United College Ministries in Northern Virginia (UCMNV) teams serve in Pearlington, Mississippi

by David Wilkinson, mission team leader

PDA work team in Pearlington, Miss. Photo by David Wilkinson.

Hurricane Katrina hit Pearlington, Miss., in August 2005. One would think that the damage would be completely repaired. More than half of the residents left the area, and probably will not return. More than half of the people remaining in the town still live in temporary housing. In the middle of March 2008, the first and only commercial venture since the storm opened in Pearlington. It is a corn dog stand.

The people would be at a total loss if it were not for the help from outside the area. FEMA has provided temporary shelter, but the greatest help is from the numerous volunteer groups who have come to work with the people one on one.

UCMNV sent teams to help in Pearlington in 2007 and 2008 under the auspices of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. This was where the eye of Katrina made landfall, arriving with a 37 foot storm surge, second largest recorded in the world. Normally, a 12 inch flood would be deep, but Katrina’s storm surge brought the level of flood to more than 16 feet. First reports after the flood stated that “Pearlington has been wiped off the map, and there are no survivors.”

The UCMNV teams gladly report that the survivors have changed their lives. The 2008 team met Miss Susie, who with her husband Mr. Josh, was washed off her porch in the flood. They survived by holding a post after the house was torn apart. Miss Susie sing praises while working, and for anything that is done for her. We all fell in love with this wonderful person. She wants to serve and be a blessing to all she meets.

A person may have experienced need, but until going to an area of disaster, very few of us have any idea what true need is. It is also hard to understand how people with virtually nothing can be so joyful, and be a blessing to those who come to help them.

David Wilkinson, Mission Team Leader