Pearlington or Bust!!

In just a little over a week, 17 people from Old Pine will fly to New Orleans, pack into rental cars and drive about an hour to Pearlington, MS, along the Pearl River. Not all participants are members of Old Pine: 7 are friends or family of participants or they have worshiped at Old Pine and participate regularly in our community of faith. This mission trip is another one of those ‘portals’ or entry points into our community of faith.

In 2005, a twenty foot wall of water surged through Pearlington as Hurricane Katrina struck the region. The eye of the hurricane went right through this rural Mississippi town. As you know, the strongest winds of a hurricane swirl around the eye. Most buildings and homes were demolished, some remained standing, but all contents destroyed. Three years later, we’re still rebuilding and the Presbyterian Church has a commitment to stay for 7 more years. The rebuilding will take that long.

We go to rebuild homes, help rebuild lives, and rebuild hope. We measure and hammer; we mud the seams of drywall; we wear moon suits and put insulation in as many places as possible. The lines aren’t always straight, walls are not always plumb, but the work gets accomplished.

More than the sweat of our brow, evidence of the trip shows through the lives of those who participate. We are all changed, dramatically. We see poverty differently now. It’s not just a ’social problem’ - it’s a scourge that has people’s names attached to it. We understand hospitality like we’ve never understood it before because we’ve been the guests of those who have nothing, yet give all they have in thanksgiving. We see the ‘widow’s mite’ story from Luke 21 acted out each weekday as the folks from the Missionary Baptist Church (with about 15 in worship attendance) feed more than 100 volunteers a noon meal - a cooked noon meal - each and every day. We experience community not only among our small group of 17 - but with the homeowners and other citizens of Pearlington as we all work together in rebuilding homes, rebuilding lives and rebuilding hope.

The people of Pearlington are enormously thankful for the generosity of congregations like Old Pine. Please keep our team in your prayers as we prepare and then head out. Our theme this year is ‘gratitude.’ I know our team is grateful for a strong community from which to be sent.

–Rev. Debbie McKinley

[P.S. Here are pictures from last year's Pearlington Trip. --Editor]