UMCOR Bright Spots
IN TODAY'S ISSUE
September 28, 2006
Case Manager, Volunteers Help "Do All Things" "Many Are Still in Need" Local Partnerships Advance Recovery This Week's Quote Recovery Stats House into a Home (Slide Show) Biweekly Newsletter Features Recovery, Hope
CASE MANAGER, VOLUNTEERS HELP "DO ALL THINGS"
By Susan J. Meister, Gulf Coast Communications
Chris Rose, Times-Picayune columnist, suggested in his new book 1 Dead in Attic that New Orleans could be called "The Blue Roof Town," for the sea of blue tarps covering damaged roofs.
But the blue in Miss Sylvia's bright blouse only served to accentuate the fierce determination in her intense blue eyes. While she served lemonade to guests on the front porch of her gutted home in Gretna, LA, she described her determination to fix her home.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," she declared.
"I Knew Them"
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Miss Sylvia talks about how her cabinets were organized and ideas for her new kitchen. |
When LA Westbank Station case manager Abby McMurry first met Miss Sylvia, McMurry couldn't believe that she was trying to live in one room of her home, besieged with stench and mold. McMurry arranged for teams from Aurora UMC and a church in Georgia to finish the gutting that Miss Sylvia had started. Aurora houses the Westbank Station.
"I was overwhelmed that people would come from another state to help me," she exclaimed. "I knew they were from God because they didn't know me."
"Now and again I see their faces," Miss Sylvia continued. "I felt like I knew them."
Miss Sylvia has since moved into an apartment with her daughter while she waits for the next step in her rebuilding. She covers some of her possessions in the back yard with her own blue tarps.
"We Can Talk About Anything"
"The storm wipes out everything you know," she said. "It is the worst. It even wipes out your support system, because everyone is traumatized." Gretna is located just south of the city of New Orleans.
The storm recovery ministry of the Louisiana Conference has helped many families with gutting homes and is in place to help with the next steps of recovery. Case managers offer individuals and families help with cleanup and restoration of their homes, materials and economic resources, and emotional and spiritual support.
In Miss Sylvia's situation, the emotional support offered by her case manager is obvious and welcome.
"I talk to Abby about anything," she exclaimed.
Planning a Prayer Room
Before Hurricane Katrina, Miss Sylvia was known as the neighborhood muffin lady. She also taught kids how to play the flutophone. Now, she talks about some of the first things she will do after her house is repaired.
"I would put trailers in my front yard" to help others, she said. "And I will put a prayer room in my new home."
"MANY ARE STILL IN NEED"
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Lake Charles Station Case Manager Tonia Pence (left) shares a smile with Miss Gerry in front of her home in Cameron Parish LA. Miss Gerry's home and business were damaged by Hurricane Rita. |
In best practice of disaster response, UMCOR works with annual conference partners to assist survivors in their own recovery. UMCOR's commitment reaches from the early phase of emergency response to long term rehabilitation of the community.
This approach was illustrated again last week when the Lake Charles-Southwest Louisiana Recover Station moved to new office space the week just before the anniversary of Hurricane Rita (September 24), indicating to their community that they are in recovery business for the "long haul."
"There are many people still in great need," said Brandi Russell, Operations Coordinator for the Station. "Even recent volunteers from our own state couldn't believe the damage." The anniversary of the storm raised mixed emotions - from reliving terrifying memories to the determination to rebuild.
"We Need Our United Methodists to Come and Work"
"The people of Southwest Louisiana are pulling themselves up to get things done, but we are not fine. We need our United Methodists to come and work."
Russell was excited about the move to the new office space. "So many persons - staff, persons from the community, and volunteers - have helped create this beautiful space for us," she said. "When I saw the new sign, I had tears in my eyes. I feel so privileged to be a part of the United Methodist Church."
"We tend to have a 'microwave mentality,'" Russell remarked. "We want things done immediately. But we are all learning patience - it's not fun to wait and we feel frustration, but it's not always bad."
"At our station, it is exciting to help people move forward through recovery. God is in this and we are doing what we need to do."
For more on the United Methodist recovery work visit these web sites:
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
UM News Service
Mississippi Conference
Louisiana Conference
Texas Conference
Alabama-West Florida Conference
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