Some disasters and floods are headline makers. Some fade away as time goes on - but the need goes on. This is one of those types of need.The following is one of the resident's story's. This is the typical resident that YSP will be assisting during this year's mission trip.
JoEllen, a widow, is raising twins with autism. She lost her home in Pennsylvania to a tornado in 1985. And she was displaced from her tri-level Palo home due to the June 2008 flood.
“People say ‘God won’t give you more than you can handle,’” she said. “I didn’t believe that. Then your volunteers showed up. And I knew I could keep going.”
The flood destroyed the bottom floor of her home, which included the living room, laundry room, and a bedroom.
“I had moved everything up on the first floor, thinking it would be fine,” she said. But the water rose, knocking over chairs and destroying the kitchen appliances and lower cabinets.
“I never dreamed the river would get where it did,” she said.
For seven weeks, the kids stayed with friends in Pennsylvania, and she lived with a friend in Marion. She worked day and night to restore a sense of normalcy to the home for her children.
When they moved back in, JoEllen used a microwave and gas grill to prepare meals, and washed dishes on the picnic table until about October. “When volunteers put in the kitchen, I was able to have a sink!”
Today, JoEllen’s home is close to completion, thanks to the work of volunteers.
“We wouldn’t be where we are without them,” she said. She added that the emotional support of the volunteers has also been helpful.
“My living room was built with love,” she said. “ I want volunteers to know how much we appreciate them
“People say ‘God won’t give you more than you can handle,’” she said. “I didn’t believe that. Then your volunteers showed up. And I knew I could keep going.”
The flood destroyed the bottom floor of her home, which included the living room, laundry room, and a bedroom.
“I had moved everything up on the first floor, thinking it would be fine,” she said. But the water rose, knocking over chairs and destroying the kitchen appliances and lower cabinets.
“I never dreamed the river would get where it did,” she said.
For seven weeks, the kids stayed with friends in Pennsylvania, and she lived with a friend in Marion. She worked day and night to restore a sense of normalcy to the home for her children.
When they moved back in, JoEllen used a microwave and gas grill to prepare meals, and washed dishes on the picnic table until about October. “When volunteers put in the kitchen, I was able to have a sink!”
Today, JoEllen’s home is close to completion, thanks to the work of volunteers.
“We wouldn’t be where we are without them,” she said. She added that the emotional support of the volunteers has also been helpful.
“My living room was built with love,” she said. “ I want volunteers to know how much we appreciate them
We have truly blessed with a supportive congragation and community. If you see an opportunity to help underwrite a portion of the YSP trip, sponsor a new sink or gallon of paint or sheet of drywall, we would be forever greatful. You may contact the youth minister Shawn Harris at sharris@mentorumc.org
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