Yesterday I wrote that I do my most creative thinking while I am working. The last two days our crew has kept very busy trying to get the renovated room at least painted once. The drywall was hung earlier in the week but we did not have enough time that day to do all the drywall taping. Today we did get the first coat of paint on in the renovated dining room and in the porch/entry way. But that meant that we had to keep very busy especially since we very expected to quit on time and then wash and vacuum the vehicles. We were a bit delayed since the opening for the air conditioner was not the correct size and we had to make some modifications. We also hung the ceiling/fan since we had taken it down 2 weeks ago and did not have a copy of the installation instructions to give to the next crew. Sorry that I have not posted any more photos but I must learn how to post my own photos instead of bothering someone else here. That will be my goal for the next year.
For lunch today we were served Creole boudin sausage. It is a mixture of rice, ground pork, liver, parsley, salt, pepper and green onions stuffed into a sausage casing. Miss Henry Belle and Miss Josie May shared lunch time with us as they have for the past 2 weeks. We asked them to stay around for the afternoon so that we could take some pictures and bid our farewells. We were offered ice cream again but thought we had too much work to do today. At about 3 o'clock we shared our hugs and with tears in our eyes we said good-bye to each other. We hope to see each other again, either here in Port Arthur or else in heaven.
Tomorrow morning we will say our good-bye to the sisters and brothers we met here at DRS and I am certain there will be more tears.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Early Church Today
I've been trying to blog most days to keep you all posted on our activities here in Texas. As you may or may not know, I do most of my creative thinking while I am working, whether it be driving a tractor, milking cows, or even building or renovating. I find it easier to do it this way than to sit down and then be forced to think of something to write about. Our three weeks here are soon coming to an end and my thoughts today compare the experience here to the early church which Paul writes about in Acts 2:42-47. These verses include the following phrases "the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.... They had everything in common and gave to anyone as he has need.... They ate together with glad and sincere hearts praising God......" Much of this also describes this group of believers here at the DRS site in Port Arthur and I assume at other sites also. Maybe we do not sell our possessions and give to others as we see their need. But we do give willingly of our time and talents to help meet the needs of some of the people of Port Arthur and the group also gives willingly to each other to comfort and sustain and encourage each other with the specific needs or concerns we may have. Wouldn't it be beautiful if our home churches were like this? The last verse of this passage in Acts ends with these words, " And the Lord added daily to their number those who were being saved." Maybe that could happen to our churches also.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Another "Hard" Day
Some of you may think that volunteering with DRS means a lot of hard work or all work and no play and thus it does not interest you. Others may think that Margo and I are working long hours and there is little time for relaxation. Whatever the situation, I hope I do not disappoint you when I tell you that we have lots of laughs together but also the homes do improve dramatically and the homeowners are very thankful and delighted.
Each of the three crews works in a different home and each has its own vehicle to drive to the work site. The three homes are all in the same part of town, maybe within 10 blocks of each other. This morning our crew wanted to borrow a tool from each of the other 2 crews so we decided that on the way to the work site we would stop at the other sites, but only for a minute. Two things happened that delayed us; first of all, I am directionally challenged and got lost on the way and secondly, we had to wait at the second home since they had glue on a floor that we had to cross in order to get the needed tool. But we did eventually get to the job site. On Wednesday mornings the kitchen crew delivers donuts to the sites so we "had" to stop for a break. Soon afterwards Miss Henry had coffee ready and we "had" to have another break but we only had one "coffee" break. At lunch time we had to stop again since Miss Henry had prepared lunch for us and later in the afternoon she dished up ice cream for us. After supper every day, the three crews report on their day. Our crew is getting a reputation for all the breaks we take but slowly the room is transforming. Unfortunately we will not be able to complete the job but another crew is coming this Saturday and they will begin work on Monday.
Each of the three crews works in a different home and each has its own vehicle to drive to the work site. The three homes are all in the same part of town, maybe within 10 blocks of each other. This morning our crew wanted to borrow a tool from each of the other 2 crews so we decided that on the way to the work site we would stop at the other sites, but only for a minute. Two things happened that delayed us; first of all, I am directionally challenged and got lost on the way and secondly, we had to wait at the second home since they had glue on a floor that we had to cross in order to get the needed tool. But we did eventually get to the job site. On Wednesday mornings the kitchen crew delivers donuts to the sites so we "had" to stop for a break. Soon afterwards Miss Henry had coffee ready and we "had" to have another break but we only had one "coffee" break. At lunch time we had to stop again since Miss Henry had prepared lunch for us and later in the afternoon she dished up ice cream for us. After supper every day, the three crews report on their day. Our crew is getting a reputation for all the breaks we take but slowly the room is transforming. Unfortunately we will not be able to complete the job but another crew is coming this Saturday and they will begin work on Monday.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Hurricane Destruction
On both Saturday and Sunday we spent some time on the road with new friends. It is not possible to describe all the destruction that we saw and a photo does not always capture the magnitude of the destruction. We saw many homes that were destroyed, as well as restaurants, visitor centres, businesses, etc. I would like to take some close up photos of homes but someone owns those homes and sometimes they still live in them. To better capture the extent of the destruction we have bought a book about hurricane Ike with photos taken by newspaper photographers.
Last week I wrote about the home which we helped to renovate last year and how that home was now totally destroyed. Today when we were talking to Miss Josie we learned that one of the neighbours had watched the 5 homes burn down. Since everyone had been forced to leave the town before the hurricane there was no use to call the fire department and the neighbours could only watch the homes burn. Before we leave on Saturday morning I would still love to visit Miss Reedom and her son Dabs to see how they are managing after having their home damaged by hurricane Rita, then repaired by volunteers and then totally destroyed.
Last week I wrote about the home which we helped to renovate last year and how that home was now totally destroyed. Today when we were talking to Miss Josie we learned that one of the neighbours had watched the 5 homes burn down. Since everyone had been forced to leave the town before the hurricane there was no use to call the fire department and the neighbours could only watch the homes burn. Before we leave on Saturday morning I would still love to visit Miss Reedom and her son Dabs to see how they are managing after having their home damaged by hurricane Rita, then repaired by volunteers and then totally destroyed.
The Hand of God
Work at the home is going well. The drywall has been hung and this afternoon we began to tape the joints and cover the screw holes. I apologize to those of you who do not understand this construction language. We have only three days left to work and I'm beginning to think that we will not complete the job. But a new crew will begin on Monday and they can continue where we left off. The other two homes that our gang is working on are nearing completion.
This evening Miss Henry Belle and Miss Josie May joined us for supper. All of the group enjoyed fellowshipping with them. After a delicious supper we sang a few hymns which are favourites of them and also of our group. Then Miss Josie shared a joke with all of us. I could tell you this joke later if I can remember the punch line.
After both our breakfast and supper meal one couple of our group leads with devotions. One theme that I continue hearing is that we are the hands of God working in this community. That is an awesome experience. And to think that God has ordained all these things in advance for us to do. It really is a privilege and a gift to us to be able to have this experience, to spend time helping those in need and to meet so many great people.
This evening Miss Henry Belle and Miss Josie May joined us for supper. All of the group enjoyed fellowshipping with them. After a delicious supper we sang a few hymns which are favourites of them and also of our group. Then Miss Josie shared a joke with all of us. I could tell you this joke later if I can remember the punch line.
After both our breakfast and supper meal one couple of our group leads with devotions. One theme that I continue hearing is that we are the hands of God working in this community. That is an awesome experience. And to think that God has ordained all these things in advance for us to do. It really is a privilege and a gift to us to be able to have this experience, to spend time helping those in need and to meet so many great people.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
One City--Two Cultures
Yesterday we did work on the house again and the roof is ready for rain. Inside we are almost ready to hang drywall, (or sheetrock or board). But I'll write on a different topic besides construction today.
When we are at the job site, everyone we see is coloured--the mailman, the garbage man, and every person who walks by or drives by. Last evening we went to the musical, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and had a good time together. The theatre is just a block from our accommodations. There were about 80 to 100 people in the cast, many of them between 8 and 18 years of age. But only one was coloured and I don't think that anyone in the audience was coloured. But when I see the members of our DRS team I don't see either colour. Already the first day that we met Miss Henry Belle, she said that we were like family to her, even though she is part of a large extended family. I don't understand how two different cultures live in the same town but seem to live totally separate lives and have such different standards of living. There is actually a third culture in Port Arthur, the Spanish or Mexican population, but I haven't interacted with that culture.
When we are at the job site, everyone we see is coloured--the mailman, the garbage man, and every person who walks by or drives by. Last evening we went to the musical, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and had a good time together. The theatre is just a block from our accommodations. There were about 80 to 100 people in the cast, many of them between 8 and 18 years of age. But only one was coloured and I don't think that anyone in the audience was coloured. But when I see the members of our DRS team I don't see either colour. Already the first day that we met Miss Henry Belle, she said that we were like family to her, even though she is part of a large extended family. I don't understand how two different cultures live in the same town but seem to live totally separate lives and have such different standards of living. There is actually a third culture in Port Arthur, the Spanish or Mexican population, but I haven't interacted with that culture.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
SETIO
Tonight our group, the 24 of us, had guests at supper, which was excellent as usual! Johnnie is the executive director of SETIO and her husband Bob is on city council and is also involved with SETIO. SETIO is the acronym for South East Texas Interfaith Organization and SETIO seeks to procure funds from state and national governments and then use these funds to help families rebuild after disasters such as hurricanes Rita and Ike. Both Johnnie and Bob are passionate about what SETIO is doing and I will just jot down a few of the facts that they told us. We are working in Port Arthur and although we see many blue tarps on roofs and many abandoned homes and businesses, Port Arthur did not suffer the most damage since there is a levy around the town. However, there was wind damage and then damage from heavy rain. Bridge City, which is just down the road, suffered much more damage. Of the 3800 hundred homes in that town, only 14 did not receive damage. Since this town does not have levies, most of the homes were flooded by at least 6 feet of water and some homes had water over the roofs. As a result everything in the home is destroyed and there is a thick layer of mud left behind.
Other damage from hurricane Ike included over 4000 cattle dead, over 3000 horses dead, thousands of acres of crops destroyed, the agriculture industry destroyed because of the salt water, refineries closed because of damage and then many people laid off as a result. Just one example shows the devastating power of the storm--a barge was pushed 30 miles inland by the storm surge and was left on a highway. The road was closed for days until the barge was removed, only by cutting it into pieces. At Sabine Pass, which is also nearby, the storm surge was 18 feet high. Imagine what it would take to stop an 18 foot high wave of water!
What has SETIO done to help the people who suffered the damage. Since hurricane Rita (2005), SETIO has touched 1200 homes, 78 of these were rebuilt and 280 were renovated. Others received minor repairs---tarps, some windows repaired, etc. MOST OF THIS WAS DONE BY THE CRWRC! Not bad for a small denomination.
SETIO has some big goals for the future. There are over 3000 empty lots in the town, or lots with abandoned home. SETIO has applied for funding and can acquire money to build 1000 new homes with government money. But the work would be done by volunteers like us. Is anyone looking for a place to spend next winter in a warm climate, helping those in need?
Other damage from hurricane Ike included over 4000 cattle dead, over 3000 horses dead, thousands of acres of crops destroyed, the agriculture industry destroyed because of the salt water, refineries closed because of damage and then many people laid off as a result. Just one example shows the devastating power of the storm--a barge was pushed 30 miles inland by the storm surge and was left on a highway. The road was closed for days until the barge was removed, only by cutting it into pieces. At Sabine Pass, which is also nearby, the storm surge was 18 feet high. Imagine what it would take to stop an 18 foot high wave of water!
What has SETIO done to help the people who suffered the damage. Since hurricane Rita (2005), SETIO has touched 1200 homes, 78 of these were rebuilt and 280 were renovated. Others received minor repairs---tarps, some windows repaired, etc. MOST OF THIS WAS DONE BY THE CRWRC! Not bad for a small denomination.
SETIO has some big goals for the future. There are over 3000 empty lots in the town, or lots with abandoned home. SETIO has applied for funding and can acquire money to build 1000 new homes with government money. But the work would be done by volunteers like us. Is anyone looking for a place to spend next winter in a warm climate, helping those in need?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
