Chad Yoder traveled to Mississippi in April with Mennonite Disaster Service ( MDS) to help with relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina.

Long After the Storm

Katrina victims in Pass Christian, Mississippi, received help from Blooming Glen Mennonite Church members in April, including Chad Yoder, Personal Lines Manager. Most of the 12 church members from the trip also happened to be FIFS clients. The group shared a common desire to make a difference in the lives of people who were affected by Katrina.

Help Still Needed After 2 Years
Hurricane Katrina caused destruction over two years ago, however the residents of Mississippi are still living with the aftermath. “Cars, houses, sunken boats, and other debris washed out to sea were constant reminders of how nature’s devastation can affect a local economy,” says Chad . “It’s easy to forget about Katrina two years after the hurricane and yet the need continues long after I left the gulf coast.” Chad says it was a very rewarding experience; however he was bit apprehensive when he first read about the trip in his church bulletin, “I convinced myself that I am way too busy and that it was nothing more than just poor timing.”

A Call to Service
After receiving a phone call from friend and group leader, Keith Hunsberger, Chad believed he was being called to serve and put his reservations aside. “I would encourage anyone who hasn’t taken the time to do a service trip, to consider going on one,” says Chad . “We get so caught up in our daily lives that we forget how blessed we are to live in such a wealthy and secure area.” Chad ’s group was in Mississippi for a week and assisted with the building efforts in Pass Christian by working on four houses. Some of the tasks completed were framing, siding, plumbing, and hanging drywall. Pass Christian sits on the Gulf of Mexico and is 15 miles west of Biloxi . Its population before the storm was about 5,600 and now is about half that figure.

FIFS Connection, Summer 2007, Vol.4, No. 3

Contact Chad Yoder.