Create "Story" in Your Life

While thinking about our blog post for this week we realized that each of us has many small stories to tell. After reading the book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by author Donald Miller it has become clear that we can create good and bad stories in what we do and that they do affect others. They can be selfish or unselfish. Our lives can be boring or we can take action and create a worthwhile story.

Our MDS group had a house blessing to mark the completion of repairs to Ms Doris's house this week and were reminded by the sharing of her grandchildren that the rebuilding of her home was great, but that we may not realize that we had given them new hope by rebuilding their spirits. One of the family shared that in only days after beginning the work they felt secure in trusting us to be in their home and moving their belonging about. This house blessing was an amazing event for us volunteers giving assurance and encouragement to continue this kind of work.

Our Monday job was installing a laminate floor for Ms Doris. Tuesday to Thursday Annette worked with Cheryl and Dorothy at gutting much of Ms Willi's home by removing panelling from walls and drywall from the ceiling. The gals came home dirty, exhausted and amazed at what they had done. While Bert and Alf shored up sagging beams and replaced floor joists the gals worked at putting up the 2x4 frame work for the new dropped bedroom ceiling.

Bob and Jim were put to work roughing in plumbing for Ms Lorraine's new bathroom. With only four work days remaining this bathroom seems like a big task to complete.

Our Cordova MDS unit is named after the town where most of the tornado damage occured. Very little has changed in the past year in the downtown business section that appeared to be hit the worst. It has been fenced off and no rebuilding has taken place. The homes that we have been working on have been in different locations which were usually roof damage and subsequent interior damage. An Amish crew has been repairing roofs for the long term recovery committee.

Annette received this "Angel of Hope" pin from team worker Dorothy who got it in Greensburg, Kansas (this community was levelled by an EF5 tornado a few years ago). For those who receive help we are those angels of hope.