On April 23, I traveled to Prattsville, N.Y., to undergo training to
become a Disaster Project Leader. Disaster Project Leaders are wonderful
men and women called to lead and guide volunteers who come out to
Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding sites for a week. I was very
excited to learn all that happened behind the scenes to keep the project
sites running.
Upon arrival, I met the nine other volunteers who would be training
with me: Adam Braun, Judy Braune, Sandy Bruens, Joel Conrad, Marilyn
Ebaugh, Alan Miller, Karen and Eddie Meyerhoeffer, and Ruth Warfield.
They came from all over the US and had volunteered with Brethren
Disaster Ministries many times. We all bonded right away, sharing
stories of our past disaster response trips.
Our sessions were led by Zach Wolgemuth, Tim Sheaffer, and John and
Mary Mueller. Sessions included volunteer management, household
management, construction management, record keeping, and more. We even
had Tim Smail, a guest speaker from FLASH (Florida Alliance for Safe
Housing), come and tell us about building homes for wind mitigation.
Afternoons
were spent learning how to cook for large groups and for many different
dietary needs, and learning how to teach and lead several different
aspects of construction. We focused on how to keep volunteers safe and
how to build safe housing for homeowners. We learned from the leaders as
well as the other trainees as we tried new things like cooking vegan
food or using a break to bend flashing.
By the end of the 10-day training we had become a family, and it was
hard to say goodbye. We parted ways excited to see each other again
someday out on the work sites. Each of us must now complete one month on
a rebuilding project site under the training of an experienced project
leader, before we will officially become project leaders ourselves.
-- Hallie Pilcher is a BVSer at the Brethren Disaster Ministries office in New Windsor, Md.
Source: 5/30/2013 Newsline
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