Gulfport & Pearlington, MS Outreach
How large of an impact can 2,000 teenagers have on two cities in southern Mississippi in just six days?
When Hurricane Katrina hit land in August of 2005, the coastal communities of Gulfport and Pearlington were drowned in storm surge that reached heights of 12 feet, as far as one quarter mile inland. The devastation caused was unimaginable.
Almost two years later, Gulfport welcomed the return of many residents and businesses as most of the salvage has been cleared and a new era begins. However, in the oft forgotten town of Pearlington, the lack of funding and national attention has left this community to appear as one that was struck by a hurricane two months ago, not two years ago.
This July, hope arrived in Mississippi in the form of 2,000+ teenagers; participants in CE National’s annual student conference, this year entitiled “Momentum”. Representing over 118 Grace Brethren churches from across the nation, the students gathered in Hattiesburg for the conference activities and deployed, on a daily basis, in groups of 12-15 students plus a project leader, into Pearlington and Gulfport.
In just six days, the students built 11 brand new homes in Pearlington and cleaned, renovated and repaired 34 homes in Gulfport. In the neighborhoods where the students were working, they distributed 4,000 bags of groceries to local residents. Convoy of Hope also provided 8,500 bottles of water and PowerAde to keep students hydrated in the July heat.
At the end of the week, the conference invited 20 families whose homes were repaired or rebuilt by the students. This was a special gathering where the students could meet those whom they were serving and witness the fruit of putting their faith in action.
This “outreach with feet” could not have been successful without the strong partnership between Convoy of Hope, FEMA, CE National and the volunteer groups already operating in the affected area, specifically the Pearlington Recovery Center. Truly we were, together giving hope.