Two Troy Churches Continue Ministry to Pearlington, Mississippi Troy, NY – March 10, 2008

On August 29, 2005, Pearlington, MS sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. Much of the small, unincorporated town found itself under 20’ of storm surge waters and when the storm was over, nearly every structure in the town was destroyed or badly damaged. In January, 2006, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) set up its sixth Gulf Coast Volunteer Village in the town. It was April, 2006 when BrunswickChurch of Troy started its partnership with this mission, sending a team of 6 to the village to help with the recovery efforts. March 29th, 2008 marks the church’s third trip to Pearlington and the second trip in which Brunswick Church has partnered with Terra Nova Church of Troy.

When the team leaves later this month, it will be 24 people strong. Team Leaders Colleen Lais of Brunswick and Damian Belt-Smith of Terra Nova are pleased with the skill set of this team which includes three building contractors. “So many people want to help, but it is important to realize that the crisis has turned from recovery to rebuilding there. The PDA is desperate for skilled labor,” Lais reports. The team has been working to raise funds to offset the cost of the trip as well as help to provide additional materials and tools to supplement those already on site in Pearlington. Belt-Smith adds, “Katrina hit nearly 3 years ago, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. People need to know that.” Anyone wishing to help donate to these efforts may contact either Brunswick Church or Terra Nova Church. The team will stay in a camp-like setting that encourages community among various groups from all around the country. Team members share responsibilities, like clean-up and meal preparation, while at the camp. They spend their days on worksites throughout the town, toiling alongside the homeowners, doing whatever needs to be done. The PDA partners with local agencies to assign the teams to sites. Since Pearlington is unincorporated, the PDA works with the Pearlington Recovery Center, a grassroots organization started by locals just days after the storm. As the many reports will attest, faith-based organizations have been paramount in the recovery process along the Gulf Coast. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been running several Volunteer Villages in the area since shortly after Katrina struck and is committed to this cause for at least seven years. Brunswick Church and Terra Nova Church are committed as well. Talks have begun regarding a fall 2008 trip.The dates of the upcoming trip are Saturday, March 29 – Saturday, April 5th.

Links:
www.pcusa.org/pda, www.brunswickchurch.org,
www.brunswickchurch.org/missions_blog.php, www.terranovachurch.org