GETTING TO WORK
One of the things about this kind of trip, is that we don't necessarily know what we will be doing each day until we get to the site. This trip is being coordinated with the West Virginia Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD). We found out that every state now has a VOAD group working in that state. This allows for local people to be the ones that coordinate the work that is needed for local people.
Today, we went into the town of Clendenin, WV...well actually in the outskirts of this town. It s a very hilly and highly vegetated area. In June of 2016, when the major storm rolled through the area, it dropped 8 inches of rain in 18 hours. Many homes in this area were devastated and are still being put back together.
Our project today was to help a couple that has been married for 55 years rebuild their home. In the picture below of the FEMA trailer, you will see that is where their former home was. The flood was enough that they had about 4 feet of water in their home. According to FEMA, that meant that they should have been able to cut the sheetrock up to that line out and then repair everything. Since this was the appraisal, and the home deemed salvageable, their allotment was about $26,000. However, by the time that they were able to get into do anything with their home, black mold had made it all the way up to the ceiling. They had to bulldoze their home and start over. The home on the hill has been mostly worked on by the two of them and their family and neighbors. Our organization (IOCC) has been working with them and VOAD to do most of the detail work (sheetrock, painting, trim, doors and windows, etc.).
They will be able to stay in the FEMA trailer (about 10' wide by 40' long) until the end of the year. Today our team focused mostly on putting in trim and hanging doors. Today was the forming/storming day for the team. We are still getting to know each other, find out what our skills are, what our limits are, etc. It is always amazing to watch, and sometimes coach, total strangers to step into a strange environment, doing strange things, and work together, becoming a close knit family. This came to fruition very well today.
The best time of these days is always the fellowship. During lunch, with sandwiches that we all made for ourselves, we take time to share stories, ideas, experiences, and our lives with each other. This is where you see the true nature of the body of Christ.
Tonight, our dinner is going to be pizza that is being provided by one of the members of the local parish. Even after a hard day of work, the guys still have the energy for a pick up game of basketball. But then, we have no choice...we have one shower and 5 women and 5 men. Time to line up in the queue and take that long coveted, hot shower when it is your turn.
Tomorrow we tackle the crown molding in the home and hopefully get our basic work completed. The next house we are told needs some insulation installed under the floor in a 24 inch crawl space. It should be another fun day.
Please continue to keep our team in your thoughts and prayers, but more importantly, the people here who are still suffering from the loss of their homes and their possessions over a year ago.
One of the things about this kind of trip, is that we don't necessarily know what we will be doing each day until we get to the site. This trip is being coordinated with the West Virginia Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD). We found out that every state now has a VOAD group working in that state. This allows for local people to be the ones that coordinate the work that is needed for local people.
Today, we went into the town of Clendenin, WV...well actually in the outskirts of this town. It s a very hilly and highly vegetated area. In June of 2016, when the major storm rolled through the area, it dropped 8 inches of rain in 18 hours. Many homes in this area were devastated and are still being put back together.
Our project today was to help a couple that has been married for 55 years rebuild their home. In the picture below of the FEMA trailer, you will see that is where their former home was. The flood was enough that they had about 4 feet of water in their home. According to FEMA, that meant that they should have been able to cut the sheetrock up to that line out and then repair everything. Since this was the appraisal, and the home deemed salvageable, their allotment was about $26,000. However, by the time that they were able to get into do anything with their home, black mold had made it all the way up to the ceiling. They had to bulldoze their home and start over. The home on the hill has been mostly worked on by the two of them and their family and neighbors. Our organization (IOCC) has been working with them and VOAD to do most of the detail work (sheetrock, painting, trim, doors and windows, etc.).
They will be able to stay in the FEMA trailer (about 10' wide by 40' long) until the end of the year. Today our team focused mostly on putting in trim and hanging doors. Today was the forming/storming day for the team. We are still getting to know each other, find out what our skills are, what our limits are, etc. It is always amazing to watch, and sometimes coach, total strangers to step into a strange environment, doing strange things, and work together, becoming a close knit family. This came to fruition very well today.
Rich and Dillan hanging a closet door.
James, Alyssa, and Christina putting in trim and caulking it...new tools, new tasks, and new experiences.
The best time of these days is always the fellowship. During lunch, with sandwiches that we all made for ourselves, we take time to share stories, ideas, experiences, and our lives with each other. This is where you see the true nature of the body of Christ.
Tonight, our dinner is going to be pizza that is being provided by one of the members of the local parish. Even after a hard day of work, the guys still have the energy for a pick up game of basketball. But then, we have no choice...we have one shower and 5 women and 5 men. Time to line up in the queue and take that long coveted, hot shower when it is your turn.
Tomorrow we tackle the crown molding in the home and hopefully get our basic work completed. The next house we are told needs some insulation installed under the floor in a 24 inch crawl space. It should be another fun day.
Please continue to keep our team in your thoughts and prayers, but more importantly, the people here who are still suffering from the loss of their homes and their possessions over a year ago.
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