Journal: April 9, 2006
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Now we are one week into this assignment and a little more aware of the way this relief work is handled. In just looking at the whole big mess in its immensity I could only wonder just where does anyone begin? I’ve felt that way sometimes when I had to clean up my mess in the basement, but that’s a ridiculous analogy. NDR, the Nazarene Disaster Response team here is focusing on rebuilding in this area of Gautier and Ocean Springs. I think they are trying to limit their effort to a 30 mile radius for now and then move on to another area at a later date. I’m not totally clear on the process, but I believe that after receiving a phone call request for help, an assessor is sent to that site to determine what needs to be done and how high on the priority list it should be placed. There are specific criteria which determine its place on that list. Since NDR has already used up its gov’t. funds. A person with the money for materials is considered first because it is possible to do the work. There is some money available through donations and I guess that would be used to get help started in a case that is urgent. This past week the church groups that came to do the work funded the work, on houses that got attention. Two different churches in Indiana sent teams with the money to do the work and that’s how most of it gets done.
There were 65 to 70 people housed in the gym sleeping on air mattresses. Every morning they arose early for breakfast at 6:00 and devotions at 7:00. After a brief organizational meeting and a trip to the tool shed to gather supplies and tools, they were on the road to four different houses. There were many trips out to Lowes to purchase materials with the Lowes cards their churches supplied. Bob Cantrell, the NDR director here, had advised them that would be the best way to bring their money. They stripped roofs and reshingled, tore out dry wall and replaced it, leveled old floors, put in new electrical service and rewired the house. They cleaned up yards, cleaned and scrubbed and did a lot of painting.
I spent my first two days working at the compound as they call the church area used by the relief workers. Uncle Bob, as the NDR director is affectionately called, asked me to take charge of the tool shed, signing tools and supplies out and hopefully back in. He had been losing a number of tools lately. I spent my time learning the system; the inventory and improving the building by dressing it up with trim on the corners and paneling joints. Since it is part of Crossroads Church of the Nazarene property it needs to be presentable and not a detraction. The church has generously turned the property over to NDR, but they have been good tenants improving the facility.
I didn’t want to limit my contribution to being tool guy and fortunately one of the teams needed a trim man so after the teams had their tools and left for work on Wednesday, I headed out for my first assignment. I was going to Gautier to help Bob and Joan. I thought that was funny since my good friends in Auburn are Bob and Joan. Coincidentally, I worked with Sowers in Vero Beach by the same name. Anyway, this Bob and Joan had three feet of water in their house and needed help. They are in their late seventies and unable to do the work themselves. He has Alzheimer’s and she has health issues. On Thursday, two of the ladies on the team took Joan and Bob to see the church and NDR compound. They met Uncle Bob, the pastor and several others and generally had a very nice introduction to the church. That was good because they have not been attending church. It occurred to me that meeting Jesus will be more valuable than getting their house fixed. Today, they were in the service so we sat with them and took them out to dinner after. They are a real sweet couple with quite a story. I will be working for them for a while and I hope to offer them more than repair work.
Well, today is our fortieth wedding anniversary and in some ways it has been a good celebration, but we are missing family and some of the traditional elements of celebration. I think I have rambled on long enough and need to get my sweetheart and play a game or watch a comedy and end this day on her good side.
Now we are one week into this assignment and a little more aware of the way this relief work is handled. In just looking at the whole big mess in its immensity I could only wonder just where does anyone begin? I’ve felt that way sometimes when I had to clean up my mess in the basement, but that’s a ridiculous analogy. NDR, the Nazarene Disaster Response team here is focusing on rebuilding in this area of Gautier and Ocean Springs. I think they are trying to limit their effort to a 30 mile radius for now and then move on to another area at a later date. I’m not totally clear on the process, but I believe that after receiving a phone call request for help, an assessor is sent to that site to determine what needs to be done and how high on the priority list it should be placed. There are specific criteria which determine its place on that list. Since NDR has already used up its gov’t. funds. A person with the money for materials is considered first because it is possible to do the work. There is some money available through donations and I guess that would be used to get help started in a case that is urgent. This past week the church groups that came to do the work funded the work, on houses that got attention. Two different churches in Indiana sent teams with the money to do the work and that’s how most of it gets done.
There were 65 to 70 people housed in the gym sleeping on air mattresses. Every morning they arose early for breakfast at 6:00 and devotions at 7:00. After a brief organizational meeting and a trip to the tool shed to gather supplies and tools, they were on the road to four different houses. There were many trips out to Lowes to purchase materials with the Lowes cards their churches supplied. Bob Cantrell, the NDR director here, had advised them that would be the best way to bring their money. They stripped roofs and reshingled, tore out dry wall and replaced it, leveled old floors, put in new electrical service and rewired the house. They cleaned up yards, cleaned and scrubbed and did a lot of painting.
I spent my first two days working at the compound as they call the church area used by the relief workers. Uncle Bob, as the NDR director is affectionately called, asked me to take charge of the tool shed, signing tools and supplies out and hopefully back in. He had been losing a number of tools lately. I spent my time learning the system; the inventory and improving the building by dressing it up with trim on the corners and paneling joints. Since it is part of Crossroads Church of the Nazarene property it needs to be presentable and not a detraction. The church has generously turned the property over to NDR, but they have been good tenants improving the facility.
I didn’t want to limit my contribution to being tool guy and fortunately one of the teams needed a trim man so after the teams had their tools and left for work on Wednesday, I headed out for my first assignment. I was going to Gautier to help Bob and Joan. I thought that was funny since my good friends in Auburn are Bob and Joan. Coincidentally, I worked with Sowers in Vero Beach by the same name. Anyway, this Bob and Joan had three feet of water in their house and needed help. They are in their late seventies and unable to do the work themselves. He has Alzheimer’s and she has health issues. On Thursday, two of the ladies on the team took Joan and Bob to see the church and NDR compound. They met Uncle Bob, the pastor and several others and generally had a very nice introduction to the church. That was good because they have not been attending church. It occurred to me that meeting Jesus will be more valuable than getting their house fixed. Today, they were in the service so we sat with them and took them out to dinner after. They are a real sweet couple with quite a story. I will be working for them for a while and I hope to offer them more than repair work.
Well, today is our fortieth wedding anniversary and in some ways it has been a good celebration, but we are missing family and some of the traditional elements of celebration. I think I have rambled on long enough and need to get my sweetheart and play a game or watch a comedy and end this day on her good side.
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