We had the opportunity to share in celebration with Pastor Krusemark, his wife Elizabeth and members of Grace Lutheran in Stockton as they had an open house/luncheon to thank volunteers who helped clean and rebuild the lower level of the church after last summer's floods.
The lower level looks great, especially the updated kitchen that can hold many workers at one time! And Pastor Krusemark and Elizabeth have done a lot of work to their house to get the house and yard back to better than before the floods.
Thank you to all who helped restore the church and make it ready to serve as a gathering place for members and for the community of Stockton.
There are still several homes that need work, and others still waiting for the buyout, so while there are reasons to celebrate, there are still reasons to make the trip to Stockton to work. Volunteers are always welcome -- contact me strongv@woodburylutheran.org if you'd like to help!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Thanks St. Paul's and Thrivent
We had a group of youth and adults (thanks Mary, Dale, Amanda, Arriana and Brenda) from Lakefield in SW Minnesota in Stockton last week. They did great work, hard work and God faithfully held the rain off so they could complete their tasks.
We (primarily they) cleaned two lots, sheds and garages for a couple of abandoned homes that will be taken down. What a mess. And, they did a beautiful job landscaping around the city hall -- brought in some beautiful bushes and flowering shrubs purchased with Thrivent money. It will be a huge blessing to the entire community to have their city hall look so much better! Thanks to all the students who gave up their first week of summer vacation to serve others, to the Hesemans and to Brenda Pomerenke, to Thrivent, and to St. Paul church in Lakefield, who raised some great kids!
Bonnie Oldham gave her testimony and while I've heard it a few times it never fails to amaze me that (1) there were so few deaths in Stockton during the flood last year and (2) that even in the midst of continued uncertainty, Bonnie is rock solid in her faith! I sure wish we could help them. Between the loss of their house and Roger's health, they have huge issues.
Pray please for Roger, who goes in for a new pacemaker tomorrow.
We (primarily they) cleaned two lots, sheds and garages for a couple of abandoned homes that will be taken down. What a mess. And, they did a beautiful job landscaping around the city hall -- brought in some beautiful bushes and flowering shrubs purchased with Thrivent money. It will be a huge blessing to the entire community to have their city hall look so much better! Thanks to all the students who gave up their first week of summer vacation to serve others, to the Hesemans and to Brenda Pomerenke, to Thrivent, and to St. Paul church in Lakefield, who raised some great kids!
Bonnie Oldham gave her testimony and while I've heard it a few times it never fails to amaze me that (1) there were so few deaths in Stockton during the flood last year and (2) that even in the midst of continued uncertainty, Bonnie is rock solid in her faith! I sure wish we could help them. Between the loss of their house and Roger's health, they have huge issues.
Pray please for Roger, who goes in for a new pacemaker tomorrow.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tornado help?
Hugo should be overrun with tornado cleanup volunteers today. I had personal call to help (see previous blog) but had decided to stay with the needs in Stockton. There is still so much need there...
HOWEVER, my good friend Steve Neddermeyer, the Pork Chop Man, has kicked me into action. We have offered to help with a big event at New Life Lutheran to give the church a way reach out to the community.
New Life is offering free childcare (limited to 40 kids) for residents or volunteers today. What a great idea! But, they are also musing about doing a larger event, like a neighborhood barbecue? Possibly a pork chop feed/quilt distribution like we did in Stockton? Watch here for details and a call for volunteers and Thrivent participation.
HOWEVER, my good friend Steve Neddermeyer, the Pork Chop Man, has kicked me into action. We have offered to help with a big event at New Life Lutheran to give the church a way reach out to the community.
New Life is offering free childcare (limited to 40 kids) for residents or volunteers today. What a great idea! But, they are also musing about doing a larger event, like a neighborhood barbecue? Possibly a pork chop feed/quilt distribution like we did in Stockton? Watch here for details and a call for volunteers and Thrivent participation.
Tornados and Floods and Hail, Oh My!
It's been a busy week. The tornado and severe storms in the Twin Cities affected a few of my own friends; one of the administrative assistants at our church had significant hail damage and our good friend Miriam Carter, who has been a workhorse (!) in Rushford and Stockton had a neighbor's tree limb damage her roof.
I am in the middle of getting my FEMA certification and had a call Monday morning asking if I could help in Hugo with gawker control. I chose to not go as we are still highly involved in Stockton with flood relief and I was concerned about spreading myself too thin. But, as my next blog will show, I think God has other plans...
Speaking of Stockton, a team will be in Stockton this Tuesday, June 3, to clean out some fields that are still debris-littered (no crop again this year), and to clean up the banks of Garvin Brook, clear a couple of yards where houses will be part of the buyout, and plant grass seed and shrubs around a couple of modular homes that have been brought in. We could use some help with all of these projects over the next several weeks. They are not "skilled" worker jobs, and we can use youth groups, too.
Another group will be there from Woodbury June 16-20, and they would be glad to work with other groups.
I also talked with Rick Lane with Lutheran Disaster Relief in Winona this week and he had a disappointing week as groups from the Twin Cities cancelled their commitment to Minnesota City and Stockton jobs to go to Hugo. He is concerned June will be very slow for them; I urge you to remember most of the people in Minnesota City and Stockton are uninsured and need every bit of help they can get, whereas after the cleanup those in Hugo will get insurance help.
Don't forget there are still needs in SE Minnesota!
I am in the middle of getting my FEMA certification and had a call Monday morning asking if I could help in Hugo with gawker control. I chose to not go as we are still highly involved in Stockton with flood relief and I was concerned about spreading myself too thin. But, as my next blog will show, I think God has other plans...
Speaking of Stockton, a team will be in Stockton this Tuesday, June 3, to clean out some fields that are still debris-littered (no crop again this year), and to clean up the banks of Garvin Brook, clear a couple of yards where houses will be part of the buyout, and plant grass seed and shrubs around a couple of modular homes that have been brought in. We could use some help with all of these projects over the next several weeks. They are not "skilled" worker jobs, and we can use youth groups, too.
Another group will be there from Woodbury June 16-20, and they would be glad to work with other groups.
I also talked with Rick Lane with Lutheran Disaster Relief in Winona this week and he had a disappointing week as groups from the Twin Cities cancelled their commitment to Minnesota City and Stockton jobs to go to Hugo. He is concerned June will be very slow for them; I urge you to remember most of the people in Minnesota City and Stockton are uninsured and need every bit of help they can get, whereas after the cleanup those in Hugo will get insurance help.
Don't forget there are still needs in SE Minnesota!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Help?
There are several small teams planning summer work, primarily in Stockton but a few in Rushford, as well.
A small group from St. Stephanus in St. Paul is working with Roger and Bonnie today to begin filling their "hole" where the house stood. Additional workers are needed to get this task done; only skill needed is the ability to stand upright and not fall in the hole! Strong backs very helpful!
Also needed are laborers to help Leesa with her house -- General cleanup around the yard plus sheetrocking inside. Much of the sheet rock is there and it would be nice to move her closer to getting herself and her son out of the FEMA trailer. His blindness and some respiratory issues makes living in a FEMA trailer a special challenge.
Also, Vi is nearing the time when she can move back into the antique shop -- both to open for business as well as live in the back. She will need help building shelves and washing and polishing all of the antiques that are stored in the shed.
We're planning a community beautification project May 31-June 2 (Saturday through Monday) in Stockton. Encouragement is much needed right now as people begin to grasp life just won't be the same, that while there can be rebuilding there won't be full restoration... Many are now getting the funding to pay off much of their old debt and close a chapter in their lives, but how they move forward may still be in question. We'd like to be Jesus' hands and feet for a day or two -- bring in flowers and shrubs and perhaps even some trees; make and plant flower boxes for Vi's, plant around Grace Lutheran, continue to clean up debris around the community, and even (if God is willing and donors are generous) provide for a garden in or near the community center -- A gift to the community. If you're interested in donating or helping, please contact Vicki Strong, 651-730-5049.
A small group from St. Stephanus in St. Paul is working with Roger and Bonnie today to begin filling their "hole" where the house stood. Additional workers are needed to get this task done; only skill needed is the ability to stand upright and not fall in the hole! Strong backs very helpful!
Also needed are laborers to help Leesa with her house -- General cleanup around the yard plus sheetrocking inside. Much of the sheet rock is there and it would be nice to move her closer to getting herself and her son out of the FEMA trailer. His blindness and some respiratory issues makes living in a FEMA trailer a special challenge.
Also, Vi is nearing the time when she can move back into the antique shop -- both to open for business as well as live in the back. She will need help building shelves and washing and polishing all of the antiques that are stored in the shed.
We're planning a community beautification project May 31-June 2 (Saturday through Monday) in Stockton. Encouragement is much needed right now as people begin to grasp life just won't be the same, that while there can be rebuilding there won't be full restoration... Many are now getting the funding to pay off much of their old debt and close a chapter in their lives, but how they move forward may still be in question. We'd like to be Jesus' hands and feet for a day or two -- bring in flowers and shrubs and perhaps even some trees; make and plant flower boxes for Vi's, plant around Grace Lutheran, continue to clean up debris around the community, and even (if God is willing and donors are generous) provide for a garden in or near the community center -- A gift to the community. If you're interested in donating or helping, please contact Vicki Strong, 651-730-5049.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Mud and mud and more mud
We had an amazing weekend in Stockton and Minnesota City in spite of the recent rain, which left us with some really muddy conditions. We removed dead trees, pulled carpets, hauled sheetrock, cleaned debris out of yards and from the edge of the brook, cleaned and sanitized Roger's machine shop, hauled Bonnie's wood for their stove back from the debris pile where it had ended up in the flood, installed insulation in Roger's shop and got it ready for new sheetrock, cleared a dam that was created by debris in Garvin Brook, took several loads of downed wood to a chipping area, burned brush (always helps to have a fire warden with you!), made meals for volunteers and homeowers, and brought lunches to crews in Minnesota City, where they were installing electrical wiring, roofing a house, and sheetrocking another.
Whew! And between that, we talked, prayed and laughed, sometimes until our sides ached. (Sorry, Miriam, for that little tire spinning episode that resulted in your mudbath...) What a blessing to watch as adults and youth ministered to others through hugs, and prayers, quiet conversation, shared meals, laughter, a found photo album, and back-breaking, leg-aching, bicep-building work!
It was a very, very good weekend!
Whew! And between that, we talked, prayed and laughed, sometimes until our sides ached. (Sorry, Miriam, for that little tire spinning episode that resulted in your mudbath...) What a blessing to watch as adults and youth ministered to others through hugs, and prayers, quiet conversation, shared meals, laughter, a found photo album, and back-breaking, leg-aching, bicep-building work!
It was a very, very good weekend!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The work is on!
Rick Lane from Lutheran Disaster Response in Winona wanted me to pass along to everyone how grateful he is that the LCMS churches in Minnesota/North Dakota have stepped up to help. They were desperately in need of workers and just had a big group cancel for next week, so he needed some good workers and good cheer!
I spent Tuesday morning, April 15 (after taking my big check to Uncle Sam to the post office), in Minnesota City, checking up on our crews that worked with LDR on Tuesday.
They worked in two homes -- one in Sunny Acres and the other in Gunderson subdivision. Both had extensive damage; the one in Sunny Acres is a split entry and they lost the kids' bedrooms and family room downstairs (to 8 1/2 feet). The homeowner had an amazing story of how quickly the water rose, and how his boat in the driveway saved not just his family but several others as he ferried family and neighbors to higher ground. The other home in Gunderson was totally submerged. The team there was doing framing -- LOTS left to do on this split level. They are looking for roofers to get the shingles replaced this weekend.
Saturday have two big groups of youth from Rochester and Faribault, more adults too. The youth will help the Oldhams in Stockton and clean up along Garvin Brook. Should be a really fun day -- I love working with the youth -- It will be a high energy day!
Thanks to all the churches and individuals that have answered the call from as far away as Worthington and Fargo (workers), Mandan, North Dakota (gift cards), Kilkenny, Stewartville, Rosemount, Woodbury, White Bear Lake, Plainview, Lakefield. We even let a Catholic infiltrate our midst!
I'll report more next week and will be sure to upload pictures.
The work will continue -- We'll take volunteers any time!
I spent Tuesday morning, April 15 (after taking my big check to Uncle Sam to the post office), in Minnesota City, checking up on our crews that worked with LDR on Tuesday.
They worked in two homes -- one in Sunny Acres and the other in Gunderson subdivision. Both had extensive damage; the one in Sunny Acres is a split entry and they lost the kids' bedrooms and family room downstairs (to 8 1/2 feet). The homeowner had an amazing story of how quickly the water rose, and how his boat in the driveway saved not just his family but several others as he ferried family and neighbors to higher ground. The other home in Gunderson was totally submerged. The team there was doing framing -- LOTS left to do on this split level. They are looking for roofers to get the shingles replaced this weekend.
Saturday have two big groups of youth from Rochester and Faribault, more adults too. The youth will help the Oldhams in Stockton and clean up along Garvin Brook. Should be a really fun day -- I love working with the youth -- It will be a high energy day!
Thanks to all the churches and individuals that have answered the call from as far away as Worthington and Fargo (workers), Mandan, North Dakota (gift cards), Kilkenny, Stewartville, Rosemount, Woodbury, White Bear Lake, Plainview, Lakefield. We even let a Catholic infiltrate our midst!
I'll report more next week and will be sure to upload pictures.
The work will continue -- We'll take volunteers any time!
Friday, March 7, 2008
LCMS Work Week
We are planning a work week for LCMS church members, family and friends April 13-20. We'll be working alongside Lutheran Disaster Relief out of Winona, and serving homeowners in Minnesota City, Winona, Stockton and Elba.
Housing is available for people who would like to work several days, or volunteers are welcome any one day during the week. We will arrange food service as we have workers.
Individuals or groups are welcome. Weather permitting, we will have several opportunities for youth groups to do park clean up at Whitewater State Park and at the municipal park in Rushford, as well as helping clear mud from private property in Stockton.
Contact Vicki Strong, 651.730.5049, or cell phone 651.208.4353, for more information. We're counting on you!
Housing is available for people who would like to work several days, or volunteers are welcome any one day during the week. We will arrange food service as we have workers.
Individuals or groups are welcome. Weather permitting, we will have several opportunities for youth groups to do park clean up at Whitewater State Park and at the municipal park in Rushford, as well as helping clear mud from private property in Stockton.
Contact Vicki Strong, 651.730.5049, or cell phone 651.208.4353, for more information. We're counting on you!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Break's Over!
I took time off during Christmas to devote to my family, who were feeling a bit (a lot?) ignored. Now, it's time to get back to the business of disaster relief.
We are again organizing teams to serve in Rushford, Stockton and Minnesota City. The needs for rebuilding will continue well into 2008. Can you serve?
Contact me at Woodbury Lutheran, 651-739-5144, ext. 236, if you would like to serve.
We are again organizing teams to serve in Rushford, Stockton and Minnesota City. The needs for rebuilding will continue well into 2008. Can you serve?
Contact me at Woodbury Lutheran, 651-739-5144, ext. 236, if you would like to serve.
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