Mark Troyer

Last night (Tuesday Nov 29th) we had our final team meeting on campus at Asbury to debrief the trip, hand out lost and found items from the trip, and to do a little evaluation and plan for a chapel service on December 5th that will be dedicated to the Hurricane Relief trip. What a difference in the team from the time we left to the time we got back…a family has been created!

The overwhelming response was that it was a great trip, and that students and staff want to know when we are heading back! Many people came back with an overwhelming sense of duty and desire to continue to help The Pass get back on its feet, and to show the love of Christ to that community. Already some of the students have connected with people they met down there or people whose homes they worked on.

We tallied up all the projects that we had worked on over the week and the group was able to do significant work on over 30 distinct projects during that time, including many complete mud-outs of homes that hadn’t been touched in 2 ½ months. God was faithful in providing partners, funding, tools, and terrific weather for the week. (It started raining the morning we were leaving). We also made no runs to any urgent treatment centers or hospitals!

• Over 15,000 miles were driven
• 12 vehicles including 10 vans, two pick-ups, and two trailers were used
• 20,000 meals were served to volunteers and residents
• 30 projects were completed, yielding literally tons of debris moved to the roadsides
• 2 nails went through shoes and punctured feet
• We provided skin/food for at least 1.2 million gnats ?

Seriously, I can’t say enough about the caliber of our students and the faculty and community members that went along. They worked hard, they were sensitive to the people down their and their property, and they didn’t complain,! It was indeed a privilege to be a part of this inaugural trip to The Pass.

Thanks to many who supported and have committed to continue to support the effort to help this city of Pass Christian Mississippi.! Though our initial trip is over, the residents and communities on the Gulf continue to struggle to get back on their feet. Please continue to support them and pray for them in whatever ways you can.

Mark Troyer for the Operation Restoration Trip to Pass Christian Mississippi