Blowing out his seven candles – my nephew Evan is celebrating his birthday. This was the first time I was able to be with him for his birthday.
Monthly Archives: December 2005
IN Christmas 05
As with many other gatherings for our family, we were playing Aggravation. Felicia, Evan, Mom, Aunt Barb, Dustin and Jeremy (clockwise)
IN Christmas 05
Dustin and Evan helping Uncle Jay find the ‘Dora’ carry on suitcase for little Jaylie.
Lowering American Flag
Final lowering of the United States flag in Chickasaw, Alabama on board the Caribbean Mercy on 12/10/05. Folding the flag with Joy and Ciaran Holden.
Lowering of the Panama Flag
Final lowering of the Panama Flag on Aft Deck of the Caribbean Mercy. I was there with Ciaran and Joy (seen in the photo), Lilian and Tom. 12/10/05
w/ Larry Mast E Biloxi, MS
Visiting with Larry Mast, long term Mercy Ships staff member as he and a team from New Hampshire are working on a family’s home in East Biloxi, MS – our continued involvement to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
w/ Janet Gillingham Long Beach, MS
Visiting with Janet Gillingham of Long Beach, MS – a former short term crew member and friend. Even with damage to her home, she has been hosting some of our relief and response teams on the Gulf Coast as they serve those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
CBM Hosting Relief Team Article
Caribbean Mercy hosts Relief Team from Tyler, Texas
This article is from a local TV story by Molly Reuter, reporting on KLTVMercy Ships is doing it’s part to help in the hurricane relief effort. It’s Caribbean Mercy ship is down in Mobile, Alabama housing volunteers working in the disaster areas, and the ship was just at the right place at the right time.Jerry, Sam, Craig and Jeff are a diverse group of guys. One’s a judge, the other a construction worker, but they all had the same goal, to get to the Gulf Coast.”We were trying to go down to New Orleans because there was just so much media on New Orleans and our hearts were just breaking for these people,” said Craig Carter, volunteer. “We tried for like two weeks, but the door just kept getting closed.” But as they always say, when one door closes another one opens.”One of the guys in the group called me and said Mercy Ships is looking for a team from Tyler, so we jumped right on it,” said Carter. Mercy Ships docked their Caribbean Mercy ship in Mobile, Alabama last January for repairs. That’s where it was when Hurricane Katrina came rushing in.”We evacuated the crew and it was actually eleven days after the hurricane came that the water subsided,” said Ciaran Holden, Chief Engineer of Caribbean Mercy ship. When it did, the ship’s crew saw an opportunity to help.”It was ideal because on board the ship we have a lot of diesel on board, so we can generate our own electricity and we have fresh water,” said Holden. “We could use the Caribean Mercy more or less immediately to house relief teams coming into the area.” The crew from Tyler took advantage of that option.”The beds were comfortable and we had hot water and the meals were good at night,” said Sam Griffith.”Ships are built for shorter people,” said Carter. “We bumped our heads a few times and I have no padding, so we had a few knocks.” It’s not the living conditions they say they will remember the most. It’s the time spent cutting trees and building houses for those that needed help.”You go down there to help people, but you come away like they helped you,” said Carter. “They just made your life better through the experience.” Now these four guys are not done helping.
Molly Reuter, reporting. [email protected]