Katrina Mission GroupOn Saturday, February 16th eight people—Chad Backes, Tammy Curfman, Phyllis Crowe, Becky Koch, Tammy Olson, Kit O’Neill, Dellis Schrock and Steve Shive—began a journey to serve a family in need of help to rebuild their home in Louisiana. After a day’s excursion in New Orleans sleeping on the marble sanctuary floor of First Presbyterian Church and seeing a few things in the city, we went to our home for six days, Camp Good Earth, a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance facility in Houma, the heart of the Bayou.

The camp consisted of 30 pods, small tent-like structures made out of plastic and board. They each had 3 cots, but they did have heat. A meeting room housed a kitchen, dining room and bathrooms. Shower facilities were in a portable trailer.

We were joined by teams from First Presbyterian Church in Georgetown, Texas and Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Waterford, Connecticut. During the week, we had rotating responsibilities around the camp: cooking breakfast and supper, washing dishes, mopping floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning bathrooms, etc. As we ate and worked together we formed a larger community.

The First Presbyterian Church, Fargo team worked during the day on the home of Nolan and Donna, along with their son, Tate. Grandma Joy was living with them as she had had brain surgery in November. After Hurricane Rita, their house was flooded with three feet of water for nine days.

The house has now been enlarged and raised eleven feet off the ground. Our work team painted several rooms, made and installed shelves, installed decking on one and a half sides of the house, put up a stud wall for a screened-in porch and more. We listened to the family’s stories, went on a bayou tour led by Tate, and ate a lunch of smothered crab and jambalaya cooked by Grandma. The work week ended on a high note—everyone feeling good about the work accomplished and the relationships established.

On Saturday morning, as the team was preparing to return to Fargo, someone noticed Dellis Schrock was not at breakfast. Upon checking his pod, it was discovered that he had died in the middle of the night. The First Presbyterian Church, Fargo team and other teams were and still are stunned. Dellis had worked so joyfully and so diligently all week. He was an integral and key part of the team and the work.

During the weeks ahead, a time will be scheduled when the stories of the Katrina Mission Trip can be told in words and images, and Dellis’ life can be further celebrated! Check the bulletin and website for a date and time!

See this Messenger for:

• Katrina Mission Trip recap
• Holy Week Schedule
• Employment Opportunities