Current Needs

Here's an idea on how to donate to the church ministry needs online: Go to this Wish List at Wal-Mart and print out this page. Keep it with you and next time you go to a WalMart and you see something Bethel Lutheran could use, take it to checkout. They'll scan it and send it to Bethel in Biloxi automatically. Pretty cool, eh? You might see "Kent Thompson" as the name of the recipient but the send to address is Bethel Lutheran. Rest assured, and my wife can back me up on this, I wouldn't know a crock pot from a carburetor.

Current Ministry Needs: (the following links go to an Amazon Wish List)

• Dust Buster
• 2 Big Boiling Pots (Heavy- Good Quality)
• 1 Large Pancake Grills
• 1 Big Electric Roaster
• 1 Big Crock Pot
• 1 Heavy Duty Mixer
• 1 Electric Fry Pan
• Note: For convenience, you can order the above items online by clicking the links that go to a Wish List I created for Bethel Lutheran through Amazon.com. The items I chose are representative of the size needed to feed and care for a lot of volunteers but if you know of a better brand or model we welcome it. If ordering online, make sure the shipping address is Bethel Lutheran, 2521 Pass Road Biloxi, MS 39531 (228)267-0008.
  
• 3 Large Forks (Heavy Duty Carving)
• Volunteers! Long-term, short-term, skilled, semi-skilled, those able to serve in the medical clinic (physicians & nurses), in the kitchen, on work crews, case advocates, clerical support, etc. – any with the willingness to serve.
• Prayer Shawls
• Licensed craftsmen – a plumber, electrician, HVAC installer, etc. to join your team

Current Clinic Needs:

• Quick Strep Tests
• Advair 250/50
• Valtrex 500 mg
• Mavik
• Rid-X (scabies, lice treatment)
• Skin Creams & Antibiotics
• Carbamazine
• Tegretal (generic)
• Elbow splints, braces, wraps
• Ziplock bags (sandwich, pint, quart & gallon)
• Volunteer Physicians
• Volunteer Nurses
• Volunteers to perform data entry who have knowledge of Excel and medical terminology
• Volunteers to register patients and complete paperwork
• Wal-Mart, Walgreen, or Debit cards which we use to purchase medications and supplies for patients

Items per Bethel website

New Bethel Lutheran Hurrican Ministry Website

Bethel has a new website devoted (and how!) to the Hurricane Katrina Ministry. Be sure and bookmark it and check for updates.

Great work Donna!

Bethel Update 27

With apologies, I forgot to post this excellent end-of-year report from Bethel.

Latest update from Bethel in Biloxi (PDF)

More videos

Our friend and fellow volunteer, Don French, has uploaded several chapters of his video diary to YouTube. Vernon Lutheran Church October, 2006 Mission Trip to Ocean Springs, MS to help with Hurricane Katrina Recovery. Thanks, Don!

"Good Works" DVD finished

The follow-up to "8 Days in Biloxi" is done. The DVD "Good Works: Ministry on the Gulf Coast One Year After Katrina" will be available for any donation. Bethel will have a shipment shortly.

Per a request, I'm including the chapter "Frank (Revisited)" edited from a brief visit with him last summer. Gave him an "8 Days" DVD and toured his house in the middle of remodeling. Passing on a howdy and a big thank you from him to some lovely volunteers who brought him a place to sit and hope for the future. He had lots of good news to share and slowly life is getting back to a form of normal. But its all one day at a time like for so many.



Sidenote: last fall I heard a story that some volunteers were working about a block over and were visited by a large man who asked for some help moving a chair from his FEMA trailer into his house. They did. They looked at the chair and looked at the gentleman and said "Hey, you're Frank!" He didn't understand. So he still hasn't watched the video. He's certainly busy putting a roof over his head but he needs to find a new agent.

Here is the original chapter "Frank" from "8 Days in Biloxi"

- Kent

Judys Travels

This is a tentative schedule. We will update her itinerary as events are confirmed.

January 21st 8:30 AM Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Salem, Oregon
11:00 AM Worship at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Salem, Oregon Pastor John Maas
Lunch with High School and Young Adults
Evening Cluster gathering of local churches Faith Lutheran
Church, 930 SW Queen Avenue, Albany, Oregon
Contact: 541 928-7660

January 23rd Evening Trinity Lutheran Church, Vancouver, Oregon

January 24th Late Morning Salem Pastor’s Study Group
7:00 PM Worship Our Saviour’s, Salem, Oregon

January 25th 7:00 PM Creator Lutheran Church, Sumner, Washington

January 26th 6:30 PM Cross and Crown Lutheran Church
Renton, Washington
Dinner and Worship at 8:00 PM
Pastor Glen Aaburg Contact: 425 255-5910

January 27th Noon Calvary Lutheran Church
Federal Way, Washington

January 28th 8:30 AM Bethlehem Lutheran Church
10:00 AM Marysville, Washington
11:15 AM

January 29th 1:00 PM Northwest WA Synod Office
Visit with Bishop Chris Boerger
7:00 PM Morningstar Lutheran Church
Monroe, Washington

January 31st 10:10 AM California Lutheran University Chapel

February 4th PM California Lutheran University Chapel

April 21st Buffalo, New York

Bethel Update 26

A Legendary “Rebel” Returns to the South...Free Clinic or Free Medical Center?... Christian Rock Artist to Perform... A Time to Rejoice... and more...

Read the latest update from Bethel in Biloxi (PDF)

Note from Bethel

Dear Friends,

It is unusual for us to send a plea via our updates, but Christmas is coming and the needs of the families we serve are great at this time of year. I am new as a long-term volunteer to this ministry. A recent graduate fo Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, my heart led me back to the Mississippi Coast and to Bethel's Hurricane Katrina Minsitry, as many of you have been led. I believe this to be God's call for me at this time. I will continue to serve here as laong as there is a need for my pastoral services. I was shocked to find that recovery, though on-going is so slow. As families move back into refurbished homes, many are without furniture and household necessities as all of their resources have been used up in the rebuilding process. People are sleeping on floors as there is no budget for beds or bedding. Something as simple as a dining table can change the way a family lives together in their new home. We are still being asked for food and continue to serve 30 to 50 clients every day in our medical clinic.

People have been so generous in contributing money and supplies to support our ministry here, but it is hard for those who are far away to appreciate how the needs continue. We are planning a Santa Shop in which parents can come to choose toys for their children, and a separate shop in which children can shop for their parents. As we receive applications for families who are already our clients for rebuilding and support, we begin to understand the needs which extend beyond the immediate need for shelter. So many people were coping with immediate physical needs last Christmas there was hardly an opportunity to celebrate. For many this will really be their first Christmas since Katrina. The stories we hear are heartbreaking. As families have lost everything, so the children in those families have lost toys, books, other items of comfort and meaning. The opportunity is great to begin a relationship with families who strive to recreate a home for themselves and their children.

There are several means of creating those relationships. We have families to adopt for Christmas and through the year as they continue to rebuild home. We would be delighted to provide contact information if you or your congregation would like to sponsor a family for Christmas or longer. Several congregations in South Carolina delivered toys for our Santa Shop, but as applications come in, the need is greater than our supply. $100 Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sears and Visa gift cards always touch the hearts of parents struggling to meet their family's expectations and allow families to meet their specific needs.

You have always been so generous in the past, we know you will want to partiacipate with us in supporting these families. Please call or e-mail us soon for information, and feel free to pass on this e-mail to anyone who might be interested in adopting a family or supporting our Santa Shop.

Blessings,

Barbara Punch
Pastoral Assistant

Bethel Update 25

Building has begun on Mary Parker's new home!

Read more in the latest update from Bethel in Biloxi (PDF)

Judy's Travels

This is a tentative schedule. We will update it as events are confirmed.

November 19 AM Mont Clare United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois

November 19 PM Christ the King Lutheran Church, South Bend, Indiana

November 20th Indiana University, South Bend, Indiana

December 3rd Grand Forks, North Dakota

December 4th - 6th North Dakota Regional Camp Director’s Conference

January 21st 8:30 AM Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Salem, Oregon

January 21st 11:00 AM Worship at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Salem, Oregon Pastor John Maas
Evening Cluster gathering of local churches Faith Lutheran
Church, 930 SW Queen Avenue, Albany, Oregon
Contact: 541 928-7660

January 24th Evening Pot Luck and Presentation Tentative

January 28th Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, Renton, Washington
Pastor Glen Aaburg Contact: 425 255-5910

January 31st 10:10 AM California Lutheran University Chapel

February 4th AM Not yet confirmed

February 4th PM California Lutheran University Chapel

Need help for a Santa Gift Shop at Bethel

Bethel Lutheran is going to have a Santa's Gift Shop the week before Christmas. Any help you or your church can provide would be greatly appreciated.

- Canned hams
- light weight jackets
- hooded sweatshirts
- barbies
- electronic games
- hot wheels or matchbox cars
- other small toys
- gift cards to Wal-Mart, K-Mart

Bethel Lutheran Church
2521 Pass Road
Biloxi, Mississippi 39531
(228)267-0008/9
bethelkat@gmail.com

Bethel Update October (2)

Finally we have a start date to begin building Mary Parker’s house – November 7th. Hallelujah! We have the building permit, we have most of the money, and we have the volunteers to work! Yes, we always have work for more – come down and help! This is a miracle in the making. We hope to have it “dried-in” by November 17th and ready to begin work on the interior. We’ll keep you posted with pictures of the progress. We continue to be grateful to each of you and your congregations who have and who continue to make this dream a reality for Mary through your generous support.

Read more in the latest update from Bethel in Biloxi (PDF)