I know the summer is just around the corner and I wanted to give you an update about directions and what you could possibly be doing. I apologize for not getting directions out to you sooner. I have just come down to the area this week and I made it over to the site to see the facility you'll be staying in and to see some work areas on Thursday.
Here we go!!
Directions:
The physical address of the church you'll be staying in is: 5574 Gates Avenue Long Beach, MS 39560
I have attached links coming from the New Orleans area and the Mobile area. I believe all groups should be coming through or very near either of those places. If you need further information on directions please let me know. (If the links below do not allow you to click on them, highlight them and press ctrl and C. When you pull up your internet browser you should have regained mouse function. The mouse might work for you to copy it too but it didn't on my email when I tried it.)
If you cannot get the links to work, mapquest or yahoo maps (my preference) should get you there.
The name of the church you'll be staying in is International Baptist Church. This is on the sign but you might spot the part of the sign that says Gates Avenue Fellowship as this was the old name of the church. It will be on the left as you come down gates from Exit 31 on I-10.
If you need further info on directions please don't hesitate to ask.
Regarding facilities: You will be on the floor in Sunday School rooms. Please bring air mattresses, sheets, sleeping bags etc. as you will need these. There is a kitchen there for the cook to prepare your meals. You will be showering in outdoor shower stalls.
Ministry:
VBS: Please be ready to run all four days of VBS should the need arise. There are a multitude of VBS locations around the area where you could potentially be involved.
Construction: Construction opportunities abound in MS. New Orleans was flooded, much of the MS Gulf Coast was wiped off the map. You might be involved in working on houses, cleaning out yards, mowing, etc. Projects are there. One of the partners you might end up working with is Kathleen. She came down after the storm to help from out west and ended up meeting the Lord. She is a strong advocate for the poor and will fight for what is right for them. She always has project that need attention.
As with any mission trip, please be ready to do anything. We want the Lord to guide you guys and us as you begin your work in Mississippi.
Please bring appropriate clothes to wear and be ready for anything with your work attire. Shorts might be OK at some work sites but pants and sturdy shoes, preferably boots, would be best in many areas.
As this email has some very important information, please respond to it so I know you received it.
I just wanted to check in with you to see how things were going. The summer is just around the corner and trips start soon. There are a few things I wanted to cover.
1) VBS--We've had several questions about VBS so I wanted to let you know a few things. If you've been on an AIM trip in the past, you know that groups had been responsible for only one day of VBS. This year, partly to provide our partners more continuity with VBS staffing, groups need to be ready to go for all four days of VBS. VBS should be around two hours give or take depending on the location and the week you're hear.
2) Directions--Directions to we're you'll be staying will be sent out on email and posted on the blog early next week.
3) Communication--Please contact me with any questions you might have as you prepare to come down for your trip. About a week before you come, you're individual project facilitator will contact you via phone, will answer any last minute questions you might have, and beyour leader and contact throughout the weekofyou're trip.
Again, please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. Thanks and God Bless!
You don't hear about New Orleans or Mississippi as much in the news anymore. Katrina isn't at the forefront of everyone's mind like it used to be. You might hear the lone reference to Katrina here or there but for the most part it can be chalked up to "out of sight, out of mind". That is of course, unless you live in New Orleans or on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In those places, the events of nearly three years ago are still very much at the forefront of everyone's mind. There is still much to be done.
Things are improving in Mississippi and Louisiana. House gutting is on the decline and finish work is on the increase. That's a great sign. Events are starting to return to New Orleans as well. As the Gulf Coast continues to rebuild, needs are varied and still abundant. This is especially true of spiritual needs. You and your group have answered the call and are part of the ongoing process of rebuilding and, in the case of Christian organizations, rebirthing. You are embarking on an incredible opportunity to get involved with physical AND spiritual needs. One positive left behind after the storm was that it provided a window for authentic Christian love to be shown throughout the New Orleans, Mississippi, and the rest of the Gulf Coast.
My name is Mike McCord. I, along with my wife, Sarah, will be coordinating much of AIM's ministry in New Orleans and part of the ministry in Mississippi this summer. We are excited to have this opportunity and are looking forward to guiding you through this process. From this point forward, I will be your primary point of contact with AIM. Please feel free to email with any questions or concerns you might have. For your convenience I will be helping to maintain two blog sites for New Orleans and Mississippi, http://neworleans.myadventures.org/ and http://gulfcoast.myadventures.org/ respectively. This e-mail will be the first post. I will address individual questions on e-mail but things that will benefit the group will be posted on the blog. Additionally, about a week before your trip, you will receive a call from one of our Project Facilitators who will be guiding your group through their week in Mississippi or New Orleans.
I have every confidence that there is a great summer of ministry ahead. We will have many details and plans to discuss over the next few weeks. We will be praying through the summer and ask for you to join us in that, not only for your week but throughout the entire summer. As with any mission trip, please be flexible and allow God to work as He sees fit.
As I close this first of many e-mails/blog posts ahead, let me run through a few house keeping details that I wanted to hit from the beginning. 1) Be prepared to HYDRATE. It is HOT and HUMID on the Gulf Coast. I guarantee it. Please make sure your students pack a water bottle and plan on using it. We will be providing water at work sites but having your own bottle is a good idea. 2) Push your students have an up to date Tetanus booster. I cannot recommend this strongly enough. You can get Tetanus many more ways than just stepping on a rusty nail. The CDC says you should have a booster if you haven't had one in 10 or more years. 3) Please remember the dress code as you prep your students. It can be found in the Missions 101 material. Additionally, I would prepare for work sites by bringing BOTH long pants and shorts. For light work, shorts are great but for anything more heavy duty, pants are the order of the day. I also direct your attention to the "strong shoes or boots" section of the work dress code.
Please feel free to send me any questions or concerns. Sarah and I and the rest of the staff look forward to helping you have a great mission experience this summer.
