More Pictures from Mississippi

The sign below states this is the temporary location of a MS district court judge. The other pictures were of common sites throughout the Bay area.

Have a great day!

“Have a great day or not …. Your choice.” Arman Codianne

The statement above may not seem profound to some of you. However, if you knew Arman and the hardships that he has endured, you would understand how miraculous these words are.

Arman is a massage therapist that lives in Waveland Mississippi. A few years ago, he traveled to Africa. He wanted to bring joy to the hurting, so he performed massage therapy on AIDS patients that were in Hospice care. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Arman had evacuated. When he returned, he found his home completely flattened. Nothing was left except a pile of rubble. Arman was unable to obtain a FEMA trailer for a few months, so he lived in a 3 person tent. Did I mention that Arman has Multiple Sclerosis?

Despite his illness and the fact that he has spent almost the last 2 years in a tent or a FEMA trailer, not to mention the fact that he lost his business, Arman is the most joyful person you will ever meet. Instead of crying about his circumstances, Arman organized a costume party for friends after Hurricane Katrina. Arman can often be found wearing a clown nose, because, as he states, it is hard for someone to remain mad at a person wearing a clown nose.

When I asked Arman about his amazing outlook on life despite his difficult circumstances, Arman replied, “What else would I do, just sit around and cry?”

In Philippians chapter 1, Paul is writing a letter while he is imprisoned. Phil 1:18 states, “I will continue to rejoice.” Paul does not say, “if my life improves I will rejoice” because Paul understands a fundamental truth – the circumstances around me do not make me rejoice, I choose to rejoice. Despite the hardship in his life, Arman understands that his hardships and circumstances do not determine whether he has a great day. Only he can determine if he has a great day.

I hope that each of you will choose to have a great day today and each day that follows.

Bay St. Louis, MS

We have returned from our mission trip to Bay St. Louis, MS. This is a picture of a truck that was swept away by the water.
This huge tree stump and roots was moved by the water to the middle of a parking lot.
The Welcome Committee - Rhonda, Mike & Don.

This was a common site - the remains of a home (usually we would see a slab with a toilet or fire place remaining and nothing else) with a FEMA trailer or some sort of tent by the former home.
This bear was swept away by the flood waters. It landed on a pile of debris behind the home of the child that owned it.
People often painted warnings on their homes as well as requests that a place not be destroyed.
This was left after Katrina.

Mike & me.
The remains of a mobile home.
The pier was washed away.
What remains of a home.
The staff from the Refinery: Front Row - Matt, Tyler, Aaron, Jennifer, me. Back Row - Jeremy, Kipp, Rhonda, Mike.

The inside of a home.
The inside of a business.

A house that had not been touched since Katrina. The house was filled with mold and workers had to wear special suits when they attempted to gut the house.
A historical building that was moved by the surge.

Downtown - many houses still need repairs.

Rhonda, me, Jennifer

A church that is not yet repaired.
Our home for the week.
The Cox family.

This sign was common throughout the gulf coast.

The bridge

Home Sweet Home
Chickie - 80+ years old - she had lived in her family home for her entire life. Many hurricanes were survived in her home. When Katrina came, the water went over the roof of her home - which was 2 stories high. Chickie's home was many miles from the Bay.

Armon is special. He has done mission work in Africa - he gave massages to orphans and people in Hospice homes. He has MS and lost his home after Katrina. He lived for a few months in a tent before he finally got a FEMA trailer. He is a beautiful person and he understands how to celebrate every moment of life. He had parties after Katrina and is often seen with a clown nose on. A quote from Armon, "Have a great day, or not. It's your choice." This sums up his attitude.
I met Billy on the pier. This sweet boy was running around in nothing but a diaper.

A tent that some people still live in.
The water went over this bridge near Pearlington.

The stories of the people of Waveland and Bay St. Louis were amazing. We were there the last week of June 2007. It is sad that so many people still do not have homes to live in. Not only were homes lost, but jobs, businesses, and family members were also lost due to Katrina. Words cannot describe the devastation that still remains. However, so many people were filled with hope and gratitude for the masses that have made the trip to the gulf to help them rebuild.

Birthday!