Mel Kawakami

Rev. Mel Kawakami, Senior Pastor of the Simsbury United Methodist Church is our Team Leader. Mel is a veteran of a prior mission to Biloxi, having traveled with an earlier team in October to do deconstruction work. Clearly moved by that experience, Mel shared with his congregants upon his return to Simsbury a slide presentation of the some of the places and people that he encountered on that journey. At times, tears welled in his eyes and his voice choked with emotion as he spoke of some of his experiences. Clearly, Mel was destined to take members of his own church, as well as inviting members of other congregations to join us on a mission that has no clear end in sight at this time. Mel has been a blessing to the members of the Simsbury United Methodist Church for the past many years we've had the privelege of knowing him.