Ron and Judy’s Excellent Adventure
First Christian members, Ron and Judy Anderson have been on the road since October of 2008 traveling from Minnesota to Iowa and then Texas in their RV, helping people along the way through Disciple mission projects. Below, is a message from Ron sharing their journeys so far.
From Ron Anderson, Dec. 22, 2008
I give Glory to God for the places we have been and things we have done because it is only through his grace that we can do anything. I want to get our story out because the list is endless of what needs to be done. Also I promise you that those that can and do get involved, will be rewarded ten fold in the joy they receive.
We left Apple Valley, MN on Oct 11 and arrived in Cedar Rapids that evening. Noelridge Christian Church allowed us to park our trailer on their property and to hook up to power and water. We started work two days later, teaming up with groups from other churches (the only one I remember now is Cleveland.)
We worked on two homes that were in the process of recovery; framing in new windows, siding, and cleaning. It was a great thing meeting the owners (they were Disciples members in Cedar Rapids.) We wish we could have done more. I heard later that the siding was finished by a group following us.
Cedar Rapids was heart breaking as it was a flood that no one expected. It flooded the entire downtown including government buildings, businesses, and even a hospital. We were also told that about 40% of flooded homes were totally abandoned. I tried to put myself in their shoes. The only big asset I had was my home. Its value suddenly went to zero (who would buy a home in a flooded area?) I still have a mortgage that I am obligated to pay. What can I do? I admire those that decided to stay and rebuild vs. declaring bankruptcy and moving on.
On the following Saturday we started to work our way south. We spent two weeks in Kansas, McConnell AFB, with Matt. We heard about the Disciples/Habitat “Blitz” build while we were in Cedar Rapids. We worked our way down to Beaumont, TX, where we parked our trailer on a cement slab with three other trailers.
The slab had been part of Northridge Christian Church. They had been fighting black mold since Katrina/Rita. They finally lost and had to tear their church down. They continue to worship in a building on their property that had been their Gym.
The goal for the “Blitz ” build was to erect two structures (homes) in two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, one was nearly done, it had only been about 1/2 sided, the other one was not as far along, it was standing with roof decking on, but needed windows, doors, and siding. (Electticity, plumbing, A/C, heat, and sheet rock were to be contracted out.) It was extremely exciting to see two structures where none were before. Also for your info Week of Compassion paid for 1/2 the materials that went into these two homes $50,000.00.
Since we were heading south, we decided to help out opening the mission station at Texas City. It will be used to house volunteers that will be working Hurricane Ike. We pulled one of the Disciples’ work trailers from Beaumont to Texas City one day. The next day we pulled our travel trailer down. We worked two days, removing 4 toilets, 4 sinks, numerous doors, some fixtures and a lot of tile, on the education wing of First Christian Church, Texas City. This wing had been flood damaged but they were lucky as their sanctuary was spared. Four showers were in the process of being installed and sleeping rooms were being readied, dorm style, for work crews when they arrive.
Week of Compassion is funding this project with $3,000.00 and the UCC is also helping with $5,000.00. They too will be using FCC Texas City for Ike recovery. (By the way our picture appeared in one of the FCC Texas City Couriers, you may be able to find it on their web site.) We had to leave Texas City after two days of work due to the local authorities not liking our trailer parked on the church property. We then went into tourist mode: Corpus Christi for two weeks and San Antonio for two weeks. Then, Minnesota for a family visit at Christmastime.
We did volunteer at Bible Study Fellowship for two days prior to Thanksgiving collating Bible study materials. In our future we have volunteered as long term volunteers with Disciples Home Missions (DHM). If accepted we will be training for that in September 2009 in Olathe, Kansas.
I know we are facing major problems at First Minneapolis. However we have resources that many of these churches would love to have and our problems pale compared to theirs. I hope we can make a major effort to help, in 2009 and I know God will Bless us if we do.
Greetings to all and a Joyous New Year, we’re again heading South on Dec 24th this time our aim is to find a new home in warmer climate. RON
