountains to Mississippi, myself representing the Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies (C.O.D.R.A.) and others gathered in the formation of an exciting new initiative in the preparation and first response in the event of another strong hurricane.

There will be more to come on this in the next few days, of particular interest to those volunteer groups who have been members of C.O.D.R.A. and who choose and are able to be a part of this venture, fully blessed and logistically supported by the EOC for Hancock County.

Watch this blog for developing information on MMERT, the Mississippi Medical Emergency Response Team.

****IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR SMALL-BUSINESS OWNERS IN PEARLINGTON****

Hancock County yesterday announced a $2.5 million Job Regeneration Fund for small business owners who existed at least six months prior to Katrina and who experienced loss due to the storm. It is a one-time forgiveable loan for those who continued after the storm and who meet the criteria.
Meetings concerning this will be held throughout the County. In Pearlington, there will be meetings at the new Community Center on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 at both 12:00 and 5:30 p.m.

Come on out and see if you qualify!

Peace,
Canada Jon

P.S. Thanks to all for the remarkable and kind comments left on yesterday's posting.

Dancing with Katrina

2009-08-29T07:40:00.006-04:00

Four years ago today, like so many others, I arose on a Monday morning and prepared myself for a new work week, completely unaware that my life was about to alter course. That's the thing about life - it turns on a dime sometimes - with little warning or preparation and you become forever changed.

For those of us who have danced with Katrina since that August morning in 2005, we have learned many new steps; we have tripped and stumbled, pirouetted and fallen; soared and sunk, wept with pain, wept with joy and treated those "two imposters" - Triumph and Disaster - just the same.

In the calmness of this Pearlington, Mississippi morning though, in the safety and comfort of Susie Sharp's rebuilt home - rebuilt in part again after Gustav - I sip my coffee, massage my trusty laptop and remember who I became in Katrina's wake. I have seen the unfathomable damage a storm can cause and the equally unfathomable response from tens of thousands of volunteers rushing from all over the world to help a proud people stunned by disaster. This day belongs to the people of the Gulf Coast and they will all mark it in their own unfathomable ways. For me, I have wept alone and remembered those who died that day and who have passed on since, friends and strangers alike, and all the volunteers I've met who returned home to embrace their own children and love their families just that much harder for having been spared. Their voices and faces, the feel of their embraces, whirl in my memory like a kaleidoscope.

But, in truth, none of us were spared. Yesterday I had the pleasure and deep honour to be reunited with nurse Paula Buhr and the amazing Tom Dalessandri, two of Pearlington's most constant friends and helpers. Paula was one of the very first volunteers to hit the ground in Pearlington in the wake of the storm, helicoptered in to deal with immediate medical needs. After our meeting, she quietly turned to me and asked me if I had experienced any Post Traumatic Stress symptoms after our early days in Pearlington. Both of us know we have, and still are, and that today may be the day we begin to close that door and heal.

For me, I know I would not have fared very well at all if it hadn't been for the constant love, support and understanding of my wife Marian Rose. By satellite phone in those early days I called her and cried, raged and processed, letting the calm sound of her voice touch me and bathe me with her peace. I'm very sure I could not have done what I did without her. She was my rock, my touchstone, my link to something real and safe. Her contribution and that of so many other partners and families of so many volunteers has never been fully honoured, so I do that here now with simple humility and gratitude.

In the intervening years, Pearlington has greatly changed and very much stayed the same. Many homes have been rebuilt, some are just gone and some still stand in broken testimony to that day. Life marches on and every hurricane season brings trepidation and preparation against the next inevitable storm. This is their home and they stubbornly cling to the bank of the Pearl River as they have for hundreds of years, nestled like a beautiful marble in the very southwestern corner of the great state of Mississippi.

Later this morning a ceremony is planned and it will be my intention, if given the chance, to remind the world that this job was not done by the relative handful of us being honoured today. It was accomplished by tens of thousands, young and old, here and at home, who sacrificed their time, money and occasionally their very lives and peace of mind to come here trying to make a difference. It can only be fully understood by those who have done it here or somewhere else in the world.

Many of us may never know for sure if we did indeed make that difference, but we are all very clear that if we had stayed home, we didn't. So, as much as this day belongs to the Survivors, it also belongs to the Thrivers; the ones who came to make things better and who stood a turn dancing with Katrina. And to those of us who, in our hearts, still are.

No matter where I travel, no matter how many "dimes" my own life turns on, I will remain in my heart forever:

Canada Jon

Back in Pearlington

2009-08-28T17:02:00.001-04:00

Greetings from Pearlington, MS.

Watch this spot tomorrow for news, pix and reports on an exciting new development.

"Canada Jon" White

A Call to Action: What YOU Can Do

2008-09-05T04:23:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I had a lengthy conference call with key C.O.D.R.A. members and other experts concerning the appropriate response for volunteers in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

I have also been made aware of many groups who are willing to be deployed and are awaiting some information and direction on how, when and where they can be most effective.

Gustav was different than Katrina and so must be our response. Co-ordination of effort is key, as there is work to be done to clean up and, in fact, still much work to be done as a lingering consequence of Katrina. The people of Pearlington - and this is critical - need to know that our attention and willingness has not been blunted by time and that this new challenge will spur as back into action, back to their support and that we do, indeed, continue to care.
To this end, then, volunteers are badly needed in Pearlington.

Therefore, C.O.D.R.A. has appointed Tom Dalessandri of The Pearlington Project as leader and Co-ordinator for our response to Gustav. Anyone who knows Tom would understand this obvious choice. Aside from a solid, ongoing commitment to Pearlington, Tom and his teams have made an enormous contribution since the day Katrina blew out of town. He is a man of integrity, leadership, honesty and straight-shooting "Git ‘er done" attitude. Tom was on holidays with his family in the Gulf Coast area when Gustav came to town, and has been on the scene every day since. I trust no one in Pearlington more than Tom. His credentials as a law officer, First Responder, teacher and emergency planner are impeccable.

I am inviting all the groups who have so wonderfully contacted me with offers to help to be in touch with Tom immediately.

He will coordinate your deployment, assign you tasks and projects that are congruent with your group’s mission and help get the job of healing Pearlington done ONCE AND FOR ALL!

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Tom Dalessandri can be reached in the following ways:
cpsaspn@aim.com
970-618-1347
www.pearlingtonproject.com

Tender Mercies

2008-09-03T07:19:00.008-04:00

A new day dawns in Pearlington and the clean-up continues. I am receiving news now more easily from the ground, although phones lines are swamped with traffic and cell phone reception is still a bit sketchy.

This in this morning from Glenn and Kris Locklin at One House at a Time:

"Attached are two pics from Pearlington this morning. Water is currently receding nicely. Ice, water, and hot food available Wednesday at the Pearlington Recovery Center. We’’ll be getting as much done as possible without making "permanent" plans until there is a better known track of Ike, so OHAAT trailers and others are staying north of Pearlington while we busily await developing news. More news as the girls and I head back tomorrow afternoon to begin cleanup as well.

Thank you so much for the information you are sorting and compiling from afar. We’re so busy doing what we can that we miss out on what others are doing, seeing, and experiencing as well.
Blessings to you!"

Also:

"Burners Without Borders volunteers in several states are standing by to see if we/funds are needed. We were at the event last week, and had the very surreal/unpleasant experience of reliving same place, same thing as 2005. Although we could have no doubt raised a enormous amount of material in a short time ( we had 50K people camping there with us ) it seemed prudent to wait and see, we so grateful to hear it wasn't too bad. Has brought up a lot of emotion amongst our volunteers, some of whom were in the Gulf Coast for six months. And we have a team just back from an Earthquake in Peru who're also waiting and watching.

Fingers crossed, much love and support to our friends and families in Pearlington, thanks for keeping us updated. Any word on the Buskers, or Mr. and Mrs. Ladner?"

Tom Price

"I spoke with Bob Putnam and Laurie Spaschack this evening. They were back in their home. Things in Pearlington appear to be better than I thought they were.

Bob and Laurie have power and it appears that their home (2 blocks from the Pearl River) did not flood. There was clearly standing water on Rt. 90, so the homes south of there (like Leroy's and Steve's) likely took water on the first floor. Other than Jesse & Evelyn's house, all the others appear to be fine (we don't know anything about Jesse & Evelyn).

Turtle Creek took 7' of water on the first floor (remember the first floor is below Rt. 90). They plan to open in the next day or two.

The Pearlington Recovery Center site appears to be in pretty good shape, though the Mess Tent we erected in March of 2007 collapsed. hopefully they can just re-raise the tent without too much repair.

Much of the clean up work right now is tree cutting work. Clearly there will be some mucking out and drywall repair."

John Chickering

John also sends the following links with news stories. He reports that the first link has a very balanced and informative story on Pearlington:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/NEWS01/80902046

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/03town.html?ref=us

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS0110/809030364/1001/news

http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/787332.html

Note: There are volunteers all over the continent who are concerned about the welfare of individual people. As I post these concerns, please email me if you have information and I will forward it. - CJ

More to come....

Update #3 to: A New Call to Action

2008-09-02T20:39:00.002-04:00

Here is the latest from Pearlington:

Tom reported very few trees down-mostly limbs. The Fire Department in Pearlington had approx. 4-5 feet of water in their station. A shelter is set up in Kiln. Boil water notices are in effect for Adams, Franklin, Wilkinson, Harrison and Hancock counties. The National Guard is in Pearlington. Power is being restored in Pearlington. Water is receding. Ben Taylor got a minimum amount of water in his home. The Dawsey’s are fine.
The Pearlington Project via Vern Holmes, Carbondale, CO

PDA is back at our headquarters in Gulfport and as soon as we can get permission to get in we'll be rebuilding the camp. Right now the dining tent and individual tents are either in storage or windblown. A lot of them can be salvaged we think. The village manager is back living on the site already.
Jane Els, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

David and I are "on the long string" for disaster relief with The Salvation Army. The Carolina Division is holding off our units until we know that Hanna will not hit here. We're working on stocking the trailer. The canteen is ready to go. Our team has their bags packed. Now.....we wait. I talked with Beth Randall on the phone. She asked if we were coming. I told her, as I tell you now, as soon as these hurricanes quit coming in, we will be back to P'ton to rebuild again.

As I read your update on Suzie, I thought of the days we spent redoing her house before. We will be back. Seven months is not enough. Please ask P'toners about Pat and Harry Wilson and Miss Lillie and keep us updated.
David and MaryLena Anderegg

Mom and Dad were so, so fortunate. After hearing early in the day Monday that there was a very good chance that they would have water in their house, we found out late Monday evening that they were spared. They had about a foot and a half of water in the "unattached" garage, but that was all. My sister across the street remained high and dry this go around.

Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do. I'll tell you, I thought I had dealt with the losses brought by Katrina. I really thought that I had. Then, as the track of Gustav became clear, I found myself an absolute wreck. It felt like it was the day after Katrina - even before the storm hit.

My heart goes out to those who were not spared, but my soul rejoices in those angels who continue to spread hope....you, Jennifer Johnson, and countless others. Flood-ravaged homes can be repaired or rebuilt. Broken spirits and the death of hope cannot. Hope has never, ever died in Pearlington.... Thank you so very much.
Claudia Park,Shreveport, LA Daughter of George and Margaret Ladner

The current condition of things in Pearlington is the electricity is coming back on as I write this, 4:30 pm Tuesday, with 100 homes having been flooded. Cindy Diaz will be one of them, as her neighborhood still had water receding this morning. We will be adding chain saws and shovels to our tool list. some homes have trees on them, and all those with water, also got mud, hence the shovels.

9 men from a NY team will be joining the Dog Soldiers on the ground in Pearlington, MS. They fly in Thursday, rent a van in New Orleans, and drive to a place they have never been before.
Tim Goodnow, The Dog Soldiers

"We got the floor mopped and we are in the house tonight. The power is on here, but not yet everywhere in town. I’m not unloading another thing from the truck ‘cause we is pooped!"
Susie Sharp

Update #2 to: A New Call to Action

2008-09-02T14:09:00.003-04:00

A bit more news, this coming from Frank Cloud, who has worked very hard on behalf of his neighbours in Pearlington:

Frank and Sharon had some damage to the lower level of their home. He says, "in may ways we dodged a bullet here." There is some wind damage in town, mostly flooding. Many residents still have not returned, of course, and some die-hards even rode the storm out, despite the evacuation!

Frank was struck by the reality of what happens to 2 million people or so when they are told to evacuate, when most of them had nowhere to go. He said even little truck stops had people draped over every conceivable space - in one spot 40 buses worth and hundreds of people driving. They "over-stressed" the bathrooms and there isn't a hotel room to be had "as far north as the Canadian border."

Meanwhile, volunteers are mobilizing to come and help. This just in:

"We are putting out the call to recruit a team to come and help. We had a team down there after Katrina so we have chain saws, etc if needed. As soon as you know more about the needs, let us know, We can be ready soon.
Blessings, Corrie
Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minn., MN

Jon,
We have heard that Joel’s house is ok, that there is food and water at the K-Mart parking lot and that some power in Pton is back on. The weather here has slowed for a while, we've got the car running and packed....we are on our way. I will call after we get there....Bob P is videotaping our return trip and I have my camera with me as well.
Laurie Spaschak

Hi! Everyone,
We have been ready to go in with a group of MD's and RN's and are waiting to hear from the EOC. Most likely we will not be activated. Nurse Linda and Gene helped called all our previous volunteers that rotated through the clinic. Dr. Bill Gossman from Ill., Nurse Chris Arndt from Ill, DR. E. Shander from NY..are on stand by to come and help. I am also part of a group of MD's. and RN's from Mississippi. Our Miss. team is called MMAT. These are "local" MD's that are ready to respond within hours after the storm. The out-of-staters will back us up.

If you hear of any more MD's form your area that want to join our team...please let us know.
Most everyone evacuated so medically they should be ok.

Tom with Carbondale Fire Dept., [Tom Dalessandri of The Pearlington Project] who cleaned 300 plus yards of fallen trees after Katrina, will need resources for tree removal. We have to be careful again; people that have no experience with chain saws can get hurt. So let’s wait to get his assessment of needs. Just everyone hold tight....

Let's pray Hanna nor Ike comes our way. Please send names of RN's and MD's that would like to join and help...if not now in the future. We love all you precious people for helping.

Thank GOD for Canada Jon. We ALL know how much he gave - over and over - just stayed and stayed to help. He is made of Love and Steel....because he endured and is forged with fire!

Paula Buhr, RN

[Wow! Don’t ya just LOVE that woman! - CJ]

News from the Ground in Pearlington

2008-09-02T12:14:00.003-04:00

First hand news is starting to trickle in directly from the ground. Here is what I know so far:

Susie Sharp on Hwy. 90 east of Oak Harbor: 4-6" water in the house - 1 foot in the big shop;
Turtle Landing: water up to the bottom of the windows, 4-5 ft. bit deeper in the bar;
ALL HOUSES ON STILTS OK!!!
Janet and Tommy Dawson: no water;
10-12" on Jenesse Rd.
no power or phones in town; company claims everybody will be back on end of day - cell phone service sketchy at best;
Some trees down in town and in Oak Harbour, which has 8-12", yet some in Oak Harbor have electricity;
Rocky Pullman (County Supervisor) reports food truck and water and ice available in town after 12-1 p.m.;
No trees or serious debris on Interstaes or Hwy. 90 - 90, 607, I-10 and I-59 are all clear; road debris comrised of pine needles, etc. no obstructions;
604 north of town is closed for a small bridge repair near Logtown, so Hwy. 90 is the way in and out of town - 604 open in town to the Recovery Centre and beyond
No eyewitness report on condition of Pearl*Mart, but it is likely there is no or minimal water damage.

All residents are thankful for mercy shown by Gustav, yet some are saying they've had enough and will move on. We'll see; they need time to process their feelings and come to a place of better judgement-making.

Glen Locklin of One House at a Time is back in town and calling for volunteers. His house is OK but their car got drowned. Everyone made it our safely from the Recovery Centre and are commited to continue. Contact Glen at 615-496-6981 with offers of help.

More as it comes in....look soon for another update on volunteers mobilizing....

Canada Jon
jonw@bconnex.net
Home: 705-445-8713
Cell: 705-443-7638

Update #1 to: A New Call to Action

2008-09-02T08:44:00.002-04:00

God, I love these people!

The response to my call to action has been immediate and starts off this day on a heartening note:

"The BRICK Layers of North Alabama will return to Pearlington this week. August 29th was supposed to be our 30th trip to Pearlington in 3 years. Gustav was able to delay us, but not stop us. We will return this week with a different mission than originally planned. We are waiting from reports to know how we can best help and what supplies are needed.

We have also learned a lot in the last 3 years. We've learned that there are amazing volunteer groups all over North America and Canada who proved that they could coordinate efforts to help others and get the job done. We have learned to ask for gift cards to Wal-Mart and Lowe's and Home Depot. They are much easier to transport and much easier for the residents of Pearlington to use.

I challenge each volunteer group to think about resources that they have not tapped yet. Have you asked area schools to help collect supplies and gift cards? Have you asked all of your area churches to consider adopting one family and help them get back on their feet? Are there area stores in your area that would be willing to serve as collection points? Have you asked any of the political candidates in your area to publicly support the recovery efforts? We look forward to Tom's report from Pearlington. He can help us determine how we can be most helpful to the residents of Pearlington.

How could we turn our backs on them now? The people of Pearlington are not only our friends. They're family.

Jennifer Johnson BRICK Layers Huntsville, AL
http://www.pearlingtonms.com/

Thanks for restarting the blog. I know a bunch of us like to know what is happening down in Pearlington. Our group from Michigan will again be in Pearlington from October 26th thru November 8th. This will be a 6th trip for most of us from Howell, MI. Any updates on the PDA camp would be appreciated.
Curt

Hi Jon, We were there in Pearlington shortly after Katrina hit. Our group has made several trips over the past three years. Please keep us posted on what we can do. I should be able to form a group to come when needed. We are from the St. Louis area and will do our best to respond as quickly as needed. We stayed in Diamondhead at the Presbyterian Church the first time we came. I will contact D. Pres. to see what their response is in need of housing people like before.
Blessings, Dana

I am working with my missions pastor to get a response plan in place. As soon as I know what our plan is, I will email it to you. I hope to be able to send a team down to help out if necessary.
Blessings, Corrie Ayers, Minn. MN

Brunswick Presbyterian Church of Troy, NY has been to Pearlington, MS. We have worked with the PDA on three occasions and will be making our fourth trip in just a few weeks.
Colleen Lais"

ADDITIONALLY:

From Gara Gillentine in Oxford, MS:

Point Of Distribution Sites In Hancock, Harrison Counties
Posted: Sep 1, 2008 07:58 PM

PEARL, MS (WLOX) - Food, water and ice will be distributed to residents in Hancock and Harrison counties beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday from point of distribution sites from the following locations:

Harrison County:
Crossroads Mall, U.S. Highway 49, north of Interstate 10, Gulfport.
Menge Avenue, and Second Street, Pass Christian.
Yankie Stadium, corner of Lee and Division streets, Biloxi.
Rite Aid parking lot, 4031 Pops Ferry Road, D'Iberville.

Hancock County:
The Kiln ball field, 18324 Highway 43, Kiln.
Kmart, at the Fred's old parking lot, 3044 Highway 90, Waveland

So far these are the only sites requested for the distribution of commodities. The distribution will be handled by the Mississippi National Guard. Additional sites may be added later based on continuing damage assessments or requests from local governments. Communities where power is restored and where food water and ice are available from local retailer's points of distribution sites will not be opened.

God Speed,
Gara

A New Call to Action

2008-09-02T06:42:00.006-04:00

The news from Pearlington this morning is much better than it could have been, but distressing nonetheless.

Although no one has been able to get back in an any organized way, there is word from the ground such as this comment posted by Kayte:

My husband just came from Oak Harbor, Pearlington. The water has not gone out yet. The firestation apparently had about 5 ft of water. They parked on 90 and walked through water as high as their waist to get to my parent's house. So far there isn't the mud and stink Katrina`left behind. Not much wind damage...just water."

John Chickering has been in touch this morning and send this: there is a news link up and running on the Pearlington Recovery Center site at http://www.pearlington.info/

He also sends the following links to check out more current news:

Governor Says Evacuees should Stay at Least One More Day
WLBT-TV - Jackson,MS,USA... says flooding is a significant problem in the Hancock County communities of Pearlington and Waveland as well as most low lying areas on the coast. ...See all stories on this topic

UPDATE 1-Gustav shuts ports, waterways from Texas to FloridaReuters UK - UKThe Gulf ICW was closed from Mile 40 near Pearlington, Mississippi, at the Louisiana-Mississippi line, to Mile 250 near Panama City, Florida. ...See all stories on this topic

Latest from MEMA: surge numbers, flooding, etc.
Biloxi Sun Herald - MS, USAPearlington: About 100 homes are flooding in the Pearlington area in Hancock County. No reports of anyone occupying those residences at this time. ...See all stories on this topic

Gustav shuts Mobile, ICW between Miss., Fla. - USCG
Reuters UK - UKThe ICW remained closed from near Pearlington, Mississippi, to near Panama City, Florida, the Coast Guard said. (Reporting by Bruce Nichols; Editing by John ...See all stories on this topic

Ports in Miss., Ala., and Fla. Panhandle remain closed
Selma Times-Journal - Selma,AL,USAMOBILE — All waterways along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from mile marker 40, near Pearlington, Miss., to mile marker 250, near Panama City, Fla., ...See all stories on this topic

Debris Closes Portions of Highways
WTOK - Meridian,MS,USA... at Picayune to Poplarville in Pearl River County. There are trees and debris on Highway 604 near Pearlington and on Highway 43 south of Firetower Road.See all stories on this topic

Gustav Impact Update
WJTV - Jackson,MS,USAHighway 90 in Harrison County is still closed as is Highway 90 in Pearlington in Hancock County. · Highway 43/603 south of I-10 is closed because of ...See all stories on this topic

Flooding, power outages plague Mississippi
Jackson Clarion Ledger - Jackson,MS,USAUS 90 in Harrison County is closed as is US 90 in Pearlington in Hancock County. Mississippi 43/603 south of I-10 is closed because of flooding. ...See all stories on this topic

Water rising in Hancock, tornado reports unconfirmed
Biloxi Sun Herald - MS, USAHowever, farther west in the Pearlington area, flooding did not appear to be a problem. One Mississippi Marine Patrol officer had a taste of the stiff winds ...See all stories on this topic

Tornado warning issued at Slidell
The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com - New Orleans,LA,USARadar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 16 miles southeast of Pearlington, Miss., and 10 miles south of Waveland, Miss., ...See all stories on this topic

Tom Dalessandri from The Pearlington Project hopes to be in P'ton today, as a First Responder, and will keep me in the loop - so check back here often. Other sources intend to return today as well, if possible, and I will post their observations.

No one should rush to Pearlington this second! This will not be the relative free-for-all Katrina was. We embarassed them too much the last time and they will not be seen as incompetent. Let's get some information first, then measure our response accordingly.

Time for some straight talk.

Those of us who care for Pearlington and for the residents who have opened their hearts to us, have two choices. We can turn our backs, walk away: we've done our share, we've done enough. Let someone else take up the challenge. We're tired, tapped out and have hit up everyone we know already for money. It's someone else's problem now.

Or,

We can accept that our disappointment and dismay, that some of our hard work has been undone, must be insignificant in relation to the way the people of Pearlington must feel. As a mental health professional, I can assure you that their emotional state in the wake of this new challenge will be fragile at best. We can tuck our collective chins into our chests and get back to work. We can find the eloquence and determination to create the resources we need to do what we have to do.

We can stand beside the people of Pearlington and hold their hands as they rise again from these new ashes. We can show them that we will love equally the ones who want to give up and the ones who wish to stay and start again. There will be cynics and naysayers enough, but we will not be among them.

YOU choose.

Let me know. Email me or leave a comment on this page. We must begin gathering resources now.

God bless Pearlington and the spirit of determination.

"Canada" Jon
jonw@bconnex.net

"Doctor: My Eyes Have Seen the Tears...."

2008-09-01T20:25:00.003-04:00

I have just now received an email from John Chickering, a great friend of Pearlington and someone whose involvement has wrought miracles there, that the Associated Press is quoting remarks made by Greg Flynn of MEMA - Mississippi Emergency Management Agency - include the following:

"Flynn said 100 homes flooded in Pearlington, a town near the Louisiana border that was entirely submerged during Katrina because it was so close to the Gulf of Mexico and the river and also sat directly under the eye of the storm."

The full story is located here: http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?s=8932513

Additionally, I have spoken with the great and only Paula Buhr in Texas. Paula was one of the very first on the scene in Pearlington after Katrina and is watching the situation very closely. After Katrina, Paula spearheaded the emergency Clinic in Pearlington and it was Paula who handed off the Pearl*Mart to me in early September 2005. Tom Dalessandri from The Pearlington Project and Mountains to Mississippi also rode out the storm down south and will soon be back on the scene. Pearlington will be much the better for it when he does.

I'll keep you posted....

Update: 9:05 p.m. EDT - Gara Gillentine, a C.O.D.R.A. member from Oxford, MS sends this:

"You can also get live streaming continuous coverage online if you have windows media player -- check out Biloxi's tv online at www.wlox.com. I watched it last evening & most of today. Lots of images, live reports, statistics, etc. Praying for Pearlington."

Gustav Makes Landfall

2008-09-01T11:15:00.015-04:00

As Hurricane Gustav makes landfall as a Cat 2 storm, concern for Pearlington continues unabated as water breaches the eastbound lanes of Hwy. 90 to the east in Gulfport, MS.

Hwy. 90 continues parallel to the Gulf across the south end of Pearlington. There are several subdivisions south of the highway in Pearlington, as well as homes and businesses just to the north. These include Turtle Landing nightclub, as well as the homes of Susie Sharp, Pam Kirkland and others.

Additionally, many areas - including Pearlington - are under tornado warnings, as serious ones have been clocked as close as the Stennis Base and Biloxi. Fortunately perhaps for Pearlington, they are tending on a north-westerley course.

Unlike Katrina, whose eye was to the east of New Orleans, and in fact right over Pearlington, the wind from Gustav is driving the water directly north from the Gulf onto land and this could be a dangerous situation for Pearlington.

We will continue to monitor the situation. I have contacts I could call on the Gulf for first hand reports, but am loathe to do so while their hands are so full just surviving. I recommend we depend on the excellent coverage CNN is providing, before I seek on-the-ground sitreps of the conditions in and around Pearlington.

Keep praying.

"Canada" Jon
Home: 705-445-8713
Canadian Cell: 705-443-7638
American Cell: not currently activated

Update: 12:30 p.m. EDT - Waveland and Bay Saint Louis reporting sea levels 10 feet above normal. Most levees in New Orleans are over-topping and the ones in Lower and Upper Ninth Ward may be leaking, a prelude to a possible breach....

Update: 2:00 p.m. EDT - It is CONFIRMED that the storm surge in Pearlington is above Hwy.90 and the south end of town. This will mean that residences in Oak Harbor, for instance, will have some flooding, as many are still at the 8.5-9 ft. level; water has not, at this time, risen much more that just over the roadway. By comparison, Katrina was 10-12 feet deeper than current levels. Power is out, of course, so even cell phones must be used judiciously, as they cannot be re-charged easily. We will do our best to get what information we can.

Suffice it to say, it would appear as if our greatest fears have NOT been realized in Pearlington. The day is young, though, and there is much weather yet to come.

Update: 4:20 p.m. EDT - NOT SO GOOD NEWS FOR PEARLINGTON: The water level, the surge, is rising in Pearlington. There are currently 7.5 feet of water in the Turtle Landing bar and Hwy. 90 is now under 3 feet of water. As far up Hwy. 604 as the Fire Department and the PDA Camp, water is moving on the road. As you know, it is not the wind or rain that will lay Pearlington low yet again, it is the water.

PLEASE REMEMBER: ALL THIS INFORMATION IS ANECDOTAL FROM THE GROUND AND CANNOT BE CONFIRMED AT THIS TIME. I WILL DO MY BEST TO CONFIRM IT IN THE HOURS AND DAYS AHEAD.

Pray hard and be ready to help in any way you can. More to come....

Update: 7:30 p.m. EDT - Reports from the Coastal area around Pearlington indicate that the storm surge, while much tamer than Katrina's, has fully breached Hwy. 90 and in the Gulfport/Biloxi area has water flowing right up and into the doors of the casinos there.

In Pearlington, the tide is on its way out and hopefully that will bring some relief. Many of the P'ton folk hunkered down in Picayune, Kiln, Diamondhead and other more northern towns are considering returning to Pearlington tomorrow. Power is off all over the coast and First Responders will be heading into the affected areas tomorrow.

Tonight, we must hold the light against tornadoes and further flooding and pray that Pearlington can begin to breathe again in the morning.

A personal thought: I was there right after Katrina and I am very grateful that the aftermath of Gustav will be nothing of the same. As a Canadian, I am watching your electoral process with interest and note that the timing is good. Let's hope both camps and the President fight over who will be the most magnanimous and quick to respond generously in the wake of Gustav.

My own timing has been interesting, as well. I did not know of the existence of Gustav when I decided that my hiatus from active service in Pearlington was over. As I became re-involved, things began to happen and I believe I once again answered the call.

Judging by the many hundreds of hits on the blog today, this site is still relevant and useful. I will continue then....

Deja Vu

2008-08-31T07:31:00.002-04:00

As Hurricane Gustav thunders into the Gulf, the people of Pearlington brace themselves for the unthinkable.

National Guard soldiers will enter Pearlington this morning, as Hancock County - as well as much of the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast - is under a mandatory evacuation order. Last night, as many packed up the very valuable things they lost once before in Katrina, traffic was extremely heavy on Hwy. 90, I-10, I-59 and Hwy. 603. National Guard soldiers on Mississippi's coast were going door to door to alert thousands of families in FEMA trailers and cottages that they should be prepared to evacuate today. In Alabama 3,000 National Guard personnel assembled to help evacuees from Mississippi and Louisiana.

I am also preparing to return to Pearlington should Gustav wreak the kind of havoc on Pearlington that would be reminiscent of Katrina.

I am asking all C.O.D.R.A. members and others reading this posting to contact me, if you or your group are able to respond immediately should it become necessary. I am in cell phone contact with several residents who have promised to keep me updated as the storm moves closer and then makes landfall.

The good people of Pearlington may be facing what they themselves are calling "another disaster."

But they will not be facing it alone.

"Canada" Jon White
jonw@bconnex.net
705-445-8713

Dancing with Katrina

2008-08-28T05:28:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow will be three years since so many of us began dancing with Katrina.

Life can turn on a dime and all our plans and goals re-arranged like so many sticks of furniture in a flood. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it teaches us to live more in the moment and to remember that NOW is the only time we truly have and we had better make the most of it. Perhaps, as Joseph Campbell said, "we must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

I have decided I will return to Pearlington, in early November, to have a look around and to see how I can be of further assistance. There is still much to do there. I will dance a few more steps with Katrina and see where she leads me.

Tomorrow, I will say a prayer for all my friends in Mississippi and along the coast. I will remember all the brave and selfless volunteers who came to help. I will read my old stories and recall those early days, when we didn't really know what we were doing, but did it anyway.

God bless Pearlington, MS.

Footnote 12:05 p.m. I am keeping an eye on Gustav. I have spoken by phone with Susie Sharpe, who is getting ready to flee, if necessary, and - of course - helping her neighbours to be ready to do the same.

For the sake of the people of the coast, I pray it is NOT much sooner that I must return to Pearlington....

Links Hi-Jinx

2008-08-10T12:22:00.004-04:00

Greetings to any and all who still may venture here!

I was called back into service briefly today by Laurie Spaschak to correct a particularly nasty corruption of a link to one of our C.O.D.R.A. members. It appears their url has been hijacked by something completely repugnant and, shall I say, felonious.

Today is my birthday and it is my habit to review the past year and to envision the year ahead. I cannot look back without thinking of Pearlington and remembering that Katrina's anniversary is approaching. Laurie has asked me to update some of the information on this blog and I will do so in the coming days.

And I wonder how things are now in Pearlington....

"Canada Jon" White
jonw@bconnex.net

Au Revoir, Charlie Holmes

2007-04-17T17:53:00.000-04:00

I first met Dr. Charles Holmes after becoming aware of his presence, at my elbow, when things were the toughest and I needed someone covering my back.

It was at a time in this recovery when things were the most traumatic and the days were exceedingly long and brutal. Charlie was always there, doing what needed to be done, always available, regardless of the personal cost. It didn't matter that I warned him to stop doing things that only 25-year-olds should attempt; if it needed doing, I could always count on Charlie.

So, when the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship needed someone to fill Greg Wolfe's shoes last year (see Focus On....Apr. 16, 2006), I was thrilled when they tapped Charlie for the job.

Charlie is a modest man and didn't sign up for this to be glorified. While we are awaiting his permission to share exactly what DID get accomplished during his term, allow me to toot his horn on a more personal level:

Once in a while, over the course of a lifetime, we meet a kindred spirit, someone who has walked in our shoes and knows the road. Charlie and I have much in common, both personally and professionally. More than this, Charlie loves deeply and is hurt deeply, as well. There have been moments cruel to him over the many months since Katrina, but his determination to address the unfairnesses, the wrongs of the world that leave their mark indelibly on the souls of others, never once wavered.

In fact, Charlie was to finish his term at the end of the year and chose instead to stay on until March 30. Frankly, I didn't announce it, hoping he would extend again. But this would have been more than is right to ask of a man who has devoted his life to Pearlington since August 29, 2005.

Charlie and I loved to share passages from our favorite poets and authors. It seems fitting that I end this tribute with the words of Carl Jung, someone we both have studied (and taught!):

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed."

Here's to you Charlie and to all those who flocked to your side to do such amazing work in Pearlington! You are my friend and that friendship has transformed me. I will be looking you up when next in Mississippi. Your courage, grace, determination and heart inspire me and many others.

You Could Poke Someone's "I" Out with That Thing....

2007-04-17T12:31:00.000-04:00

It's Canada Jon - remember me?

It's been a memorable winter - late in starting and early in ending....then coming back around for another swipe. It did some damage to our property this year and I had to get on it. Between that having to be out of town a lot, I'm afraid I've been out of touch.

Then, I found myself in the position of needing to take care of ME. My health became an issue and you know what they say:

It's all good until someone loses an "I."

I'm back in full swing and so expect some updates over the next few days, including a posting later today I'm sure you will find interesting.

Thanks for being patient and for all your kind enquiries.

Stay tuned....

Mountains to Mississippi....and other places....

2007-03-03T07:45:00.000-05:00

I am here on the Atlantic coast of Canada, where my son-in-law Jeff Murray was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church and inducted into the pastorship of Sackville’s St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Sackville is a small community in New Brunswick, very near the site of the Acadian Rebellion that sent all those "Cajuns" to Louisiana and Mississippi so many years ago. It is a small and beautiful town and home to perhaps the most prestigious under-graduate college in Canada: Mount Allison University. It has been a busy and exciting week with him, my wife Marian and my daughter Lindsay. Tomorrow, we hear his first sermon as the congregation’s new Minister.

PEARLINGTON RECOVERY CENTER:

The PRC once again reminds you "that we need more than two weeks’ notice for most volunteer housing at this point. We are extremely full for the last two weeks of March and can't add anymore to that time period. We also have other weeks in the spring/summer that are getting full, so advance notice is important. We are suggesting that any overflow teams call Andrea or Nicole at Camp Coastal Outpost for housing, as they also can house about 300 and are working with us on so many projects."

You may access Camp Coastal’s online reservation system at: http://www.campcoastaloutpost.org Alternatively your group leader can call 228-586-1579, or email them at:
info@campcoastaloutpost.com

The PRC also reports that the Salvation Army is busy building them 100 new bunk beds to fill the bunkhouses and the old school Library. They hope to have many done this week and the kitchen is coming along well.

MOUNTAINS TO MISSISSIPPI:

Tom Dalessandri, the erstwhile leader of this remarkable Pearlington project reports:

"We have just completed our latest mission to Pearlington. We had 90+ volunteers from three states and four organizations. We knocked out some serious work in just five days. We now have 14 homes in various stages of completion that we are working on. We recently left Pearlington folks with a lot of smiles on their faces from this last trip. It was one of the best yet."

While in Pearlington last week, Tom’s group worked with another C.O.D.R.A. member, McLean Baptist Church of VA. A newer member of C.O.D.R.A., Pete Traynham’s team from McLean partnered with Tom, in the best tradition of our Coalition.

One of the groups under this umbrella sends this to Pete and Tom:

"Please accept a heartfelt thanks for all you did in the course of about 6 hours to help guide our team to a very successful and productive week in Pearlington. Without your guidance and patience, we would have been lost.

Our team worked on 4 houses throughout the week: Gin Street/John; 11th and White/Joe Keyes; Cyde Hailles house and deck; 9th/White/Shirley. We did flooring/tile, plumbing, electrical, insulation/drywall and built a deck so that Clyde can get into his house now. By the way, Frank Cloud (who was on the job each day at Clyde Hailles’ house) was wonderful to work with. Our hope is to plug him into UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) to get him on the payroll somehow, as he is working for free and living off his savings.

At any rate, we are now in the 'returning home' mode and getting ready to present our experience to our home church, Marcellus United Methodist Church. The community will also be invited in hopes to recruit other local churches and folks who may be interested in coming again in the near future. That's our hope. Our team, especially our teens, were deeply affected by what they saw and experienced. This has changed us all, especially the teens.

Again, thanks for your time, your efforts, your caring and your hard work in making a difference! We will definitely be more prepared next time - thanks to you guys! Keep in touch and God bless!"

Tom is also looking forward to partnering soon with another C.O.D.R.A. member, Brittany Overbeck of Felton Presbyterian Church.

A personal note about Frank Cloud. I first met Frank in the early days, when he and Jimi Smith were providing help to their fellow volunteers at every opportunity. They both have been an enormously helpful asset and we salute them both!

And finally, a heads-up from teacher Jeanne Brooks, concerning an article, the subject of which has been personally alarming me since the very early days of this storm: "Depression and anxiety quadruple on the Coast" available at:

http://208.62.60.4/40/article_994.shtml

That’s it for now. Keep on keeping on, and we will get this job done! You all are so crucial to this recovery and each night I pray for your safety and well-being in Pearlington and in your homes. May the resources be provided for us to finish what we started and to ensure that all God’s children have a roof over heads this year.

"Canada Jon" White

Spirit

2007-02-21T21:36:00.000-05:00

This evening, C.O.D.R.A. welcomes a new member to its ranks of those helping in the rebuilding of Pearlington.

Spokesman Pete Traynham of McLean Baptist Church, VA, writes this:

"I serve as the lay organizer/coordinator for McLean Baptist's mission project to Pearlington. Our Senior Pastor is Dr. Michael Catlett, our Associate Pastors are Cameron Edgar and Trisha Miller Manarin. Our group name is "Dirty Faith" and we seek opportunities to get our Christian faith and hands dirty by participating in projects that require some physical labor on behalf of those in need. Pearlington continues to be a focus of our mission activities here in Northern Virginia. We look forward to our affiliation with C.O.D.R.A. and our upcoming trip in February 2007. And grace will lead me home."

Those of us who were working in Pearlington just after the storm remember the remarkable firefighters and police officers from Virginia and their outstanding contributions to the safety of Pearlington at that time. Clearly, Virginia puts it on the line for others!

Welcome Pete and McLean Baptist Church. Check out their site at:

http://www.mcleanbaptist.org

Next up is my friend and long-standing C.O.D.R.A. Individual Member Tom Eickhoff of Bethlehem Baptist Church in MN. Tom has made three trips to Pearlington, two in the very early days, and continues to stay impassioned and committed to helping Pearlington any way he can. He is a skilled writer and I invite you to check his writings out at:

http://godoutside.wordpress.com/help-out/pearlington/

Tom thinks outside the box for sure. I relate to him on this level and I’m sure it has gotten him into quite as much "trouble" as it has me, over the years. Tom was there for me in September 2005 when I was stressed and burned. I wrote of him and he has written of me. He and his team built the very first shelves in the Pearl*Mart and gave us all hope in the dedication of strangers and the willingness to show the world that order and dignity could indeed be restored to chaos.

Tom has a great idea, but first I would like to share a quote he passed along to me from a story C.O.D.R.A. member Wendy Frost wrote about Rev. Bush Burton:

"That house, was just a house, it wasn’t home. I’ve been building me a new home, been working on it most of my life. One stick at a time, one good deed at a time, ooohh is it going to be fine. It will be a glorious place with rooms for all my family, but it ain’t ready yet. I’m not done. The Lord will tell me when my home is done."

Tom’s idea is this:

"I would like to put together a writing of Rev. Burton that puts more of his life together. I don’t know what the final results will be but I need some help in putting it together. If everyone who has written of him could send a copy of such writing to me at this address that would be of great help:

t_e_a_design_2@hotmail.com

Also, for those who interacted with him but have not written it down, if you would write it down or just some notes, that would be good. It can be sketchy. It doesn’t have to be written well, just written. I can rewrite it if I have the general information. If you have photos, please send them as well; I will make sure you are credited.

Has everyone seen the video of him? I smile every time I see the car drive through – classic! The video link is in what I wrote in "In honor, with thanks". Here it is also, remarkable footage, once again from Wendy Frost:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_pr1kZflDE

Great songs from a man who has lost everything, yet has not...."

Tom's own story of Rev. Burton - "One Stick at a Time" - can be found through the link below:

http://godoutside.wordpress.com/god-outside/one-stick-at-a-time/

Rev. Burton reminds us to LIVE our lives. Here and now, despite what comes. Let’s help Tom immortalize his spirit in words, pictures, song and video.

Update from Pearlington

2007-02-20T17:02:00.000-05:00

Great news from Pearlington!

Laurie Spaschak, Volunteer Manager of the Pearlington Recovery Center, has been retained by the Salvation Army as their new Lead Case Manager for Pearlington and the western portion of Hancock County. This changes little for Laurie in terms of her work with the Pearlington Recovery Center; she continues to work from the same office, but now will be in a position to assist the people of Pearlington with grants from Salvation Army in a much more direct way.

"The Salvation Army supporting our efforts to improve the camp, and we hope to begin relocating and upgrading the kitchen facility very soon. I am happy to be part of their team and very glad that I am able to continue here with the PRC as well."

Congratulations, Laurie!

As a result of a much greater level of responsibility by Laurie for Case Management, the PRC has recruited Bob Putnam to take over the management of Volunteer scheduling and housing. We have done a great job in recruiting volunteers, after the crisis in the fall. So much so that they require, if you are reserving space at the Pearlington Recovery Center this year, that you please book in advance as much as possible. The PRC is now FULL for March and some weeks in other months.

Please contact Bob Putnam for reservations to the Pearlington Recovery Center at the NEW email for registration.

pearlingtonvolunteercenter@gmail.com

Full information and a registration form may be downloaded at the PRC blog, located at:

http://www.prcvolunteers.blogspot.com

Let's be careful we don't let up on the need for volunteers, now!

We heard that the Southern Baptist Church is going to house volunteers again this summer, and Camp Coastal may have space as well, but if you have a group planning to come April - July, please let us know as soon as you can. There are, of course, some other options for volunteer housing in Pearlington. Please consult our Volunteer Blog at:

http://pearlingtonplugins.blogspot.com

Additionally, the Pearl*Mart will now change its position in this recovery. A long while in the works, a decision has been made by local directors Larry Randall and Herb Ritchie to end food distribution there on March 1st.

It will now be a bare bones pantry only available in emergency and/or urgent needs situations, through case workers. Pearl*Mart will continue to be open for work requests, caseworker appointments, volunteer coordination etc.

The PRC now has a group coming twice a month starting the 26th of Feb to assist folks with medicaid and disability issues. More details later....

"We will revise our needs list accordingly - with the main focus on electrical/plumbing/painting and work related supplies. Clothing will be available till it is gone and we will not be accepting more clothing donations, except for infants and children. We will try to continue to assist those families with children’s needs.

We are looking for a local resident to assist in changing the distribution over to a food pantry, and manage it in the future This could be a paying position (supported by the SA not the PRC) but requires a commitment of time and energy."

That’s it for today, folks, but there is more to come. Thanks for your patience as I stepped out of the loop for a bit, to nurture my family and, oh yeah, myself!

"Canada Jon"
jonw@bconnex.net

Waste Not....

2007-02-03T15:17:00.000-05:00

Each and every year, Americans alone discard

- throw out - $38 billion of food!

That’s almost $10 a week for an average family of four.

So....this week....DON’T!

Be better stewards of your resources and instead....

Send $10. to one of the C.O.D.R.A. Member Agencies

working so hard to rebuild Pearlington.
In fact, if each American family did so this week,

there would be $750,000,000 more in the coffers

and we could rebuild the entire coast!

We’ll even give you a charitable

donation receipt for the IRS.

Whatcha waiting for?

Contact me for the list.

We look forward to working this miracle

with your assistance, America.

After all, being the "home of the brave"

might just require a HOME.

Bush Burton's Funeral

2007-01-31T14:30:00.000-05:00

Rev. Samuel "Bush" Burton's funeral will be held this Saturday, February 3, 2007 at East Jerusalem Baptist Church in Picayune, MS.

There will be open casket viewing from 10-11 a.m. and the funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m.

God bless Bush Burton.

Arising from Ruin

2007-01-31T09:26:00.000-05:00

The accolades and remembrances keep pouring in for Rev. Samuel "Bush" Burton. I wonder if I am the only one who noticed the halo around Rev. Burton’s head, in the remarkable photo by Virginia Hart that I posted on Monday?

More sharings:

"We from the Medina UMC Church are very sorry to hear of the loss of Reverend Burton. Most of us met him in June and he was included in the Video project from our local paper. The link is:

http://photo.medina-gazette.com/projects/stories/august2006/pearl/pearl.htm

We will continue to hold Pearlington in our prayers and we have a group from our church coming back down in March to Waveland and possibly Pearlington."

God bless all of you.
Doug Herr

"What a loss for people of this town. Bush was "an institution." Because of early involvement with Bush a group of people from my hometown was building him a home (Tommy Broom and the Society Hill Baptist Church.) Their lives were enriched by their involvement with Bush, his rare humor, his gentle spirit, and the indomitable power of his spirit, so the question is who ministered to whom? Donne was right in his poem that "no man is an island, each is a part of the continent, a piece of the main...."

Charles Holmes
Disaster Response Director
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Mississippi

Many of us have greatly enjoyed the southern lunches at Rev. Rawl’s First Missionary Baptist Church and were both dismayed that the historic church was destroyed in the storm and excited that it was going to be rebuilt.

C.O.D.R.A. Member Agencies Walls of Hope and Hickory Hammock Baptist Church are leading the rebuild and Walls of Hope’s Gene Butterfield sends the following. If you can help, let me know and I will provide the appropriate address:

"Would you get the word out that within the next few weeks we will be breaking ground on the new church facilities for Pastor Rawls. Doug Pennington [Hickory Hammock] and myself will be coordinating most of the construction on this project. To date the church has approximately $125,000.00 for the building from insurance and a few grants. We are projecting the costs not to exceed $250,000.00.

After all the support Pastor Rawls and his members have given with regards to feeding over 100+ people per day for lunch, I believe it is time to share our thanks. If any teams or organizations would like to support and or donate funds, they can be sent to First Missionary Baptist Church of Pearlington.

We are looking forward to some tremendous times this year."

God Bless, Gene Butterfield - Walls of Hope

In Honor of Bush

2007-01-30T18:19:00.000-05:00

The picture I posted yesterday of Rev. Samuel "Bush" Burton, was one from the collection of Virginia Hart. I heard from Ms. Hart today and would like to share this with you:

"I spent time with Rev. Bush during my Red Cross deployment in Oct 2005. His death saddens me immensely. I have many, many photographs I took of him and other Pearlington residents. My website (which contains all of my Katrina photos) is located at:

www.virginiahart.com and my blog (which contains Rev. Bush's story) is

www.hartandsol.blogspot.com

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like copies, at virginia@virginiahart.com"

I also heard from another group:

"In February 2006, a group of fifty Virginia volunteers from McLean Baptist Church of McLean, Virginia came to Mississippi to work toward Pearlington's recovery. Amid the devastation and debris, our group of ready, faithful pilgrims had the pleasure of meeting Samuel Burton. We listened to this stately gentleman recount his experiences in Hurricane Katrina. This proud and peaceful man touched us not only with his harrowing tale, but also with his keen and guiding perspective.

He chose not to be bitter, he chose not to complain. He, amid his suffering and struggle, took it all in stride....just another drum beat in the steady rhythm of life. Those of our group near him that afternoon had the pleasure of his impromptu "a capella" gospel singing. One and all, we were frozen in rapt attention that chilly afternoon as Samuel's vocal music carried us to a place far beyond the turmoil of Pearlington. The echoes of Samuel's voice still ring in our ears, and we are all comforted by the knowledge that God now has another beautiful voice in his mighty choir.

May God bless Samuel Burton and comfort his family."

And grace will lead me home,
Pete Traynham
McLean Baptist Church McLean, Virginia

Miracles in Street Clothes

2007-01-29T21:50:00.000-05:00

Rev. Samuel "Bush" Burton

Photo by Virginia Hart

Courtesy www.pearlingtonstories.blogspot.com

When we first came to Pearlington - the "Forgotten Town" - each of us in our heart made a commitment to never allow the people of that place to be forgotten again. We have kept that promise, as the link to another story in the press (below) will attest.

We have also promised to hold dear in our hearts each and every member of the community, the ones who have struggled and even the ones who have struggled with us. We tell their stories around the continent lest they be ignored, overlooked, neglected once again. This hurricane and all the glories and tragedies of life that would have befallen them regardless, did not just happen to all of them, but to each of them as well. We tell their individual tales so that the cement of love that defines humanity holds them in our hearts forever.

Here then, are some of our stories. As you read them and as we dream of a rebuilt Pearlington, please remember that a Dream-Come-True is a miracle in street clothes and that the lives of the people of Pearlington have gifted us in greater measure.

"I was reminded this morning by your posting of Saint Peter. He is well remembered as the apostle whose faith faltered as he walked on water. What is not mentioned often enough is that he is the only one who stepped out of the boat.

I think of him often when I think of the people of Pearlington. They did not stay "safely in the boat" waiting for the government to take over their lives and "make it better." Instead, they "stepped out of the boat" and did what they could with what they had, thus attracting others to (in Pastor Rawls' words) "come alongside."

That, in my view, is the purest definition of courage."
- MaryLena Anderegg

Wendy Frost penned a very moving story on her own blog, back on March 24, 2006. It is long and contains photos, so I will refer you there:

http://pearlingtonstories.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html

To watch Wendy’s video of Rev. Bush Burton on YouTube, click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_pr1kZflDE

Today, I would also like to announce a new service by C.O.D.R.A. member Warren Tidwell of Alabama. Warren has created the Severe Weather Alert System for Pearlington Residents and Volunteers and will maintain a contact service and a blog, called Warren’s Weather Wisdom.

There is now a permanent link on this site and I ask that you please check out the details of the service at:

http://www.wawewi.blogspot.com

The press story, forwarded to me by John Chickering of Franklin UMC is not complete in its information and contains some glaring omissions. For instance, the rebuilding of the Ladner home doesn’t mention key people like Jennifer Johnson and the BRICK Layers of Alabama, nor Warren Tidwell etc. But, I suppose, as Oscar Wilde said: "The only bad press is NO press:"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/27/AR2007012701154.html

"Those who give, receive more than they gave.
Those who receive, give more than they got."
- Jon White, Dream School, The Portal of Gratitude

Another Passing in Pearlington

2007-01-29T12:14:00.000-05:00

In a month marred by personal tragedy, another member of the Pearlington community has passed on.

Rev. Samuel "Bush" Burton - a man known and loved in town by all who knew him - was found this morning by his niece beside his truck in the driveway. Details are sketchy at this moment, but I will fill you in on the relevant facts as they become available.

Nell Nation of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship sends this:

"Many of you knew Samuel Bush Burton who rode out the storm in the pecan tree with his nephew and dog. with snakes crawling around. He's the one who asked God to save his tree. He was a preacher for many, many years. Rev. Tommy Broom, pastor of Society Hill Baptist Church near Columbia, MS. had stasrted a new home for Bush. On warm days he would sit in his chair near the street and watch the building go up. He will be sorely missed."

I had planned to print this quote this morning, a gift forwarded to me by John Chickering of Franklin United Methodist Church. It seems somehow appropriate to follow through with that plan....

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how a strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

- Theodore Roosevelt's Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, France, April 23, 1910

Things Are Shakin' in P Town....

2007-01-25T13:31:00.000-05:00

The Swanson, Earle and Everett Cook rebuilds have all been organized and planned, thanks to much creative work by PRC's Laurie Spaschak in putting together a unique funding blend. Tom Dalessandri of The Pearlington Project: Mountains to Mississippi will be the lead C.O.D.R.A. agency for grant purposes.

All three of these projects had already been adopted, however a non-C.O.D.R.A. sponsoring organization was not able to engage, due to funding difficulties. Three cheers for the families and for our C.O.D.R.A. Member Agencies and many others, all working together!

Laurie also shared that last Sunday, Rev. Rawls announced in church that they have received a $35,000 grant from the Bush-Clinton Katrina Relief Fund for Houses of Worship to help them rebuild their historic church. Praise the Lord and pass the nail gun!

Raymond Diaz’s Memorial is on Saturday in Pearlington. Tim Goodnow of the Dog Soldiers of Atlanta sends this to Cindy Diaz, in response to her request that Tim speak on Saturday:

“Yes, I will be with you on Saturday. I could not miss it. Raymond loved the Dog Soldiers. He was loved and admired by many of us. I loved him. Your husband had a unique quality –– laughing at himself –– not taking it seriously. His humility inspired me to be lighter and laugh more. Thank you for honoring me with speaking for your husband. I would love to. See you soon.”

Thank you, Tim. I cannot imagine anyone who could do this more eloquently than you.

Jennifer Johnson of the BRICK Layers of Alabama passes this on to those interested:

"Here's an interesting article from the NY Times about settlements with State Farm in Mississippi. You may want to pass this along in case anyone we know can re-open their case."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/business/24insure.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Have a great week!

A Dynamic Duo

2007-01-21T09:57:00.000-05:00

I would like to welcome to our C.O.D.R.A. family, two new members whose inclusion is long overdue:

Susie Sharp is a remarkable woman in many ways, who has been there for her neighbors as much after Katrina as she always was before it. She has been my hostess in Pearlington since the early days, when I met her in the former ruins of her home. She has endured the loss of her husband Billy before Katrina, her brother Valerie because of Katrina and recently, her mother.

Yet, she has always been there for residents and volunteers alike, in their moments of trial. She has provided me a safe and private place in which to do my work and to take care of myself, as well as mobility, good food, fellowship and her unique insight and wisdom. She has even jeopardized her personal safety in mucking out houses that are beyond nasty (e.g. Lois Kelly’s) and been available to help when others are in need.

Susie is a true supporter of Pearlington and its people and now serves as Project Facilitator on some rebuilds in progress.

Thank you, Susie. I have decided to include you as a Founding Member of C.O.D.R.A., as my work in this area has been possible partly because of your many gifts of the spirit to this crazy Canadian you took into your home and heart.

Warren Tidwell is another exceptional young man doing what he can to assist Pearlington in its recovery. In a field of outstanding volunteer men operating in Pearlington, Warren takes his rightful place as a gentle, caring and loving person, whose heart is always open to the people of Pearlington and their plight.

Over the many months, Warren has written eloquently to me of how his experiences there have changed him and helped him grow. With my encouragement, Warren is now considering an education toward a career in Disaster Management and I know that there is hope for the future with a man like Warren on the job.

Thank you both for all you have given Pearlington. You both are shining examples of what one person can do.

A Single Grain of Sand

2007-01-19T15:38:00.000-05:00

Today, we would like to welcome two very worthy new Member Agencies to C.O.D.R.A.’s complement of volunteer organizations helping to rebuild Pearlington. Both organizations are represented by dedicated, hard-working men with whom I am very proud to be associated:

First is Franklin United Methodist Church of Franklin, Massachusetts, whose efforts in Pearlington are led by John Chickering. John and his teams have worked very hard on a wide variety of projects and have provided badly needed materials and labor.

Please check them out at:
http://www.franklinumc.org

Second is Hickory Hammock Baptist Church Local Missions Ministry, of Milton, Florida - locally directed by Doug Pennington. Doug and his group have been rebuilding churches in Pearlington since Sept. 16, 2005.

You may check out their web site at:
http://www.hickoryhammockbaptist.org

WELCOME BOTH! Together, we will git ‘er done!

I would also like to draw your attention to a comment posted on yesterday’s article by Wendy Frost, penned by Jeanne Brooks - a dedicated educator, student and grand Southern Belle. To view her comments, click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of yesterday’s story "A Most Beautiful Compensation." Thanks, Jeanne. As usual, a pleasure to hear so eloquently from you.

The fact is, that it only takes a single grain of sand, placed on the scales at a critical moment, to tip the balance in the opposite direction. When that critical mass is reached, it could go either way. As a critical mass in the rebuilding of Pearlington is reached, only one more volunteer, one more piece of wood or drywall or insulation will tip the balance and we will rush to completion together.

That is why I was not kidding when I suggested that we could rebuild Pearlington by August 29, 2007. We are approaching that point of critical mass and every person, every stick of lumber counts and that one bit that is applied at the tipping point is dependent on all that came before.

What if YOU are that critical grain of sand?

When I was travelling regularly between Canada and the war in Bosnia in the 90's, I would invariably end up sitting beside some North American businessman on the plane from Frankfurt. Invariably, he would ask me where I was coming from and I would tell him. Invariably, he would look at me scornfully and ask me, usually with a couple of martinis under his belt, if I really thought doing play therapy programs with children in refugee camps ACTUALLY made a difference?

The first few times, the question angered me. I came to a place of peace about it though, and decided I would create a stock answer:

"Sir, I have absolutely no idea if I made any difference whatsoever.

But I’m pretty sure if I’d stayed home, I didn’t."

"Here’s test to know if your mission on Earth is finished:
If you are still alive....it isn’t."
- Richard Bach

A Most Beautiful Compensation

2007-01-18T21:21:00.000-05:00

In response to my posting "No Man is an Island" C.O.D.R.A. Member Wendy Frost sends this stirring personal account:

"I didn't know Raymond Diaz, but I am sorry for his loss. Your words on Tuesday really touched me and I thank you for them.

As a nurse, I am cautioned against getting close to patients for the very same reasons. I'm aware of transference and counter-transference. I've been scolded by a friend who is a therapist and who volunteers with the Red Cross. Warned that I am taking the situation in Pearlington too personally. Informed that I need to let it and them go - that I've done enough.

But as you said, if not me who? Who will care? Who will keep the forgotten people from being forgotten again? I have formed deep and lasting friendships with many in the community and I refuse to sever those ties.

It isn't enough when so many in our great country are still homeless. It isn't enough when our very own people do not have the means to take care of their dead, or the hope to carry on alone. How can this happen in America? It happens because we have allowed it to happen. We are encouraged to protect ourselves to the point of apathy, then have the gall to say "isn't that awful, someone should do something!"

So like you, I will go on caring too much. I will continue to be hurt, frustrated and sad. I won't stop until the homeless and hopeless have hope again. I'll go on caring too much until those who don't care at all become involved. I'm not bold enough or conceited enough to allow myself to believe that I can save the world, let alone Pearlington, but I can make a difference. I truly believe that one person, any person who is blessed with just a little faith, can make a difference.

Yes caring hurts, but it also heals. When you see hope and tears of joy shine in eyes that were dull and listless, and shoulders and a spine that were rounded with grief and despair stand straight and tall with the pride of being a homeowner, the pain associated with caring too much goes away. In it's place is a sense of well-being and accomplishment and a sense of knowing that this is what it truly means to be a healer.

Again, thank you for your wonderful words. You have no idea just how much I needed to hear them."

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life,
that no man can sincerely try to help another

without helping himself"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you, Wendy. Well felt. Well written.

A Personal Note from "Canada Jon"

2007-01-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

The death of Raymond Diaz has galvanized something within me, something that I have thought of in the past and has now come to the front and center of my consciousness.

We have created a community in Pearlington, we volunteers who went to help and became attached to the lives of strangers. We grieve and laugh and celebrate as they do; their deaths and accidents, their jokes and cultural differences, their new homes and restored lives - have all become our own. We care; not because we have to, but because we choose to, and because of that the passing of one in our community affects us deeply, as if it were our own family dealing with a great loss.

In my profession as a therapist, we are trained and warned against transference and counter-transference: the over-identification from and to those whose lives we seek to improve. Yet, in this situation, in which most of us experience our work as a vocation and a calling - not just a job - this concept is a difficult one, as we choose this work because we care and because we want to make a difference where and when we can.

We are not "rotated out" before we care too much; we allow, even invite, our own secondary trauma as we toil in the trenches and share ourselves so easily and readily with the people of Pearlington. There are no "buffers" nor "filters" that are created by some bureaucracy to "protect" us. We are there and open and inviting....and we hurt so much, so easily.

This also is the nature of volunteerism. There is nothing abstract or clinical about this experience; it is raw and risky emotionally. For many of us who knew and cared for Raymond and his family, we have put ourselves in harm’s emotional way and now we must pay.

We will grieve and grow. We will re-double our efforts to find a solution for the Diaz family and we will continue to care.

And that, in a nutshell, is why we will - in the end - do a task that was impossible from the very beginning. That is why we are the ONLY ones who can pull this off. That is the truest nature of volunteerism: doing a job that shouldn’t have had to be done; by people who were never actually asked to do it; with no resources, no money and no time.

Thank you Raymond for this gift. Thank you for needing us and allowing us to open our hearts to you and your family. What you have given us exceeds what we have given you and so the Wheel of Life turns and all are served.

God bless,
Canada Jon

No Man is an Island

2007-01-15T08:56:00.000-05:00

350 years ago, English poet John Donne wrote:

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee."

This morning it is with deep regret that I must write of the death of Pearlington resident and personal friend Raymond Diaz.

Each part of Pearlington that washed away in the storm; each person’s life that was threatened and diminished and forever changed by Katrina and all that came after, diminishes us all; for we, too, are a part of humankind. Each time the bell tolls in the global village to announce the passing of a brother or sister, it tolls for all of us, as the living body of Brother and Sisterhood is equally diminished by the loss.

Raymond and Cindy Diaz and family have struggled so much since the storm, virtually losing their home in Oak Harbor and dealing with a series of car accidents and other losses since.

Raymond’s hope was that his home would be rebuilt, that his family could begin its healing in the place they all belonged. He worked to help his neighbors and himself and formed close friendships with all of those who worked on his home. Chief among these is Tim Goodnow, of the Dog Soldiers of Atlanta, who has captained the recovery of the Diaz home and was always available to Raymond as a friend, mentor and Perfect Stranger.

I call now upon the Member Agencies of C.O.D.R.A. and on all of Raymond and Cindy’s brothers and sisters across the continent, to do know what needs to be done to, at least, get Cindy and her girls back into their home. Please coordinate this through Tim who can be reached HERE. If you wish to make a donation to this effort, please also contact Tim.

Henry David Thoreau said that "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation....and go to the grave with their song still in them."

Let us now pick up Raymond’s tune and, in harmony and with sweetness, fulfil his dream.

God bless the Diaz Family,
Jon White

What's Up in P-Town?

2007-01-09T17:24:00.000-05:00

Snow has finally come to southern Ontario but, so far, not nearly in the quantity forecast. Hey, Tom D: sorry 'bout Colorado! And WE'RE "the frozen north...."

Things are ticking along in Pearlington and Laurie Spaschak of the Pearlington Recovery Center sends this:

"There is a lot of excitement in the air here, the New Year is off to an amazing start, spirits are high and funds and materials are finally within reach. We had meetings today at the Long Term Recovery Committee Construction Committee in the morning and Unmet Needs Roundtable following The Hurricane Relief Funds are in the bank, and ready to be used.

There was an amazing sense of teamwork today at these meetings, all present were willing to share volunteer labor and resources to get the job done.

Our cook is on a couple weeks vacation, but planning to come back. Bob Paschall (my assistant) went home for health reasons but will return shortly, as far as we know right now, Joel Adams did a fabulous job of holding down the fort while I was gone.

Also, I saw Jackie Acker today and it was really good to see her after such a long time. She has to find a new piece of property to build on, as there is an ownership issue with the location where her trailer is. She will be checking on a piece of school land tomorrow and promised to get back to me with the results.

It is cold here tonight, but we have two groups of seven here, Pastor Phil from Ohio (Lucas Foursquare) and his team and Larry Schmaltz's team who is working with Doug Pennington. The Save The Children Group is coming in Friday - they have a group of firefighters who will be building the new playground at the new Community Center site next week, beginning with a barbeque and ending with another barbeque and inauguration when they leave."

I have added a new link to the blog - check out Gara Gillentine’s work here:

Have a great week and keep Pearlington in your prayers, please!

The True Nature of Volunteerism

2007-01-02T10:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I received an email from C.O.D.R.A. member Jim Merritt of Beaufort, SC. He shared with me the following:

"I heard this line in a message at church on Sunday:

‘You have to go into hell to bring people out.’

It occurred to me that is what we as volunteers have done. Entered the hell that the people of the Gulf Coast have been in. One by one we slowly are "bringing them out" and in doing so, as Christians we have shown who we are and what we care about: a reflection of Jesus showing his Love for our brothers and sisters."

I believe, as a therapist, that I have two choices. I can hang my shingle in relative safety at the side of the road and invite those who are "lost" to find their way out of the forest so I might help them. However, as a solution-focussed professional and individual, I also have enough respect for people to believe that if they could have found their way out, they would have by now.

Or, I can have the personal courage to go into the forest and lead them out. The forest, however, also shrouds my own demons and devils and so I am constantly required to take my own journey - in fact, the longest journey: the journey inward.

Such is the nature of volunteerism in a place like Pearlington.

There is a timing to all things and this is not for the faint-of-heart nor for those unready, any more than is personal therapy. It requires keeping one’s eyes on the horizon and not being bogged down with petty details nor other people’s "stuff." We are allowed to be human on this journey; however, then we are called to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and to keep walking forward toward the light.

This journey of volunteerism takes Faith and Trust in a Higher Power who has created a wonderful world, a world in which we may fully partake if we will just get out of our own way. I call this the Law of Allowance and that’s a whole other article. Suffice it to say that Jim Merritt is absolutely right. Some of us are called to a thing and we must allow it to unfold, for inside the journey we discover that the path always leads right back to....ourselves.

Volunteer if you will. Volunteer if you must. Volunteer if you dare.

I promise you no other reward than a journey back to YOU.

The Men I've Met in Pearlington

2007-01-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

In a year filled with ironies, 2007 dawns today in southern Ontario only 2 degrees cooler than it is in Pearlington, MS - 1300 miles to the south. Instead of the customary blanket of snow, the grass is growing and the birds are chirping.

In a life filled with ironies, I have a practice filled with angry, sometimes violent men. On both sides of the Atlantic I have worked with and witnessed tens of thousands of men. Men at war with themselves and others; men seeking the peace on earth they cannot find; men, boys really, struggling to tread water and to make some sense of themselves. Yet it is within weather, not war, that I am reminded of the true meaning of Manhood.

In a world filled with ironies, while we hang despots and imprison all manner of greedy guys, the Toms and Tims, the Charlies and Jims - the Volunteer Men of Pearlington - go unrecognized in the world.

But, not today.

It has been one of the signal pleasures and fondest experiences of my life to work with so many fine men. Men who have answered a call much greater than a call to arms: a call to Peace. Men who give so much of themselves and ask so little in return. Men of Value, men of Faith, men of Hope and Diligence; craftsmen and workmen; men who build and men who tear down to build again.

Men of Conscience, who can look another man in the eye and speak those most-feared words: I love you. Men of a new breed, men who comfort and lead boys to manhood, men who honor and respect women and hold them as equal partners in the quest for Peace.

These are the Volunteer Men of Pearlington - oh, I’m sure, not all of them, but men sufficient to turn the tide of how we are all perceived and held with due respect. Men I admire and have come to cherish; men who inspire me with their quality and forthrightness and dedication to a cause that counts. Men who break down the barriers between other men and call them to their greatest place.

I received an email from one such man yesterday. I share it here because he in turn received a call from another man, a Pearlington man, who has been enriched not only in hearth but in heart by the graciousness of a Perfect Stranger:

"I am proud to do this work for others, but I am honored and humbled to be so rewarded by Raymond’s graciousness. I didn’t come to Pearlington for that, but I keep going back in part because people like Raymond remind me of how valuable a person I am – and have yet to be.

To each of you reading this, I copied you because Ray is thanking you. Your allowing his respect, gratitude and appreciation to strike your heart may just move you, too. My heart is up in my throat and tears are in my eyes as I write. And with that feeling, may you choose to reach out to someone else and spread it on him or her. I am thanking you for being my partner in this project, and for every other one you choose to participate in that makes a contribution to others.

All those things you do that no one knows about."

Love and thank you,
Tim Goodnow - Dog Soldiers of Atlanta

In a year filled with irony, wherein men who weren’t required to care replaced those who were paid to care, Goodnow and so many others shine a light too bright to ignore and change comes, not with a bang nor a whimper, but with a smile and a helping hand.

There is a message here, a metaphor that lies beneath the rebuilding of a bayou town.

It will change the world if we allow it.

Happy New Year!
"Canada Jon" White

Yes, Danielle, there IS a Santa Claus

2006-12-24T10:23:00.000-05:00

Danielle Larsen, foreground

In Pearlington I am called “Canada Jon” but in the circle of Dream School International, my heart’s creation for the past decade, I am known as “Big Dreamer.” The Soviet press once labelled me so, calling me “nothing but a big dreamer.”

The name stuck and I am proud of it.

So, when I was sent the tale of 16-year-old Danielle Larsen, from Huntsville, Alabama, whose story of “That House” in Pearlington was posted to Sharing Pearlington on December 19, I knew I was in the energy of a fellow Dreamer. When the previously-unknown owner of the home responded from Dallas two days later, I knew that Magic was afoot. And, when it turned out that Danielle’s family was going to be in Dallas visiting family for Christmas, and when Mr. Gardner’s daughter entered the scene by email, I knew that this was a Dream in the making.

A check into her background reveals Danielle as a caring, generous, creative and determined person who, in fact, Dreamed her way (as well as her family’s) to Pearlington in the first place. These are the qualities of a Dreamer and they are the birthright of us all. This is more than the story of a child who went to Mississippi a girl and came home a woman. This is the story of a Dreamer who will now turn her Dream into reality in a magical and creative way and will never take NO for an answer.

The world seems filled with Dream Stealers - we all have done it - who tell us from the very start to “get real,” to “grow up” or to “settle down.” Yet, the purpose of childhood is to constantly learn, to stretch and to challenge ourselves to become more than we were the day before. I long ago rejected the notion this world was “real,” in the same way I rejected the notion that my God was “false.” Danielle, and many of the young people we have watched transform in Pearlington, remind us that somewhere deep inside us all is a child yearning to fly - to stretch our glorious wings and to aim for the stars.

The real Magic of Christmas is not the turkey nor the tree, not the presents nor the presentation, not even the birth itself of Jesus Christ. He was born so we might live, and live truly. He was born that we might shake the very foundations of the known and reach for immortality. He taught us that no Dream is ever too big, no Dreamer ever too small.

In a cynical and disparate world where cultures clash and each believes that their truth is surely THE truth, there are the Danielle Larsens, who Dream big and listen only with their hearts and souls. It is what brought this Big Dreamer to Pearlington so many months ago, along with almost every other volunteer I’ve had the pleasure to meet there since.

Dream on, Danielle. I am beside you like so many others; as you renew our faith, hold up the mirror of your youth and call us back to our rightful place.

Yes, Danielle, there is a Santa Claus.

It is YOU. Merry Christmas.

Oh I believe there are Angels among us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above;
They come to you and me in our darkest hours,
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give,
To guide us with a light of love.
- “Angels Among Us”, the rock band Alabama

Bits and Bytes; Baptists and Burners

2006-12-20T16:34:00.000-05:00

As 2006 draws to a close, we are very proud to welcome two new members to the C.O.D.R.A. Community of agencies bringing relief and recovery to Pearlington, MS.:

Brian Terry and his team from Rockingham First Baptist Church Mission Team in Rockingham, NC join us and send this:

"My church and I are working on another mission trip, maybe late Jan or early February."

Check out their latest press article HERE.

We also welcome a well-known group from Pearlington, who spent much time in the town clearing lots and doing all sorts of hard and valuable work.

Burners Without Borders are those crazy folks who were camped out on the old Post Office pad last year. Karine Wilson sends this article from San Francisco Chronicle. It is available HERE - then check them out at:

http://www.burnerswithoutborders.org

WELCOME, BOTH!

Some words from a couple of our favorite C.O.D.R.A. members:

"Check out the new updates to our website. You may have to refresh your page to see them."

www.pearlingtonms.com
- Jennifer Johnson, BRICK Layers of AL

"Here you go. Two dates around the holidays. I have some men signed up for the Jan 4th trip, and some possibles for the 28th so far. Also, a team called "Double Parked" goes down on January 10th weekend. Team Capt is Michael Isaacs."
- Tim Goodnow, Dog Soldiers of Alabama

Pearlington Recovery Center
"Lots happening, folks working together better than before, volunteers numbers starting to improve, material availability increasing - and tons of holiday goodwill and plans.

A truck of gifts for the folks on our elderly list arrived yesterday afternoon.

Madeline and the girls from VT arrived tonight - the truck load of goodies arrives tomorrow. A group of repeat volunteers from Jackson UMC also arrived tonight and some of the Four Square group are also arriving tomorrow with a truckload of goodies as well.

AND the truck from Linda Edwards’ Pickin’ up the Pieces arrives tomorrow and it looks like we will be unloading trucks all day! The Salvation Army is bringing a pallet each of bananas and pineapples for giveaway during the Saturday events.

Foley Church from Alabama will be bringing a truckload of gifts for the families they adopted on Sunday. Nell Nation of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is working on a holiday donation of cards for propane, and others are bringing gifts as well.

Christmas in Pearlington will be a huge success again this year."
- Laurie Spaschak

Thanks to all who have made this another great year to be alive and in service to others.

God bless you all and God bless Pearlington!

Pearlington at Christmas

2006-12-13T13:55:00.000-05:00

Recently, I was asked to write the following concerning my impressions of the state of rebuilding in Pearlington.

The request came from Judy Totts of The Gazette, Medina County, Ohio. Please feel free to share it with your own local news media, if you think it appropriate. I have also added it as a downloadable and printable .pdf file, temporarily house under a link to the right. Be sure to add your own contact information, if you send it out.

This weekend past, my wife and I erected a 9-ft. fresh-cut Christmas tree and decorated it; put a large turkey in the freezer for the holidays and braved the malls looking for the perfect gifts. On Christmas morning, we will gather ‘round that tree, open our presents to each other and then sit down to a sumptuous meal before a warm fire. Like many North Americans, it will be a time of family, of giving and of Peace.

Not so, many of the residents of Pearlington, Mississippi.

On this second Christmas out from Hurricane Katrina, many families are still crammed into FEMA trailers, awaiting sufficient resources and volunteer labor to rebuild their shattered homes and broken lives.

Only about 35% of the town has been rebuilt and each day is another reminder of the devastation close at hand and another test of Faith. Many will never tell their children that the gifts they receive this year were once again donated by perfect strangers. They will gather at churches and the Recovery Center for a meal, because the oven in a FEMA trailer can barely hold a chicken. They will take their pride and their dignity and once again put them in their empty pockets for another day.

And they will pray that we are able to get to them soon, that some kindness will find its way to their house, that some Angel will come to make that house a home once again.

It’s not our fault that many of us will be safe and abundant this Christmas, any more that it’s the people of Pearlington’s fault that they will not. At the very least let us be filled with gratitude and take nothing for granted, for some of us know that Life turns on a dime and that nothing is forever.

"Canada Jon" White
Director, C.O.D.R.A.
The Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies in Pearlington

A Letter from Jeanne Brooks

2006-12-07T08:22:00.000-05:00

Jon, just a note to keep in touch.

Though we're not located in Pearlington anymore, you know my heart is still with the children and families of that community. When we ‘combined’ with Gulfview, I became librarian of the total school and Gulfview's lead teacher remained lead teacher for the combined school.

To date, the school library has received a $50,000.00 National Education Association grant, a $10,000.00 Beyond Words/American Library Association grant, and we're waiting (though the press release is out) for the awarding of a $75,000.00 Laura Bush Foundation grant. We have thousands of books, mostly now cataloged and in place, and a double-wide trailer decorated for each and every season. Right now there's a 9-1/2 foot tall sparkling Christmas tree brimming with an ornament handmade by each child. Not bad for a" little bitty spot on the map!"

Watching the kids faces and hearing the oohs and aahs when they walk in the door, makes it all worthwhile. I've also been working in the wings with donors who are working towards Christmas for the kids and the school. Now that we're close to 600 kids in the combined school, it takes a lot more just to go around!

I just wanted to say thanks to you, to the volunteers, and to so many who have touched my heart in so many ways.

Merry Christmas, y'all and as Tiny Tim in the Christmas classic said many years ago:

"God Bless us, every one!"

Jeanne Brooks

LIVE - from Canada....

2006-12-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

I would like to draw your attention to a very special new Blog.

It is called ‘Pluggin’ into Pearlington’ and it is designed specifically for potential volunteers to plug into the various organizations represented by C.O.D.R.A. - the Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies.

If you look to the right, at the top of the panel, you will find the new link; or, access it directly HERE.

If you are a member of C.O.D.R.A. and wish a listing on the site, please contact me.

Let’s get some volunteers to Pearlington!

You will also notice to the right that I have reorganized the C.O.D.R.A. membership list, to honor the Founding Members of our Coalition, which grows daily.

Newest Members of C.O.D.R.A.
We welcome two new members to our Coalition community.

The first is Conrad Velasco, whose story I shared last week. Also, we welcome Nancy Semple of my own town of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. Nancy has had two tours of Pearlington and continues to work back home to bring relief to her many new friends in here.

PRC
Laurie Spaschak has had the Pearlington Recovery Center beautifully decorated for Christmas, an activity that was not possible last year. I went and looked the night before I left to return to Canada and was deeply moved....

Adopt-a-Home
I will also be working on new Adopt-a-Home blogs and have reorganized that site as well. Stayed tuned....

Live from Pearlington - Dec. 3, 2006

2006-12-03T10:18:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Mississippi
Photo by Nancy Semple

It's my last day in Pearlington and I am reflective of all that I've seen and all that is happening in town.

Progress is being made, that's for sure. The sound of swinging hammers and buzzing saws fills pockets of almost every street and there's a greater air of collective 'normalcy' than I've noticed before. People pull up to the restored ATM that, for a long time, sat abandoned and defiled by the storm. Over at the E-Z Mart kids pull in to fuel up their fast cars, vehicles able to pass everything on Hwy. 90 but a gas station. Out front, people stop to chat and gossip and inside, the product is a lot fresher and more abundant than it was in the summer.

There are flowers blooming and great, tall grasses and the trees seem to have lost their ghostly, grey look. While there is still debris in lots of places, it appears less overwhelming. In the Bay and Slidell it is business as usual.

It would be easy for an optimist like me to rest on our collective laurels.

However....

I know that many of you count on me to speak my truth, my observations of what is really happening in Pearlington:

There are subtle signs of fatigue lining the faces of many of the long-term Volunteers. It is the burden of duty, made more pronounced by the worry that resources are starting to flow and there may not be enough volunteers coming to town to utilize them. Funders want the money spent and proof that it was done quickly and properly. It's the reverse of last year, when we had lots of volunteers and no resources. So, we must find clever ways to draw the world's attention back to the reality that Katrina is still wreaking havoc on the Coast.

While some are getting back into their homes, many continue to stare at the walls of their FEMA 'can-dominiums' - whose dimensions shrink daily, as does the occupants’ hope. The truly disenfranchised will be those who rented or lived on family land to which they have no clear title. They will not get the grants and there is nothing to be rented in Pearlington. When FEMA comes for their trailers, I greatly fear for their welfare.

There are many stories of jubilation in this bayou town, yet still too many tales of loss and fear. We have an opportunity to get this done at last and I will do whatever it takes to get the labor here to finish this monumental task.

To that end, I am issuing a challenge:

By Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - as we volunteers gather in Pearlington for the 2nd Annual Volunteer Reunion - let it be that we leave Pearlington a completely restored town.

Call in all your favors, all your resources. I am asking for ANY ideas - no matter how far-fetched - to attract volunteers and skilled tradespeople to Pearlington. Send them to me at:

victory@dreamschoolinternational.com or jonw@bconnex.net

In the coming days I will be mounting on this Blog a sample press-release in .pdf format. You will be able to download it and send it to every newspaper, TV and radio station in your area. Some of the volunteer groups are looking at a combined national press campaign. You can do it locally.

Send your ideas and together, let's create our way to Victory in Pearlington.

It's a sunny Sunday in Pearlington. People are gathering to worship God and to pray for solutions. We have 270 days until the 2nd anniversary of the Storm.

Let the countdown begin....

Focus On: Walls of Hope

2006-12-02T09:40:00.000-05:00

Gene and Gene Butterfield

Month by month, day by day, Gene Butterfield looks for new ways to build more house for less money. And as the Walls of Hope go up, Gene hopes so does a room to house the Lord inside each heart.

Walls of Hope is a work in progress. As each of the two dozen homes they've built in Pearlington were constructed, Gene found ways to get a bigger bang for the homeowner's buck. He claims that Walls of Hope can now build a fully-enclosed and dried in exterior, complete with vinyl siding and shingled roof, roughed in electrical and kitchen cabinets for just over $25. per sq. ft. This he compares to the local rate for the same thing of about $140. per sq. ft.

A registered non-profit corporation, Walls of Hope is the brain-child of the entire Butterfield family, including Gene Sr. and brother Paul. One of their Directors is young Kristian Dambrino, the author of the Pearlington song, who will be in town on December 28th. Brother Paul, a contractor in Iowa, can build modular sections of the five available models back in his factory in Iowa and ship them to Pearlington, cheaper than it is to buy the materials alone locally. And with post-Katrina pricing on the coast, this has made the real difference. The pre-fabrication of the walls in Iowa also cuts down on the skills required by volunteer builders and is a safer and more consistent process all around.

Gene originally came to Pearlington from his own contracting business in Virginia, to rebuild the First Southern Baptist Church. Working with David and Patty Baldwin, who graciously took over the task of volunteer coordination and housing, Gene was able to concentrate on the church, which is now virtually finished. On Thursday, as I was trying to locate him for our interview, I went to the First Southern looking for him. There, a small crew was preparing to mount the new steeple. Strangely enough, I asked one of the men if they had seen him. There was a bit of confusion, as the man I asked turned out to be named Gene BUTTONfield!

Soon, Walls of Hope will have their own trained Case Manager and Gene confirmed for me Thursday that they are now prepared to sponsor the homeowner for a Salvation Army grant to finish the interior of the homes. They have create a unique reciprocal agreement with Home Depot to provide the elements and ship them to the site in Pearlington. They have been treated well by the County, who has pre-assessed the five models of homes and only charges minimally to assess the land. They are also in negotiations with several local and national banks concerning the facilitation of mortgages.

In the end, Gene estimates that, using volunteer labor and with the system they have in place, the entire house can be done for around $50. per sq. ft.

The Butterfields recognize that Walls of Hope is not for every resident in Pearlington. As they struggle to survive and as they streamline their methods and search for creative ways to get things done, they have no desire whatsoever to see housing shells lining the streets of Pearlington. They will work with interested homeowners to secure grants and funding to finish the interiors and their sincere desire is to see people back in the homes that Hope built.

Check them out at:
http://www.wallsofhope.net

Live from Pearlington - Nov. 30, 2006

2006-11-30T17:41:00.000-05:00

The Newest Members of C.O.D.R.A.
I would like to welcome to the C.O.D.R.A. community two new members. The first is Gene Butterfield - both the Elder and the Junior - representing Walls of Hope. Tomorrow, look for an article on their outstanding organization, as part of our "Focus On...." series.

The second is Mr. Joseph Keys, a dedicated and caring community advocate, who took me on a tour of some of the more disenfranchised residents of Pearlington. These are some of the people who have fallen through the cracks; people who, for one reason or another, have had little help and have little with which to begin anew.

I will strive to get Adopt-a-Home blogs up for them as quickly as possible and I encourage all of you to view these sites carefully. Some need only a Salvation Army sponsor, as they have been holding onto their FEMA money for dear life. Some have nothing, except faith and a belief that somehow God will provide.

It was a difficult morning....

Look also for an upcoming "Focus On...." Mr. Keys.

We had lunch at Rev. Rawl's church, who no longer has a church. It is been taken down and removed and a new church will be built in it's place. Miss Johnnie prepared spagetti for lunch and her, the other ladies and Rev. Rawls himself welcomed me back to Pearlington with open arms.

Security at the PRC
To further ensure the safety of all volunteers and to cut down on late night traffic using the laundromat at the Pearlington Recovery Center, they are looking at relocating Pearl's Cafe within the fencing on the field behind the school and locking the gate at night.

The Salvation Army, which is setting up a field office where the old school cafeteria used to be, has already requested that the main gate to the school property be locked at night. More on this as details become available.

FEMA Presence in Pearlington
FEMA now provides three outreach workers, with a daily posting to Pearlington. Sammy Crider, Dean Porter and Dave Schinnerer are available during business hours through the PRC.

Today is the last day of the official hurricane season. Mercifully, it was the season that wasn't, and I KNOW we can all live with that....

Focus On: Camp Coastal Outpost

2006-11-30T14:12:00.000-05:00

When life serves you up a lemon, make lemonade.

Few are better at squeezing lemons than Mike Sweeney and Sandy Mullinhouse, the driving forces behind Camp Coastal Outpost. Mike, formerly of the Emergency Operations Center and Sandy, of International Aid joined together this year in a desire to focus on the job of rebuilding the coast and of just getting it done.

Together, they have built a thriving volunteer community on a chunk of donated land adjacent to Coastal Hardware in the Kiln. There they can house and feed up to 300 volunteers working on a wide variety of reconstruction projects and new home building in a number of coastal communities, including Pearlington. They are well-equipped and determined, having surrounded themselves with a core of talented and dedicated volunteer staff.

Yesterday, at Camp Coastal, Mike Sweeney announced to me that they had just been successful in the acquisition of a generous grant from an international donor - to the tune of $2.25 million dollars!

It is their intention and mandate to construct 150 new homes on the coast, including a good number in St. Bernard's Parish in New Orleans. They will focus on the neediest and most high-risk families and they know that the possibility of additional funding is dependent upon their ability to effectively employ these funds NOW.

Camp Coastal, like all of C.O.D.R.A.'s members on the coast, requires volunteers. We cannot afford to let such financial largesse sit idle or go to waste. In fact, that donor originally granted these funds to two other larger, more "known" agencies who were just not able to use them effectively or immediately. This same international source has already invested $1.25 million in Camp Coastal through monetary and in-kind donations this year.

In Pearlington, Camp Coastal is currently working on four homes and about to start two more. I visited the Doyle project with Mike Sweeney and Larry Randall. You may remember young Alexis Doyle, the recipient of a wheelchair from Ardmore Baptist Church back in late April. Soon, her parents Donnie and Donna Doyle and their family will have a new home they can call their own, thanks to Camp Coastal.

Donna Doyle with her son and Larry Randall

We encourage Mike and Sandy to continue to see Pearlington as one of those high-risk areas deserving of their ongoing consideration. Their vision, dedication and brilliant leadership is making a huge difference on the coast. I encourage C.O.D.R.A. member agencies and our own volunteer network to support Camp Coastal's projects; certainly, in the least, here in Pearlington. I know we are all hurting for volunteers, but this opportunity is too good to jeopardize.

It was also great to connect with Arjay and Cindy Sutton - a great pair of volunteers who met while running the New Waveland Cafe after the storm, affectionately known by all the early volunteers as the "Hippie Cafe." Arjay and Cindy were married and are back on the coast doing what they can.

I was also reunited with Andrea Tveit. Andrea was the Team Leader of the Americorps group I worked with back in late October and November last year, while I was managing the Recovery Center. Graduated now from Americorps, Andrea discovered being idle at home was not for her and so threw herself back into the thick of things.

Hats off to Camp Coastal! Check them out at:

http://www.campcoastaloutpost.org

Let's see what we can do to make them the newest member of C.O.D.R.A.

Live from Pearlington - Nov. 29, 2006

2006-11-29T21:26:00.000-05:00

It's a foggy morning in Pearlington and it feels like some fantastic things are about to bust loose for the good folks here who have been so patient so long.

Today, I will begin the first of two tours to identify what is yet to be done and who needs immediate help. I will update the Adopt-a-Home and "Impossibles" blogs to reflect the current situation and get listed those who desperately need support.

And while there is yet lots to be done, Camp Coastal Outpost, who is already building homes in Pearlington, announced that they will be assisting in the facilitation of two new Salvation Army grants, obtained by the Pearlington Recovery Center. One is for Bill Royal and the other is for Bob and Elaine Carden.

The Cardens are a remarkable couple. Bob is a retired police officer and a Viet Nam vet. Both he and Elaine have given selflessly of what little they have, feeding volunteers and helping ensure a healthy Thanksgiving meal for the folks of Pearlington. What resources they did get from the storm were lost to shady contractors and an equally shady lawyer they hired to get it back. They deserve this break and we are all thrilled their patience and faith has been rewarded.

I expect to meet with Mike Sweeney and Sandy Mullinghouse of Camp Coastal this week. Stay tuned....

Yesterday, I labored with Susie Sharp and Randy Turpin on building a handicap ramp so that Otis and Ruby Mitchell can get access to their new home. As we worked I was struck by how much labor is required to just do this simple a task and the exhorbitant cost of materials. Yesterday, at Lowes in Bay St. Louis, I was forced to pay almost $28. for 5 lbs. of 2" deck screws. I was stunned! I just bought some back home for my own deck railing I built and paid under $10. for the very same thing!

By all accounts, prices here rose sharply after the storm. I personally find that unconscionable. Mega-corporations like Lowes and Home Depot - and their suppliers - should be ashamed of themselves! I will be checking out local supply companies in the Bay and Kiln that guarantee to under-price them both, and I will report back. Let's keep the money local and get a better bang for our hard-come-by bucks.

I also have observed how diligent and determined are people like Charlie Holmes, Tom Dalessandri, Larry Randall, Laurie Spaschak and many others here, in chasing down every opportunity to get the people of Pearlington what they need. Very few know about this, because we have all learned Rule Number One the hard way: NOTHING exists until it's in your hand. I can assure the world there are few who work harder at making things happen.

When Laurie called Bob Carden to tell him his house was going to be built, he cried so hard he could not talk. He never believed it was actually going to happen and he had long ago given up the outcome. Yet, no one had forgotten him. No one has forgotten anyone in Pearlington, despite the time it is taking to gather what we need to do the job.

Back home, when people ask me what we are doing in Pearlington, I tell them that "we are rebuilding a devastated town with no resources, no money and no time." This recovery is being accomplished by the people of North America themselves. It is a unique experiment in global community and in the big hearts of people like you. The greatest travesty of all would be if we let the government "organize" or "help" us in any way. That would quickly turn this miracle into the same kind of bureaucratic quagmire that has characterized efforts all over the world.

That's why organizations like C.O.D.R.A. are organized "sideways," - as a coalition, not "vertically" like all other hierarchies in our world that have amply proven that eventually it takes more resources to hold up the structure than to deliver the mission. I saw it in Bosnia, in the Soviet Union and in lots of other places right here at home.

This is working because we have been forced to get the job done and to hold all other considerations as secondary. It works because volunteers hear God's voice calling them to service and then answer that call.

Be still. If that voice is calling you, don't try to reason it out with your brain.

Just do it. Contact me and we will Plug you into Pearlington.

God bless,
"Canada Jon" White
jonw@bconnex.net

Live from Pearlington - Nov. 28, 2006

2006-11-28T08:31:00.000-05:00

The Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies (C.O.D.R.A.) held a meeting in Pearlington last night.

There, members reaffirmed our commitment to continue in Pearlington until everyone who needs help, gets help. There was much discussion concerning the great need for volunteers, especially in December and January and what we could do to attract them.

When I return home, among other things, I will be creating a new site called: Pluggin' in to Pearlington - a blog for potential volunteers to visit and peruse the various C.O.D.R.A. member groups, what their facilities look like, what kind of jobs they take on, accommodations, who to contact to book a mission here, etc.

The goal will be to facilitate volunteer groups in making a timely and informed choice about coming to volunteer in Pearlington. I will ask, upon completion, that we all use to power of the Internet to get the address link out to everyone on our respective mailing lists.

We need another miracle and Pearlington's counting on YOU!

Introducing:
Zeke and Debbie are a couple from Colorado, who landed in Pearlington from Bay St. Louis two months ago. Z & D are in charge of the Pearlington Cafe, feeding up to 80 volunteers a day. The plan is to remain until late spring and both are taking the upcoming Case Management training, to make themselves even more valuable to the Pearlington volunteer community.

Welcome, folks!

Santa Claus Parade:
The Christmas party hosted by the Pearlington Resident Committee announced yesterday on this Blog (and since removed), has been amalgamated with the traditional Fire Dept. Parade.

Co-sponsored by Turtle Landing, the parade will be on Saturday, Dec. 16th starting at 2:00 p.m. from the playground on White's Rd. It will move down 7th Ave., along Hwy. 90 west to Hwy. 604, then north on 604 to the Pearlington Recovery Center.

Around 3:00 p.m., Laurie Spaschak has organized all kinds of great music, food and activities for the kids in the former library at Chas. B. Murphy School.

Have a great day!

Focus On: Conrad Velasco - Nov. 27, 2006

2006-11-28T08:24:00.000-05:00

Be very careful about getting into a car with Conrad Velasco.

He just might drive you to Pearlington to assist him with some task or another. You will soon come to realize that the real purpose of the journey was to call to your spirit and, before you know it, you're the newest volunteer pouring your heart into Pearlington.

You've just been 'Con-jacked'.

Hours before Katrina hit Pearlington on August 29, 2005 Conrad already had a plan and knew where he was heading. Leaving his family and construction business back in South Carolina, he set up a small camp on Lower Bay Road to bring relief to the hardest hit.

He hasn't stopped since.

With Jake Earle, Conrad's 'Sheds for Jesus' has built and placed 160 sheds in Pearlington and Lower Bay. His construction expertise has weighed in on countless projects and he is one of the most respected volunteers on the Coast. You can read more of these early experiences from Jake Earle's perspective HERE.

When the Morrell Foundation decided to close its operation on Waveland Beach, they looked for a group to be the recipient of almost $400,000 worth of bunkhouses, materiel and equipment. The plan was to have someone set up a more permanent long-term center in Bay St. Louis. Of all the possible groups, the Foundation chose Conrad, citing as their reason, "we have never seen someone do so much with so little."

Conrad has since been instrumental in setting up a large Center at the Lagniappe Presbyterian Church in the Bay. There, they can house and feed up to 300 volunteers and task them out around Hancock County. He continues to help Pearlington and other areas hard hit by the storm. His wife Missy has since moved down to be with him, bringing their infant daughter Savannah.

Conrad is a Dreamer and knows that faith doesn't require him to know the last step - just the next one. He moves forward each day in trust and allows the outcome to unfold in God's timing.

Thank you, Conrad, for all you do.

Live from Pearlington - Nov. 26, 2004

2006-11-26T07:30:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking a lot about this time, last November, as my stint as Manager of the Recovery Center was drawing to an end and we were struggling daily to get everyone off the ground and into FEMA trailers, at last.

And so, it seemed odd to be sitting in a Slidell steakhouse eating Prime Rib with Susie and Randy last night. Last year, the best we could have hoped for was some industrial-strength powdered eggs and runny grits in the Red Cross food tent. I awoke this morning with Pearlington on my mind, as I have many, many mornings since I first fought my way into town early last September.

It's been a ride, that's for certain, and so much more yet to do....

Introducing....
Miss Becca Weaver, of Longmont, CO. Becca is the new Manager of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) Camp No. 6 in Pearlington. A graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in Sociology, Becca arrived on the coast in early September, under a Young Adult Program with that organization. Becca arrived in Pearlington later that month and will be spending at least a year in Pearlington taking care of PDA's interests at Camp 6.

Joining Becca as co-Manager until December, is John Hill, of Claremont, CA.

Welcome to Pearlington, Becca and John!

Salvation Army Grants:
Today, please notice a new link to the right of this panel, outlining the procedure by which a Resident might access these grants. There has been much hoop-jumping to date to make a few of these happen and we are working with Salvation Army to make them as accessible as possible.

Once again, they rely heavily on the ability of C.O.D.R.A. members and other organizations to have sufficient volunteer labor to get the jobs done!

You may access the file directly HERE.

UMCOR Case Management Training:
Training sessions will be held for interested parties on Dec. 4, 5 and 6th. Case Management is basically the interviewing of residents seeking assistance, during which the completion of approx. eight pages of forms detailing the resident's situation is conducted. It is critical, as much of the assistance available uses this information to make decisions.

This is a nationally-recognized training program. There are not many paid jobs available, but Case Managers are desperately needed. What paying positions there are, would be with UMCOR, Red Cross or Salvation Army. The job does require a long-term (one year) commitment. Most Disaster Recovery Operations would welcome a trained volunteer who could do Case Management, even on a part-time basis.

There is a temporary link to the file on the right panel, or you may access the application form HERE.

News from Pearlington:
There is a wonderful story in the SeaCoast Echo concerning Miss Lillian Rogers' new home, built by volunteers and fulfilling Miss Lillian's dream. You may access the story on SeaCoast Echo's web site.

Bucks-Mont Katrina Relief Program has raised $500,000 and will be building a large permanent animal shelter on Lower Bay Road. The land has been donated by the Port and Harbor Commission. Good for Bucks-Mont!

The County is set to dispense $140,000 received in donations after Katrina and specifically earmarked for County employees. They hope to have the cheques out by Christmas.

"See" ya tomorrow....

P.S. I was finally able today to upload the rest of yesterday's images. Check 'em out, below.

Live from Pearlington - Nov. 25, 2006

2006-11-25T10:38:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning, I received a call from Laurie Spaschak informing me that Dr. Charles Holmes, head of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship here in Pearlington, had been involved in a serious incident at the Recovery Center and could I come and help? I was there in minutes, but "my Spidey-senses were tingling." Sure enough, I walked into the Pearl*Mart to be swept into a giant hug by a grinning Charlie.

And so it went for me in Pearlington yesterday, getting caught up on progress and reconnecting with some great friends and fellow volunteers I have come to love, like Tim Goodnow from the Dog Soldiers of Atlanta. I also missed two - Corrie Ayers and Amy Overton - who had to leave before I could get to them. Sorry, Folks!

I took a tour with Charlie of the homes CBF is working on and has recently completed. What a miracle CBF has wrought in Pearlington! But Charlie finds himself in an interesting predicament. CBF needs volunteers! Charlie could start rebuilding four more houses - he has the resources - but needs volunteers to help lay piling foundations, get the framing done and the houses blacked in.
Remember: not everyone in your group has to be a skilled builder. We've even had older, retired people come just to guide and instruct others in how to do things. Please dig deep and help Charlie - and others - who have worked really hard to gather the resources but now need your help in getting it done.

Charlie and Dallas Trammel at her home-under-construction

If you can help, please contact Charlie immediately at 601-519-2785.

After Corrie Ayers' family, along with the Roberts and Lewis Families returned home to MN on Friday morning, Charlie awoke to find his vehicle festooned with goodbye notes and drawings from the young people. Karla Roberts also left this note:

"We have so enjoyed being here in Pearlington and serving with CBF. You have blessed us by finding lots of work for our multi-aged, multi-talented crew. Coming to serve with you this short week has done a lot to teach our children the value of serving God wholeheartedly through serving others who need a helping hand. May God continue to bless you richly."

By all reports, you folks did excellent work and we thank you!

David and Patty Baldwin, who were working out of the First Southern Baptist Church have ended their stint in Pearlington and have moved their headquarters to Gulfport. They did an amazing job in Pearlington and they will be sorely missed. The Parsonage at the church is still open and available for volunteers to be housed, to cook and look after themselves. All volunteers wishing to come through the Southern Baptist organization may now contact Charlie Holmes, who has taken over the Baldwin's outstanding projects. Charlie will make arrangements for you and be happy to task groups in various ongoing projects.

Charlie may be contacted at the number above. He is also available by email, although calling him directly is more reliable and timely. Charlie's email address is: cholmes162@netzero.com

Jimmy Lamy is a local resident who is currently hosting a large group of Seventh Day Adventists from two locations. The Auburn Adventist Academy from Auburn, WA has sent 16 young people and 6 adults. They are spending a week in Pearlington doing everything from sheetrocking, to insulation, siding and painting. Yesterday, part of the group was at Larry Randall's house siding and painting.

Also, Jimmy is hosting two families from Portland, TN. One of these, Rod and Mary Schmitz came partly because they felt that reaching out in service might help alleviate some of the pain of the recent loss of their 20-year-old son in a car accident. This is the second child the Schmitz's have lost and they are a remarkable couple, firm in their faith, and doing what they can for others. Our hearts and prayers go out to them and we admire their dedication and willingness.

Thank you also Jimmy, for all you are doing to help your neighbors in Pearlington!

Lots more to come, so stay tuned....

A reflective Johanna, from Auburn, WA after a hard day's work.

Live from Pearlington - Nov. 24, 2006

2006-11-24T09:38:00.000-05:00

The deep-fried Thanksgiving turkey was expertly prepared by Randy Turpin and all the traditional trimmings - Mississippi-style - were there. Susie Sharp picked me up at the Gulfport-Biloxi Airport and by the end of the afternoon I was stuffed and trimmed like a holiday goose. Fresh rolls, sweet potatoes, giblet gravy, corn casserole adorned the table and Laurie Spaschak, from the Recovery Center, joined us for dinner with her Poor Man's Pie.

It was a welcome fit for a king and it's good to be back in Pearlington.

We have much here for which to give thanks. Some construction is going on to finally get these people back in their homes, but as Tom Dalessandri has pointed out, only about 35% of the town is rebuilt.

Wednesday night, as I finished my work and prepared for the shuttle to the airport, I had a conversation with a new friend, Brad. He had watched Comic Relief last Friday night and was shocked to see that so much remained to be done here. As I flew over New Orleans and Pearlington on the shuttle from Houston, I saw the big picture of the vulnerability of this region and just how precious a jewel is the Gulf Coast of America.

As the plane circled and prepared to land, the blue-tarped roofs, the FEMA trailers and the continuing mess of broken homes and shattered lives became startlingly apparent. There is so much more to be done and it's heart breaking.
It will be my mission and that of the Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies in Pearlington (C.O.D.R.A.) to begin a New Blitz. There is still an enormous need for volunteers here and we need more people to come and help. The world has moved on, but not so the many yet-homeless folks of Pearlington, Mississippi. I will find a way to advise the world that our responsibilities - our Ability to Respond - has not yet been fully met in this battered southern town.

As Rev. Rawls and his crew at the First Southern Baptist Church reach out to feed the volunteers Thanksgiving turkey; as folks around town invite smaller groups of out-of-towners into their humble homes and trailers to break bread and to share what they have, I ask us all to look into our hearts. Can we tap the creative spirit that is our birthright from God and find new ways to inspire others to come and help?

I call all the members of C.O.D.R.A. to our greatest place of Unity and Common Purpose. We know that this tragedy didn't just happen to ALL these people, it happened to EACH of these people. We feel their frustration and occasional hopelessness. As I share their stories in the next two weeks, let the world remember why we came here in the first place. One year ago I was here, managing the Recovery Center and sleeping on the ground, like they were. I was freezing at night and foraging for a decent meal by day, like they were. I was coughing and sweating and praying for a miracle - like they were.

Many other volunteers were here in the trenches too. Many have gone the distance and I am so proud to be your colleague. You never gave up, never stopped caring, never stopped sacrificing to do what had to be done. Your effort is etched in the collective memory of the people of Pearlington.

Now it's time to finish what we set out to do. Be eloquent in your calls for help. Write, speak, beg, plead and bully to get what these people need. They are counting on us and we must stay the course with renewed vigor and faith.

Let us all join hands in unity and unconditional love. Let's rise above our human foibles and fears and concentrate on the task. Those groups who have not yet joined C.O.D.R.A. are invited to do so and to fully be a part of this remarkable miracle. Let us redouble our efforts and not allow the destruction of Hurricane Katrina - the most devastating natural disaster of our generation - to slip from the North American consciousness. We cannot let the world go back to sleep.

A year from now, let us give thanks on this holiday as all the good folks of Pearlington sit down at their own tables, in their own homes and do the ritual things that most of the world takes for granted.

Only then, will we be truly finished what we started.

With gratitude on Thanksgiving,
Canada Jon
jonw@bconnex.net

Old Friend: I'm sorry if I've disappointed you and you find me no longer worthy of our friendship. I did what I could and I will continue to do so. I love you and believe in you and that will never change. My door - and my heart - is ever open.

Bruce Pender: A Perfect Stranger

2006-11-21T08:17:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, November 12th, Bruce Fender, a volunteer with Pickin’ Up The Pieces, was killed in a car accident.

I can think of no finer tribute than that penned by Pearlington’s Patricia Cole Wilson, a grateful recipient of Bruce’s generosity. Our hearts go out to Bruce’s family and friends and to the Edwards and his fellow volunteers at Pickin’ Up The Pieces. Bruce was 44 years old:

"A few weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated our small town of Pearlington, Mississippi, Bruce Fender came with a Relief group called "Pickin’ up the Pieces." It’s a long way from Savannah to the Gulf but we desperately needed help and they came.

Bruce was a tall, handsome young man, with a heart of gold and arms of steel. He was in charge of construction and worked twelve or thirteen hours each day to put together a home for us. I marveled at his happy face, he really seemed to enjoy the hard, filthy work before him.

When the house was finished enough for us to move in (out of the FEMA camper) he beamed with pride! The only reward was our eternal gratitude, a pot of gumbo and a pecan pie. From his reaction, you would think he’d been paid a million dollars.

He left us with hugs and a promise to return; "to fish," when things were back to normal. The telephone rang Sunday afternoon – a terrible accident. The Bible teaches us to "take care when entertaining strangers; there might be an Angel unaware." Our lives were forever uplifted by this Angel. He took the pieces of our broken world and by the work of his hands made a home. A Perfect Stranger in a strange land.

Samuel Johnson said, "A friend is the Masterpiece of Nature." How true!

We pray that the other Angels guide you to Paradise, Dear Friend. We will always remember and love you."

Harry and Pat Wilson
For all of Pearlington

Service with a Smile!

2006-11-15T08:14:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to welcome two more new members to the C.O.D.R.A. family of those working to rebuild Pearlington, MS.

Corrie Ayers, her family and colleagues from Minnesota are readying themselves for another trip and sends this:

"We are leaving on Saturday 18 November from our church parking lot at 6:30 AM. All are very excited about this trip. Check the blog site during Thanksgiving week for updates as we have time. I hope to put some of the kids writings on the blog site. We don't really have a name for our group. Our t-shirts have the slogan ‘The Ministry of Walking Alongside.’

Otherwise we are just a team of families looking to serve the Lord.

Have a thankful Thanksgiving."

The blog to which Corrie refers is located at....

http://www.heavendeclares.blogspot.com

....and is now a permanent link to this site. Thanks, Corrie et al.

The second new member is Beverly Brown and the folks from Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery, AL. Beverly writes:

"We have been working with Larry Randall since February at the Recovery Center. We came down the 23rd. Then again in July. We are currently helping to sponsor and work on Josephine Ackers house on 8th street. We will be down again in November to help."

Beverly is also Emergency Services Director for American Red Cross of Central Alabama. You can check out their work in Pearlington at:

http://www.frazerumc.org

Men, Friends and Family,

A Thanksgiving team is gearing up to go to Pearlington to work and share Thanksgiving with the people of Mississippi. Men (and women?) going to "give" during Thanksgiving. Our circle will include volunteers from around the country, demonstrating what "commitment before ego" looks like.

They will learn from our circle how men do work together. Circling up around large fires at night, sharing our lessons and insights, recognizing our accomplishments, initiating honorary Dog Soldiers, and celebrating. Many of the other volunteer group’s members have already asked if they can be part of our trip. We will be eating together in the mess tent at the Elementary School, and staying on-site too.

If this stirs you, call me. There will be a lasting and indelible mark left on your soul; having given yourself to others, especially when there are a myriad of options for you when staying right here/home, and a million reasons not to go do something away from family and friends.

Thank you, Tim Goodnow
770-475-1743

Folks: If you are as yet unfamiliar with Tim Goodnow and his remarkable organization, treat yourself to their web site located at:

http://www.dogsoldiersonline.com

You’ll be glad you did!

The Fate of a School

2006-11-10T12:18:00.000-05:00

Jeanne Brooks sends the following, from the SunHerald, concerning the disposition of Chas. B. Murphy Elementary School:

HANCOCK COUNTY - Construction could begin sometime in the spring on a new elementary school for students in Lakeshore and Pearlington, according to district officials.

School Board President Morgan Ladner said site preparation for the new school will soon begin at the old Gulfview Elementary location at the corner of Lower Bay Road and Lakeshore Drive. The board voted this week on the location.

Gulfview Elementary and Charles B. Murphy Elementary were demolished after Hurricane Katrina struck last year. Since the storm, students have been forced to drive more than 12 miles to classes on the high school campus near Stennis International Airport.

"This is good news for the people in the southern portion of the county," Ladner said. "We plan to have a state-of-the-art facility, the best on the Coast, for the students of Pearlington and Lakeshore. "In order to use federal funds to help build the school, the district has to meet FEMA's flood guidelines, which means rebuilding on high ground.

District officials recently narrowed a list of potential sites for the new school to two properties: The Gulfview campus and property along Lower Bay Road near U.S. 90.Ladner said the Gulfview campus is higher above the flood plain than the other property and the district would not have to purchase any land.

"The deciding factor was that this was the highest of the two," he said. Ladner said parents and students will likely come up with a list of suggested names for the new school and then the school board will select one. In addition, students may determine a mascot and the school colors.

Jeanne Brooks

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

(William Butler Yeats)

The Passing of a Family Man

2006-11-09T16:55:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

My father-in-law Leo Killoran passed away quietly, earlier this afternoon. His loving daughter Marian stood at his side and held his hand as he began his next great adventure.

I have never been so proud of my wife, as she took this journey with him, constantly at his side these past two weeks. I had a quiet moment of my own with Leo a couple of weeks ago. I shared with him my own father’s death and the impact it had on me. I was able to say things to Leo my own father was too hurt to hear and I was too hurt to say. As I spoke quietly with him that day, I know another piece of my own heart was healed. I am not the frightened, abused little boy I was that Christmas Eve, 38 years ago.

And Leo, surrounded by his 13 children and his wife of almost 60 years, was able to say some things to me my own father would never say.

Marian and I, her mother, eleven brothers and sister wish me to thank all the wonderful people - friends from all over North America and Europe - who prayed for Leo and his family. It is a remarkable thing to have such friends, united in God and in the spirit of unconditional love.
Thank you also for allowing me to share this with you, here alone in this home so filled with love and partnership. Leo’s death has caused me to consider my own, and I know that I will count my success in life not in dollars, but in those I love and who love me.

It is the currency with which we do this work in Pearlington. It is the coin that will save the world and it is the wages of faith and trust in a loving and merciful God.

Thank you Leo for the gifts of spirit you imparted, even in death.

I am blessed.

Kind regards,
Jon White

The Newest Member of C.O.D.R.A.

2006-11-09T07:34:00.000-05:00

It is with pleasure that I introduce to you the newest addition to the C.O.D.R.A. Family: First Baptist Church of Livingston, TN.

Colleen Richardson sends this moving story:

"First Baptist Church Livingston, TN completed their FIRST Work Trip the week of October 9-14, but that was not the beginning and it will not be the end.

The Lord led eight women from the Women’s Missionary Union of Livingston FBC to Mississippi on a short mission trip in April 2006. He had hidden His agenda from them, but by faith they went, knowing little more than they would deliver clothing to a group of teachers in a Gulf Coast town. The story of this trip is wonderfully long, but the most important fact was that the Lord was in charge and revealed much in the journey. The women spent one morning assisting in the Pearlington Recovery Center, known as the Pearl-Mart where food, clothing, and household supplies are free to those in need. The women were overwhelmed with the devastation they saw, but were uplifted by the atmosphere of love and compassion. With volunteers from all over the country they were humbled to be served a free lunch at the Missionary Baptist Church.

Beginning with an "Unmentionables Shower" the Lord began providing for needs through them. The church approved the monies to purchase enough electrical supplies for five homes. These supplies were delivered to Pearlington First Southern Baptist Church for distribution. Upon their arrival the four men, who delivered the supplies, were informed that there were homes ready for electrical installation immediately. The Lord is The Great planner!

During the summer, plans began to shape up for an October work trip with the assistance of Jennifer Johnson, of Huntsville,AL. Jennifer was invaluable in her guidance and experience in working in Pearlington. She encouraged us to make a visit to Pearlington before the actual work week. We chose a week-end when Jennifer and the BRICK LAYERS were also in town. Jennifer put us in contact with Laurie Spaschak of the Pearlington Recovery Center and David and Patti Baldwin coordinators at the First Southern Baptist Church Pearlington. All were ready to assist us any way.

Arriving in Pearlington, our advance group was once more struck by the recovery needs still so apparent even after one year since Katrina hit. The volunteers we met were inspiring and dedicated, we were more sure than ever that God was doing a mighty work here and we wanted to be a part of it.

Jennifer introduced us to two Pearlington residents, Charles Acker and Rosa Jackson. Both had lost much and were just beginning to restore their homes. We got to know them and they told us their plans. We committed ourselves toward the restoration of these homes.
The FBC work team of 19 men, women and youth arrived one month later and amazed even themselves with the work accomplished, but on our last day, "if only we had one more day", was heard often. We wanted and were committed to do more!

Charles and Rosa are now our family. We talk to them often and are excited that the construction continues by many others. We pray for their needs and our continued part in their plans. We rejoiced to hear that Charles’ exterior siding is completed and his kitchen cabinets have arrived. Rosa is coming to visit us in Livingston for the week-end and we are planning a family reunion. We will return to Pearlington early in 2007 to continue the work. God is a working in many ways in Pearlington.

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." [Hebrews 3:4.}

I encourage you to join with God in this work, you will be blessed!"

Check out FBC Livingston at: www.fbclivingston.com

Focus On: One House at a Time

2006-11-08T12:23:00.000-05:00

One House at a Time needs our help.

When Ministry Director, Glenn Locklin, left his business and came to Pearlington from Gallatin, TN 11 months ago, he was committed to doing what he could to get people back in their homes. Not even a tornado in his hometown could deter him. He lost two good friends in that event last April, but God was watching over his home and his family and they were spared.

To date, One House has built 11 homes, been instrumental in the completion of four others and currently has five more that he needs now to complete. As usual, donations are the challenge. He has committed personally to another year of service and needs our help.

Currently, Glenn is working with another great organization, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, on a rebuild of the Watson home. He has plans in hand for Jackie Acker’s rebuild, but desperately needs help if this is to become a reality for her.

If you can help, please contact Glenn directly at:

One House at a Time
Glenn Locklin
moonlightpaint@hotmail.com
(615) 496-6981.

Check out the following links for information on this project:

http://www.moonlightpainting.com/pearlington.htm
http://www.onehouseatatime.com

Dennis & Ivey Watson, with two of their children,
front row center

Wonderful News from Pearlington!

2006-11-05T10:41:00.000-05:00

GREAT news out of Pearlington!

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), one of the founding members of C.O.D.R.A. under the skilled local direction of Charlie Holmes, has announced a new grant of $250,000 from American Baptist Churches - USA. Two of their representatives visited Pearlington a few weeks ago and were clearly touched by the needs there. Nell Nation sends the photo below, of Kenneth George (left) and Vickie Goff posing with Rev. Rawls at the Missionary Church, where they're still serving lunches daily.

Three cheers for CBF! More details will be shared as they become available.

Upcoming Volunteer Trips to Pearlington:

Curt Liedel posts this:

"We have 25 to 30 folks from Howell, Michigan heading your way on Nov. 4th. We will be at the PDA camp with 40 or 50 other folks from Michigan."

John Chickering sends this:

"Franklin United Methodist Church is probably going to head back to MS in 2007. In fact, I'm working on two trips. One is the week of March 10th - 17th. The other is the week of July 7th - 14th. Let's plan on around 20 each time. I've just started the sign up process for the March trip. We'd like to head back over to the Pearlington Recovery Center."

Larry Charbonneau logs in also, with this:

"We are also starting to think about a trip in February or March. I will keep you all in touch."

CBF Activities:

Nell Nation sends along an update on their activities:

"The team from Winter Park Bapt. Church, Wilmington, NC, is there (AGAIN) doing what they do best....foundations and getting houses ready for finish work. What a great team! Some of them have decided to stay thru next week! They even have some folks from New Hampshire helping out.

The most telling clue of success was the number of people who had lunch at First Missionary Bapt. Church. The building was full, and volunteers kept coming. There are a lot of workers in Pearlington building houses. In Sept. the lunch crowd was down to fewer than 15. November is looking good.

We visited Lois and Debra Kelly. Their house is about 4-6 inches off it's foundation and to repair it was going to be a nightmare. Some group has taken on this repair job [Bucks-Mont Katrina Relief Project - more on this later - Ed.], so we will move on to the next project.

One of the teams coming in next week is Calvary Baptist - Denver (our Colorado hurch). We will be there to greet them Sunday....

Next Thursday evening a truckload of furniture, appliances and other goods will be arriving from Rome & Cave Springs, GA. Driver is Barbara Elliott, choir director of Rome Presbyterian Church. She & two friends will be staying overnight. Then on Saturday 11/11, Lynn Lusk (Beauregard United Methodist Church, Wesson, MS) will be bringing more furniture. Things are taking shape in Pearlington.

Thanks to all who are helping out!"

Plea for Help:

Linda Edwards of Pickin’ Up The Pieces, is urgently asking for help:

"Pickin' Up the Pieces is continuing relief efforts in Pearlington, Mississippi. We just had 10 volunteers return from a very successful rebuilding trip October 1-5.

We are returning to Mississippi Nov. 17 - 20. We will be leaving Savannah Friday evening, working Sat. and Sun., returning no later than mid-day Monday. Our plan is to finish up a home (see photo below) that was started by the One House at a Time Project. The home primarily needs some electrical and plumbing work done before the family of 7 (including 1 wheelchair bound family member) can move into their new home. Be a part of enabling this family to spend their first holiday in their new home!

We desperately need an electrician, a plumber and a generally handy person to accompany us on a very short (4 day) rebuilding trip. If you are one or know of one, please contact us ASAP.

We are also planning other volunteer trips in the upcoming months. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, if you want to be involved, or know of an organization and/or person that would be interested in accompanying us, we would love to share our information."

Gulf residents still need our help desperately.

www.pickinupthepieces.org
Tel: (912) 429-4220

Speaking of One House At A Time, please check out this link to their organization. They need out support!

The Moving Finger Writes....

2006-10-18T09:26:00.000-04:00

SCHOOL STUFF:
Few in Pearlington have been so dedicated as former head teacher at Charles B. Murphy school, Jeanne Brooks. Jeanne needs our help.

She sends this:

"If possible could you put out a request for some help here at the "new and improved" school site? KaBoom is putting in a badly needed playground here on October 28th and we need some help. The 26th and 27th are prep days and the 28th is the actual install. If there are any volunteers in Pearlington that week that would like to help, we would be so grateful! I'll give you more information if you need it, but you can use my email address or the number here at the school for a contact. Thanks so much!"

228 467-4655
brooksjeanne@hotmail.com

Let’s help Jeannie and KaBoom get ‘er done!

DALLAS TRAMMEL:
Another dedicated resident of Pearlington is Dallas Trammel. Dallas provided me with much needed community support back in the fall of last year, when I was managing the Recovery Center. Her willingness and hard work were invaluable. This year, she has been volunteering at the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Camp and has proven to be just as invaluable there. She is well-respected by the Volunteer Community in Pearlington and has asked for very little in return.

Charles Holmes, the esteemed leader of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, has taken up her banner. He reports that he has been able to secure a significant amount of material for her rebuild and has applied for grants on her behalf. "The material I purchased should get all walls standing, A shingled roof, and because of a donation of material I THINK will be forthcoming, we can insulate the house. I can still use electrical, plumbing, material.... Cross your fingers, talk to the MAN, lets "git-er-done."

If you can assist in any way in getting Dallas and her family back in their home, please contact Charlie Holmes at:

601-310-2323
cholmes162@netzero.net

WAVELAND CITIZENS’ FUND:
Today you will find a new link located on the right panel. It is to a great web site built and managed by Kathleen Johnson, that shares some excellent information about the local county and state big picture concerning Katrina recovery. I encourage all to check it out frequently.

Kathleen’s site is located here.

COMMUNITY LEGAL WORKSHOP:
On October 19, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Mississippi Center for Justice, and the Mississippi Center for Legal Services will be conducting a community workshop to provide free on-site legal assistance to Hurricane Katrina survivors. The workshop will be held in the Mississippi Center for Justice Building at 974 Division Street, Biloxi, MS from 4:00-7:00 pm and will cover a multitude of issues facing survivors, such as filing a FEMA appeal, landlord-tenant disputes, insurance claims, housing vouchers, home repair, and mortgage forbearance and foreclosure.

Volunteer attorneys will be present at the workshop to answer any questions participants may have through one-on-one consultations. Participants are encouraged to ask any disaster relief-related questions at the workshop and should bring all paperwork related to their questions, including identification, letters from FEMA, lender information, insurance documents, Social Security information, total household annual income, current address, pre-hurricane address, personal contact information, description of losses as a result of the disaster, lease agreements, and rent receipts. Please e-mail me here for a copy of the flyer and directions to the Mississippi Center for Justice Biloxi office. You may also contact Denise Antoine at (228) 435-7284 if you have any questions, at:

(228) 435-7285 - Fax
www.mscenterforjustice.org

FELTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH:
Last, and by no means least, Brittany Overbeck sends this, as spokeswoman for the newest member of C.O.D.R.A.:

"Our team was honored to work in Pearlington in April, through the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program. All told, we worked on 4 or 5 different homes that week, mucking out and hanging drywall. We all felt like we left a part of ourselves in Pearlington.

Since being home we have continued to send items and gift cards to people in Pearlington, written articles for our local papers, given talks about our experience to church and school groups, and are planning on returning in December to "continue the journey". We are constantly coming into contact with people who know about Pearlington, have been there or have heard of the struggles of this amazing town.

We know that God is doing amazing work in Pearlington and are privileged and humbled to be a small part of that work. We strive to keep Pearlington in the forefront of our minds and hearts in the coming years."

Everyone, have a great week!

Weather or Knot....

2006-10-06T10:39:00.000-04:00

Warren Tidwell, a young man from Alabama, has several passions: his wife and family, politics, the weather and Pearlington.

He and I have combined the last two (and who knows, maybe the first two, as well) and created a weather blog for Pearlington.

On this site, Warren will dispense what has always been for me balanced, thoughtful, non-alarmist trend prediction concerning storms brewing in the world that might threaten Pearlington.

It will be informative, instructional and timely.

Please visit Warren's Weather Wisdom at:

http://www.wawewi.blogspot.com

Your comments would be appreciated and may be posted on the site itself. I have also added a link to the right for your convenience.

Please also note that Laurie Spaschak has sent an updated Current Needs List for the Pearl*Mart, which is available at:

http://www.dreamschoolinternational.com/pdf/CurrentNeeds

I have also updated the standing link to the right, under "Downloadable .pdf Files"

Have a great weekend, all!

"Canada Jon"

Update from the Pearlington Recovery Center

2006-10-05T08:32:00.000-04:00

Good morning, all. Laurie Spaschak sends this:

We have a new long term Office assistant to help with volunteer coordination and office management. Bob Paschal is coming in Oct 15th. He will live onsite and has been working with St. Rose De Lima DRO for the last 5 months and comes highly recommended. We have another long term volunteer coming in Oct 11th from Williamstown, Mass; her name is JoEllen and she will be taking the case management training in November and will be working with us to help with assisting the residents with many aspects of the their recovery.

We have a couple, Zeke & Debbie, who used to be with Disaster Corp that have come to stay for a while and will help with camp management and cooking. We have also had a tremendous amount of help lately from several in the community here at the Pearl*Mart: Sheila Jordan, Shirley Thompson, Rosa Jackson, Stacy Bennett, and Marty Ritter and others of the school kids as well.

Four Square Disaster Relief has closed up camp and returned home. Kudos and deep gratitude to the Elliotts for a year of fantastic contribution to the Coast!

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has new management - more info on that later.

Pickin’ Up the Pieces, the Amish and the Catholic Diocese are also working to rebuild homes here in Pearlington.

Glenn Locklin's church has partnered with him to take over and continue One House at A Time projects.

We have had a recent HUGE donation of insulation from Knauf. Two 18-wheelers full and it is allowing us to help over 20 families so far and still going. This was unloaded and delivered to sites with a lot of help from local folks too: Lester Dell and his boys, Toby Earle, Jimmy Smith, and Mike, Gregg and their crew from Walls of Hope.

We are looking forward to the return of Larry Charbonneau, Jennifer Johnson and other of our favorites from the past - they will be coming in this weekend.

We still have openings in November and December for any who wish to come and help.

It continues to be a successful combined effort of all groups and residents here in Pearlington!

Back in the Saddle....

2006-10-04T14:04:00.000-04:00

I am still awaiting further updates from the ground in Pearlington, so let’s start here:

I have made some changes to the Pearlington Report Card blog, as well as this one, and will use it now to post reports from members of C.O.D.R.A. returning from work on the ground. This will allow others to see what you are accomplishing and answer the call to support your work on behalf of the people of Pearlington and offer help in the form of donations, time and labor.

Two reports have been issued today - please check them out at:

http://www.pearlingtonreportcard.blogspot.com

Nell Nation, of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Mississippi is putting out an urgent call for volunteers. Please contact Charles Holmes, on site in Pearlington, at 601-310-2323 for dates and what YOU can do to make a big difference!

This just in from Jennifer Johnson:

"The BRICK Layers of Huntsville, AL will be travelling to Pearlington, MS for their 15th mission trip. Joining us this time will be Trinity Methodist Church from Huntsville, Flint River Baptist Church from Hazel Green, AL, and Bill and Colleen’s group from Livingston, TN. We will meet up with Larry Charbonneau’s group from Houston, TX.

We will continue construction on over 20 homes as well as doing some landscaping. We hope to put the finishing touches on the Ladner house that we started building from the ground up in June. We will also be landscaping the entrance to the Oak Harbor Subdivision in memory of Capt. Harry Bell. We also hope to have a special time of praise and worship on the beach to thank God for all that He has blessed us with this past year."

C.O.D.R.A. would like to welcome today a new member of our Coalition: Felton Presbyterian Church Mississippi Team. Thanks to Brittany Overbeck for her efforts in spearheading the decision to join us and please check out their site at:

http://www.feltonpresbyterian.org/youth.htm

Also, one of our Founding Members, Tom Dalessandri and his colleagues and volunteers from Carbondale, CO have also slightly renamed their group and created a very beautiful web site.

Please check out The Pearlington Project: Mountains to Mississippi at:

http://www.pearlingtonproject.com

John Chickering sends a link to a very interesting blog, by Mississippi Public Broadcasting:

http://beyondkatrina.blogspot.com/

And finally, on a very happy note, Laurie Spaschak at the Pearlington Recovery Center reports that: "Denise Swanson's daughter had a baby girl (2 months early) last Thursday, Sept 28th. Her name is Cadence Alexa and she is doing fine. She is small but healthy and Mom is doing very well, too."

More to come soon....

Thanks for being my Pearlington Family in our time of need for support and prayers.

God Bless,
Jon White

Coming Soon to a Blog Near YOU....

2006-10-03T19:04:00.000-04:00

Greetings,

Look for a new posting to our Pearlington Blog shortly!

"Canada Jon"

A Tear From Me To You

2006-08-29T21:42:00.000-04:00

Tonight, it's been a year,

We met each other here;

Here I am, all alone,

While thoughts of you go on.

Hear me crying out to you,

We said: "Never, never will we leave."

Here's a tear from me to you,

and maybe it will make you hear me....

May the people of Pearlington and their extended families and friends move forward with Courage and Faith. May God continue to bless the people of the coast and may they rest in our arms and in our hearts for as long as they need.

God bless,
Canada Jon

First Annual Volunteer Reunion

2006-08-27T20:32:00.000-04:00

About 80 volunteers and a few local residents gathered yesterday at the home of Susie Sharp, on Hwy. 90, to commemorate the first anniversary of Katrina and to celebrate a year of cooperative and productive volunteerism in Pearlington.

It was a great night, punctuated by outstanding southern cooking, great music and song, as well as an opportunity for renewed friendships and the networking that has marked our year together. Volunteers from all over returned to Pearlington to share our common experiences and to thank the people of Pearlington for the opportunity to serve.

Susie and Pam Kirkland produced, as usual, an amazing meal of jambalaya, Swedish meatballs and BBQ smokies; salads galore and desserts to die for - including one called Death by Chocolate. Randy Turpin manned the grill and the boil pots and expertly delivered a good ole-fashioned Mississippi shrimp and crab boil, filled with whole vegetables and Mississippi’s famous Double-D Sausage. Miss Anne, the Karaoke Queen of Pearlington, was on hand to spin disks and to provide us with a sound system, enabling many of the volunteers to emotionally address the crowd about their personal and group experiences over the past year.

Laughter and tears abounded as some of the original volunteers from early September attended, some making surprise appearances. Dr. Chris and his wife Stephanie, who provided some of the key medical care just after the storm, showed up in their new mobile medical vehicle. They reunited with me and Paula Buhr, as shown in the picture below.

Glen Leavins from Walton County attended and we were blessed with the appearance of Jeff McVay, the Walton County Public Works Manager, who spearheaded Pearlington’s recovery in early September. Also in attendance was Michael Whitehead and Peter Newman. Michael was sent to organize the recovery, at the request of Governor Barbour to Governor Bush of Florida, and managed resources for all six southern counties just after the storm.

Larry Randall and his wife Beth - and of course Laurie Spaschak - were present and spoke of what volunteering in Pearlington has done for them, as this labor of love continues.

Many volunteers spoke eloquently about their experiences and of the common bond of love, friendship and cooperation that has grown between us in the past 12 months. The highlight for me was the induction of Canadian Alexander Yamich, 16, by Tim Goodnow, into the Dog Soldiers as a honorary member. Alex follows in the footsteps of his mother Eileen Powers, who was making her third trip to Pearlington. Alexander represented for us the outstanding work of all the youth volunteers who gave so much of themselves to this recovery effort. The recognition given Alex by the Dog Soldiers was a symbol of a boy coming to Pearlington and returning home a man. I know Alex well and we spent some time last night in quiet reflection together of our experiences here and I hope to share that story soon, with Alex’s permission.

You may read more about the Reunion in today’s Sun Herald, at this link.

Below (when Blogger lets me load them) also find the final tally of "Where Y’All From?" It’s an amazing story and I am deeply humbled and very proud of the small part I have played in the company of such remarkable people. I was thrilled with how the Reunion turned out and already making plans for next year. I think I will let Susie and Pam rest for a while before I spring THAT news on them, however.

It was also wonderful to have my dear wife Marian here for this Reunion. She finally has faces and personalities to go with names and she understands fully now why this has been so important to me and what her unflagging support has meant to me and to Pearlington. She represented all those we leave behind as we do God’s work and how crucial their own contributions have been to this recovery.

Thank you all for this day. May God bless you and the people of Pearlington, as we stand arm in arm and co-create a new and better tomorrow for the people of Pearlington, Mississippi.

"Canada Jon" White

These are the Moments....

2006-08-27T14:13:00.000-04:00

There are moments in life that define your reason for being, that help you understand why God put you here in the first place. They help you breathe and to keep going in the face of even the greatest of challenge and adversity.
I’ve had several such moments this weekend.

So much has happened in a few short days. So much to share: the Gospel Concert, the Reunion, the quiet meetings discussing the future of volunteerism in Pearlington, Ernesto on the move. There was also many gentle moments: sharing Pearlington with my wife Marian, singing songs from the heart, a boy becoming a man under the kind mentoring of the Dog Soldiers.

But, first things first.

Friday night a couple of hundred volunteers and members of the Pearlington black community jammed into New Hope Baptist Church for an evening of gospel music and fellowship in honor of the volunteers. Organized by Joseph Keys and others, it was a night of showcasing the talents and worship of the Pearlington Community Choir and visiting musicians from Mississippi and Louisiana. In short, it was awesome!

Joe had asked me to be the Guest Speaker and to share some thoughts of behalf of all the Pearlington volunteers. I was deeply honored to be asked to do so and I hope I represented you all well. I’ve decided that since I was speaking on behalf of all of you, that I should publish my remarks. I have spoken a thousand times and almost often do it without notes or a prepared speech, but this time I thought it was important to record it all so that I might share it with you.
I have attached it here as a .pdf file you may read or download and, if you think it worthy, I will post it as a permanent addition to this site.

It is available for you to read HERE.

Warren Tidwell, that remarkable young man who is also an amateur meteorologist, will now get his own blog when I return to Canada, to keep us posted on potential storm threats to the Gulf coast area. I trust Warren’s reports; he is neither alarmist nor sensationalistic in his evaluations and will provide all who are interested with up-to-date reports as he creates them - especially if he considers a threat to be looming.

I will create this blog when I return to Canada and let you know when it is available for viewing.

Folks began showing up for the Reunion and there is an expectant tinge in the Pearlington air. Susie Sharp, Pam Kirkland and Mike Aultman; Randy Turpin, Susie’s Texas niece Celia and her husband Ed Boyle were working like Trojans to get the venue ready and the food prepared. Susie and Randy even restored her huge truck shed to pre-Katrina conditions to prepare for the festivities and to ensure we all had a dry place to be. Good thing, too....as I will share in the next posting.

After the Concert, we all repaired to Rev. Rawls’ First Missionary Church for food and, as usual, it was outstanding, welcoming and filled with the sound of joyful people.

Thank you Pearlington for loving us and giving us the gift of your voices and music. It was a night few of us will ever forget and we are touched by your willingness to honor us.

More later....

The Once-Forgotten Town of Pearlington, MS

2006-08-23T20:03:00.000-04:00

It is impossible to comprehend, in the comfort of our own homes, what it must be like to lose everything in a single day.

On Monday, August 29th, just after 10:00 a.m. local time, Hurricane Katrina made landfall, with the eastern eye wall directly over Pearlington, MS - sparing New Orleans the direct hit. Every home, building and vehicle in this town of 1600 was destroyed. If that wasn’t enough, a storm surge travelled 4.5 miles inland and drowned what little was left under 12-20 feet of the most toxic stew imaginable.

Since that day, a hardy coalition of volunteers - representing almost every faith, state, Canadian province, two European nations and an eastern Asian country - have travelled regularly to Pearlington to rebuild this forgotten bayou town. It has been a year of triumph and failure, celebration and frustration, as nearly every governmental group responsible for such things has disappointed the people of Pearlington and, in some cases, made our job harder.

I depart in the morning for Pearlington, there to host the First Annual Pearlington Volunteer Reunion. It will be a gathering of like-minded volunteers, whose only mission is to work together to help Pearlington back to it’s feet.

We need materials and skilled labor desperately; there is still so much to be done.

We will not give up until the task is complete. That is our commitment to Pearlington and we will not fail them. When I created this blog on November 1, 2005, during my second trip to Pearlington, little did I know what a gift it would be to me and what a remarkable tool for communication, information and inspiration it would turn out to be.

I am honored to be a part of this recovery and honored to focus the combined might of C.O.D.R.A. - the Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies in Pearlington - on this monumental task.
God bless you all. I will report next from Pearlington.

"Canada Jon" White
jonw@bconnex.net

Responses....

2006-08-22T12:37:00.000-04:00

Laurie Spaschak reports from Pearlington:

"The huge donation from CertainTeed Insulation arrived tonight. We just got done unloading and sent much of it out to job sites already. It will help over 15 families here get into their homes. The driver, Chuck Waago, helped us for hours in unloading, as so did Glen & Tim, Herb, The Earle family, the Dell Family, Michael Wheat, Larry Randall and others. All helped use their vehicles to deliver to the homes of others as well....even my daughter Maureen pitched in."

Good work, everyone!

This morning I received an email from Michael Whitehead, who was responsible for the very first organized official response from outside Pearlington after Katrina. I plan to read Michael’s email at the Reunion and responded to him and ask his permission to do so.

I won’t share that letter here, now, but I will share his response to my offer to read it at the Reunion. It is important for many reasons and helps us all understand how it is that Pearlington may have been "overlooked" in the early days:

"I was sorely touched by what I saw in Pearlington on Sep 7th and angry at my self that I had taken 5 days to discover that the situation there was so bad. In my defense, I was responsible for 6 counties and I could not afford to focus on cities, much less individuals. All of our resources were being ordered through the State of Florida Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Tallahassee, which was fully activated and supporting our operation in Mississippi. I believe that initially most of the resources that flowed in went to Harrison and Jackson Counties because that is where most of the people were. I realized, belatedly, the Hancock was the hardest hit but was receiving the least help. I tried to make up for that.

A lot of people in Tallahassee at the EOC did some heroic things for Mississippi which are still not widely known. With all the attention that came to Louisiana and New Orleans, not many people realize the incredible feat that Florida accomplished. I am seriously considering writing a book about what Florida did in Mississippi after Katrina so more people will understand the size of the accomplishment.

My narrative focused on my own personal actions in Pearlington, and I would be honored if you would read it, but please emphasize that I was one of 6,000 Floridians who were there. I have attached a copy of an article that I wrote which was published in the Orlando Sentinel last September."

Michael Whitehead
Emergency Management Coordinator
Department of Business & Professional Regulation
Division of Hotels & Restaurants

Quiet in Pearlington

2006-08-17T16:10:00.000-04:00

The anniversary of the storm approaches and things are relatively quiet in Pearlington.

Volunteers are somewhat scarce, I assume because of school starting, but in an ironic twist, there are materials available at the moment, yet not enough labor to use them. I have seen many e-mails across my desk in the past weeks indicating that many groups are coming for the fall and I look forward to seeing a busy hum of rebuilding activity starting again soon.

I’ve been informed that the Mississippi Governor’s Grants are going to be slow in coming. The first of them won’t hit the ground until late September and the balance could be as much as a year after that. If the people of Pearlington and elsewhere seek temporary solutions to get into a house, we are told that the grants may not be used to pay that back and in fact, will disqualify the homeowner. I continually struggle in my heart with the morality of political decisions that affect the very lives of the people, being made by those who have no intention of sharing the misery some of those decisions create.

So, onward Christian soldiers - and others. The task is upon us and we must not falter. There is still great heart and intention to get this job done, and so we will continue.

Thirteen More Sleeps....

2006-08-13T18:37:00.000-04:00

The Reunion plans are coming together and it promises to be an AWESOME thing! There will be a lot going on that weekend and I know that those of us who are able to attend can hardly wait....

Just 13 more sleeps!

"Where Y’all From?" Update:

Short and Sweet

2006-08-10T22:37:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for the many great birthday greetings I received!

I had a wonderful day (we're still eating!) but I promised myself I would post the blog today.

And so, I have.

Pot of Gold

2006-08-09T09:31:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is my birthday. In my family, there is a tradition of "seeding" on one’s birthday; that is, doing on that day of your birth a symbol of what you want for the coming year.

So, I will create a sacred space for my wife Marian and I, in which to spend some meaningful time. I will enjoy my daughter and her husband, who are coming for two days to visit and celebrate me. We will make lots of great food, spend time in prayer and fellowship and, of course, sing. I will post the Pearlington blog and I will energize solutions for the people of Pearlington. I will take two days off from my practice and most other things, and rest.

I will thank God for the Love, Abundance, Service and Joy that fill my days and remind me how hopeful is the human race. I will celebrate the many new American friends I have made and measure the deep respect and admiration I hold for the ones I have drawn particularly close: Laurie Spaschak, Tom Dalessandri, Jennifer Johnson, Charlie Holmes, Tim Goodnow, David Robinson, Bob Putnam, Glenn Locklin and so many others. I will celebrate my friendship with my fellow Canadians from Pearlington: Mary and Wilf Wityshyn, Nancy Semple and Eileen Powers.

I will pray for and send my love to the wonderful people of Pearlington who, in their humanness, have reminded me to look beneath personality and presentation to find the spark, the spirit, that piece of each of us that is eternal and a reflection of our Creator. I will think particularly fondly of Susie Sharp, Mike and Pam - who, while often not understanding my twists and turns - trust me, rely on me and honor me in all things. They have taken this crazy Canadian into their hearts and into their homes and try to follow the moving line as I write the story of my time in Pearlington.

God has led me many places; to the ravages of war, the sobs of a mother as her child dies helplessly before her; to great concert halls and to the pillars of "power" in Washington, Ottawa, Moscow and many faraway places. He has asked me to look deep within myself and to face that which was written for me, yet is not me, and to overcome the narrative of my life that was the legacy of my hurting parents and to find that which is truly me. He has asked me to lead many times and to accept the target that this makes me, but to do it anyway. He has asked me to find love in a faithless world, only to discover it was my own faith I lacked. He has called me to make gestures as small as the hug of a hurting child and as large and sweeping as to change the world, and to trust that both matter and make a difference.

All this and more I will hold in my heart tomorrow, as I enter my 55th year on this great globe. I will sit quietly among the Black-eyed Susans, the Lilies and the Purple Coneflowers that bloom in our gardens from my dear wife’s loving touch, and reflect on this great journey and adventure that is my life.

And on Friday, I will rise early and create the day as He asks. I will be humbly aware that I am just one man and powerfully aware of what He has taught me: that each of us can change this world.

"Desire is a breeze that blows softly through your hair.
Passion is a whirlwind that tears at the very moorings of your soul."
- from the Portal of Passion, Dream School International

What Love Would Do

2006-08-07T13:23:00.000-04:00

There are some tasks in this world that just feel impossible. There are Dreams that we often find impossible to create for ourselves. Some situations just seem impossible to find a way out to the other side.

Then there are those who don’t know the meaning of that word.

I invite you to visit a new set of blogs. These are the so-called "impossible" people of Pearlington. People who have nothing, save their faith in God and in a small band of volunteers who are answering the call of their own spirit and who hear God’s voice on the Mississippi wind.

These ‘impossible" Dreamers are passengers on a new ark, after a new flood, who are depending on God to show them dry land and a new tomorrow.

Please go to:
http://www.pearlingtonahip.blogspot.com

Click on the file entitled: "What Does This Mean" and read what David Robinson of PDA and my own life’s work has inspired.

Then visit each blog and see the truth of the task before us. There are more to come; this is just the beginning. Thanks to the courageous work of Nancy Semple and the leadership of Joseph Keys, we now know more of what must be done.

As you read each case, ask yourself one simple question:

What would Love do?

God bless,
Jon White

Pieces of Pearlington

2006-08-04T11:40:00.000-04:00

The group who yesterday began the task of cleaning Lois Kelly’s lot deserve some recognition, even though they have not asked for it. I do this to inspire all the residents of Pearlington - our brothers and sisters - to reach out to your neighbors in any way you are able, as they reach out to you.

This effort was spearheaded by Susie Sharp (of course!) and Nancy Semple. Susie reports:

"We got five rooms gutted out today and have three more tomorrow. It was a very hot day. We will start on the sheet rock after we finish with the debris. Nancy took pictures of before and after. Randy Turpin, Tommy Dawson, Gary Bell, Nancy and Miss Pat Wilson helped today. We did not have any trouble with anything [not even the spiders!]. We had the backhoe [Susie’s] and Tommy's truck to haul trash.

Nancy and I put up a tent first thing this morning to clean the carport off with plastic tubs full of what knots that the Kelly's had taken out of the house. Frank Cloud fogged the house early this morning."

It is also my understanding that Randy Turpin has rented a bush hog from his own funds, to facilitate today’s work. Thanks to all of you, for a wonderful job well done! Pictures to come....

Tidwell Storm Center Update:
"Storm taking a beating in very unfavorable conditions. Looks like most models have it going across Cuba so hopefully it will be weakened significantly by the time it reaches the gulf. Most models have it travelling well to the west of Pearlington at this point. The storm keeps fighting tooth and nail to stay alive so we still need to keep an eye on it. I'll be watching."

Laurie Spaschak at the Recovery Center reports:
"Thought you might like to have these numbers, based on volunteer registration forms:

2,105 volunteers have come here to help since January 1st, 2006
The total estimated hours for these 2,105 volunteers since January is 75,604 hours

These numbers are for the Pearlington Recovery Center, Pearlington Mississippi. They do not include the PDA volunteers or those staying at Southern Baptist Church.

I am enclosing a picture of the revival that was at the Southern Baptist Church, sponsored by Dennis Flom's Hope Force group and including the Pearlington Churches as well.

Also a picture of Steve Burnsed putting the final nails into the hall bannister board at the top of his stairway. It was autographed on the underside by John Chickering's team, who had spent the week working on the house beforehand.

Here, too, is a picture of me and Victor Cimino - an 82 year old veteran and retired policeman who only just weeks ago finally got a trailer to live in. We had a team there cleaning up the lot and building him a shed. He and some neighbors cooked a fabulous shrimp boil for the group for lunch!
I also plan to get pictures of progress on some other houses that are near completion. Susie Necaise and family will be in their home very shortly; just flooring to put in and cabinets to hang and they are home! Steve Burnsed's and Pam White’s houses are also almost there. I am going to get windows for Michael Wheat’s place tomorrow. All are happy to share photos and thanks with us...."

"Where Y’all From" Update:

"If the states that have sent volunteers are the ones in bright orange than you definitely missed us! The Presbytery of Detroit, Michigan sent 45 people down to Pearlington in March. We are planning a return trip of 65 people in November. Many of us are addicted to keeping track of Pearlington and are regular readers of your blogs."
- Julie Smith

"Ollie Niemi from NH was in Pearlington from Feb 12 to Feb 23 working with One House At A Time. I know cause he came with me. So color NH in."
- John Livingston, Red Hook, NY

"You can add Wisconsin as I sent a group down after we returned. You could also add Switzerland as one who came with us was actually from there, and is back there now."
- Tom Eickhoff, MN

"Hi Jon! We were down in early June from Medina UMC. We loved it there, worked hard, want to go back.... "
- Doug Herr, OH

Come on, Kansas! Where you at?

Have a great day. Things are happenin’!
"Canada Jon"

Hits....and Near Misses

2006-08-03T16:30:00.000-04:00

The pace is quickening in Pearlington - I can feel it and so can others. More is getting done and ideas are surfacing, solutions are being found and help is coming from unexpected quarters. Good work, everyone. I would like to think this journal had a little something to do with that....

Let’s not let up - there is still much to do and folks are counting on our support.

Joseph Keys and Nancy Semple:
Yesterday, Joe Keys - a respected member of the black community in Pearlington - took my Canadian friend Nancy around to meet and do casework on many of the black families still struggling in Pearlington. Many of us have spoken privately of our anguish in seeming to be somewhat unable to reach this segment of the local population. Keep your eye on Adopt-a-Home. I now have valuable information provided by Joe and Nancy that will enable us to reach out here in a way we have not been able to before. Good work, Joesph.

I know how hard this has been for Nancy and I applaud her courage. Yesterday, as I was talking to her on the phone in Pearlington, one of the worst summer thunderstorms in recent memory swept across Ontario. I had to hang up, as I watched an enormous limb of one of my elder Black Walnut trees come crashing down....on her car!

Below is a picture taken during that storm. As it turns out, it narrowly missed her car (and one of ours) and left only debris and a small surface smudge or two on her finish. Someone is clearly looking out for you, girlfriend!

And speaking of storms....

"Tropical Storm Chris":
Warren Tidwell of Alabama is a friend of Pearlington and an amateur meteorologist. He has been tracking this storm for us and reports this today:

9:45 EST:
"Significant weakening overnight as the storm is now tracking over the islands and towards Cuba. Again I hate it for them but it is the best way of dissipating this storm. Looking much better today but no need for an obituary yet."

11:41 EST:
"Downgraded to a depression. Looks like it's weakened as it has dealt with some cool air. We're not out of the woods yet but it's looking a good bit better. If it tracks across Cuba that will severely weaken the storm and impede any development. The further west it tracks after that will be better for the gulf coast. Right now it's looking pretty good for Mississippi but we still need to keep an eye on it."

Warren will keep me informed over the coming days, until the threat has passed. Thanks, Warren.

Where Y’all From?
Below are maps of Canada and the U.S., outlining the states and provinces that have sent volunteers to Pearlington. Have I missed any? As you can see even thus far, the response has been overwhelming.

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The Gift of Lois Kelly

2006-08-02T12:32:00.000-04:00

In Pearlington, I am known as "Canada Jon." This label wasn’t self-created; in the chaos of the very early days after the storm, it was given to me by a family from Oklahoma, to distinguish me from all the other "Johns" present at that time.

But in some other parts of the world I have a different moniker.

In 1996, when I lived with my daughter in the Soviet Union, I created a children’s program - since used in schools in southern Ontario and elsewhere. It’s called Dream School and it teaches children and adults how to create their life’s Dreams and to rise above the "dream stealers" of the world, who seem to relentlessly call us to much less than that of which we are capable.

The Soviet press once called me "nothing but a big dreamer." They meant it as an insult, but the name stuck and frankly, I revel in it.

Tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m., a group of residents of Pearlington - unbidden, unasked - are banding together to clean the horrible year-long mess that is Lois Kelly’s house. Inspired by Nancy Semple, my on-site Canadian friend who did the casework on this family for Adopt-a-Home, they have asked to remain anonymous, as they reach out selflessly to a hurting fellow resident.

It is a particularly nasty job. Some of the most dangerous spiders in the world live in the mess that was once her back yard and the whole house has shifted 6 inches off its foundation. Herb and Dave Robinson have determined that it is "too risky for his volunteers to be exposed to this stuff. The house is literally being reclaimed by the bayou."

It will take bayou folk to claim it back.

A Dream come true for me. This is how it could be, everywhere in the world, as individuals seize the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others through random acts of kindness. It is what I dreamed could happen, back in the fall when it was necessarily "every man for himself." It’s what many of the volunteers have prayed for - a community involved in new ways with each other as they take the bus of recovery together. It’s what is meant by "not one lamb shall be lost."

Others have been involved: Dave Robinson of PDA and Herb Ritchie of PRC have evaluated the house and helped make some decisions about what can and cannot be done. I am proud of all of them. This is the experiment that is Pearlington’s Recovery. This is how it can be done. This is a model of how a community recovers, without the heavy hand of government, nor the moribund hierarchies of monolithic organizations like the Red Cross. This is citizens in action, doing what has to be done.

This is Unconditional Love in Action.

This is the gift of Dancing with Katrina.

Humbly,
"Big Dreamer"

"Love is the only point of departure for intelligent action."
- Deepak Chopra

Hot News!

2006-08-01T14:15:00.000-04:00

Well, it’s 36 degrees Celsius here in southern Ontario today - hotter than in Pearlington. For our American friends (who haven’t yet joined the World Metric Community) that’s 97F. With the Humidex, it feels like 113F. That’s hot enough to fry enchiladas!

So much for the "Frozen North."

A Note from Laurie:

"We need volunteers!!!!!

We are almost empty for the rest of August and first half of September. I know school is starting again and all but I am afraid that folks will feel that we have given up helping if we have 3 weeks of no volunteers.

I have materials to rebuild with if you will come. We still need electricians, roofers and plumbers but we also have drywall to put up and finish. Please put the call out for anyone who can spare a couple days to please come and make a difference here...."

Let’s get on this, please!

After all. it’s cool in Pearlington....relatively speaking....

"Canada Jon"

Where Y'all From?

2006-07-31T17:45:00.000-04:00

I’ve always wanted to be able to say: "When I awoke from my nap this afternoon...."

A friend of mine says that when you have a ton of things on your To Do List, it’s important to get your nap out of the way first. I never used to get one, but since I "semi-retired" last year, to concentrate more time on volunteering for Pearlington, I am more able to say:

When I awoke from my nap this afternoon, I had an idea. I would like, for the Reunion, to know more precisely where everyone who volunteers in Pearlington, is from. Charlie Holmes, of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, says that the top three suppliers of Pearlington volunteers is North Carolina, Colorado and Canada. Think he’s right?

Let’s find out. Everyone who reads this, please send me a fast email, with your state or province in the subject line. Say hello, if you want to, but that’s all I really need. I would like to read the results at the Reunion and see if we can fill in all 48 contiguous states and 10 provinces of Canada. I have a great map I can color and then post on the blog.

Send your e-mail to: jonw@bconnex.net

If you are not on the Pearlington mailing list and would like to join, please indicate so in the body of the e-mail. This list enables me to send out group e-mails from my server to inform you of new postings and other valuable information, I sometimes don’t wish to post publicly.

Let’s see if we can color in the entire map of North America and beyond.

Have a great week. There’s lots of great info coming your way. Please check the Adopt-a-Home blog, as new families are being posted.

Thanks,
"Canada Jon" White

More Stuff....

2006-07-28T13:18:00.000-04:00

Only 30 more sleeps until the reunion. Make sure you have contacted me with your guest list, please. We need to know how much food etc. to prepare.

Great things are afoot, including a very special Gospel Musical in Pearlington, to honour the volunteers. It is being organized by Mr. Joseph Keys and will be held the night before the Reunion. I will post the program and full information, as soon as I have received it from Joseph.

Blogathon:
Just a reminder that Dr. Sharon Gerald will be manning a 24 hr blogathon this Saturday, July 29, 8 am to July 30, 8 am in support of Pearlington. The site is:

http://blogpearlington.blogspot.com

Sharon teaches English & literature. We need to catch her and her fellow teachers misspelling, and making grammar errors at 3:00 am!! Join the fun. This event historically has raised an amazingly successful amount of money.

Livingston F.B.C.:
Check out what’s happening in Livingston, TN at the First Baptist Church and what they’re planning for Pearlington. There web site is here.

Stuff....

2006-07-27T16:18:00.000-04:00

New Phones:
The Recovery Center was able to negotiate a decent deal for cell phones for their use. The new numbers are as follows:

Laurie Spaschak: 228-342-4247
Larry Randall: 228-342-4245
Herb Ritchie: 228-342-4246

Laurie is still using her cell phone, but would prefer to do business at this new number.

School Uniforms:
Look for a new link to the right of this panel very soon. The Hancock County Board of Education has decreed this year that all students must wear uniforms. In fact, they were supposed to wear them last year, but the decision was abated because of the storm. We are working on the protocol and then will ask for your support in helping to equip the kids of Pearlington with their new threads. They have endured a great deal and have been shuffled around this year; let’s make sure they don’t stand out and have everything they need to begin school on August 14.

That’s not much time, so we are on top of it. I am awaiting a list of sizes for all the kids. Two of our most loyal volunteers at the Recovery Center: Stacy Bennett and LeeAnn Hecker, are working feverishly on this. The Dress Code is already listed on the side and I will post the sizes as soon as I get them.

Let’s get right to work on this, please!

Other thoughts about Faith:
"I prayed this morning that today would go well, that we would accomplish much and do God's work. As I kept checking in with the groups during the day, each was getting more done than I had expected. The ladies from the community showed up unexpectedly and helped in Pearl*Mart all day, and on their own came up with a project to help get uniforms and supplies for the kids who go back to school on the 14th.

A phone call came and a playground full of equipment is being donated, to arrive in a few months. A volunteer called Hobart Company (the manufacturer of the new freezer unit we can't figure out) and they want to help and will send someone to put it together for us. It rained and cooled off nicely, all the work around the camp was done when I got back from a meeting this afternoon. The whole day went without a hitch!

I think Pearlington has a direct line to God still. Whenever we gather and pray here, we are heard and answered, like nowhere I have ever seen before. We are going now to a Gospel Revival at the Southern Baptist Church, a collaboration of all the churches here in town, to say thanks and have fellowship...."
- Laurie Spaschak

"From my view, there is a phenomenon occurring in Pearlington and other parts affected by Katrina, that has not occurred before in this country, at this degree. The numbers of volunteers, the amount of resources, and the projects taken on, seems to go on unabated, even at this date, almost 11 months after Katrina made landfall on August 29th, 2005.

I believe that history is in the making, and that this effort will set the model and the example for volunteerism throughout the country for years to come."
- Tim Goodnow, Dog Soldiers

Special Note:
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Mississippi reports that volunteers are urgently needed for the last 2 weeks of August and all of September.

Please contact Nell Nation.

The Shining Face of Faith

2006-07-26T08:25:00.000-04:00

I recently got an email from a Pearlington resident, asking me - out of frustration and weariness - to assure her that everything would be all right. My reply to her included this:

"I wish I could wave my wand and make everything all right. But I cannot - only God can. I do know this: the Universe was not created to punish us - we all do a good enough job at that ourselves. I ask you to have faith - belief without evidence - and trust that things will, in the end, be as they should."

Those of us who have, over the many months, watched this recovery unfold are very clear about something. There is magic afoot in Pearlington. Too many times, thousands now, when we needed something to get the job done, it has shown up at exactly the right time. Serendipity, synchronicity, coincidence, happenstance - they are words that seem to speak of unguided occurrence but are, in fact, descriptions of how God works.

So what is this faith we possess that convinces us that things are unfolding as they should?

Faith is such an easy concept to speak of and such a difficult one to live. As a therapist, I’m frequently surprised by how many Christians speak of it in hushed and reverent sentences, yet live lives devoid of its reassurance and comfort. Faith is the antithesis of control and control is an illusion. We are not in control of anything - just ask the people of Pearlington.

Faith is not an intellectual nor religious concept. It is an emotional and spiritual way of life, a way of being in the world. It understands that NOTHING is random, that all has a purpose and that purpose is to call us to our highest place as individuals and to our highest common denominator as a species. It allows and accepts change - even catastrophic change - as part of our Creator’s plan to call us to that place.

Have we responded?

I have watched the great majority of volunteers in Pearlington work their way to that place. C.O.D.R.A. is not a political nor even a practical device; I created it as a symbol of that unity, that highest common place of spirit in which we reach out in service. In the process, most of us have empowered our own lives in ways and areas that the people of Pearlington may never truly know nor understand the loving nature of their gift to us.

Yesterday, I found the blog of a group of young people from near Seattle who are currently serving in Pearlington. Go there, click on the group picture from Monday, July 24th’s posting and examine their beautiful, shining faces and read their words. Their excitement and dedication; their innocence and willingness to serve is the gift Katrina provides. If this is the future, we are indeed in good hands. Never mind the kids who seem to be frittering away their youth - look at the ones who are making a difference, in other’s lives and in their own.

And what of the folks of Pearlington who have "lost all?"

Many tell me their faith has been restored by our determination and commitment. Some will have homes better than the ones destroyed. Some have been required to examine the meaning of their lives closely and to make life-altering decisions. Some have reached out to help neighbors they didn’t know or cared much existed before the storm. Some have found their own place of service.

Most importantly, THEY ARE ALIVE, in the truest sense of that word. They are awake and conscious and aware of what matters most to them. How many Katrinas, how many tsunamis, how many Iraqs and Lebanons will have to happen before we ALL wake up to what is real and valuable in the world? We are brothers and sisters in spirit and we are all in this together. None of us is going anywhere until we all are ready to go - together, arms linked, heads held high, skidding into Heaven with a hearty "Ya-hoo!"

Katrina isn’t the worst thing that ever happened. Hate, anger, apathy, bigotry and loneliness far exceed her toll. Let’s not wrestle with Katrina. Let’s dance with her and receive her gifts.

They are gifts from God.

Bits, Bytes and Pix

2006-07-25T07:33:00.000-04:00

There is lots of news to share in the next couple of days.

Buster’s Badge:
Buster has finally earned his "wings." After many months of study and preparation, Buster has finally earned his Hancock County Firefighter’s Badge. We join the Verden family in congratulating Buster for his determination and commitment to the protection of his community.

Gospel Revival for Pearlington Volunteers:
Laurie Spaschak writes: "Jon - I just heard from Joe Keys, the gospel revival for the volunteers is on, with a group of singers that Joe knows and all the local folk. It is specifically to thank the volunteers so I sure hope we have a bunch coming! It is scheduled for Friday night the 25th - the day before the volunteer party. It is at the New Hope Baptist Church in the evening....

I actually think we may have several residents back in their homes in the next month. I talked to some today and asked if we can post pictures of them when they are finished so we can actually see some accomplishments and they are all gladly agreeable.

We have Mississippi Public Broadcasting here with us all week - doing a brief series on "A Week as a Volunteer" and possibly a documentary. They already can see that there is more than enough for a story...." Adam Daniel and photography Randy are from Jackson, MS.

SupPort-a-Pottie:
Through the generosity of Spring Hill Presbyterian Church, of Mobile, AL and facilitated by Andrew Harper, there will be two new Porta-Potties in Pearlington soon. Thank you all for your generous support. We need more, so let’s see who can match Spring Hill’s commitment!

Chickering Trip:
John Chickering, who recently worked with his team in Pearlington, sends this accounting given to his local news service.

Please also visit his Photo Album; there are some great pictures. At the risk of my personal safety, I have dubbed them: Chick's Pix:

Free Transport to Pearlington:
Bob Britts sends the following:

"Water Missions International will be sending one truck and a van to Pearlington the last week of August. I have spoken briefly with George Greene IV of WMI and Tim Goodnow of the Dog Soldiers about the possibility of picking up building supplies on the way and bringing them to Pearlington in these pick-up trucks. I have made a few calls here in the Columbia SC area and Charleston SC area. I have started looking at the Adopt-a-Home section on the Pearlingtonahip.blogspot.com blog to see what is needed.

If anyone in the SC area could benefit from this transport, please contact Bob.

More to come....

Farewell to MEMA Mike

2006-07-23T18:56:00.000-04:00

There is so much that goes on behind the scenes getting Pearlington back to its feet. Much of it will never be known; there are just too many people doing too much to even start the telling. They all have something in common, though. They are all heroes, unconditionally loving a little devastated town back to life.

They toil in silence and sometimes relative obscurity, because none of us signed on for glory or recognition. They make their contribution and hold their families more closely each night. But, we all have a bond, an indescribable brother and sisterhood that binds us together forever. It is why the Reunion is so important to me. I have said before that we have shared a common peril, the "Foxhole Effect," and it has forever changed our lives.

This family of volunteers and others goes well beyond the call of duty, because we wish to know on our final day that we tried to make a difference. And when we lose one of our own, it hurts as if we lost a dear heart with whom we made a connection. It is a bond that words cannot describe, nor challenge diminish, nor death sever.

Today we say goodbye to "MEMA Mike" - Michael Dill.

During Hurricane Katrina, Mike served as a member of the State's Emergency Response Team that deployed to Camp Shelby in Forrest County and then to Harrison County to serve as the operations center for the six most southern counties. He also served as the Area Coordinator liaison for Hancock County for several months following Katrina.

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors and Emergency Management Director presented Mike with a plaque honoring him for his service to their county during the disaster. In 2003, Mike also received an appreciation award from the Mississippi Civil Defense/Emergency Management Association for his support and service to the association and the field of emergency management.

Those are the facts. Paula Buhr knew him in a different way, and sends this:

"This is MEMA Mike....my friend and problem-solver. He was with us in Pearlington and helped keep the clinic open. He was there sending supplies to the Pearl Mart....bulldozers, fork lift, port-a-potties, and anything else he could round up. Mike became a friend and an ally of Pearlington. He knew we needed everything. Mike would work hours upon hours looking for supplies.

I am so sad that my friend has died. Our friendship did not end with Mike returning to Jackson and me returning to Houston. His wife Debbie and I became fast friends when they came out to visit my husband, Craig and our children. It was Craig's 60th and we wanted the Dill's to come celebrate. In usual Dill style, he helped set up the Hawaiian Luau. Mike and I have continued to speak probably 2-3 times a week. We just loved each other. He said I reminded him of Debbie and he reminded me of Craig. The bond we made in the disaster was a life long friendship.

I will miss my dear loved friend. Please pray for Debbie and her family."

Focus On: Bob Putnam

2006-07-21T04:12:00.000-04:00

Bob Putnam came to the coast after Katrina to redeem himself.

Years before, he watched with cynicism as his sister formed her own charitable organization, Labor of Love. He watched over the years, convinced that it would never work, as she and her team worked one regional disaster after another. By the time she was finally driven out of business by politics and then saddled with a significant debt, Bob had learned an important thing.

It DOES work. Independent and faith-based groups could indeed make a difference in this world.

Originally from New York, Bob left his home in Boston to help on the coast with the Salvation Army. A one-time resident of Biloxi, Bob operated a large distribution center for the Salvation Army for three months after the storm. Sent to Pearlington by CAN-DO founder Eric Klein, just to do a "simple assessment," Bob knew where the need was the greatest.

He’s been here ever since.

A valuable member of the Pearlington Volunteer Community, Bob has an innate gift to see the Big Picture. I can tell you, from personal experience, that’s not always a good thing. It tends to be the guy out front, fearlessly carrying the banner, who often makes the most convenient target. Yet Bob is nothing if not persistent and he has assisted greatly with the smooth operation of the Recovery Center and has facilitated food and materials from the Salvation Army and many other contacts. He has negotiated favorable rates on building materials and is well-connected all over the country. Bob now represents CAN-DO’s initiatives on the entire Gulf Coast.

I will not share any of Bob and CAN-DO’s plans. They are not mine to share. Suffice it to say, though, that not only will Bob "redeem" himself, but he will leave an indelible mark on the hearts and spirits of the residents and volunteers alike of Pearlington. His experience, wisdom and insight serves this community well and we support him fully.

Bob says, "This is just my way of keeping my sister’s dream alive. If you are not part of the solution, you are still being a part of the problem."

Flashes from P'Town

2006-07-20T18:55:00.000-04:00

Only 38 more sleeps until the Reunion! If you haven't registered with me yet, please do it now!

You will notice a new link to the right: Making a Difference - Matching YOUR Resources to Need. It is your invitation to examine what you could contribute in resources and labor to Pearlington, then letting us match that up with an existing need. Please check it out....

Laurie Spaschak shares this:
The First Missionary Baptist church, where Jackie Acker and her colleagues have been serving those great southern lunches to volunteers, is coming down. It will be rebuilt on the same site and as close to original as possible. The folks were told Sunday at service....

Wendy Gerald sends this:
I'm sure you don't remember me, but I met you once briefly at Susie Sharp's place. I am with University Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, and I've been to Pearlington a few times this year, either with a church group or on my own to help Charles Holmes out a little.
A friend of mine came up with an idea for a fund raiser for Pearlington. She wants to participate in Blogathon 2006.

The idea is that we blog every thirty minutes continuously for 24 hours. Then we get people to sponsor us by donating money to the charity of our choice.

My friend who approached me about this wants the money to go to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Mississippi or University Baptist Church. Because of my involvement in the church, I can report back to the people who supported us on how the money was spent.

SO: Please check out my new blog at http://www.blogpearlington.blogspot.com

I'll be blogging there all day next Saturday, July 29, to raise money to help rebuild Pearlington. Please help spread the word. The money raised will go to the University Baptist Church Pearlington Recovery Fund. Donations of all sizes are accepted and appreciated.

Anyone who has seen Pearlington knows how much still needs to be done. For those who have not been able to see the devastation first hand, I'll be talking all day about what the needs are in Pearlington, what the combined efforts of UBC, CBF and other faith-based organizations have been able to accomplish thus far, and what we can all still do to help.

Meet me at the blog!
Sharon

Speaking of blogs....
It is my great pleasure and satisfaction to announce that the combined blogs I have created for Pearlington since the storm have now exceeded 20,000 hits! More than 30,000 pages have been read and it has turned out to be, with your continuous support, a remarkable tool for cooperation, action, information and inspiration.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for caring.

Final item....
It seems some who read this blog aren’t aware there is a mailing list I maintain. It not only informs you of new postings to the Pearlington and the Sharing Pearlington blogs, but also allows me to put out Calls to Action and other materials I may not want to go public with tight away, or information only for the volunteers.

Click on the button to the right if you are not yet on the list and I will make sure you get on it right away.

Everyone keep rocking!
Canada Jon

Back Home Again: Capt. Harry Bell

2006-07-19T09:25:00.000-04:00

Harry Bell’s life is part of the rich tapestry that is the historical fabric of Pearlington. It symbolizes the spirit of Gulf Coast people and their story of survival.

When he passed away last week, this is how that life was commemorated locally:

Capt. Bell's life was fit for a novel
Joshua Norman, Sun Herald

How do you sum up the life of a man whose life story would put to shame the wildest imagination of the best novelist?

For Capt. Harry L. Bell's family, the answer is simple: You don't.

"He led an incredible life," said Brehm Bell, one of Bell's four children. "I can't encapsulate it. He was just a very gracious man."

Put simply, Bell, 72, was a tugboat captain, a New Orleans operations manager for T.E.C.O. Ocean Shipping, a bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Waveland, and an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts.

That does not begin to describe the life of a man whose legendary stories include, among other things: being electrocuted; being shipwrecked several times; surviving a brutal car wreck and week long coma; plunging into a bay off a drawbridge on a motorcycle escaping a sheriff who did not like that he was dating his daughter; weathering countless storms at sea; swimming five miles on Lake Pontchartrain looking for help for a wounded fellow seaman; and, in one of his last heroic acts at the age of 71, piloting a small skiff through his Pearlington neighborhood as the eye of Katrina passed overhead, rescuing several people from crumbling homes to bring them back to safety on his shrimp boat.

Bell also took the fundamental doctrine of charity of his Mormon faith very seriously, his son said, giving countless interest-free loans to his neighbors and constantly stopping on the roadside to help stranded motorists.

"I know of at least two occasions where he'd just buy engines for them," his son said. "He had a shed of tools that he mostly would loan out to friends."

For Brehm Bell and his siblings, though, their father was above all else a waterman.

"When he was out on the water, he loved it," his son said, adding that he would regularly take the family out with him. Bell would often shrimp for fun and just give his catch to friends.

"Fishing and shrimping with him was the best of times," he said.

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down....

2006-07-16T12:59:00.000-04:00

By Laurie Spaschak - Pearlington Recovery Center

As the machines woke with the sunrise, the majority of the school buildings are down, but by the time the sun was high, the majority of the walls on the storage barn were up - thanks to the perseverance and ingenuity of Bill Kitteredge's UMC group.

We were expecting a trailer of materials to arrive for the sides, so we waited and waited - and then tore down the old pump shed in back of the school that was to be bulldozed so we could save the tin off it. We waited some more, then they went to work with what we had; the tin from the shed and the rest of the church roofing that Doug Pennington salvaged for us. Lo and behold it was enough to do almost 3 walls, in a hot long Mississippi day. Just in time for a truckload of drywall from the Chickering group to arrive and take the place of the last pile that went out to be hung by Glenn Locklin's team.

When you left this morning the political tension was permeating the entire compound and chaos was winning the race for noon. As we wondered what happened to the trailer of tin for the sides of the storage barn that was due at 10 a.m., Conrad Velasco was dealing with the local police. It seems that a couple of ill-minded dudes in a red F350 had come in at dusk and hooked up the trailer and left with it. Under the pile of tin that was to come here, was 2,500$ worth of new lumber to begin building a house for another family. Their loss far exceeds ours in every way and we are all on the look out for the missing trailer.

Steve Burnsed's house will actually be seeing paint this week, thanks to the combined effort of several groups including Larry Charbonneau's, Dave Meanor's and John Chickering's hard working teams. Dave Meanor's group finished the work begun by Larry Charbonneau on my office and it is actually comfortable in there for a change! (And I almost got rid of all the sawdust!!! Just kidding guys...)

Charles Acker is well on the way to getting insulation and drywall in the next two weeks and Orealia Marshall's roof got fixed. Pam White's place is almost ready to move in to and Michael Wheat is just waiting for windows and his siding is going to be up this week.

It's amazing the progress that has begun to roll through here.

Walls come down and we keep the faith and put ip new ones. Bulldozers and politics or not, it was still a very good week.

Goodbye to Old Friends....

2006-07-15T07:36:00.000-04:00

Despite lots of progress and miracles of new birth and rebuilding every day, there is also sad news coming out of Pearlington in the last few days.

Despite personally being told by School Board president Morgan Ladner, at the board meeting Thursday, July 7th, that the demolition of Chas. B. Murphy E.S. "had not yet been decided," the dozers showed up the following morning. By the time I left on Monday the 10th, they were hard at work.

The only thing remaining of the much beloved school is the Library and Pearl*Mart (gym). I am awaiting final pictures of the remains. The photos below were taken just as I was leaving town on Monday last.

We thank God for the mercy of the remaining portions and join all of Pearlington in grieving for what was once a vibrant and distinguished place of learning.

On Thursday, July 13, as a consequence of gall bladder surgery, one of Pearlington’s most respected elders past from this world. Harry Bell was in his 72nd year and leaves behind his wife Nancy, two sons and two daughters, including Janet Dawson of Pearlington.

A retired tugboat captain, Harry was a native of Slidell, LA and the grandfather of 22 children and one great-granddaughter.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the memorial service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , 112 Rue Esplanade, Slidell on Tuesday, July 18.

"Every man’s death diminishes me, for I am a part of mankind. Therefore, send not to ask for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee."
- John Donne

Rest well, Harry. We’ll take it from here.

And the Beat Goes On....

2006-07-14T13:38:00.000-04:00

Only 44 more sleeps until the Pearlington Volunteer Reunion. Remember to click on the link to the right and get your registration in!

Hopefully, by the end of the day, you will notice links to three new Blogs (I didn’t have enough to do yet)!

Adopt-a-Home in Pearlington will enable groups and individuals to obtain details on a variety of rebuilding projects, with an eye to "adopting" one of those projects. This may be a home you may choose to adopt in its entirety, or to join with other like-minded groups to get the job done.
The Pearlington Builders Blog will list contacts for best rates on materials and resources, as well as - eventually - an Experts Panel to provide off-site advice and assistance on particular rebuilding challenges.
Raising Resources, Raising Roofs will begin now to list a variety of fund raising devices your group can use to create the resources necessary to continue to provide homes and hope for the people of Pearlington.

CHECK THEM OUT! Make sure you add them to your "Favorites" for future reference.

Please feel free to submit offers to help in any of these areas, new ideas and resources as you will Please forward all that to me and I will see that it gets in the right place.

Lots more to come.

We would also today like to welcome Four Square Disaster Relief to the C.O.D.R.A. FAMILY. Please check out their link to the right. Pastor John Elliott sends the following:

"Hi, I am John Elliott, the Disaster Relief Coordinator for Foursquare Disaster Relief on Hwy. 604 in Pearlington, MS. Please feel free to list our phone # 409.739.7474 and our e-mail relief4mississippi@yahoo.com or our web site www.trustandobey.org and we will do what we can to help. We have been working relief in the area for nine and one half months but living in town for only two months. Our base camp was in Pass Christian.

Blessings,
Pastor John Elliott"

Thought you might also be inspired by another man’s dream to help:

"Couldn't get the Army interested in the mission yet, but I will be on duty the last part of July at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. Bringing down my pickup filled with Sheetrock for whoever needs it. Hope to make a number of trips, as funds permit. 4 x 8 1/2" Sheetrock. Estimated arrival is Friday July 14th, 2006. Destination - Pearlington, Mississippi.

LETS HAVE CHRISTMAS IN JULY !!!

SSG George Klischer, 299th Engineer Company, USAR"

Thanks George; thanks everyone, for all you do.
Canada Jon

Heading Home....

2006-07-10T11:07:00.000-04:00

I am only a few minutes away from running for the plane at Gulfport/Biloxi Airport. It has been a remarkable trip and I have a great deal to share in the coming days and weeks.

I once again thanks Miss Susie Sharp for her hospitality and generosity. She has already proven her great worth as a Resource Manager on a case in Oak Harbour.

Jennifer Johnson is in town and next week will be returning with 50 volunteers to work a number of projects in the community. This morning, Jennifer introduced me to George and Margaret Ladner, two gentle and gracious residents of Pearlington. A small group of men from Amarillo, Texas were working on their house. As for Jennifer....well. Who could have known that a slim Alabama girl could kick so much construction butt!

Pearlington still needs a great deal of assistance. Please watch the blogs for updated information and requests for your assistance. I know the world at large has to some degree moved on, and it falls to us to state the case of Pearlington eloquently. Sharing ONE story, one family at a time is the most effective way to move people. Most of us cannot get our heads around the entirety of the thing.

God bless Pearlington and all who live here and come to help. My pride at being part of it all is overwhelming some days.

Please remember the Reunion and download the file to the right. Send me your registrations and send your donation to Miss Susie.

In some ways I hate to fly away again, but my life and my love await me - not to mention my entire caseload of clients wanting my time and attention. When I return to Pearlington next month, this time with my wife Marian Rose, it will be to proudly demonstrate what love can do.

God bless.
Canada Jon

Jennifer, Margaret and George outside the new Ladner home.

Why We're Here

2006-07-09T09:49:00.000-04:00

As Sunday dawns bright and clear, after another night of cleansing rain, I reflect back on the events of the week. I am humbled once again by the sheer determination and force of will exhibited in the hearts and deeds of every volunteer present. This is indeed a unique experiment in cooperation and synergy and I am proud to be a part of it.

I am up before the dawn to create new avenues of service, that we might all find a way that suits us best to serve. The need has never been greater and I trust that all good people will rally to the call. How many more hearts must break, how many more homes must be destroyed, before the world wakes up to a simple fact: we are ALL in this together.

I have made so many good friends; so many women and men of conscience and goodwill who have flocked to Pearlington to make a difference. We all have our "stuff," yet the task itself baptizes us and invites us to come clean. We have never needed each other more, as our greatest fears and our greatest strengths find purchase on the muddy soil of southern Mississippi. We are made more whole through our common goal and we count on the support and unabridged love we have for each other.

I intended this blog to be gathering place, a modern-day flag around which we rally. It is not the American flag or my own Maple Leaf. Rather, it is the flag of all humanity expressing itself in action and outcome. It is, in fact, an opportunity; a chance to do what other great organizations have failed in many ways to achieve. It is harmony and symmetry and a submergence of individual ego in favor of the common good.

As the sultry Mississippi days unfold, there is still much to do. All of us who serve here are daily humbled in witnessing Faith in Action; in resource meeting need in synchronic and delightfully unexpected ways. Beneath the day to day, if one looks closely, is found the common thread that binds us all and that calls us to that place of spirit, where we are connected perfectly and equidistantly, one to the other and to our Creator.

Perhaps I make too much of it, but I think not. Watch for it, in the smallest of transactions in the Pearl*Mart to the rebuilding of homes in their entirety. Who are these people and how does this get done? Why is it that most young people work harder here as volunteers than many youth in our own communities do when they are paid? How and why are the volunteers called here? Whose Hand guides it all, weaving a tapestry of service and goodwill in this experiment we call Pearlington?

Make no mistake. We are all a part of something huge. As daunting a task as this may be, please mark my words. The waters of this world will not close in around us any more. We have been changed and each of us now bears a responsibility; that is, an ability to respond, that has changed our lives and empowered us to individual greatness, if we follow through. And what is that greatness other than an answer to a call from God to be all that we can be and to fulfil our individual destinies as He created them?

Please notice today, to the right, a link to a new blog. It is our latest Call to Greatness: "Adopt-a-Home in Pearlington." My wife claims I am addicted to nicknames and acronyms, so I am calling it the "AHIP Program." She is always right about me. Please explore it today and in the days ahead as its roster of need builds.

Some think they came to Pearlington to seek redemption, or to escape a life that didn’t work. Some came to run away from, or to run toward. Some came needing to fix the world, some to fix themselves. Some came because they were called.

It really doesn’t matter. In the end we will all be healed.

Thank you Katrina. Thank you God.

Focus on....Larry Randall

2006-07-08T09:29:00.000-04:00

Co-Managers Larry Randall (l) and Herb Ritchie (r)

By the time Larry Randall was nine years old, his family had moved 37 times. When they finally settled in Pearlington, Mississippi, Larry was more than ready to put down roots.

He’s been here ever since.

He even stayed for Hurricane Camille, when it ripped through town six years later. Larry stayed, and even though Camille did not do nearly the damage to Pearlington that Katrina did, it was enough to convince a 15-year-old Larry that he would not be staying for the next big one.

So Larry rode out Katrina at the base of his former employer, Stennis Aerospace, from where he’d retired two years earlier, after a massive heart attack. He returned to town, with his wife Beth, to discover that he still had at least the shell of his house left, although there was an enormous amount of work to do to restore it. When, in early December, the Hancock County Emergency Operations Center was concerned about keeping the Pearl*Mart and the Recovery Center open, Larry and fellow resident Herb Ritchie stepped up to the plate.

The School Board agreed to allow the Chas. B. Murphy E.S. to continue to be used for that purpose. The school, named for a wealthy local landowner who had deeded the land to the School Board, was a familiar place to Larry. Like most residents his age, Larry had attended the school in his time, starting in Grade Six when the school opened. And, like most residents, Larry felt a keen attachment to the buildings and to its perception in the community as a central rallying point.

As a volunteer, Larry admits that when he took over as Manager, he had "no earthly clue" what he was getting into. Like all of us, he just knew that "a whole lotta stuff had to get done in a hurry." Those of us who have taken our turn at the job understand the constant stress under which Larry works daily and agree when Larry says, "but it can be very rewarding when we’re able to get something done."

Back home, when asked what’s going on in Pearlington at this point, I usually tell people that it is like "constructing a large subdivision - with no skilled labor, no resources or materials, and no time." Larry, Herb and Laurie Spaschak get to be the site managers of a nearly impossible job. I admit that I was deeply concerned about the EOC’s decision to put local residents in charge of the Pearl*Mart and the Recovery Center, only because I had just completed my own tenure there and I knew the pressure that could be applied on a daily basis.

In many ways, life is as much about perception as it is about reality. Larry has had to deal with perceptions - almost all of which are erroneous - while trying to apportion a handful of material and resources in a town where everybody needs something. I have watched Larry over the months since December do this Solomonic task wisely and cooperatively, while shouldering the inevitable criticisms and judgements made of him almost daily.

It’s never easy and it can hurt deeply. It changes you and requires you to be your very best every single day - especially on the days when your own loss and pain surface and you return to your "home" feeling beaten and bowed by the responsibility of it all.

But, Larry Randall persists. For him it’s simple:

"This is my town."

Live from Pearlington - July 6, 2006

2006-07-07T10:12:00.000-04:00

Please keep an eye on this blog. Information is coming fast and furiously with me in town and I want to share it all. Look later today for a new posting in our "Focus On...." series, this time on Mr. Larry Randall himself. There will also be a posting today on the Sharing Pearlington blog. I will inform those on the mailing list by email.

Don’t worry. I’ll sleep when I get home. Also a reminder to share the information about the Volunteer Reunion with all you know who have served here. The easiest way is to send them to the blog, so they can download the file that is now posted to the right.

I am now accepting reservations FOR THE REUNION: email me here!

IMPORTANT NEW DEVELOPMENTS:

A meeting of some of the C.O.D.R.A. members was held in Pearlington last night and some very interesting developments ensued, in response to a proposal I created:

1. As a result of invitations to the community, several trusted residents have stepped forward to serve as Resource Managers. These men and women, representative of the WHOLE community, have agreed to serve as "point-people" on jobs in the community assigned by the Recovery Center, or any other volunteer organization wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity. All are connected to the Internet and all are well-respected by their neighbors.
Resource Managers will funnel needs lists, information and requirements FROM residents to the respective group working on their homes, as well as funnel information back TO residents, from those groups. They can be our eyes and ears on the ground, to facilitate communication, to feed this blog information and to work for YOU in the speedy resolution of our projects. This will eliminate frustration in trying to track down people and information from a distance and help make things flow MORE smoothly. It also serves to invite more residents to become directly involved in the recovery of their town If you are interested in having a Resource Manager assigned to your group for a specific project, please contact me.

So far, I can confirm the acceptance for this duty by Ms. Susie Sharp. As other confirmations are received, I will inform you. Please do not contact them directly. Please allow me to assign them, in concert with you, so I might monitor the process. Everyone involved will be kept in the communications loop at all times.

2. This blog is getting to be a VERY busy place. Thank you all for your support of it. You will be informed soon of two new links on the right-side panel: one will take you to a NEW blog I am creating, called "Adopt-a-Home." Therein will be projects listed we are encouraging groups to take on. There will be pictures of the family and their story, what is required to be done, etc. The second link will be to a downloadable .pdf file and will be entitled: "The Pearlington Panel: Expert Advice and Sourcing of Materials." We are developing resources for materials, for instance, that will maximize your dollars when purchasing. There are skilled experts in the construction, engineering and other fields who may not always be available to come to Pearlington, but have agreed to serve as advisors, if professional advice or information is required for a project. I will inform you of the inauguration of these sources of information very soon.

SOME NOTES FROM THE GROUND:

- There is nothing actually IN a Disaster Recovery Zone unless and until it has already been eaten, drank, spent, nailed to the side of a house or driven to the store. Prior to that, it’s just a rumor and doesn’t exist. That’s my theory.
The school was NOT torn down today. Apparently, it will be NEXT Thursday.
Remember what I said. It isn’t over ‘til it’s over. Bob Putnam and I attended the School Board meeting last night and were told by Board President Morgan Ladner, that "nothing has been decided about that."

- This morning some local residents panicked, after receiving phone calls from FEMA concerning their trailers. They were told they must "re-certify" their trailers to August 31. Of course, we ALL work for FEMA and know exactly what "re-certifying" means. The residents took from it that they stood a chance of being evicted on August 31. If you encounter this, please assure residents that FEMA is checking to see who is back in their home and no longer requires their trailer. To be re-certified means that FEMA is blessing their continued stay until August 31, at which time they will call again and, if nothing has changed, re-certify them again month by month until they move into their house, God willing. Thanks, Bob Putnam, for getting right on top of this one right away.

More to come....

Live from Pearlington - July 5, 2006

2006-07-05T20:54:00.000-04:00

It's raining in Pearlington. Hard. And that makes mud. And Mississippi Mud is like brownies, with straw in them. We could probably build houses out of it.

Hmmm....

Today you will find two new .pdf format files listed to the right. The first is a Current Needs List for the Pearl*Mart, as at July 5, 2006. The second is a Material Needs List, current to the same date.

Tomorrow is the day part of the school is to be demolished. Like all good volunteers, I'll truly believe it when a wall comes down. However, I did happen to find out tonight that the School Board has approved a payout to a demolition company, so it is inevitable, as I indicated earlier in the week. My heart goes out to Frank Nadell and others from Carbondale, along with young people from the Seventh Day Adventists, who slaved in November to gut and clean out the very rooms that are coming down. Please know Frank, that those little bench chairs are still being used (recently, in the new air-conditioned Pearlington Cafe) and the storage area you made for us was used right up until today.

Thank you Frank, for your dedication, vision and hard work. It's not over until it's over and certain things are afoot....

Three cheers to David and Patty Baldwin, the group working out of the Southern Baptist Church. They continue to rock and currently have 17 volunteers from Fayetteville, GA and 20 from Memphis, TN. Next week, a group of 100 come into town from Jasper, GA. The Baldwins recently attracted Larry and Marilyn Daggett from Vicksburg, MS. Larry stayed long enough to shoot 80+ free elevations for residents, so they could get their permits before July 1.

Tomorrow, I hope to post all the information about the Volunteer Reunion on August 26th here in Pearlington. Stay tuned and start warming up your wings....or engines....or whatever.

That is, if I don't get carried off by the mosquitos, that will surely be the consequence of this rain.