Trip to Lakeshore

Well, I made it back from Lakeshore MS in one piece…physically, but certainly not emotionally. What an eye-opening experience. It is impossible for me to explain –in words or in pictures- the devastation of this community, but I will attempt to share a little of what I experienced. If you are not familiar with the story of this church, read a little here, or you can go directly to the source here.

I thank God for those of you who responded to my request a few weeks ago, whether I know who you are or not. Please remember that this community needs more help than just one trip can provide. My church has planned another trip October 15 – 18, so I challenge you to give out of your abundance, whether it is through my church or not.

Here are a few photos of the trip; my comments under each one.

This is the crew from my church. Left to right: Greg London, Colin Ake, Dave Stephenson, Ronnie Davis, Edgar and myself. Don’t let the number of standing trees fool you. As you can see, only the steeple survived the storm. Being fiberglass it stayed in one piece.

Here is what is left of the church.

Driving down Lakeshore drive there are almost no landmarks or buildings left standing. The steeple was found across the street and moved to the front of the property to identify where the church use to stand. As you can see, water and supplies are directly behind me on the church steps. Tables of food, drinks, supplies and gospel tracts were set up, and people within the community would stop by at random throughout the day when they needed something to eat or drink.

Ronnie and Edgar take a break near the rear of the church property. Those fallen oaks in the background were just some of the cleanup work we attempted to tackle.

That’s me in the pulpit of the ‘church’. It’s amazing that they continue to hold services under this tarp each week. The truck behind me was one of two vehicles parked behind the church during the storm. Even though its hard to tell from this picture, but both vehicles were utterly destroyed.

Don Elbourne and others down there were surprisingly upbeat at times. Here I am sharing a happy moment. We had just spent over a day forming that pile behind me, only to learn that the government changed their mind and wanted it on the other side of the road. They refused to pick it up if we left it where they originally told us. After learning this, we talked a contractor with a huge caterpillar into moving this stuff for us so we wouldn’t have to do it by hand. I was pretty happy when I found out we didn’t have to start moving that stuff ourselves. You can’t see it in the picture, but to my right the bulldozer type caterpillar was hard at work pushing this stuff across the road to my left. It took him 10 minutes to move a pile that took days to form. (Don’t let that Astros hat fool you. I am a pitiful Braves fan, and I’m not too happy about the outcome of the division series).

While I was there I met a wonderful guy named James. Here is the inside of his home. The storm blew his home about 20yards off its original foundation, but thankfully not off of his property. This was formerly his living room. (For more details on James, my buddy Colin Ake posted some details on our trip as well. Read this.

James’ kitchen.

I stand in amazement of the master bathroom. Words cannot describe how devastating this sight was to me. I think I stood there for 5 whole minutes. But amazingly, James was such a blessing to be around. You couldn’t meet a nicer guy, he was just thankful that he and his family made it through unharmed.

The next few pictures were taken a few blocks from the church. It was amazing to see these homes that once stood on stilts completely gone. There was nothing left over. Row after row of foundations with nothing left.

There was not even a trace of this house left. Nobody knows where all these 'stilt' homes went.

This was a sign left at a home that was completely gone.

Another home that completely vanished.

And another one.

Not sure what building this used to be, but it was reduced to a pile of twisted metal.

A home across the street from the church.

A home next door to the church.

Don Elbourne and I get a picture right before I head back to Atlanta. We traded a few stories and laughs together, and I was greatly encouraged by his upbeat attitude, and his obvious ‘work of faith’ in the midst of trials. His wife Courtney was also very polite and upbeat, always looking to help in one way or another. God is certainly using them to minister to the surrounding community. Please keep them in your prayers.

Moving Forward
The need for living supplies will continue to be great, but the need for able workers probably tops the list. Clean up crews and organizers will be needed very badly over the next few weeks, so please consider taking advantage of this opportunity to serve. There is another trip planned for October 15 - 18, 2005.

It was amazing to see firsthand the Lord's provision for His people. As while we were down there, time and time again unexpected help and gifts kept flowing in. Let us remember and tremble at the awesome power and sovereignty of God over the storm, and over the affairs of men. "I am the Lord...I make peace and create calamity" He says in Isaiah 45:7. He will and is glorifying Himself throughout the entire situation.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Nathan White

P.S. Thanks to Colin Ake for most of these pictures; excellent photography!

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn man to destruction and say, "Return, O children of men."...For we have been consumed by Your anger, and by Your wrath we are terrified. You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? And have compassion on Your servants. Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days! Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil. Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands. -Psalm 90