Some of the young ladies prove they have both beauty and brawn. Ten teenagers from the Cathedral of the Incarnation's Journey to Adulthood Program set out on February 16, 2008 for a week to Mission On The Bay located in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to do Hurricane Katrina Relief Work. Yes, the need still exists 2 1/2 years later. Martin Adams, Anna Bricken, Elizabeth Cavanaugh, Brittany Dara, Ryan DeMarco, Gerard D'Aversa, Robert LeSueur, Jessica Lombardo, Emily Werner, Emma Siegel along with Fr. Joseph Pae and Deacon Connie Lorenz saw first hand the widespread devastation that Hurricane Katrina left.

From the airport, the participants drove on the road which runs along side the Gulf of Mexico - the now quiet Gulf of Mexico. However, as they pulled into the driveway of their destination, the campsite of Mission On the Bay, which is located on the grounds of Christ Episcopal Church, they saw what was left of Christ Episcopal Church - the bell tower. This congregation now worships in a Quonset hut.

They were warmly welcomed by Erin Dyson and Butch Jones, the directors of the camp, Mission On The Bay, which is affiliated with Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi. During their stay, they were housed, fed, and worshipped in military style Quonset huts, which resemble Army barracks. They spent the week along with two

Contractor Glen Locklin and the Cathedral Youth get ready to labor. other volunteer youth groups - a group from Georgia and one from Westchester, NY.

Their major work assignment for the week was to work in the town of Perlington, a small community of 2,200 people, which is located in Hancock County, Mississippi. Hurricane Katrina brought widespread devastation to Hancock County with 40 confirmed deaths and millions of dollars in property damage. Nearly 70% of the county's homes were left uninhabitable. The town of Perlington was particularly devastated, as nearly every home was either completely destroyed or severely damaged. The only hurricane other than Katrina to flood this part of the country with such force was Camille in 1969. Camille only brought 2 feet of water into town; Katrina brought 20 feet.

The work is hard but the volunteers are still able to smile thinking about how their labors are helping others. The volunteers worked under the supervision of contractor Glen Locklin who is the Ministry Director & Project Co-ordinator of a company called One House At A Time. Their motto is "Restoring Hope, Reuniting Families, Rebuilding Lives." Under his supervision they learned to lay cable and phone lines; to install electrical wiring; nail support braces; paint trim and doors; and sand and stain kitchen cabinets. Some of the other work they did during the course of the week was real back breaking work like clearing debris from a lot and digging a drainage line. The teens listened to the incredible stories of survival from those whose homes they were working on. On their last day working with Mr. Locklin, he congratulated them saying that in the 21/2 days of work with him,they had helped 6 families.

Although the work was difficult at times, the teens were enthusiastic. They brought their joy into places of great sadness. And, perhaps they even brought a smile and lifted the spirits of those who came in contact with their singing, their laughing. They were able to help, to rebuild, to give hope and all because they care. Kids do care, just give them a chance. Right outside their Mission On the Bay Quonset hut stood a large cross with the words, "For we are laborers together with God." How true! The young missionaries from the Cathedral of the Incarnation labored in God's fields, among God's people.

The teens are ready to begin the difficult job of clearing a lot for a house to be built.

Ryan, Emily, Emma and Jessica take a rare moment to relax.