DirectionsPlease contact Melissa Ruble with questions or if you get lost. Her phone number is 614-216-9839.
It's not too late to go along! If you are interested, please come to the meeting.
John McGuire
Servants Unite!
Friday, July 28, 2006
August 5 Team Meeting
The August 5 team will meet at GracePoint Church in Lewis Center (just north of Polaris off 23) at 3:00 Sunday for a final planning meeting.
Directions
Please contact Melissa Ruble with questions or if you get lost. Her phone number is 614-216-9839.
It's not too late to go along! If you are interested, please come to the meeting.
John McGuire
Servants Unite!
DirectionsPlease contact Melissa Ruble with questions or if you get lost. Her phone number is 614-216-9839.
It's not too late to go along! If you are interested, please come to the meeting.
John McGuire
Servants Unite!
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Pleas from New York State
Brothers & Sisters in Christ, Our relief effort of providing the necessary items to help people clean their homes continues to be a blessing to us and is greatly appreciated by each and every person who comes in. What we need the most right now are people willing to come here and help us clean homes and get them ready to re-build. We are a small congregation with a big heart but we are limited to how many families we can help. If you have some free time, please come here and join us in reaching out to those in need.
Your brother in Christ
Dave Halligan
Endwell Church of Christ
_________________________________________
I appreciate you trying to round up some volunteers. We have several groups going up to work. They didn't give me a final count of houses that need worked on but they said they had a huge stack of them and had stopped accepting applications until they knew how many volunteers we could get up there. I will be getting updated numbers this week and posting them on the blog hopefully Monday.
Thanks for getting back with me!!
Have a Great Evening!!
Laura
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
_________________________________________
This is Meghan from University at Buffalo. I'm really excited that you guys are on to this flood relief. I live in Vestal NY (right near Binghamton). God totally protected my family and nothing was damaged. The area really needs your help. Thanks for your help! Keep me updated if you need anything.
Meghan
_________________________________________
I just got back from a medical mission to Haiti, and opened your a-mail. I knew about the flooding in Binghamton because all my family is there. My brother was only one that lost his home due to it being right on the river. I spoke to my family yesterday and they said the need was in the Conklin area there ( It's about 30 to 45 miles outside Binghamton and right on the river) My sister and her husband went to help and said there was a Presbyterian church giving food, clothing and helping folks move their big appliances out of their homes. Their are not any Church of Christ in that area, the Endwell Church I attended reached out to the community as my family reported.
Deb Bentley
Your brother in Christ
Dave Halligan
Endwell Church of Christ
_________________________________________
I appreciate you trying to round up some volunteers. We have several groups going up to work. They didn't give me a final count of houses that need worked on but they said they had a huge stack of them and had stopped accepting applications until they knew how many volunteers we could get up there. I will be getting updated numbers this week and posting them on the blog hopefully Monday.
Thanks for getting back with me!!
Have a Great Evening!!
Laura
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
_________________________________________
This is Meghan from University at Buffalo. I'm really excited that you guys are on to this flood relief. I live in Vestal NY (right near Binghamton). God totally protected my family and nothing was damaged. The area really needs your help. Thanks for your help! Keep me updated if you need anything.
Meghan
_________________________________________
I just got back from a medical mission to Haiti, and opened your a-mail. I knew about the flooding in Binghamton because all my family is there. My brother was only one that lost his home due to it being right on the river. I spoke to my family yesterday and they said the need was in the Conklin area there ( It's about 30 to 45 miles outside Binghamton and right on the river) My sister and her husband went to help and said there was a Presbyterian church giving food, clothing and helping folks move their big appliances out of their homes. Their are not any Church of Christ in that area, the Endwell Church I attended reached out to the community as my family reported.
Deb Bentley
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Mission Update and Needs
Contents:
1. August 29 deadline approaches – After that time, “abandoned” houses may be taken over by the local government and sold.
2. Two July groups made a massive contribution – Groups of 18 and 35 joined other volunteers over the last two weeks in Chalmette to gut 15 houses combined plus rebuilding a local school.
3. August 5 trip – ONN (Ohio News Network) will have a crew covering our work for their “Ohio Brings Hope” series ahead of the anniversary of Katrina.
4. What would Natalie do? – Gahanna teen who made her 2nd trip last week is promoting trips to more churches in the area.
5. Binghamton New York flood relief – No response to the first request for volunteers. Any takers now?
1. Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes encompassing the city of New Orleans, Chalmette, and other suburbs gave residents a deadline 2 months ago to have their homes cleaned out and secured by August 29 or else. Homes not cleaned out by that time may be appropriated by the Parish and sold for redevelopment and demolished. This makes our help over the next month and a half all the more important. The backlog of job requests at Hilltop Rescue in Chalmette has risen from 600 at the time of that announcement to 1100 today even with the 30 to 100 houses being gutted by their crews each week.
2. 35 youth and sponsors from Alum Creek Church of Christ and Linworth United Methodist joined 300 other volunteers last week to gut 100 houses! The previous week a group of 18, mainly from New Life in Canal Winchester, had a very successful week as well. See Mark McGiffin’s pictures
3. Our next scheduled trip will leave GracePoint Community Church in Lewis Center North of Columbus on Saturday August 5. Ohio News Network’s Stephanie Mennecke, Amy Bacus, and camera crews will be covering our team’s work and recovery progress for their “Ohio Brings Hope” special ahead of the anniversary of Katrina as well as live feeds during the trip. As of today there are only 3 or 4 people on that team. So here’s the appeal. If you were on a list with 1100 other people to have your house cleaned out or lose it, how important would it be to you that someone come help clean out your house? Additional trips will be built as volunteers are interested in going.
4. To help build up those trips, Natalie Rickard, a 17 year old veteran of team 2 after Katrina and team 16 last week, is calling and visiting area church leaders in an effort to drum up support for more help. She felt so compelled by the work she saw last week that still needed done and the urgency of the deadline looming she had to do yet more than she has already. I personally find her passion very inspirational. You too can have a large impact just by forwarding this request for volunteers to your church email list and your friends. Maybe you can spend some time during the day promoting the effort personally to church leaders in your neighborhood. We’ve all been called to this work and know the powerful feeling of the Spirit working through us. Your help along with Natalie’s is essential to our effort helping storm victims and the growth of this organization to facilitate that help.
5. We also need to support a new effort cleaning up flood damaged homes along the New York, Pennsylvania border where the Delaware River flooded homes and businesses. I received an email from Megan of the University of Buffalo group (team 11) who lives in the area and has validated the need for help in her area.
The hosting church is near Binghamton New York and seeking volunteers to do the same work we’ve been doing in New Orleans. These trips can be much shorter term, however, and may be easier for more people to attend. No volunteers responded to the first request I sent last week and we sent no help this past weekend. An open invitation is out for weekend trips as long as the hosting organization needs volunteers. Recommended agenda is to leave Friday for the 8 hour trip, work Saturday and Sunday, and drive home Sunday night, or Monday. Please email me if you are interested.
Final word – This can be discouraging work when we ask for volunteers for a new effort and none are available or we get TV coverage and there isn’t a large response to fill out the team. Every time I question whether we are doing the right thing, though, bursts of affirmation like an unsolicited, encouraging email or Natalie’s enthusiasm for promoting the work relieves the doubt. I’m impatient. I see what we can do and would prefer to have it all set up at once. But… He has His own timing for this and if there’s ever a consistent lesson he has for me, its patience. I really look forward to seeing what He has in store for us and working with all of you in our efforts. Thanks for your servant’s hearts and support.
1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:30-31, Mathew 9:36-38, Romans 12:4-8
John McGuire
www.ServantsUnite.org
614-523-3996 home
614-404-8610 cel
1. August 29 deadline approaches – After that time, “abandoned” houses may be taken over by the local government and sold.
2. Two July groups made a massive contribution – Groups of 18 and 35 joined other volunteers over the last two weeks in Chalmette to gut 15 houses combined plus rebuilding a local school.
3. August 5 trip – ONN (Ohio News Network) will have a crew covering our work for their “Ohio Brings Hope” series ahead of the anniversary of Katrina.
4. What would Natalie do? – Gahanna teen who made her 2nd trip last week is promoting trips to more churches in the area.
5. Binghamton New York flood relief – No response to the first request for volunteers. Any takers now?
1. Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes encompassing the city of New Orleans, Chalmette, and other suburbs gave residents a deadline 2 months ago to have their homes cleaned out and secured by August 29 or else. Homes not cleaned out by that time may be appropriated by the Parish and sold for redevelopment and demolished. This makes our help over the next month and a half all the more important. The backlog of job requests at Hilltop Rescue in Chalmette has risen from 600 at the time of that announcement to 1100 today even with the 30 to 100 houses being gutted by their crews each week.
2. 35 youth and sponsors from Alum Creek Church of Christ and Linworth United Methodist joined 300 other volunteers last week to gut 100 houses! The previous week a group of 18, mainly from New Life in Canal Winchester, had a very successful week as well. See Mark McGiffin’s pictures
3. Our next scheduled trip will leave GracePoint Community Church in Lewis Center North of Columbus on Saturday August 5. Ohio News Network’s Stephanie Mennecke, Amy Bacus, and camera crews will be covering our team’s work and recovery progress for their “Ohio Brings Hope” special ahead of the anniversary of Katrina as well as live feeds during the trip. As of today there are only 3 or 4 people on that team. So here’s the appeal. If you were on a list with 1100 other people to have your house cleaned out or lose it, how important would it be to you that someone come help clean out your house? Additional trips will be built as volunteers are interested in going.
4. To help build up those trips, Natalie Rickard, a 17 year old veteran of team 2 after Katrina and team 16 last week, is calling and visiting area church leaders in an effort to drum up support for more help. She felt so compelled by the work she saw last week that still needed done and the urgency of the deadline looming she had to do yet more than she has already. I personally find her passion very inspirational. You too can have a large impact just by forwarding this request for volunteers to your church email list and your friends. Maybe you can spend some time during the day promoting the effort personally to church leaders in your neighborhood. We’ve all been called to this work and know the powerful feeling of the Spirit working through us. Your help along with Natalie’s is essential to our effort helping storm victims and the growth of this organization to facilitate that help.
5. We also need to support a new effort cleaning up flood damaged homes along the New York, Pennsylvania border where the Delaware River flooded homes and businesses. I received an email from Megan of the University of Buffalo group (team 11) who lives in the area and has validated the need for help in her area.
The hosting church is near Binghamton New York and seeking volunteers to do the same work we’ve been doing in New Orleans. These trips can be much shorter term, however, and may be easier for more people to attend. No volunteers responded to the first request I sent last week and we sent no help this past weekend. An open invitation is out for weekend trips as long as the hosting organization needs volunteers. Recommended agenda is to leave Friday for the 8 hour trip, work Saturday and Sunday, and drive home Sunday night, or Monday. Please email me if you are interested.
Final word – This can be discouraging work when we ask for volunteers for a new effort and none are available or we get TV coverage and there isn’t a large response to fill out the team. Every time I question whether we are doing the right thing, though, bursts of affirmation like an unsolicited, encouraging email or Natalie’s enthusiasm for promoting the work relieves the doubt. I’m impatient. I see what we can do and would prefer to have it all set up at once. But… He has His own timing for this and if there’s ever a consistent lesson he has for me, its patience. I really look forward to seeing what He has in store for us and working with all of you in our efforts. Thanks for your servant’s hearts and support.
1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:30-31, Mathew 9:36-38, Romans 12:4-8
John McGuire
www.ServantsUnite.org
614-523-3996 home
614-404-8610 cel
Thursday, July 13, 2006
South IB trip featured inThisWeek Papers, Westerville Edition
The Westerville South IB team that went down in June was highlighted in the Westerville Life section of the Westerville Edition of ThisWeek Papers.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Team 15 Update
Sorry about not giving much in the way of updates. We have been very busy and doing lots of hard work. The first day we spent in a private school Lynn Oaks, grades Pre-K through 8, the only Christian school in the area. They have been wanting to get schools opened up. Without the schools it makes it hard for people to come back with their children.
Day 2 - was spent finishing a house that another group had started. There was one bedroom and bathroom that had not been de-mucked. It was 3-5 inches of dried muck, hard to break up. We had a young man with us that has been here since May, Rod. He was like a plow going through the house. He didn't wear a mask or goggles, not even gloves. We worked very hard and we managed to finish the house. We didn't get to meet the homeowners but we signed a Bible and left it for them. Afterward, Rod took us on a "little tour" through the southern part of the 9th ward, where the Levy broke. The devastation is unbelievable, including the numbers on some of the homes that were left, indicating the amount of bodies found.
Day 3 - we got a house in New Orleans. The home owner worked in the evidence dept with the N.O. Police Dept. Her father built the home and she had lived there all her life. Her father had passed away some time ago and her mother back in 1990. She rode out the storms (Katrina and Rita) at Police HQ. She had family members that ended up living in the attic of house during Katrina. This is a very close knit community. Her father had built many of the homes, and she had family members, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, living on nearly every street. She described how the trees were bending during Katrina, like blades of grass in the wind. She was unable to return to her house for over a month due to the situations and all the water. "Who knew it would ever have been that bad." We stripped her entire house, walls, flooring tile, sinks, cupboards, doors. She said the water had risen to over 6 ft in the house. Mold growing everywhere. One of our crew found a shoe box full of pictures in the attic. She was ecstatic. They were the only pictures found with any of her family members in them. We even found some documents of recognition from the city of N.O. presented to her father for some work he had done for the community. She was very appreciative of all the work we were doing.
Someone had mentioned to the group that I made good sausage gravy. Thanks Becky!! :-) So I got up at 5:00 AM this morning to make gravy (for 100 people, I've never made such a large pot of gravy before in my life!), and we actually had REAL fried eggs this morning too. Two other guys in our group volunteered to flip eggs. A great breakfast, everything was homemade (except for the biscuits). Then someone mentioned that their husband made great chili (also from our group). All homemade meals today. Another group here made peach cobbler for desert to go with the chili tonight. I think someone may have gotten a picture or 2 of 3 guys making breakfast before we even had coffee! I bet that was some sight!
We have pictures of all the work we've been doing, but no card reader yet to get them uploaded. Will try and get them out to you as soon as I can.
--mark
Day 2 - was spent finishing a house that another group had started. There was one bedroom and bathroom that had not been de-mucked. It was 3-5 inches of dried muck, hard to break up. We had a young man with us that has been here since May, Rod. He was like a plow going through the house. He didn't wear a mask or goggles, not even gloves. We worked very hard and we managed to finish the house. We didn't get to meet the homeowners but we signed a Bible and left it for them. Afterward, Rod took us on a "little tour" through the southern part of the 9th ward, where the Levy broke. The devastation is unbelievable, including the numbers on some of the homes that were left, indicating the amount of bodies found.
Day 3 - we got a house in New Orleans. The home owner worked in the evidence dept with the N.O. Police Dept. Her father built the home and she had lived there all her life. Her father had passed away some time ago and her mother back in 1990. She rode out the storms (Katrina and Rita) at Police HQ. She had family members that ended up living in the attic of house during Katrina. This is a very close knit community. Her father had built many of the homes, and she had family members, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, living on nearly every street. She described how the trees were bending during Katrina, like blades of grass in the wind. She was unable to return to her house for over a month due to the situations and all the water. "Who knew it would ever have been that bad." We stripped her entire house, walls, flooring tile, sinks, cupboards, doors. She said the water had risen to over 6 ft in the house. Mold growing everywhere. One of our crew found a shoe box full of pictures in the attic. She was ecstatic. They were the only pictures found with any of her family members in them. We even found some documents of recognition from the city of N.O. presented to her father for some work he had done for the community. She was very appreciative of all the work we were doing.
Someone had mentioned to the group that I made good sausage gravy. Thanks Becky!! :-) So I got up at 5:00 AM this morning to make gravy (for 100 people, I've never made such a large pot of gravy before in my life!), and we actually had REAL fried eggs this morning too. Two other guys in our group volunteered to flip eggs. A great breakfast, everything was homemade (except for the biscuits). Then someone mentioned that their husband made great chili (also from our group). All homemade meals today. Another group here made peach cobbler for desert to go with the chili tonight. I think someone may have gotten a picture or 2 of 3 guys making breakfast before we even had coffee! I bet that was some sight!
We have pictures of all the work we've been doing, but no card reader yet to get them uploaded. Will try and get them out to you as soon as I can.
--mark
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Team 15 Out the Door
Running out of ways to announce departure's ;-)Team 15, mainly made up of adults and teens from New Life in Canal Winchester plus Mark and Becky McGiffin of Spring Road left at 8:30 this morning!! They are 18 strong and were all really excited about the work that awaits them.
Fifteen teams and the 16th is ready to leave next Saturday morning. WOW! I'm so pleased the support continues to be there and we've been able to continue this operation past the original 4 trips and be planning for our next response. This is GOOD WORK and I'm thrilled and humbled to be working with you all on this.To that end Melinda and I spent the first part of the week in Louisville at the North American Christian Convention. We didn't have as much interest in the booth as I expected, but managed to find attendees walking by with Ohio on their name badge and sent information with them for their missions/ministry staff. We also met some others who had been to work in Louisiana and found the same "life changing" experience is shared by others who have worked in other locations.
We also got to hang out with Janet, Gary, and Megan from Hilltop, meet Don Yelton from Whites Ferry Road for the "elevator" presentation on what we are building. We met Keith Wood and Rick Jett, Executive directory of IDES, a Christian Church international disaster relief organization that is starting up relief operations in the US in response to Katrina. We are investigating their DART project to see where we may fit in and so is Hilltop Rescue.
We will have a booth at the Westerville Christian grand opening (our building is now double it's size a year ago). Like we've done at Grace Point, we can set up a table at your church any Sunday or when you have a focus on missions and can speak to the congregation about our organization.
I wanted to pass along what I'm sure is a shared personal experience. Janet Hines and I were discussing being "under attack" Tuesday. There are times when you feel like all is pointless. All the mission work all the church work, effort put into kids and work, all the "good" we do seems to meet opposition. Sometimes even from the Christian brothers and sisters we expect to be our brothers in arms.
We know we have an enemy who attacks the work we do in God's name and we know how to defend against it (Ephesians 6:10-18). As much good as Janet has done since last September, she has faced more attack than most of us. She talked about being pushed to the point of frustration and going to a friend very angry about it. But by keeping the perspective that "we are not fighting flesh and blood, but spirits in the heavenly realms", using the whole armor, and praying for "all the saints", we can know that when others appear to attack us, they may not know they are being used and think they are doing good. We can defend against Satan's fiery arrows, and we can support and plead to God for one another's success working in his fields.
Take a moment now, before you forget, to pray for Servants Unite's leaders and volunteers; Janet, Tim, Brendan, Corkey, Megan, Gary, Bogden, and Savita at Hilltop; the people managing the ongoing effort at Tammany Oaks; Fred Frankey and the others at Carrollton Avenue, the thousands of volunteers, and the hundreds of thousands of storm victims who are struggling so hard to get their lives back together. Pray for strength, wisdom, energy, peace, and satisfaction in doing the Lord's work.
Thanks!
John McGuire
Servants Unite!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Potentially False Alarm and Other News
It appears that media coverage may have exaggerated the damage. Various contacts in Norwalk and Port Clinton indicate the generally expected amount of damage that occurs with any summer storm. Two people responded to the request for volunteers. We will not be sending a contingent up this weekend.
I do still encourage you to get out in your area for a few hours this weekend to help neighbors cut and stack storm debris for disposal. If you know of anyone who needs extra assistance or lacks tools (chainsaw) send a note back and I'll send the job opportunities out to this list tomorrow.
In other news, I met with Adam and Matt, the two youth ministers in Team 16 leaving Columbus on July 8. Much excitement there! They'll be happy with Nancy Michael (my dear mum-in-law) cooking. If you can help her that week, she can use it. Expectation is 350 volunteers at the school in Chalmette for that week. Contact me immediately if you are interested, but of course nobody is likely to be turned down at the last minute. An experienced team lead is still needed for this trip if you can take the time.
Last Sunday I had the opportunity to speak to Grace Point Church in Lewis Center about our organization. Several more members of that congregation are interested in the August 5 trip. That will be a good last opportunity before school starts if you'd like to join that team.
This week, Melinda and I will be in Louisville to exhibit at the North American Christian Convention We'll be drumming up more support from churches around Ohio, helping out our friends from Hilltop do the same, and encouraging others to start organizations like ours in their area.
Then, next weekend, July 1, Team 15 leaves early Saturday morning from New Life in Canal Winchester. Becky and Mark McGiffin from Spring Road will be escorting the New Life volunteers down. Gary and Sharon Kitchen have put together a total of 20 members of that team.
We'll keep you posted on any and all developments and be here when you feel the need to muck out a house or love on a new storm victim.
1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:30-31, Mathew 9:36-38, Romans 12:4-8
John McGuire
www.ServantsUnite.org
614-523-3996 home
614-404-8610 cel
I do still encourage you to get out in your area for a few hours this weekend to help neighbors cut and stack storm debris for disposal. If you know of anyone who needs extra assistance or lacks tools (chainsaw) send a note back and I'll send the job opportunities out to this list tomorrow.
In other news, I met with Adam and Matt, the two youth ministers in Team 16 leaving Columbus on July 8. Much excitement there! They'll be happy with Nancy Michael (my dear mum-in-law) cooking. If you can help her that week, she can use it. Expectation is 350 volunteers at the school in Chalmette for that week. Contact me immediately if you are interested, but of course nobody is likely to be turned down at the last minute. An experienced team lead is still needed for this trip if you can take the time.
Last Sunday I had the opportunity to speak to Grace Point Church in Lewis Center about our organization. Several more members of that congregation are interested in the August 5 trip. That will be a good last opportunity before school starts if you'd like to join that team.
This week, Melinda and I will be in Louisville to exhibit at the North American Christian Convention We'll be drumming up more support from churches around Ohio, helping out our friends from Hilltop do the same, and encouraging others to start organizations like ours in their area.
Then, next weekend, July 1, Team 15 leaves early Saturday morning from New Life in Canal Winchester. Becky and Mark McGiffin from Spring Road will be escorting the New Life volunteers down. Gary and Sharon Kitchen have put together a total of 20 members of that team.
We'll keep you posted on any and all developments and be here when you feel the need to muck out a house or love on a new storm victim.
1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:30-31, Mathew 9:36-38, Romans 12:4-8
John McGuire
www.ServantsUnite.org
614-523-3996 home
614-404-8610 cel
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Westerville South IB Thoughts
Hi Brad and John,
As the time draws near for us to depart and I've had the better part of Sunday afternoon to reflect, I felt the need to give you a few of my thoughts. First and foremost thank you to Servants Unite for sponsoring our trip. It is an awesome thing that you are doing for the folks of New Orleans. I think that you have given our IB students something more than accumulating hours, you have given them a sense of what it is like to help those in need, and that is a debt that is only repaid through service to humanity.
I'm no stranger to hard work, but I have to say that this has been some of the hardest work that I have ever done, but what a sense of great satisfaction and the feeling that one person (or several together) can make a difference.
I was somewhat concerned that our students would not be up to the task, but in all honesty, they have been awesome. Have they complained some? YES! They have been tested and found worthy. We are very proud of all of them.
I have been so touched by the stories of the people that we have helped. It has reaffirmed that our God is an awesome God. All of these people seem to have such a strong hold on their belief even with all that they have been through. This has been such an uplifting trip for me that I just wish that I could commit more time, but home and family call me back.
Once again thank you for all you have done- "For whatever you have done for the least of them you have done for me."
God Bless,
Bill Kulju
International Baccalaureate CAS Coordinator
Westerville South High School
As the time draws near for us to depart and I've had the better part of Sunday afternoon to reflect, I felt the need to give you a few of my thoughts. First and foremost thank you to Servants Unite for sponsoring our trip. It is an awesome thing that you are doing for the folks of New Orleans. I think that you have given our IB students something more than accumulating hours, you have given them a sense of what it is like to help those in need, and that is a debt that is only repaid through service to humanity.
I'm no stranger to hard work, but I have to say that this has been some of the hardest work that I have ever done, but what a sense of great satisfaction and the feeling that one person (or several together) can make a difference.
I was somewhat concerned that our students would not be up to the task, but in all honesty, they have been awesome. Have they complained some? YES! They have been tested and found worthy. We are very proud of all of them.
I have been so touched by the stories of the people that we have helped. It has reaffirmed that our God is an awesome God. All of these people seem to have such a strong hold on their belief even with all that they have been through. This has been such an uplifting trip for me that I just wish that I could commit more time, but home and family call me back.
Once again thank you for all you have done- "For whatever you have done for the least of them you have done for me."
God Bless,
Bill Kulju
International Baccalaureate CAS Coordinator
Westerville South High School
Thanks from Ms Ella
Just had to drop you a line and let you know how nice the ceilings look. They did a wonderful job. I didn't get to meet them in person, just on the phone. I had a awful cold which wound me in the hospital with pneumonia. Brian got to meet them and said they were very nice. Got home today and so glad to see how great things are looking. And gee just think it only took nine months. I'm making a joke but in actuality some people still haven't even started. I feel so sorry for so many people that are still having to live in trailers and even worse cars. Let's pray this never happens again. We have been helped by so many very nice people such as yourself. I know you realize we do appreciate everything y'all have done, but I don't think you understand just how much it means to know a total stranger has taken the time to give us their friendship. There's not a doubt in my mind God has sent you to us.
God Bless each and every one of you.
With warmest regards and sincere appreciation,
Ella Smith and Brian Barringer
Editor's Note: 3 weeks after Katrina, Ella returned home from Dallas to find her house in Slidell had been flooded 3 feet deep. She walked right back out and a Marine put his hand on her shoulder and asked what he could do to help. She and Brian had an hour or so to get what they wanted to keep from the house and the crew of Marines gutted it for her.
We met her at the Home Depot with a Penske truck, helped get all the things she needed and started putting her house back together in January. A few other volunteers through Hilltop have worked on it since then, but this week the Shiffbauer family from Westerville finished the last step, painting the ceiling on the day the air conditioning was first up and running. Ella and Brian are now home.
There are a lot of pictures of her house before and during our work linked from this blog entry and you can find more stories from team 7 at the archive of the blog from the week we were there in January.
God Bless each and every one of you.
With warmest regards and sincere appreciation,
Ella Smith and Brian Barringer
Editor's Note: 3 weeks after Katrina, Ella returned home from Dallas to find her house in Slidell had been flooded 3 feet deep. She walked right back out and a Marine put his hand on her shoulder and asked what he could do to help. She and Brian had an hour or so to get what they wanted to keep from the house and the crew of Marines gutted it for her.
We met her at the Home Depot with a Penske truck, helped get all the things she needed and started putting her house back together in January. A few other volunteers through Hilltop have worked on it since then, but this week the Shiffbauer family from Westerville finished the last step, painting the ceiling on the day the air conditioning was first up and running. Ella and Brian are now home.
There are a lot of pictures of her house before and during our work linked from this blog entry and you can find more stories from team 7 at the archive of the blog from the week we were there in January.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Team 14 Friday Update
Not a lot new to tell. Hot and humid around 95 today. Sun bright and draining. The team split into two groups today and each completed a house. They were all very tired and exhausted when they returned.
Westerville can be very proud of their students. The Ohioans continue to make a name for themselves as good and hard workers down here. These kids are very mature and their leaders have stayed on focus and they are all getting a lot done. It will be interesting when there is more time to get their feedback. Not much talking going on tonight, the kids are tired and some of the groups went into NO for dinner.
Going to get a shower and get in bed for another big day tomorrow.
Brad
Westerville can be very proud of their students. The Ohioans continue to make a name for themselves as good and hard workers down here. These kids are very mature and their leaders have stayed on focus and they are all getting a lot done. It will be interesting when there is more time to get their feedback. Not much talking going on tonight, the kids are tired and some of the groups went into NO for dinner.
Going to get a shower and get in bed for another big day tomorrow.
Brad
Friday, June 09, 2006
Team 14 First Day Report
Wow what a day. I literally got up at 3:15 and am just now sitting down for the first time at 9:15 other than eating dinner and the devo. And yet I am fine and ready for the morrow.
The team went out bright eyed and bushy tailed today with hopes of tackling great things. The team of 25 stayed together for their first day and will split up tomorrow. They returned around 3:30 dirty and tired with stories of all the gross things they saw and did.
Cleaning up mud and throwing peoples personal possessions in a trash pile. It seems that no matter who we are or where we come from that is the single thing that always stands out, the throwing out of things that were once near and dear to us.
Imagine if you will if God had said “go give away all you have and I will bring you peace....... Would we not debate argue or negotiate with God? Yet this disaster strikes and makes them all as filthy rags and here we are helping people to the curb with all their worldly possessions.
Tomorrow holds much promise. The kids from WSHS did such a great job today that the neighbor to the house they did came in and asked Hilltop for them to come do hers. I doubt that will happen but she was so impressed with how hard they worked, the quality of the work, and their attitudes that she followed them back here. Great job to the kids who are hear working so hard.
Well I need some sleep up at 3 again to cook. Good night and may God bless each of you. Brad Hayes
Servants Unite
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Team 14 Starts Work
Well the trip was long but we made it in one day. 15 hours of driving and let me be the first to salute the Westerville South kids on making their trips count and making them quick. It really helped to make the trip go faster and we were coming into New Orleans across Lake Ponchatrain just as the sun was beginning to set. It was quite a contrast to enjoy the beauty of the bright orange and red sun across the water when only a few feet away were still piles of garbage wreckage and distruction.
I have not been down since October but much is still the same as you come into the city. It appears that many of the major areas, the highways, tourist areas etc have had extensive work but as you come into St Bernard Parish there is still an awe of the massive destruction that occurred.
The group at Hilltop was over 200 last night when we arrived with 99 leaving today and over 100 more due in today. Just finished breakfast and clean up in time for the crew to prepare for their first day in the field. I will do my best to keep you all updated but have to tell you the pace hasn't slowed here if anything it has quickened.
Brad Hayes
Servants Unite
I have not been down since October but much is still the same as you come into the city. It appears that many of the major areas, the highways, tourist areas etc have had extensive work but as you come into St Bernard Parish there is still an awe of the massive destruction that occurred.
The group at Hilltop was over 200 last night when we arrived with 99 leaving today and over 100 more due in today. Just finished breakfast and clean up in time for the crew to prepare for their first day in the field. I will do my best to keep you all updated but have to tell you the pace hasn't slowed here if anything it has quickened.
Brad Hayes
Servants Unite
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Team 14 Departs
A team of 27 from Westerville South IB led by Brad Hayes left at 5:40 this morning from South's parking lot. There was an unbelievable amount of energy from this crew for that early in the morning.
If you look close you'll see a couple familiar faces. Ross from Spring Road Church of Christ youth group is on his 3rd trip! Also Whitney Hayes is making a return run. Very inspiring!
They'll be driving straight through to Chalmette today, working through Tuesday, and returning home on Wednesday. Please pray for their safety, success, and thank God for the ministry oppurtunities this work provides. And keep watching the blog this week for Brad's updates.
John McGuire
Servants Unite!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Recent Pictures from New Orleans
I had the pleasure of spending the weekend of May 20-21 with the Hilltop leadership in Chalmette. Plans are in progress and solidifying for setting up the next relief operation in the next disaster area. Hilltop will be scouting and opening a basecamp when the times comes and organizations like Servants Unite will be sending in volunteers and supplies.
You can see all my best pics from that trip here
More volunteers and church families are needed to provide resources for the next relief operation as well as continuing our work in New Orleans. We need to be working now to collect water, non-perishable food, baby kit, personal care kit, and cleaning kit components. We need volunteers to serve the following roles immediately:
This is VERY inspiring work! I see the Spirit at work in everything you do!
A new pressure has surfaced that demands increased volunteer support of the effort in New Orleans. The St. Bernard Parish government, where we do most of our work, has given homeowners a date of August 29 to be started cleaning out their houses. The "or else" hasn't been announced yet, but there are hundreds of work orders not fulfilled waiting for us at the school and Tammany Oaks. If you can put together a summer mission trip the host organizations are very eager to get work done before the end of August to help homeowners meet that deadline.
Several Trips are set and ready to join:
I have some numbers and metrics to report on the Hilltop effort who we've been partnering with all spring. From January through April, that effort spent $81,000 feeding and organizing volunteers; aproximately 1600 of them. The cost of $50 per volunteer per week is reflected in their new request for a donation of $10 per day per volunteer to help cover expenses. Outside fundraising would help eleviate the need for this expense, but preperations for the next disaster take capital too. Servants Unite is considering whether to pay this donation for our volunteers, but needs to increase fundraising
That is a good investment. That $81,000 allowed the volunteers to clean out over 400 houses! That's around $200 per house. With $100,000 left, the end of August would be the end of the effort without more capital flowing in.
I hope this news finds you all well and ask you to pray for this effort and help corporeally where you can. Thanks for making Servants Unite grow and shine!
John McGuire
Servants Unite
You can see all my best pics from that trip here
More volunteers and church families are needed to provide resources for the next relief operation as well as continuing our work in New Orleans. We need to be working now to collect water, non-perishable food, baby kit, personal care kit, and cleaning kit components. We need volunteers to serve the following roles immediately:
- Set up a collection of supplies at your church or business and staff it.
- Talk to your church missions group and leadership about making Servants Unite a supported organization of your church.
- Be a liason between your church family and Servants Unite. Primarily that's a communications channel.
- Continue to volunteer to work in New Orleans.
- Volunteer to be a first responder for the next disaster.
This is VERY inspiring work! I see the Spirit at work in everything you do!
A new pressure has surfaced that demands increased volunteer support of the effort in New Orleans. The St. Bernard Parish government, where we do most of our work, has given homeowners a date of August 29 to be started cleaning out their houses. The "or else" hasn't been announced yet, but there are hundreds of work orders not fulfilled waiting for us at the school and Tammany Oaks. If you can put together a summer mission trip the host organizations are very eager to get work done before the end of August to help homeowners meet that deadline.
Several Trips are set and ready to join:
- We have a team of Westerville south IB students heading to Louisiana next Wednesday, June 7, returning on the 14th.
- The next scheduled trip is New Life, Canal Winchester who will be going led by Mark and Becky (Team 3) on July 1.
- July 8th, Alum Creek CofC and Linworth UMC youth groups are going together. We need an experienced volunteer to lead that trip (be a guide).
- There is a trip scheduled for July 16 which is to be a Westerville Christian father son trip, but others are welcome to go along.
- August 5, Grace Point church is sponsoring a mission trip. I'll be presenting to that congregation June 18th.
I have some numbers and metrics to report on the Hilltop effort who we've been partnering with all spring. From January through April, that effort spent $81,000 feeding and organizing volunteers; aproximately 1600 of them. The cost of $50 per volunteer per week is reflected in their new request for a donation of $10 per day per volunteer to help cover expenses. Outside fundraising would help eleviate the need for this expense, but preperations for the next disaster take capital too. Servants Unite is considering whether to pay this donation for our volunteers, but needs to increase fundraising
That is a good investment. That $81,000 allowed the volunteers to clean out over 400 houses! That's around $200 per house. With $100,000 left, the end of August would be the end of the effort without more capital flowing in.
I hope this news finds you all well and ask you to pray for this effort and help corporeally where you can. Thanks for making Servants Unite grow and shine!
John McGuire
Servants Unite
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Update
Wow did I have an amazing weekend this eve of hurricane season! Janet Hines, working with Hilltop Rescue in Chalmette, asked me to join their planning meeting and crawfish boil (Lana pictured). I’m writing this from the Houston airport waiting for my connection home to Columbus. So many great and small, but significant conversations and events happened while planning the next response and how to continue with the current effort in New Orleans.
I was able to define Servants Unite’s mission for the Hilltop organizers from California Savita and Robert and how we will support them in the next response. We are very much on the same page in planning. Details on that will be out when I get the whole plan documented. We are also going to work together to encourage other team leaders from around the country to start groups like ours. Through emails and a side meeting at the NACC Conference in Louisville next month we hope to increase the national capacity to respond.
We all met Louisiana Representative and recent gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal at a special church service Sunday to present thank you plaques to the relief organizations from the residents of Chalmette. Representatives were on hand from 14 organizations with 5 more mentioned.We also discussed finances. Hilltop burned spent $81,000 in funds from January through April and has around $100,000 remaining. Volunteer levels average 100 people a day and will be climbing with summer vacation again, though not quite to the spring break levels. To continue to function, Hilltop would like a donation of $10 per person per work day (generally 5 per trip) from volunteers to cover food. They have grant requests out and are pursuing additional funding sources that may change that request, but presently they are only funded into August or September.
The $50 per person cost is something to start considering for our spring break groups. This is not a deal breaker for anyone who can't pay the donation, but will help Hilltop to continue to provide for our volunteers in Chalmette. We can also help by providing cooks with our teams to help feed the volunteers.
The St. Bernard parish government has issued a requirement that all homeowners at least begin to clean out their houses by August 29. Because of that, Hilltop is focusing all their effort on mucking out homes. They have cleaned out 400 since moving into the school building the first of March. They have 600 requests to fulfill and there are many who have not yet asked for their houses to be cleared.
I walked the block around the school building and it all came back again. Most of those houses have been cleaned and the debris removed, but the neighborhood is absolutely deserted. I saw only 2 or 3 residents living in FEMA trailers in the general vicinity with empty, abandoned properties making up the majority of residences. The spiritual darkness was visible even in the bright gulf coast sunshine.
Flying in, the tarped roofs weren't so prevalent, but were still there. This effort is making progress, but will need support for quite some time to come.Put all that together and it underscores the importance of sending as many volunteers down as possible. We have more than 100 volunteers scheduled through the middle of July with more trips open and accepting volunteers up through the first full week of August.
Those teams are all on notice. A new disaster area when they are scheduled will require a redirection to provide for immediate and urgent first response needs. More first responders are needed and churches who can serve as collection centers with staff. If you can organize collection of water and ready to eat, nonperishable foods along with baby and personal care kit components at your church, we need to start stocking up now to be ready for the next need.
I have registered 8, but need at least another 32 first responders. Those with medical training are very important to have available right after a disaster, but anyone who can leave on short notice will help our effort. When the next one happens, Hilltop will set up shop and have supplies shipped in and we'll send the volunteers. I need a committed list of 40 where I can expect half to be able to go on one to two days notice. Please join this group so we can plan our first aid response as soon as possible.
You're all amazing and we're doing God's work. When Satan whispers in your ear you can't, won't, or aren't worthy, remember, you are recreated in God's own image. You are filled with His spirit. You are enlisted in His army. Together, when we turn ourselves over to Him for this work, we are a powerful force. I'm so proud of all our volunteers and so thankful to have the opportunity to work with you all. Pray for all our brothers and sisters on all occasions.
John McGuire
Servants Unite!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Newsletter
President Bush visited New Orleans today working on a Habitat house in the 9th ward. "There's lots of progress," he told reporters traveling on Air Force One. "There's still a lot to be done."
Well? What are you doing for your summer vacation, summer quarter off, or mission work. In the coming months there will be new opportunities to serve, new disaster victims to help, and new amazing experiences where God is so visible working through us in this mission.
Scheduled trip dates are:
June 3 – Marshall University students from Norway Avenue campus group in Huntington
June 7 – Westerville South International Baccalaureate,
July 1 – New Life, Canal Winchester
July 8 – Linworth UMC and Alum Creek CofC youth groups
July 16 – Westerville Christian Father Son youth trip
Join a trip or build a team for a date that isn't scheduled yet. If you've been down before, we need you to help lead these teams.
We also have three groups collecting supplies and building kits to send into the Katrina disaster area. A group from Ohio State has collected food and funds to send down. A mother daughter group and some coworkers of one of our past volunteers are building cleaning kits to leave with homeowners who’s houses we clean out.
Servants Unite continues to grow into the permanent disaster relief volunteer organization God started after hurricane Katrina. You’ve all been so amazing giving your time and money to help these people we never met before, but have bonded to over the past 8 months. 8 months? This has gone so fast.
Currently Servants Unite is prepared to be a central Ohio communications point and logistics organization when the next hurricane or other disaster arises. Churches in our area can come to us to join a consolidated efficient effort. We can react and respond the next time.
The next level which we have not yet reached is to prepare in advance for the next response. To do so requires volunteers to take on some preparatory tasks now.
__________________________________________________________
1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:30-31, Mathew 9:36-38, Romans 12:4-8
John McGuire
www.ServantsUnite.org
614-523-3996 home
614-404-8610 cel
"If you're interested in helping the victims of Katrina, interested in helping them get back on their feet, come on down here,"--President Bush
Well? What are you doing for your summer vacation, summer quarter off, or mission work. In the coming months there will be new opportunities to serve, new disaster victims to help, and new amazing experiences where God is so visible working through us in this mission.
Scheduled trip dates are:
June 3 – Marshall University students from Norway Avenue campus group in Huntington
June 7 – Westerville South International Baccalaureate,
July 1 – New Life, Canal Winchester
July 8 – Linworth UMC and Alum Creek CofC youth groups
July 16 – Westerville Christian Father Son youth trip
Join a trip or build a team for a date that isn't scheduled yet. If you've been down before, we need you to help lead these teams.
We also have three groups collecting supplies and building kits to send into the Katrina disaster area. A group from Ohio State has collected food and funds to send down. A mother daughter group and some coworkers of one of our past volunteers are building cleaning kits to leave with homeowners who’s houses we clean out.
Servants Unite continues to grow into the permanent disaster relief volunteer organization God started after hurricane Katrina. You’ve all been so amazing giving your time and money to help these people we never met before, but have bonded to over the past 8 months. 8 months? This has gone so fast.
Currently Servants Unite is prepared to be a central Ohio communications point and logistics organization when the next hurricane or other disaster arises. Churches in our area can come to us to join a consolidated efficient effort. We can react and respond the next time.
The next level which we have not yet reached is to prepare in advance for the next response. To do so requires volunteers to take on some preparatory tasks now.
- Organize staffed, designated drop-off locations for first response supplies
- Help find quick response volunteers who can go in and help set up relief on short notice
- Inform more churches and church leaders of our efforts
- Lead new teams into the next area in need
__________________________________________________________
1 Peter 4:10, Mark 12:30-31, Mathew 9:36-38, Romans 12:4-8
John McGuire
www.ServantsUnite.org
614-523-3996 home
614-404-8610 cel
Monday, April 24, 2006
Servants Unite on Ohio News Network Tonight
Stephanie Mennecke from Ohio News Network interviewed Pastor Mike, Gary Sargent, and I tonight on team 12's trip to Louisiana 2 weeks ago and the continuing efforts of Servants Unite. It will air in the 9:00 hour tonight (Monday). If you can record it, please let me know as I've been unable to get anyone definitively to do so.
For other news, check out the blog entries from last week. Barbara Kempton from New Life did a great job of reporting on the work of their foursome and the people they were helping.
We have sent over 300 people to work in Louisiana since Katrina hit. Over 100 more are scheduled for summer mission trips. More than 3000 people have served with our partner organizations in the New Orleans area, Tammany Oaks, Hilltop Rescue, and Operation Nehemiah.
All you who have volunteered and plan to are so amazingly inspiring. Even if you can't go back or go on the next trip, you can tell someone else who can. Servants Unite is going strong and planning for the next response. You who have gone to serve have the additional task of witnessing to others. Gary and Mike did a great job of that to the ONN TV viewers today. You can be just as effective telling your church leadership, friends, family, and coworkers.
Servants Unite!
Friday, April 21, 2006
Team 13 Thursday Update
So do you think we can stand up and tell the church what we saw, the stories we heard and how we were blessed?
Today we went to the east end of Chalmette. The houses there are really nice. Most are single story homes. A lot of elderly people. The gentleman we met was Harold (71). He lived in his house with his wife and mother. He was a square dance caller and they held square dances out back in a big gazebo. He had left the house during the storm. But those in the neighborhood who didn't leave ended up drowning. Several of Harold's friends died as a result of the flooding or from the trauma afterwards. Since he wasn't at the house at the time of the storm Harold couldn't say how long it took to flood the house. But his house was flooded into the attic. Everything they owned was lost. The water did not recede for two weeks. He had flood insurance but the insurance only paid $75,000 for his home and all its contents. He had no mortgage and now he is displaced to Covington Mississippi. Harold was such a sweet man; he brought us extra water and snacks.
When we got to the house it was a mess. All the furniture, clothing, dishes, linens, etc were still in the house. Everything was submerged in water for two weeks. There was about six inches of muck (mixture of mud, wet plaster board from the ceiling and insulation, along with anything else that floated around the in house). The kitchen still had water in it and the lower cabinets. A fridge had fallen and did not allow the water to drain. The stench was awful. We looked at it and didn't think we could get it done. But we spread out through the house and began shoveling, pulling curtains down and moving furniture out. After a lot of sweat and hard work we able to get all of the muck out of the house, removed the carpet and then pulled down just about all of the plaster board, as well as gut out the kitchen.
Even though the work is hard, we are dead tired at the end of the day and smell worse than we ever smelled in our life, this is probably the best thing I have ever done. It is so rewarding and such a blessing to me to be able to help someone who I have never met. And, to see the joy and hope on the homeowners face when we have finished. Harold was so gratefully, words could not express the way he felt.
For the last couple of months we have been talking about going out and serving others. About being more Christ. But there is nothing that will bring you closer to the Lord and to humble yourself to clean out someone else’s mess. The reality of how much material things mean NOTHING. The question we need to ask is who have I served today.
I will write again tomorrow.
God Bless.
Barbara
Today we went to the east end of Chalmette. The houses there are really nice. Most are single story homes. A lot of elderly people. The gentleman we met was Harold (71). He lived in his house with his wife and mother. He was a square dance caller and they held square dances out back in a big gazebo. He had left the house during the storm. But those in the neighborhood who didn't leave ended up drowning. Several of Harold's friends died as a result of the flooding or from the trauma afterwards. Since he wasn't at the house at the time of the storm Harold couldn't say how long it took to flood the house. But his house was flooded into the attic. Everything they owned was lost. The water did not recede for two weeks. He had flood insurance but the insurance only paid $75,000 for his home and all its contents. He had no mortgage and now he is displaced to Covington Mississippi. Harold was such a sweet man; he brought us extra water and snacks.
When we got to the house it was a mess. All the furniture, clothing, dishes, linens, etc were still in the house. Everything was submerged in water for two weeks. There was about six inches of muck (mixture of mud, wet plaster board from the ceiling and insulation, along with anything else that floated around the in house). The kitchen still had water in it and the lower cabinets. A fridge had fallen and did not allow the water to drain. The stench was awful. We looked at it and didn't think we could get it done. But we spread out through the house and began shoveling, pulling curtains down and moving furniture out. After a lot of sweat and hard work we able to get all of the muck out of the house, removed the carpet and then pulled down just about all of the plaster board, as well as gut out the kitchen.
Even though the work is hard, we are dead tired at the end of the day and smell worse than we ever smelled in our life, this is probably the best thing I have ever done. It is so rewarding and such a blessing to me to be able to help someone who I have never met. And, to see the joy and hope on the homeowners face when we have finished. Harold was so gratefully, words could not express the way he felt.
For the last couple of months we have been talking about going out and serving others. About being more Christ. But there is nothing that will bring you closer to the Lord and to humble yourself to clean out someone else’s mess. The reality of how much material things mean NOTHING. The question we need to ask is who have I served today.
I will write again tomorrow.
God Bless.
Barbara
Bringing it Home...
I try to think if the crisis were in Gahanna, if this was OUR church hosting teams every week, week after week, month after month- going FAR out of our way to help in such a huge effort, could we do it - could we lay aside our pretty building & our busy schedules & the "way things are supposed to be" and DO IT?? I like to think we would.
When we had the ice storm a few Christmases back, we were ILL-PREPARED but non-the-less opened our building on Christmas day for people to cook and hang out and enjoy our heat :) But 7 months and they are still opening their hearts to all these strangers- that's the Body of Christ for you. They have humbled me with their kindness and I will certainly return the favor when someone needs ME to go out of MY way! Very cool to be a part of all this even from my perch in Ohio!
Cindy B. Schmidt
Director of Missions & Outreach
New Life Church
3690 Stygler Rd
Gahanna, OH 43230
(614) 475-8500
www.enewlife.com
When we had the ice storm a few Christmases back, we were ILL-PREPARED but non-the-less opened our building on Christmas day for people to cook and hang out and enjoy our heat :) But 7 months and they are still opening their hearts to all these strangers- that's the Body of Christ for you. They have humbled me with their kindness and I will certainly return the favor when someone needs ME to go out of MY way! Very cool to be a part of all this even from my perch in Ohio!
Cindy B. Schmidt
Director of Missions & Outreach
New Life Church
3690 Stygler Rd
Gahanna, OH 43230
(614) 475-8500
www.enewlife.com
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Team 13 Wednesday Update
Today I went to Lakeview, just northwest of downtown New Orleans. We met Sue (71) and Ray (80), and their son Ray Jr. Ray had built his house himself, and let me tell you it was a solid well built house. Their house withstood the hurricane with no problem. They barely heard the wind as the storm passed by. They heard on the radio that the storm had passed and they relaxed in their family room.
Then they noticed about two feet of black water outside the sliding door. The water shattered the sliding door and about five foot of water came rushing in. They scrambled to get their pets, two dogs, two cats and birds. The water came in so fast that it knocked over the refrigerator and the furniture was floating about. They tried to get to the second floor and Sue got trapped at the bottom of the stairs. Ray Jr. had to pull her up out of the water. They sat upstairs and watched as the water kept rising. It came within inches of the ceiling on the first floor. They were camped out in the upper level and on the roof of their home. They cut a hole in the floor of the second level above the kitchen to try and get some food. The only thing they brought up was canned dog food and tuna (no can opener). They had water which they had bought in anticipation of the storm. They cut a hole in the roof and sat up on the roof. While waiting to be rescued the house next door had been washed off its pilings and was floating and bouncing into their house. They heard houses exploding.
For 3 days and 3 nights they watched as helicopters and boats passed them by. They were told they needed to leave their pets behind, but they couldn’t do that. Then finally someone came with a boat and rescued them. But that is not the end of their story.
They were first brought to the bridge (which was dry) because of their pets. They had to leave the birds behind. From there they went to the Coast Guard station. Ray Jr. was an avid gun lover and had saved one of his guns and brought it with them. As a result all three of them were forced to lie on the floor as they were searched. Sue said they treated them like criminal. From there they went to a Catholic Church somewhere. The church had no electric or water. They slept on the pews, but the animals had to stay outside. From there they were transferred somewhere else. Then they were brought to Austin, TX, after which they were transferred to where they are now at what Sue calls the wagon train camp.
Sue said the water level did not recede for over 4 weeks. During that time their home had been looted by thieves in boats and on jet skis. Everything was in a shambles when they were allowed to return.
We were able to remove what was left and gut out the first floor of their house. Sue and Ray were so full of joy that we were there doing work that they could not. Sue talked to me for long periods at a time. She needed to tell her story and have someone just to listen. I was able to pray with Sue, give her hugs and let her know how she had blessed me. Here is this 71 year old woman who went through this traumatic and most horrific experience of her life. In the end her home and material things are gone, but she and her family are alive. Sue was a special woman, an awesome woman. And she thanks Jesus for bringing her through this.
I can’t even imagine how I would react if something so horrible like this happened to me. Sue was a blessing to me. An inspiration. I thank God for this opportunity to serve Him. To be able to show love and compassion to another human being. And all I did was give my time and my muscles. It cost me nothing to give hope to Sue and her family. That’s what the people here need it hope for a new beginning. Thank you Sue and Thank you Lord.
God Bless!
Barbara
Then they noticed about two feet of black water outside the sliding door. The water shattered the sliding door and about five foot of water came rushing in. They scrambled to get their pets, two dogs, two cats and birds. The water came in so fast that it knocked over the refrigerator and the furniture was floating about. They tried to get to the second floor and Sue got trapped at the bottom of the stairs. Ray Jr. had to pull her up out of the water. They sat upstairs and watched as the water kept rising. It came within inches of the ceiling on the first floor. They were camped out in the upper level and on the roof of their home. They cut a hole in the floor of the second level above the kitchen to try and get some food. The only thing they brought up was canned dog food and tuna (no can opener). They had water which they had bought in anticipation of the storm. They cut a hole in the roof and sat up on the roof. While waiting to be rescued the house next door had been washed off its pilings and was floating and bouncing into their house. They heard houses exploding.
For 3 days and 3 nights they watched as helicopters and boats passed them by. They were told they needed to leave their pets behind, but they couldn’t do that. Then finally someone came with a boat and rescued them. But that is not the end of their story.
They were first brought to the bridge (which was dry) because of their pets. They had to leave the birds behind. From there they went to the Coast Guard station. Ray Jr. was an avid gun lover and had saved one of his guns and brought it with them. As a result all three of them were forced to lie on the floor as they were searched. Sue said they treated them like criminal. From there they went to a Catholic Church somewhere. The church had no electric or water. They slept on the pews, but the animals had to stay outside. From there they were transferred somewhere else. Then they were brought to Austin, TX, after which they were transferred to where they are now at what Sue calls the wagon train camp.
Sue said the water level did not recede for over 4 weeks. During that time their home had been looted by thieves in boats and on jet skis. Everything was in a shambles when they were allowed to return.
We were able to remove what was left and gut out the first floor of their house. Sue and Ray were so full of joy that we were there doing work that they could not. Sue talked to me for long periods at a time. She needed to tell her story and have someone just to listen. I was able to pray with Sue, give her hugs and let her know how she had blessed me. Here is this 71 year old woman who went through this traumatic and most horrific experience of her life. In the end her home and material things are gone, but she and her family are alive. Sue was a special woman, an awesome woman. And she thanks Jesus for bringing her through this.
I can’t even imagine how I would react if something so horrible like this happened to me. Sue was a blessing to me. An inspiration. I thank God for this opportunity to serve Him. To be able to show love and compassion to another human being. And all I did was give my time and my muscles. It cost me nothing to give hope to Sue and her family. That’s what the people here need it hope for a new beginning. Thank you Sue and Thank you Lord.
God Bless!
Barbara
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