On May 1, more than 75 people gathered at Prattsville Community
Church in the New York Catskills to celebrate all the work Brethren
Disaster Ministries volunteers have done. Delicious dinner and desserts
were provided by the church and community for volunteers and homeowners.
Homeowners told their stories as they looked at pictures and
remembered the destruction caused by Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
“This seemed hopeless,” one homeowner said as many others nodded in
agreement, “but the volunteers made it happen, and without that
beginning none of us would be here today.”
Volunteers laughed and cried as they reminisced about all the work
they had done and the people they had met in the 12 months Brethren
Disaster Ministries had served there.
After dinner, pastor Charlie Gockel, Brethren Disaster Ministries
associate director Zach Wolgemuth, and long-term Disaster Project Leader
Tim Sheaffer shared their thoughts about the work that Brethren
Disaster Ministries and other volunteer groups had done.
“If it wasn’t for the Brethren, we would have been done,” Gockel remarked. “We could have never made it this far without them.”
When the floor was opened, homeowners began to share their thoughts
and memories. Homeowners teared up as they thanked all the volunteers
for their service. “You helped us with our homes, but you also helped us
to laugh throughout the whole process, which was a great thing,”
commented one homeowner.
The service concluded with Pastor Gockel saying a prayer of blessing
over the volunteers, who will continue their service up river in nearby
Schoharie, N.Y. He also offered up a prayer of blessing for all of the
families who will continue to rebuild their lives. Afterward, hugs were
shared and stories were told, but no goodbyes were uttered. After 12
months in such a special community, no one was ready to leave.
The community of Prattsville has blessed the lives of the volunteers
who served there. And Brethren Disaster Ministries blessed a lot of
people in the community of Prattsville. Over 12 months, more than 400
volunteers served 15 families in the town, giving over 2,650 total
workdays.
-- Hallie Pilcher is a Brethren Volunteer Service worker for Brethren Disaster Ministries.
Source: 5/17/2013 Newsline
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