A team of about 15 from the Grace Brethren Church of Wooster, OH (Robert Fetterhoff, pastor), calling themselves the “Operation Katrina Chainsaw Team,” will be leaving the Wooster church parking lot Friday morning, September 9 at 8 a.m. for Mississippi.
Current plans call for them to head to Long Beach, Mississippi, on the coast near Biloxi. It is roughly 1,000 mi. from Wooster, about 15 and one-half hours away.
Because of the gas shortages in the south, the group will be car-pooling and taking a trailer to haul tools and a good supply of gas to work with and provide fuel to get out of the deep south.
The group says it is going, “Because we are told to give a cold cup of water in HIS name whenever and wherever we can as believers. We have never lived in a time when people need to see the love of Jesus in His people as now. The evangelical church is seen as hard-hearted and uncaring. We need to put action to our words.”
Mississippi currently is still in the midst of summer, so they are anticipating hot weather, in the mid to high 90’s. Eighty percent of the state is without electric, which means no ATMs, credit card use, or gasoline pumps.
They’ve been informed there is currently no gasoline available south of Jackson, MS., so it is necessary to bring enough gas for the chainsaws for the 10-day trip, as well as enough to get back to a gas station some 4-5 hrs north.
The group anticipates “roughing it,” probably sleeping on concrete, so participants are being advised to bring a cot, air mattress, and light sleeping bag. Cell towers are hit and miss so communication will likely be by walkie-talkies.
For more information and current updates, click on “Hurricane Katrina Relief” on the church’s website at www.woostergrace.org.