Today (Friday) was our last day in D’Iberville. All of the kids worked really hard to finish their sites. Jen and Lorraine were leading a group that worked all week on a home that was in pretty bad shape, for a family of three, both parents are disabled and unable to work. The disability payments per month are $700 and the mortgage payments are $700. They are struggling to make ends meet and are living in a FEMA trailer on their property. Our group of six were the first people to come and work on their home. They came by the camp tonight with a handmade card on construction paper for us (I’ll scan it and upload it when we get home) to thank the group for working. The father gave each of them a hug and he was crying. Those of us around to witness this were all crying too. He said he had been in church on Sunday praying for someone to come and work on his house, that they’d get moved up enough on the list for help and Monday our group showed up.
The group led by John, Linda, and Mike were working on a home next to one of the rivers that runs through town. Our kids helped the homeowner clear out her attic today and in the midst of many wet and falling apart boxes they came upon her wedding dress from about 30 years ago. It was faded and yellow, but she held it up and was so happy to see the dress again (her husband has died since the hurricanes). She and some of our girls had a really fun time going through her memories of that day and of that dress. Our work helped her unearth a happy memory in the midst of her pain and loneliness.
The group that Deb and Sue led worked on the home with the picture that is earlier in the blog of this little girl. She lived through the hurricanes at 4 years old. She is a lively, energetic little girl, but she struggles with her family and lives with her grandmother. She bonded with our kids and we saw her smile and laugh and play.
Bob and Jan led up a group that worked to restore a home to beautiful condition. The home is not done, but their group worked so hard on grouting and tiling work and completing the tiling of a kitchen and a utility (laundry) area. All of the kids on their crew learned new skills of carpentry and tile work and have grown in their self-confidence. They also put railings on a porch making it safe for that homeowner.
Tonight we held our final worship service in the new camp tent. The previous tent that housed volunteers here for the last year and a half was destroyed just three weeks by a microburst. Last night we dedicated and blessed the new tent which we helped to raise, and tonight the cross was hung in the center part of that tent. We are all blessed to be here and to be a part of this work. Ed and Irene are an inspiration, and their words remind us of why we were here, “Many years ago God knew you would be here, it is your purpose.” We each feel that way and we each have had our lives and our spiritual journeys enriched beyond measure by this experience.
We’ll continue to upload photos and content onto this blog throughout the summer months…keep reading! Shannan
1 comment:
Well said.
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