Back from Dulac!

Hi everyone!

We just returned from a week-long mission trip. We thank the Lord for a safe and productive mission trip to Dulac, Louisiana! All honor and glory is His!

We divided our group into two work teams to enable us to work in two houses. We hung sheet rock… pulled out sub-flooring… sanded floors… stripped linoleum… installed a bath tub… hung a light/fan unit… constructed closet shelving… repaired fascia board… cleaned and reorganized a tool shed… etc.

Work conditions were challenging. Temperatures in the mid 90’s F… heat indices over 100 degrees F… 80% - 90% humidity levels… wearing nose filters while using belt sanders on a kitchen floor… so much dirt and sweat on your clothes that the material clings to your body like a second skin.

But it was the people of Dulac… the folks we met and helped that we will most remember! The smiles… the thanks… listening to their stories and struggles… these are the thoughts that will remain with us forever!

So… for a brief moment and time… a difference was made in the lives of folks who struggle on a daily basis… and for that, we are extremely honored and grateful to have played a small part in it. Peace and blessings to the people of Dulac, Louisiana! - Rachel & Mike

View from the plane window as our team flew down to Dulac. Magnificent cloud formations!

Carol and Rachel hanging out together.

Annie looking excited... and ready to go!

Dean looking sleepy!
Carol stripping wood and glue from a kitchen floor. Hopefully, the next volunteer group will be able to lay the floor tiles and complete this project.

Mike, Carol, and Dean deciding on the next steps!

This family's kitchen was completely demolished and could not be used for cooking or eating of meals.

Dean preparing the ceiling for sheet rock.

Dean showing Mike how to measure and cut sheet rock.

Dean measuring the space for installing a bath tub. The object lying on its end IS the bath tub!

Here are some of our mission team with the home owners. Left to right... David, Rodney & Shirley (home owners), Rachel, and Carol.

Work trailer of one of several volunteer mission teams that were working in Dulac.

Spotted this gator swimming in the canal behind one of the houses that our team was working in. Yikes! This was a "small" one! You have to watch where you walk in Dulac... especially near any water.

A shrimp boat heading out for a day's work. Many of the Dulac residents make their living by fishing and shrimping.

Many of the Dulac homes are converted trailers.

Here is Paster Kirby's house... just down from the Dulac Community Center where our mission team stayed. We attended church and heard his sermon on Sunday.

Rachel and Carol celebrating a job well done!

Sunrise on our last day in Dulac.

Rental Cars have been Reserved

Hi everyone! We have reserved two cars (Chevrolet Impala or similar) from Hertz. We will pick up the cars when we land at the New Orleans International Airport. Two cars will give us the flexibility to split into two work teams (if necessary)... or for those numerous trips to Bayou Hardware! ;-)

Dulac Mission Yard Sale a Great Success!

Despite threatening weather on Saturday... many folks came out... and bought lots of items! One person's "junk" is another person's "treasure."

We raised over $700 with all proceeds going to support the Dulac mission trip! A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Mari for hosting the yard sale at her home, providing a drop off location for donated items, and for advertising the yard sale in the local newspaper! :-) Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the yard sale a big success!

Following the yard sale, we collected the remaining items that had not sold... filled 2 cars and a truck... and donated them to the local Durham Rescue Mission. We were finished and back home by 2 pm! It was a tiring, but rewarding day!

Dulac Packing List

Hi everyone! It is getting close to our departure date... so it is time to start reviewing our packing list. Please reference the following list and be sure to review the "Flight Information" post - especially the AirTran Airways link that reviews carry on items.

Packing List

Old work clothing – long or short pants
- Long or short sleeved shirts
Closed toe shoes(tennis shoes)/boots
Work gloves
Changes of clothing for after work/travel days
Sandals/flip flops for after work/travel days
Hat
Sunglasses
Bug spray (30% DEET formula) – 2 bottles; must be 3 oz for carry-on bag
Water bottle – something durable that can be refilled often
Pillow (will be provided but bring yours if you want to)
Towels & wash cloth (x 2)
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, brush/comb, deodorant, soap, shampoo/conditioner, etc.); 3 oz bottles
Sunscreen
First aid supplies
Hand sanitizer
Rain gear (jacket)
Items for the bus - Music players (iPod & speaker, MP3 player), cards, games, books, movies
jacket or light blanket in case plane temp is cool
Bag for carry on items for the bus
Bible and devotional, journal
Camera – digital
Cell phone & charger
Book light for reading at night
Water bottle huggers
Coolers – maybe purchase when we arrive- 1for each group
First Aid kits for each work team
Dulac notebook & notepad & pens - Rachel

Food/Miscellaneous
Ziploc bags –gallon, quart, sandwich
Trash bags
Lysol wipes
Gatorade mix or packets
Snacks – trail mix (buy Chex Mix & MM’s), Oats & Honey granola bars
Travel coffee cup, if desired to take on the job
Water coolers (Dulac provides)

Flight Information - Updated 4/24/2010

Flight Information - Updated 4/24/2010)

Hey everyone! We made flight reservations for all mission trip members.

Departing Flights - Saturday, June 19, 2010

AirTran Airways
Flight 93
Departing --- Raleigh-Durham (RDU) at 10:50am
Arriving --- Atlanta - Hartsfield (ATL) at 12:13pm

AirTran Airways

Flight 450

Departing --- Atlanta - Hartsfield (ATL) at 3:21pm

Arriving --- New Orleans (MSY) at 3:51pm

Returning Flights - Saturday, June 26, 2010

AirTran Airways
Flight 453
Departing --- New Orleans (MSY) at 9:47am
Arriving --- Atlanta - Hartsfield (ATL) at 12:16pm

AirTran Airways

Flight 99

Departing --- Atlanta - Hartsfield (ATL) at 3:26pm

Arriving --- Raleigh Durham (RDU) at 4:49pm

Note: For carry-on luggage, all customers traveling on AirTran Airways will be restricted to one carry-on item and one personal item. Personal items include handbags, umbrellas, walking sticks, coats, cameras, reading matter, infant food, briefcases, and laptop computers. For all coach class reservations, the charge for a first checked bag is $15 with size and weight limitations. Please click on the following link for details.

AirTran Airways Carry-On and Checked Baggage Policies

How it all Began

In 2008, our associate pastor at Mt. Sylvan UMC found a mission trip for our youth in Dulac, Louisiana. No one knew where Dulac was located, but we soon found a map and located Dulac south of New Orleans. Mike and I had never been on a mission trip but thought it would be something good to experience, especially with our 2 sons. So we signed up.

We traveled there in a 34 passenger bus over a 2-day period. I will never forget riding into New Orleans. Three years after Hurrican Katrina, the devastation was still incredible. There were condemned houses next to reconstructed ones.

We talked with a woman whose home had just begun reconstruction that day. She showed us the 9 foot water line on her house. Her FEMA trailer was parked on her front lawn. I was shocked and tears filled my eyes as we rode through the city. It was unbelievable to see this in person as opposed to on the TV national news channel. How could people just now be receiving services after a 3 year wait?

We traveled on to Dulac, whose main industry is shrimping. The devastation continued.

Dulac is located on a canal which was filled with shrimp boats, most of which were wrecked on the shore.

We arrived at the Dulac Community Center and Louisiana United Methodist Disaster Relief Center.

We worked for a week, laying flooring, installing light fixtures, installing ceiling fans, performing plumbing repairs, etc. As we were ready to leave at the end of the week, the center director asked us to come back and bring more people because there were 100 more homes that had not even been assessed yet.

Two weeks after arriving back home, the Dulac area was devasted by 2 storms - Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. More devastation. More requirements from the government for homes to be raised to a 10 feet height but not enough money for citizens to be able to do this. Our group was ready to return immediately because of the relationships we had established with our friends in Dulac.

In August 2009, a group of 10 workers from Oxford and Durham, NC returned to Dulac.

It was evident that progress had been made since 2008 but so much more needs to be done. One of the families we assisted was ready to return to their home in 2008 1 week before Ike and Gustav hit. After these hurricanes passed through, they were back to "square 1" and out of their house for another year. We were able to finish their house and help move them in before we left.

This is how the ministry with Dulac began, and it is the people and the relationships that have been made that give us the desire to continue to return. I hope you will want to return with us.