For anyone that is 18 years or older and interested in going on the Katrina mission trip this year, here is the information you may want to know...
We will be leaving early on Sat. 6/19 and sleep that night at a Methodist Church in northern Mississippi and worship with them Sunday morning. We arrive in Vancleave, MS about dinner time on Sunday. That night we will divide our crews and find out what our home repair/building projects for the week will be.

Our lodging is a great facility with separate rooms for men and women. They include bunk beds, linens, towels, bathroom and showers. Breakfast and dinners are prepared and served by local women from the Methodist church on site. The food is amazing! Be prepared to gain a couple pounds if you're not careful. Evenings are usually spent relaxing with church members, playing cards, and laughing a lot. It's a wonderful time to get to know the people from our own church. Sometimes there are people from other parts of the country at the center with us. Last year we were there alone. The people of Mississippi are very grateful that we keep returning to help them into safe and dry homes. We usually take a half-day to do something 'touristy' during the week and often visit with homeowners whom we've helped in the past. We return home late on Sat. 6/26. The cost is $125.

The volunteers from 2009 will be speaking and sharing some of their experiences with the congregation at the church services on April 11th. We will have an organizational meeting that day after the second service for anyone that is interested or has questions. If you'd like information before that date, e-mail Mary Balk at katrina@orumc.org. We have 16 spaces reserved for this year so let me know as soon as possible if you'd like to be added to the list.