Fall is upon us...

As the weather begins to cool in Bay St. Louis the work continues forward. Many homes are 'in process'. The church continues to gather on Sunday mornings worship, fellowship and the Lord's supper. It is a great encouragement to hear so many people in the community consistently compliment the work that our staff and volunteers do in this area. The boards are still on our windows at the Larroux house, but we are hopeful that we can take them down in mid-October at the end of Hurricane season. Keep us all in your prayers and please schedule a trip to Lagniappe when your schedule permits. Blessings and grace, Jean.

Lagniappe shelter on WLOX Biloxi

Sorry for the commercial, but thanks to WLOX for their coverage of Hancock County!

Lagniappe Update

We are sorry for the lack of communication these past few days, but we have been fairly busy. The last of the staff was able to return last night and were relieved that all staff homes survived with no damage. The Lagniappe facility had some of the fence down, a few leaks in the roof of the big building, but we are up and running again. While our construction crew assesses the needs in our community, our facility has become a Red Cross Shelter. We are housing about 25 Red Cross Volunteers and expect to receive about 75 refugees from our area today. So many of you have sent emails asking about the houses you worked on on previous trips, and we are happy to report that not one of the Lagniappe houses we have built was damaged! We are still assessing damage to other homes you might have worked on, and we can only report that many homes in Waveland did have damage due to flood waters, and our current mission is to take care of as many of those families as we can house safely to meet their immediate needs of food and housing. Our previous mission of participating in the restoration of the Gulf Coast through the declaration and demonstration of the love of God shown to us in Christ Jesus has not changed, and we will be here no matter what. MNA Disaster Response Director, Arklie Hooten, is staying with us and is seeking to establish a relief site in Baton Rouge, a community greatly effected by Gustav's winds. For information about that, please check the MNA website @www.pca-mna.org. Please pray for the people here. They are so weary. Also pray for us, that the love of Christ would be displayed in word and deed. As Curt Moore has stated, we have entered into yet another area where we are over our heads and depending on grace. Stepping into these waters is ALWAYS fearful at first, yet we know it is the canvas upon which the Father loves to display His glory and grace. Thanks so much for your prayers and emails!

Photos taken during Hurricane Gustav

All photos come from complements of Frank and Susan Underwood.

National Guard HQ at Lagniappe

Lagniappe Staff Alert

Since many area residents sustained flood damage in Waveland, Lagniappe will be opening it's bunkhouses to families in need of shelter, and will also open it's kitchen to begin serving meals as soon as possible. Highway 603 was flooded today, but is expected to reopen by midmorning on Tuesday, so all Lagniappe staff is asked to return to the Bay as soon as possible to facilitate disaster response at Lagniappe. Please pray for travel mercies for all those returning home.

Gustav Update

Governor Barbour just reported, with limited access, the effects of Gustav. 10 foot tidal surge in Waveland. Several hundred homes damaged in Waveland. Several main roads in Hancock Co. sustained flood waters; Dunbar, Hwy.90 in low spots. All assessments were done from boats. Unable to check rest. Curfew in effect 6pm-6am.

Will report more in the morning.

All Lagniappe staff safe and sound.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

6:10 PM

He maketh the storm a calm.........................

It's early yet, but it appears that the Bay has been spared any serious damage so far. Jean reported that there has been rain and wind, but very little storm serge and no water has made it to Highway 90 anywhere on the Mississippi coast! Waveland has completely lost power, but there has been little wind and tree damage! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! He has obviously answered our prayers as we have watched the east side of Gustav pretty much fall apart instead of causing havoc! Thank you, Jesus. Please continue to pray for Mississippi, Louisiana and especially New Orleans, that their levees will be able to withstand whatever flooding ensues there. Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers! "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"