Leaving Tomorrow

We're leaving tomorrow for a week on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. This will be my third trip to the Gulf Coast, and I think it will be the most challenging. We will be providing mental health services (domestic violence training workshops, individual counseling sessions) Tuesday through Friday.

Here's our itinerary:

Monday, January 7, 2008
 4:16 pm: Arrive in New Orleans
 7:00 pm/8:00 pm: Arrive in Pearlington
 Dinner at Lawler’s Bistro, Diamondhead Shopping Center (Exit 16 at 4402 Aloha Drive)

Tuesday, January 8, 2008
 8:00 am – 11:00 am: Tour of Gulf Coast
 11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Lunch at Reverend Rawls’s Missionary Baptist Church, Pearlington
 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Open individual sessions at Reverend John Gibson’s First Southern Baptist Church, Pearlington
 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Domestic Violence Training Workshop at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Delisle
 4:30 pm: WLOX Interview
 Dinner out

Wednesday, January 9, 2008
 8:00 am – 11:00 pm: Individual counseling sessions at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Delisle
 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Senior Program – How to recognize and deal with traits of suicide, violence, abuses, and depression at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Delisle
 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Delisle
 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Individual counseling sessions at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Delisle
 Dinner with music

Thursday, January 10, 2008
 9:00 am – 11:30 am: Individual counseling at Pastor Don’s Lakeshore Baptist Church (Pastor Don may speak with us about life in the community)
 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch in Lakeshore or Pearlington
 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Individual Counseling at Southern Baptist Church, Pearlington
 Dinner out

Friday, January 11, 2008
 8:00 am – 12:00 pm: Individual counseling at Waveland City Board Room
 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch
 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Individual counseling at Waveland City Board Room
 Dinner out

Saturday, January 12, 2008
 7:45 am: depart for airport

Challenges:
Domestic violence, suicide, marital and family issues, PSTD, teen arrests, illegal substance abuse, sense of giving up, new poverty, no organizations exist to provide help

Outcomes:
 Relationships
 Needs assessment
o Recommendations for other organizations (STEPS, Interfaith Disaster Task Force, RAND Gulf States Policy Institute, MS Coastal Primary Mental Health Collaborative, foundations, etc.)

Please pray for our team as we go about our work in Mississippi.

Thanks.