Trip D: Florida Mission Trip
Time taken: once
Details:

This was more of a mission trip/extended service project than a high-adventure trip. We went to southern Florida to repair homes destroyed by Hurricane Charlie in 2004. We joined forces with a group from our CO who usually spend their summers building churches across the US. This year we were based out of a local church but working on folks homes.

The 1st night was in a Scout camp again in W Alabama or E Mississippi. Then on down to the church were we were to work. We helped do just about everything but run electricity. We poured concrete, hung sheetrock, cleaned out old wet sheetrock and insulation, clean & kill mold/mildew, load dumpsters, drag out old carpet, rebuild roofs and carports, tape and float sheetrock, cut shingles and nail them - you get the idea.

We worked there the most of a week. We had to leave ahead of Hurricane Dennis (in 2005). We were asked to tow out a light-weight trailer for another couple of guys. What I didn't know was that the vehicle we were using (an old Ford Econoline 350) had a transmission that was about worn out - the van overheated several time - prompting me to try a number of field repairs.

We stayed in a motel in the Fla. panhandle the 1st night on the road back. I'd already had to stop to replace the thermostat. Spent the morning replacing the waterpump as the power company crews rolled in and set up in that hotel. Then hit the road with the other evacuees as Dennis was heading for where we were. (Can you say "anxiety"?) We spent the 2nd night back in the last hotel room in some town in Mississippi. Ladies on the bed, guys on the floor, and change in the bathroom.

On the 3rd day we figured we'd get back home ok. We were about to leave Shreveport LA when the trailer tire lost it's tread, just before the last exit. Pulled off to a truck stop that "happened" to be there, got hold of a Wal-Mart & found I had 30 minutes until they closed. Manage to limp to the Wal Mart and get the guy to throw a new tire on it. Got home ok that evening.

Cost for the 8 day trip: <$70/person

When they wanted to do this trip, I spent a great deal of time trying to find an organization through whom we could work. I found a number of different agencies, then found out that our local group was going to be doing this too. We ended up working with them, so a lot of the planning and preparation was done for us. We went through the training for our denominations disaster response teams, but have not used it since and it has changed, I understand.

John Unger
Advisor Crew 99
Huntsville, Texas