Resiliency - Train the Trainer

SO what is RESILIENCY? Simply put, it's the ability to “Bounce Back” from things that take you down, whether briefly or from a major catastrophe.
 
Even though it's been three and a half years since Katrina devastated the community of Bay St. Louis, our downtown roads are still a mixture of dirt and new concrete as the replacement infrastructure is being put in place, and like the rest of the nation, the local economy is in the tank. Truth be told, we were running on an empty tank before the rest of the world started to feel the pinch and around here some days even finding the car keys can be a major challenge.  

In August 2008, SOAR received a grant from the United Jewish Communities (UJC) and introduction to the Community Stress Prevention Center (CSPC) in Kiryat Shmona, Israel, which enabled the ministries to engage in a collaborative effort to help the community bounce back.

Monday through Wednesday 28 people, including School Guidance Counselors, Case Managers, Clergy, and long term volunteers, met to tackle some of the challenges keeping us on the ground and learning ways to bring restoration to weary souls.  

Ruvie Rogel, Deputy CEO of The Community Stress Prevention Center in Kiryat Shmona, Israel, provided the training and oversaw the trainee’s presentations. Interactive activities included floor painting, posters and role playing.

Evaluations again proved this is the most useful and friendly training participants have ever attended.  Following the next session many participants will be certified to expand the role of the training in Hancock County and along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.  WE ARE BLESSED! Check out our Memories section of our Web site for more photos from the day and other events.

Resiliency - Youth Bouncing Back

Being a teenager has always been a challenging time of life, however add to that loosing everything you own 3 years ago and moving from one location to another and waiting daily for your trailer to be taken away and the everyday challenges of loss of loved ones and accidents and parents unemployment and...

The solution, RESILIENCY WORKSHOPS!   

For two days, 19 youth from three Bay St. Louis High Schools gathered together with a devoted heart to be able to help them and help others.  

YES I CAN became the theme of the workshops, as the youth touched tender issues in their lives post Katrina, many of them realized that they CAN and WILL make a difference.

Through art, music, role playing and JUST PLAIN FUN, the youth addressed the challenges they have faced in the past few years and came out SMILING.  

Follow up training will be held in the next few months, with many of them saying “I learned so much-Thank You!”

Women's Luncheon - Hearts Alive

As I walked up the steps of Ms. Nola’s home on this bright sunny Mississippi afternoon, memories of three years ago flooded my mind. 

Images of food being prepared on gas burners, tables set with make shift tablecloths and foam decorations, and women walking with heads down, quiet with hollow eyes of grief and shock.

Today was a day of true celebration as over 35 women gathered for the Bay St. Louis, Women’s Luncheon. 

Our third anniversary, the sound of laughter cascaded from the door as the women greeted each other with hugs and kisses.  True to Southern Hospitality the table was filled with chicken, potato salad, corn pudding and desserts galore.

We began celebrating our time with Leverne and Pat Hendricks, they have served here in the bay for two years and have become part or our community heart and will be moving on this month.  Leverne said “I am humbled and honored, this is home for us.” 

Each woman brought their favorite Women’s Luncheon memory to share with the group!  We laughed, cried, hugged and did it all again and AGAIN! 

At the end of the afternoon, we all sat back in our chairs, tummies and hearts FULL and gave thanks to God for the remarkable legacy He has left from Katrina. 

A group of women, none who knew each other three years ago, that have bonded and made Christian community their talk and walk!

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness and love as He indeed is healing the broken hearted!