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Home Updated August 7, 2008 |
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New Information Barclay Work August 11-15 is the week of the work at Barclay College. This appeal is going out to all alumni of Barclay and Friends Churches. Unfortunately, our group is small (6)and all from Texas with the exception of one Kansas boy. We are appealing for those who can give one day of their time or even an afternoon or evening. We will be there all week but if you can only give a few hours we will take you up on the offer. If you can help, please contact Doug Holcombe at 303-477-1921 or e-mail at sdholcombe@juno.com. Barclay Work
Friends Disaster Service-Texas Area is pushing the Barclay College work week
back to the week of If you are interested in going to work on this project call Doug Holcombe @ 303-477-1921 or E-mail him at: sdholcombe@juno.com Thomas C. Hoke Coordinator-Texas Area Old Information Update from Greensburg, KS. and Last Work Days We had a very productive work week this last week in Greensburg. The Lord provided a group of workers from California to help our group. The extra hands were most appreciated. We have set the next week for June 23-27. We will be building a garage for Sherry Taylor and finishing the work on the Thompson home. Please let us know ASAP if you are available to join us. This may be our last trip to Greensburg. If your interested in going on this trip please contact Doug Holcombe at 303-477-1921 or E-mail sdholcombe@juno.com Thomas C. Hoke Coordinator-Texas Area Update from Greensburg, KS. We are happy to report that the work week in March went very well. We had a large group and a lot was accomplished.
We were notified that the college will be in the
middle of finals and an alumni banquet will end the week. Therefore, we will
not be able to stay in the dorms. We are moving the dates back a couple of
weeks. We Update from Greensburg, KS. We are heading to Kansas this week with a good crew in tow. Things are shaping up nicely for the March work week also. We have two cooks on board for March. Just wanted you to know what some of the work will consist of. Mostly indoor work. Electrical, painting, staining, installing trim and some cabinets are on the agenda. The more workers we have the more work can be accomplished. We feel blessed with the crews that are responding. If you can join us please let us know so that space can be reserved for you.
Call or e-mail Doug Holcombe @ 303-477-1921
sdholcombe@juno.com if you are interested in going on one of these trips. Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting Friends Disaster Service Plan for Greensburg, KS. The current plan for Friends Disaster Service is to be in Greensburg, Kansas for two weeks in August. We are working closely with the South Central Kansas Tornado Recovery Organization. As with any disaster, the rebuilding will take a long time. Groups from California and North Carolina will join to help finish Mr. Unruh's home. This project was started the last trip in July. The group from Rose Drive Friends Church in California will be there the week of August 6-10 joining a group from an area church to continue cleanup and building. Tom and Dan will be leaving from here on August 11 joining Bill "Cooter" Edwards from Riverton, Kansas to continue the work on Mr. Unruh's home. The work will continue for two weeks commencing on August 25. If there is anyone who can attend any time during those two weeks your help is needed. We will be working on outside siding, building a porch, plumbing, electrical, sheetrock, window installation and building rooms in the basement. We would like to complete as much as possible. Mr. Unruh will be supplying his own flooring and cabinet work. Two other homes are in need of repair such as siding and sheetrock. Skilled construction workers are appreciated but on the job training is available. If anyone can come to serve as cook for the first week in particular, you will be considered the VIP. The group from North Carolina will be joining the second week and bringing a cook with them. Just like Johnson Bayou, we will be going back every few weeks. Future projects are to build homes for Steven Thompson, Haviland Friends Church member and his son Brady Thompson, also Haviland Friends Church members. We will also rebuild a garage for Sherry Taylor, sister of Debbie Davis from Rose Drive Friends Church. We will try to be timely in announcing the dates so that you can be a part of these projects. If you know you are available for certain times, please contact your church's representative so that they can notify us and we will try to work around that schedule. If your church does not have a contact person, try to get a volunteer to be that liaison for us. Until that happens, you can always contact Tom Hoke, Coordinator for Texas Area at (281) 332-6631 or (281) 808-7393. We are looking forward to the group from Ohio FDS, under the leadership of Bob Winn, Coordinator, joining us as we minister to our Friends in Kansas. The Bible charges us to take care of our own and we follow His Word as He advises. We thank Dan Benke, Assistant Coordinator for Texas Area and his wife, Joann who went up to Kansas shortly after the tornado hit and stayed for an extended time to help with the cleanup and set up the lines of communication with the area recovery committees. Thank you to Cooter Edwards, the Coordinator for FDS-Kansas Tri-City Area Coordinator, who is the construction coordinator for Mr. Unruh's home. We can't forget to thank Doug Holcombe from Denver, the representative from FDS-Colorado Area, for his continued support of FDS-Texas Area projects. Doug spent an extra week pulling wiring and setting electrical boxes so that the electrical work could be completed this trip. We are blessed to have people such as these to be a blessing to those who have lost so much. We ask for your continued prayer support. Friends Disaster Service-Texas Area has no paid position, every one involved is a volunteer. We are solely dependant on donations from churches and individuals. We have been very active the last couple of years and our funds have become depleted. We were hoping to have our auction this fall but we will be far too busy with work projects to take the time to put it together. We pray that the Lord has put it on your heart to participate in some way in the ministry of Friends Disaster Service. Your donations may be sent to Friends Disaster Service-Texas Area, 925 E. Walker St., League City, Texas 77573. You are what keeps this organization going. Friends Disaster Service-Texas Area 925 E. Walker St. League City, Texas 77573 Submitted 07/29/07 by Kathy Hoke, Secretary/Treasurer FDS-Texas Area. You can also send funds to Rocky Mountain Yearly meeting to be used to get personnel to Greensburg to help the coming work projects. Make sure to make a note in the Memo area that this is for the FDS Greensburg Rebuild Project. Doug Holcombe 303-477-1921 or sdholcombe@juno.com Rocky Mountain FDS Coordinator Friends Disaster Service trip to Holly Colorado
A request has been received
requesting getting a group together for Holly. There is framing going on for
some homes now. One house is being built by the homeowner and he has requested
assistance with the framing. He has started but working full time and doing it
in the evening the time is limited. Another home is going to be started
framing soon. The contractor welcomes help because he is extremely busy right
now. I just thought I would update you on Holly.
If you have time to help in Holly let me know. This is the second request I have had for help from them. The work in Greensburg has been put on hold and the next push around Haviland will be around July the 14th. They need framers helpers and someone who might be a cut person or persons. The point is that no matter your experience you could be helpful. If you think you would like to go to help at holly please let me know. Doug Holcombe-303-477-1921 or sdholcombe@juno.com Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting Friends Disaster Service trip to Greensburg, KS.
Correction: The latest dates are from July 14 Through the end of August or the end of the project.
We will be helping John Unruh rebuild in Greensberg. Tentative dates
are--they will be set when we know for sure that materials will be there for
the project--
July 14-15 for the sub-floor
July 16 through the end of July for the actual rebuilding
Accommodations will be available for all at the Haviland Friends Church.
I will send more info and firm dates as soon as things are set.
If you want to send money to be used to help victims of the tornado, please send it to: First Denver Friends Church, 4575A-Eliot St., Denver, CO with a note (for use at Greensburg by FDS). If you think you would like to go for part of or all of these days, please let me know so I can tell them know how many are coming. Doug Holcombe-303-477-1921 or sdholcombe@juno.com Greensburg, Kansas Relief If you would like to help the Greensburg, KS people who were hit so hard by the tornado last weekend, we are starting a fund to raise money which will be given directly to families without insurance who need help rebuilding. This will be through Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting Friends Disaster Service. If you wish to donate, please write "Friends Disaster Service-Greensburg" on the memo section of your check. Trips, in combination with Mid-America Friends Disaster Service, will eventually be planned to physically help people, too. Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting Friends Disaster Service trip to Greensburg, KS. Friends from several states are going to work at Greensburg, Kansas on June 4-18. Many other FDS groups are responding as well. We will be staying at Barclay College in Haviland, KS in the dorms at no charge and may be also staying in some houses as well. We will be able to use the kitchen at the student center to make meals (cooks needed). If you think you would like to go for part of or all of these days, please let me know so I can tell them know how many are coming. If you want to send money to be used to help victims of the tornado, please send it to: First Denver Friends Church, 4575A-Eliot St., Denver, CO with a note (for use at Greensburg by FDS). I have been told that 1500 houses were totally destroyed and 200 more were severely damaged. There were several Friends families that lost everything. Doug Holcombe-303-477-1921 or sdholcombe@juno.com Reflections on trip to Lafitte, Louisiana January 20 – Feb 3, 2007
“Coming off the mountain top” for Moses, meant leaving the presence of God for mayhem. Thanks to the work of our Lord, the presence of God is continuous and everywhere so “coming off the mountain top” is not nearly as extreme.
I felt so “privileged” that God answered prayers and opened the doors for me to participate in another two-week trip with Friends Disaster Service in the aftermath of Katrina - a very small piece to the bigger picture God was creating. He directed enumerable lives over years to have Eastern Region of Friends Disaster Service under its current leadership and organized to the point where volunteers can show up every week and their skills, talents, and labor mesh together to bring glory to Him. At every corner and in every activity, God’s orchestration and the witness to the community was evident.
49 and 42 were the weekly tallies of volunteers led by God during the weeks I was there: v Points of origin: Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Colorado.v Ages: ranged from age 9 to 79.v Marital status: single, married, some accompanied by spouses, some notv Other circumstances that stand out: college buddies meeting up from different parts of the country; couples taking vacation away from kids to return home where problems seem smaller; a family gave up Christmas gifts to be able to come; a lady that dropped in on a pot luck, heard about the trip and brought a friend.v Modes of transportation: motor homes, families driving together, church vans hauling trailers of donated items and newfound friendships among their congregations, and some flew.v Denominations: some from Quaker Churches and some from Quaker Meetings, some Methodists and some Catholics – a eclectic group willing to serve God.
In the time I was there, the new house went from sub-floor on pilings to almost complete dry wall. God’s miracle was the crane to lift the trusses at no charge. It would be hard to find anyone more appreciative then the new homeowners who care for their handicapped mother. Also, progress was made on three rehab projects.
It was cold and rainy a lot of the time but God’s provision v From the community - a warm, comfortable, safe haven; appreciation and encouragement,v From all donors to Friends Disaster Service – funding of hot meals, transportation, tools and materialsv From the local Baptist church - a place of worship where we were a community of saints together, andv From the volunteers God brought together – memories of laboring, laughter and joy that will out last knowing their names.It did not matter that it was cold and rainy.
This week after is like “coming off the mountain top” not to mayhem but to routines and ministries that God has on going in life accompanied by His continuous presence. As I try to be obedient on a daily basis, I pray that doors will be open for a group from Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting to return March 18 – 24 when the Texas division of Friends Disaster Service will again join forces with this group.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Peggy Bopp October 21, 2006
Plans for Next Work Trip
We have been in contact with Bob Winn, the
director for Ohio FDS and they have projects going in Lafitte, LA.
Since we feel the work is done in Johnson Bayou, we are thinking of
linking up with them during the week of Nov 13-17. Click on
Volunteer Information for Lafitte from Bob Winn about the projects.
They have arrangements made for housing and food. They even have some
info about a few fun things to do. Lafitte is about an hour southeast
of New Orleans. It's a island community. This will be clean
work--meaning it is new construction. Is anyone interested in joining
for the trip? We need to let them know ASAP if we have any interested
volunteers, so let us hear from you. if you think that another time
would be better for you, let us know that also. Looking forward to
hearing from you.
Please contact Doug Holcombe at 303-477-1921 or e-mail at sdholcombe@juno.com if you are interested. August 7, 2006 We are planning the next work week in Johnson Bayou for the second week of September. That is September 11-17. We will continue the work started on the last trip and hopefully finish Lily's trailer. Once that is done, we will go to the next person that is in need of help. We know there are a lot.
We need to know ASAP on the number. Please contact Doug Holcombe at 303-477-1921 or e-mail at sdholcombe@juno.com if you are interested. May 21, 2006
We are planning another trip to Johnson Bayou. The date is definitely set for the week of June 25-30. We will stay at the Johnson Bayou Baptist Church. Let us know how many are going and for how many days. All out of towners will meet the Texas FDS group at the church on Sunday. Again, we need to know ASAP on the number. Again, Sunday-Friday, June 25-30 are the next dates in Johnson Bayou.
Please contact Doug Holcombe at 303-477-1921 if you are interested. April 11, 2006 We are planning another trip to Johnson Bayou to work on Mr. Badon's home. Tom and Rick Crumb (an A/C guy and friend) will be going tomorrow to see if his floors are finished, check his A/C, and measure for screens. We were able to complete both bathrooms, most of the kitchen (thanks to Cooter and Cheryl), all the paneling and some of the trim work. Most of the crown molding was installed but the baseboards and corner trim still need to be done. Some interior doors were hung, some were not. We had a hard working group that stayed steady and accomplished much. Thanks so much to our out-of-town couples who made the long trip down, Cooter and Cheryl from Kansas and Doug, Suzanne and Peggy from Denver. We had a group of young people with us from Bayshore and Friendswood Friends, some as young as 11, that work as hard as the adults. Unlike the adults, however, they still had energy to play at the end of the day. God certainly will bless these kids for their willingness to be used for His glory. Are you in need of a blessing. As we bless others, we will be blessed. We are hoping that you will join the group April 27-30 as we try to finish his home. Mr. Badon is much appreciative of all our help and recognizes that only God could be responsible for his blessing. Again, Thursday-Saturday, April 27-30 are the next dates in Johnson Bayou. Please contact Doug Holcombe at 303-477-1921 if you are interested. January 24, 2006 The Texas Friends Disaster Service will be leading and organizing a trip into Johnson Bayou between Sunday February 12th to Friday or Saturday the 17th or 18th. The Rocky Mountain Friends Disaster Service will have some participation and would welcome more. Doug will be in Houston on Feb. 4th and will be going to Johnson Bayou the 5th and working on getting materials on site for the push on the week of the 12th. Peggy Bopp will be flying down on the 11th and going in on 12th. If your interested in going, its a get there on you own and let Tom Hoke Know that you are coming. Tom and Kathy Hoke's phone # is : 1-281-332-6631 and their E-mail is : lcg@houston.rr.com (lcg stands for League city glass). January 16, 2006
The next work date for Katrina Relief has been set for January 26-28. We will be able to stay at the Baptist Church in Johnsons Bayou. We need to bring our own mattresses and warm clothing as there is no heat at the church, yet. We are scheduled to do tear outs and clean ups. Please contact Doug Holcombe at 303-477-1921 if you are interested. December 4, 2005
Note: Go to the Picture Page to see pictures from this trip
Here’s the latest from Tom and Dan’s recent trip to East Texas and Louisiana. From what they saw most of the Texas towns are receiving help from FEMA. The area that needs the most immediate help was in Louisiana. They went to Johnson’s Bayou, a little town just on the other side of the Louisiana border near Cameron. I have attached some pictures of the area. This seems to be a town that has been forgotten. They have been heavily damaged, not completely wiped out but every home has been affected. FEMA has not been there to help out with trailers or anything else. As of last week they still did not have power. This is a town of 60 families with 40 children. These families are living in conditions that they should not be living in because they have no place to go. The children are being bused to Hackberry for school, which is a long drive. The children leave for school at 6 am and return around 6 pm. They are in need of many things. They have donated food, just no power to cook. Red Cross supplies one meal a day to these families. They need cold weather clothing (the older folks are asking for long underwear), blankets, towels, new socks and new underwear. We would like to collect these items for them as quickly as possible. If your church would like to collect these items, you can deliver to us or call for pickup. We would like to deliver these items before Christmas.
Tom is setting up
for work teams to go in after the first of the year. The Johnson’s Bayou
Baptist Church would be used as our base. However, we have to fix the church
to be able to stay there. They have one building that has electricity and it
is equipped with portable showers and a washer/dryer. That will be the
priority. We will be staying in rough quarters as we repair the church so
that we can use the facilities and they in turn can help the community. We
will keep you updated as we have information to share.
Kathy Hoke
P.S. One little clarification needs to be made. We will be taking the cold
weather items to the folks in Johnson's Bayou by the end of the week and the
clothing needs at Christmas. They are sending the ages and sizes of the
children to us.
October 26, 2005 - Report on FDS trip by Peggy Bopp and Doug Holcombe
Note: Go to the Picture Page to see pictures from this trip
First of all - I'd recommend Disaster Relief to anyone - no matter what skills you may have or not. And, if I get an opportunity to go again, I'd do it in a heartbeat - but I would fly. 3400 miles is a lot of driving - but the bunk beds and mattresses we hauled are now being used in a tent city on the west side on New Orleans.
Our team of 18 stayed at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mandeville - the first town on the North end of the Lake Ponchutrain Causeway. While I stayed in the kitchen, the others broke into 2 and 3 teams each day. Those skilled in construction worked Monday thru Thursday at the Samaritan Center (a clearing house facility that all area churches send persons needing any type of help) where they picked up from the previous crew with sheetrock mudding, cabinet/counter building, and whatever else to get it ready for painting. (180 college students from a Lutheran College in Northern Minnesota paid $200 to ride 27 hours non-stop on buses to come work 4 days and return in another 27 hours - their fall break. 50 came to Mandeville and a team of 15 were sent to paint the Samaritan Center on Friday). Initially it was thought that the Samaritan Center could be up and running by January, now it will be early Nov. and it will free up church staff and energies. Another crew chain sawed, hauled off trees, and rebuilt fence to the preschool playground; another crew roofed (helping out a lady whose contractor ran off after she paid them $6500); two of our construction guys met with a lady who just didn't know where to start - giving her advice and steps to follow in rebuilding - since she was on her own; and another crew chained sawed trees and hauled off trailers of debris from several yards and ended up for two days emptying house furnishings, then sheetrock and power spraying and treating studs w/ Clorox for an elderly couple close to total despair. They all came back exhausted, scratched up, dirty, yet exhilarated. For the South, the weather was great and only two high humidity days. Everyone was overwhelmed by the assistance but my lesson was the reciprocated blessings - we were as blessed as those we served.
If any of you have an opportunity to go, I would highly recommend it. If a person had motor home/trailer for housing, you could park almost anywhere and find people who need help.
Thanks for your prayers and good wishes.
A perspective on the current status of the Katrina response by FDS groups. The drive down was a killer but, what a great time to get to know two other people! The need is beyond your wildest imaginations. The media is not able to make it clear how many people were affected. There is about 300 miles of the coast as well as the cities around Lake Ponchitrain that were flooded or blown into near non existence. They are doing the best they can to recover but, they need help. You can help! There will be more trips down to the Gulf Coast by Rocky Mountain FDS in conjunction with Texas FDS under Tom Hoak and probably the Eastern Region FDS. You don't need to know allot but, just be willing to help. The work on New Orleans has not really begun yet and it will be a long haul to get hem back to normal (years probably). The areas around Mandevile, Lascombe and Slidell are still in great need of help. They are out of the initial emergency status (they have the basic services back) but now begins the real work. We helped several families but there are many more that still need your help. The Mid America (Texas group) will be going into the Rita area this next month as it is close to their home base and they can get there quickly. They would love to have your help. I will probably be going down to help in this response. The Eastern region is heavily involved in the Wiggins Mississippi community and they are needing more help now through Nov. 19th (will close down for Thanks Giving) and then begin again in the beginning of December to the 11th.( will close down for Christmas). All FDS groups will be scheduling trips back after the first of the Year. I will probably be going down in November to work in the Rita area with Tom Hoak and then possibly the Eastern Region in Mississippi. If you think you would like to be a part of any of these efforts please let me know at 303-477-1921 or sdholcombe@juno.com I don't know how many times I will be able to drive as I used up most of our yearly allotment of money ( we spent $ 586 on gas this last trip). I am trusting God for the money to go down again and cheaper gas prices. Doug Holcombe Another trip will be put together for November and another after the first of the year. If you are interested in going on any of these trips, please contact Doug Holcombe as soon as possible at sdholcombe@juno.com.Rocky Mountain Yearly Meeting Friends Disaster Service will be sending crews to those effected by Katrina. Doug Holcombe, RMYM Friends Disaster Coordinator, has been in touch with Dean Johnson, Friends Disaster Service Eastern region; Tom Hoke, Friends Disaster Service Houston (Mid America Yearly Meeting), and have let them know that we are available to send help. They both said they will let me know where and when they will be going. This will be a long response and could end up months, if not years. FEMA and Red Cross spend the first part of a disaster trying to figure out who has insurance and who will qualify for government assistance. It usually is weeks or months before it all shakes out and we find the one who fell through the cracks. Then we work with them. It does not make sense to rebuild someone’s house that is covered by insurance. There will be huge numbers who will get no help unless disaster groups such as ours help them. |
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