UMCOR Bright Spots

IN TODAY'S ISSUE
November 09, 2006

A Tamale Shop- Heartbeat of a City- is Back

Rita Survivors Anxious to Move Home

This Week's Quote

Providing Hope & Restoration (Slide Show)

A TAMALE SHOP-HEARTBEAT OF A CITY-IS BACK

By Susan J. Meister, Gulf Coast Communications

Miss Doris is back in business. When the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina swept through D'Iberville, MS and left up to nine feet of water in her home and tamale shop next door, Miss Doris worked to get her business back together. When her rebuilt and enlarged business opened after the storm, people were lined up to buy her tamales. The mayor declared that the "heartbeat" of the city was back.

The Seashore Office of the Mississippi Disaster Recovery Ministry met Miss Doris when her house was just a roof and stud walls. Largely through the efforts of Madison UMC, about 200 miles north of the coast, Miss Doris was able to move back home in October. Throughout the rebuilding effort, Miss Doris continued to run her business, which makes between 50 and 60 dozen spicy tamales a day, and employs her daughter and son.

"It Was Just Like It Used To Be"

Miss Doris has a "Katrina wall" in her tamale shop, which includes postcards from volunteers all over the world.
Susan Meister/UMCOR

"My first night back in my home, I had the kids bring their sleeping bags so that we could 'camp out' in the living room," Miss Doris laughed. "It was kind of spooky, being back in the house, but I made a big pot of vegetable beef soup and it was just like it used to be."

Now, while she waits for FEMA to retrieve her trailer from across the street, Miss Doris moves her possessions to her newly refurbished home in a little red wagon. She proudly shows visitors knick-knacks and keepsakes that she salvaged after the storm and bleached and cleaned with love and care. "They're back again where they belong," she said.

Julie Willems of the Seashore Station of Mississippi Disaster Recovery Ministry helped place the volunteers and worked with other agencies to acquire materials and appliances. "Oh, I appreciate everything the volunteers did," Miss Doris exclaimed. "They left their families to come and help me."

"Their hearts were really in it. I plan to go to the church in Madison and meet everyone."

Tamale Shop in Business 30 Years

Miss Doris and her family decided to enlarge her tamale shop when it was rebuilt to include more work space and play space for grandson Eli. The shop includes a "Katrina Wall" which features the 9-foot water line, a calendar with the August 29 date, and postcards from volunteers all over the world. Miss Doris celebrated 30 years in business on November 2; she began making tamales in her kitchen when her daughter Shanna was just six weeks old.

Miss Doris (left), grandson Eli and daughter Shanna are thrilled with the results of rebuilding.
Susan Meister/UMCOR

"My husband's parents had a push cart in Biloxi," she explained. "They used a recipe from Mexico. I used to make the tamales from their recipe for my family, and they suggested I go into business."

Miss Doris' son, RJ, works making tamales. "You know, after the storm, there were sunflowers that came up all over," he said. "I think it was God's way of saying 'it will be all right.'"

Volunteers are needed to help with rebuilding in Mississippi. Go to the Mississippi Annual Conference web site, http://www.mississippi-umc.org/.

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UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
UM News Service
Mississippi Conference
Louisiana Conference
Texas Conference
Alabama-West Florida Conference

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Our Work

Miss Hilda will be able to look right into her living room from her newly remodeled kitchen.
Susan Meister/UMCOR

RITA SURVIVORS ANXIOUS TO MOVE HOME

When Hurricane Rita devastated the southwest coast of Louisiana, Mr. Harold and Miss Hilda’s home was severely damaged and they lost nearly all of their possessions. So when Miss Hilda saw the sign at the Hackberry United Methodist Church that said, “Come dressed as you are,” she felt welcome there.

“I didn’t have many clothes,” she said. “And the folks at that church were just great – just what I was looking for.”

Hackberry is a small town about 25 miles inland from the Gulf Coast. Like most of the towns in Cameron Parish, it suffered extensive wind and water damage.

Through the church, Miss Hilda got connected to the Lake Charles Storm Recovery Station of the Louisiana Conference Disaster Recovery Ministry. A volunteer group from Pennsylvania replaced the roof on their home, and then the couple met John Foster, a part-time local pastor at the Provencal and Oak Grove United Methodist Churches in central Louisiana. Foster is also an Assistant Professor at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

Case Manager Tonia Pence noted that Foster first got involved in volunteer office work at the Lake Charles Station, phoning clients who had requested help and checking their status. But then he met Mr. Harold and Miss Hilda.

“To Give Someone Hope”

“There certainly is a sense of urgency, because of Mr. Harold’s health, but a true pleasure in being able to give something that is so appreciated and not expected,” he wrote. “To give someone hope is a joy-filled experience.”

Mr. Harold, who has multiple medical challenges, was very direct in his thanks to Foster. “Until you started comin’, I had given up hope.”

“My husband wants to finish the house,” Miss Hilda said. “He has a strong will to get into his home.”

Foster has brought members and non-members from the Provencal congregation along, including a sheetrock finisher and carpenter. He also went outside the congregation to find a plumber to help with kitchen and bathroom fixtures.

“John is like a part of our family,” Miss Hilda exclaimed. “He just sits and visits with us. I want him to bring his wife down and just sit.”

Volunteers work teams are needed in southwest Louisiana to assist with the rebuilding effort from the devastation of Hurricane Rita. To learn more, go to http://www.laumcstormrelief.com/

“Yes, in the very midst of tragedy, hope can prevail, but that hope is dependent on the continued presence of willing volunteers.”

Cameron Parish was the site of landfall for Hurricane Rita on Sept. 24, 2005. Winds over 100 mph lasted for nearly 24 hours and a storm surge of 15-20 feet submerged the entire parish. Over 75% of the residences in the Parish were destroyed. The Lake Charles Station of the LA Conference Disaster Recovery Ministry is serving Cameron and surrounding parishes in the rebuilding effort.

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Providing Hope & Restoration
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