UMCOR Bright Spots

IN TODAY'S ISSUE
May 10, 2007

Miss Daisy Counts Her Blessings
Miss Vanessa: "God's Property Built by God's People"
This Week's Quote
Recovery Stats
Age Is no Barrier to Helping …(Slide Show)

MISS DAISY COUNTS HER BLESSINGS

By Susan J. Meister, Gulf Coast Communications

Despite the four-foot storm surge that inundated her Slidell, La., home during the height of Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, Miss Daisy told a visitor, "The Lord has blessed me so far--I won't complain."

Miss Daisy plans to hang photos, taken by volunteers from Michigan, in her rebuilt home as soon as it is ready.
Susan Meister/UMCOR

And when she goes on to describe the volunteers who have come to her home, Miss Daisy is enthusiastic. "This has been a wonderful experience," she said. "Two volunteers from Michigan sent me these pictures of cherry blossoms and covered bridges in their town and these will be the first things I put up in my new living room." Another volunteer, "an angel," made Miss Daisy a quilt.

Miss Daisy's home is one of the 340 major repairs managed by the Northshore Disaster Recovery/Slidell Station. The station staff arranges volunteer teams and connects homeowners to needed resources. On a recent visit to check on progress, Site Manager Tony Almeida delivered a donated lamp for Miss Daisy to use in her new bedroom.

Miss Daisy shares stories about some gifts with Tony Almeida, Site Manager, Northshore Disaster Recovery, Slidell station.
Susan Meister/UMCOR

Miss Daisy can't wait to get into her home

Miss Daisy lives in a FEMA trailer while the repairs on her home are completed. She laughingly describes the house as a "mansion" compared to the RV where she lived right after the storm. "There was cold and mold," she smiled. She simply can't wait to get back into her home.

She has been recovering from knee and hip replacement surgery, and sometimes she has to stay inside because of dizzy spells. But she passes the time watching TV and listening to old cassette tapes of sermons of her late husband, a Pentecostal minister.

"God has opened doors," Miss Daisy said. "After the storm, I prayed and cried, I thought there was no future. But one day, I was outside and 'hands' pushed me and I sat down, and just laughed. One volunteer said he kept seeing me giggling. God works miracles."

The Northshore Disaster Recovery/Slidell and other stations of the Louisiana United Methodist Disaster Recovery Ministry are helping families rebuild after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To volunteer or for more information, contact the Louisiana United Methodist Disaster Recovery Ministry.

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

Our Work

Miss Vanessa compares the progress on her new home to the plans.
Susan Meister/UMCOR

MISS VANESSA: "GOD'S PROPERTY BUILT BY GOD'S PEOPLE"

Miss Vanessa has four initials to describe her new home in Waveland, Miss: GPGP - "God's property built by God's people." As she walked up the steps to the new porch and her husband Frank prepared food for a team of volunteers from Pennsylvania, Miss Vanessa kept counting her blessings despite the hardships she had endured seventeen months earlier.

The couple had decided to stay in their home as Hurricane Katrina approached in August, 2005. The house is about 3 miles from the beach, and had never flooded in any previous storms. But Miss Vanessa and Mr. Frank soon found their home flooded with 6 ½' of contaminated water. They stood on furniture in their living room holding onto a hanging lamp, with their chins just above the water, for 3 ½ hours. Their home literally turned 90 degrees in the storm.

Miss Vanessa and her husband were going to make a shed into their home until Kim Cheek, case manager with the Gulfside Station, Mississippi United Methodist Katrina Response, presented a plan to build a new home, with the help of Samaritan's Purse. As the home takes shape, Miss Vanessa shares pictures of the time from the storm, demolition of their former home, progress on the construction; and she speaks of plans for warm love and fellowship in their new home.

"When I first met Miss Vanessa, I knew she was an extraordinary woman with an undying faith in God," writes Cheek. "Mr. Frank and Miss Vanessa's faith has never waned, despite losing their home and all their treasured possessions. They count their blessings daily and are always willing to help."

To help families in Biloxi, Mississippi and other places along the Gulf Coast rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, contact the Mississippi United Methodist Katrina Response.

This Week's Quote: God's handiwork can be seen all over the Gulf Coast. With hammers and paintbrushes, sheetrock and shingles, homes are being restored and hearts are being filled with hope. The continued generosity of your time, talent, money, and your prayers throughout this long recovery process is a God-sent comfort to us - ordained and sustained.

Northshore Disaster Recovery/Slidell Station, Louisiana recently celebrated the re-dedication of the 300th home rebuild, the arrival of their 10,000th volunteer, and the completion of their 5000th client. The Station is part of a long term recovery organization with 82 partners (faith-based, civic and government organizations).

Power Point Slide Show DOWNLOAD
AGE IS NO BARRIER TO HELPING …
Download this slide and use in your Sunday morning announcements or mission minute