Mission Trip to the Gulf Coast

In August of 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the gulf coast of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.  More than 1,800 people died and hundreds of thousands lost everything they owned: their houses, their businesses and their possessions.   In Saint Bernard Parish, just east of New Orleans, of the 28,000 homes being lived in before the storm, only 3 were habitable afterwards.

Almost three years later, there has been a great deal of clean up, but very little rebuilding.  Many of the hardest hit neighborhoods were those of low income families making between 25 and 50 percent of the median income for the area.  They didn’t have adequate insurance to replace their homes.  Many had to move in with extended family and friends throughout the US, while others still live in 25’ FEMA trailers.  Without the kindness and generosity of strangers, there isn’t much hope that they’ll ever move back into their own house.

From December 7th to the 13th, a group of volunteers from Mountainview and the Denver area will travel to Slidell, LA to work with Habitat for Humanity as they rebuild the gulf - one house and one family at a time.  Habitat for Humanity is an international Christian mission dedicated to providing decent, affordable housing for all of God’s people.  In the past 30 years, they have built more almost 250,000 houses for more than 1,200,000 people.  They are currently the largest home builder in the gulf region.

If you would like to participate in this mission trip, here's how you can get involved:

• Sign up for the trip.  Email Mike Criner, habitat@mountainviewfamily.org.
• Make a donation to East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity at www.esthfh.org.
• Pray for those going on the mission trip, the families we'll build for, and the many families still waiting for help.

Mission Trip Details

• We will fly from Denver to New Orleans and rent mini-vans for transportation during the week.
• You are responsible for purchasing your plane ticket.  Rental vehicles, lodging and meals will be arranged for the group.
• Lodging, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided by a local church. 
• Estimated costs for the trip are $400 per person.  All costs of the trip are fully tax-deductible.  Mountainview has scholarship money available for the trip.
• Habitat provides all necessary tools and construction supplies.  If you prefer your own tools, you can bring a tool belt, gloves, hammer, tape measure, pencil and safety glasses.
• No prior construction experience is needed.  You will only be asked to do work you’re comfortable with and Habitat will teach you any skills needed.
• The typical build day begins with a morning devotional at 8:00am, followed by a brief safety talk.  The build day ends around 4:00pm.
• We will have time to tour some of the devastated neighborhoods and to go into the French Quarter.

Itinerary

Sunday, December 7th – fly from Denver to New Orleans.  United has $219 non-stop, roundtrip tickets:

• Flight 1616, departs Denver at 2:20 pm, arrives New Orleans at 5:51 pm
• Flight 1604, departs New Orleans at 2:24 pm, arrives Denver at 4:19 pm

Monday, December 8th to Friday, December 12th – build houses in East St. Tammany Parish
Saturday, December 13th – half day of building and then fly home to Denver in the afternoon

Please make your own reservations on these flights and contact Mike Criner at habitat@mountainivewfamily.org to be sure you're included in all subsequent plans.