Two years after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf coast, rebuilding continues. Helping out recently were local residents from the Journey Church.
‘It was quite an experience,? said Beth Harris of Springfield Township. ‘I don’t think anyone walked away from it and thought it was a waste of time.?
Church members learned about the rebuilding efforts of Lakeshort Baptist Church in Mississippi through their website, www.rebuildlakeshore.com, and decided to go there and help.
‘Katrina wiped out everything,? Harris said. ‘It’s amazing, the stories they told, how they survived.?
The Lakeshore church buildings were destroyed, but its people are still together. The property is used as a base camp for community rebuilding efforts. Volunteers and workers live in military-style Quanset huts and other prefabricated, makeshift buildings.
‘It was primitive,? Harris said. ‘Two years later, life still isn’t anywhere near normal.?
They dug holes and poured concrete for new house stilts, finished the interior of n 85-year-old man’s house, and worked in a food and suplpy distribution center, which serves 1,000-2,000 people a month .
‘We worked so hard, but it was a good work,? she said.