June 23 - July 2, 2006

WHAT TO EXPECT?

The Bayou is a marshy shrimping community that is a place of great character and culture. This community faces generational poverty, as well as natural hurricane disasters. The recent devastation of Hurricane Katrina has taken an enormous toll on the Bayou - we will have the opportunity to be a part of hurricane/ flood relief, though YouthWorks asks groups to be flexible in expectations as we  desire to meet the community needs in the best way possible. The community is a diverse mix of southeast Asians, African Americans and Anglo Americans who possess resiliency, strength, charm and a large acceptance of all different people. From flood relief work to working with children programs, the ministry in Bayou La Batre is sure to be a life-changing experience!

Demographics
Bayou La Batre is a rural, coastal city located on the southwestern tip of Alabama, directly on the Gulf of Mexico. It was settled in 1699 when Captains of the Sun King claimed these shores for France. The people of the Bayou La Batre consist of a diverse mix of Anglo, African and Asian Americans in equal numbers, with a total population of 2,479. Bayou La Batre relies heavily on the seafood industry for 85% of its economic survival. The seafood industry, and therefore the economy of Bayou, is suffering from the recent devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Many Bayou residents live in small homes with large, extended families, and many of these homes have been destroyed or greatly damaged. Though the people of the Bayou are resilient and strong, it will take much work, prayers and support to rebuild the Bayou after the hurricane.

About the Ministry
We need to be flexible while serving in Bayou La Batre. Due to the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster - we desire to serve the Bayou by assisting wherever we can. As the summer months approach, we will have a more concrete idea of the help that they will be needing. At this time, we plan to focus on two primary areas of ministry: flood relief and work with children. This work will become more clear as we assess the needs of the community.

Activities
Our goal with evening activities is to provide an exposure to the unique offering of the week and  community. Below is included a list of evening/cultural activities we have done in the past. Please note that due to Hurricane Katrina, these evening activities may be changed. Examples in the past include: Visit Dauphin Island for beach fun and possible swimming; Take part in a community cookout at a  local park; Free night with an opportunity to visit the Bayou T-Shirt shop; and worship with a local church. These are examples of what we might partake in during our mission week. These examples are subject to change due to weather or availability. In case of change, suitable substitutes will be provided.

Ministry Week
Flood relief, hurricane relief and ministry with children.