You are not forgotten! I come to this website often to read the latest from you and the others. A volunteer group is forming in our area to join in helping with the rebuilding in your area this summer, so I will be sharing your comments with some of the potential volunteers tomorrow. We pray every Sunday for all of you who have suffered from this and other disasters - and for those who are called to help.

Hi! I just returned from spending a week mudding out homes in St. Bernards Parish (9th Ward - New Orleans) as part of a team from our church working with Samaritans Purse. It was amazing to us the extent of the devastation in the area. Alot of homes are just now being cleaned out. Many more are not repairable. WE were glad to be of help and our church is planning to send more teams down to the New Orleans area in the months ahead. Hang in there and don't lose hope. There are those of us who care!! May God protect you in the upcoming hurricane season.

I speak for my family that has spent many heart wrenching hours on the Mississipi coast from Gulfport to Slidell,La trying to offer some help in at least 6-7 trips from Florida and Alabama that you will never be forgotten! Anyone that has an ounce of compassion for people will never be satisfied going back to their comfortable homes with you guys still in so much turmoil.I plan still another trip this summer to do what we can do to help out. God Bless you and give you peace.

watch out for the puppy...i got one too{first dog i've had in several years}....i think it's a terroist...it tripped me over a bush...nearly killed me....if i catch it building an IED....i'm callin' the FBI.

one bright sunny morning in the shadow of the stepal by the relief office i saw my people as they stood hungry i stood there wonderin' {did God bless America for me}?....All you can write is all you can see...Woody Guthrie wuz right....makes ya wonder don't it?

Mary,That is so GREAT!!Some people would ahve just walked away and have.I can't say I know how you feel because I have never been in your shoes but you are a strong woman.There have been alot of (I won't say refugee's cause they are human)people that came to Dallas,got their money and blew it on useless things they don't need with children by their side going hungry.Some didn't even want jobs that were handed to them.You,I admire for the dedication you have in your family and home.Trying to stick it out in a horrible situation that you have gone through.Friends I have talked to there said what they have shown on the news don't even touch the reality of it.And what about the little towns they never told about.Do they not count?I can't say I helped alot but what i did do done for the children,the adults can fend for themselves.We took in 2 families and got them jobs in a local town and are now doing fine.Only God can do the rest if they have the faith.Mary,keep up the great work and get that house done,we're ruiting for you.Keep the Faith,God watches everything!God Bless you and your family.

Andy,
Woodie Guthrie also wrote:
"This town has stood up in the face of things
Lots worse than a ninety mile wind
It's not bad storms I'm afraid of today
But the greed that our leaders walk in."
Pretty wise man - kinda like you!!! :)

"why couldn't the wind blow backwards? ...why, oh why, oh why?"

Hey Mary, We will never forget you and in fact our small town church is sending ten strong men to LA this summer to work for ten days, half of them building and half of them cleanin up stuff. It's not much but it's a little bit ...and lots of little bits will get the job done. They're coming from clear across the country to do what they can..and we're still praying. God bless, Sue

Mary i understand your frustrations i lived in ocean springs and relocated for a short time until my house gets fixed. I was lucky i got a good job and was able to move there are so many people that need these news coverages just to feel like there is hope that people haven't lost hope it makes me feel good when i hear about students not taking spring break at the beach but instead help a needy family. people do not realize the impact before the storm everything was one and in a few hours alot of people lives were forever changed the life the way they know it. I know i suffer from it it makes me sad everytime i go visit. The nation needs to hear how terrible FEMA is doing how insurance companies are ripping people off the amount of stress down there. so please do not let news organazations give up cause we all know others have already disappointed

There are about 60 volunteers headed to Pascagoula at the end of June. Looking forward to helping my neighbor in need. God Bless!

I am so proud of how my home state has handled such a horrible situation. You have come together and reached out to your neighbors and helped in a time of what fells like helplessness. Stand by each other and remember to always care. I currently live in Gulf Breeze, Fl and am myself an Ivan surrivor
Just goes to show what we Mississippian are made of.
Love to you all and may the gently winds of summer only blow good things your way

Although I am not an American, my heart goes out to all that were affected by hurricane Katrina. You ALL are such brave and heroic people to face such a disaster and still come through it with your heads held high. You beautiful people of the gulf coast and any other area that may have been affected, you are an inspiration to those that live in other countries. When I watch you on TV and see the hurt, my heart bleeds for you all but when I see the smiles come from those faces that were once covered with pain, I smile and say, "I know my God is still in control". You all have encouraged the world around you and I make a promise to you that through the many prayers that are being prayed for you all....I want you to know that God is in control and he has your back through all of this. "To the rest of the world, continue to support the gulf coast. It is going to take a long time to recover but through the support of those in different places, the beautiful people of the gulf coast will get through this".

to the members who read this forum, my heart goes out to you all, soon i pray that my residency will be transfered from Oklahoma to LA...but in the mean time i do all that i can to keep up with the events there. as much as i hate to admit from time to time, my family is supporeted by my spouse whom works for FEMA, and i have gotten to see first hand from both sides of the fence as to what life there is like for you all, not only from those whom i am emotionally attached to who live there, but also from the standpoint of the FEMA employees who care but yet, dispite thier efforts, our government keeps their hands tied...or else fires the ones who try to help too much. i know that today life seems hopeless and helpless, but know that somewhere in the shuffle of papers, and mountians of excuses...there are a few out there in Mississippi and Lousianna who are ever so desperatly trying to improve life for you and those that are mile away doing all that we can to help as well. together one day recovery will be made, but the memories and the heartache will live on as legacy to our childrens children...love, light and peace be with you all tonight.

And we never will forget you. You are in our prayers still..and pray God will send each of you blessings. You have weathered the storm, you have ran a good race. We love you!

Mary, your posts bring tears to my eyes. The people of Mississippi have shown incredible strength, courage and dignity in dealing with this tragedy and all of us can learn a lesson from them in what it really means to be a community.

Although I live in New England, believe me, you are not forgotten. I look forward to reading everything I can find on what progress has been made and am outraged by what has not been done. It is truly unimaginable to think that so many areas are still dealing with huge piles of debris and lack of basic services.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you who have suffered so much. May each day become a little brighter and may you never give up hope.