2009 YOUTH MISSION TRIP (please wait while the photos load...)
On Wednesday, March 18, 19 youth and their adult sponsors, departed on a Mission Trip to Port Arthur, Texas to assist in the cleanup and reconstruction from hurricanes Rita and Ike. The work was organized by UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief). We stayed at the United Methodist Church Temple of Port Arthur, where they graciously provided us not only rooms for sleeping, but also extended full use of their kitchen, showers, and youth facilities. They even cooked dinner for us two of the nights we were there!
Thursday morning, we were greeted by Nate, the local UMCOR Disaster Relief Co-ordinator. Nate explained that we would be working on the rebuilding of two Port Arthur homes damaged during hurricane Rita. We were surprised to learn that there was still Rita work to do, but as Nate explained, there were 75,000 homes in the area damaged by Rita, and that it will take 10 years to rebuilt them - assuming 20 houses are restored every day!
We then drove to the site of the two homes where we would be working. One home needed to have the outside completely primed and painted. The other home required various indoor work - including the installation of a new door, installation of a toilet, wall and ceiling work in a restroom, and three rooms where the existing ceiling tiles needed to be removed and replaced.
We put in three full days of work and got all of the assigned tasks completed. But best of all, we were able to spend time with the families that lived in these homes, and to hear their stories about their experiences during, and since, the hurricanes. They were all incredibly appreciative of the work we were doing.
We were truly blessed for this wonderful opportunity to help these families. We came to Port Arthur to help rebuild houses, but perhaps our true mission was to help rebuild lives.
The SUMC Youth and Sponsors