Allegan County News - Allegan, Michigan. . . March 9, 2006 Page 1
Adults weren't the only ones on the trip. & There were 11 volunteers under the age of 18.
Pictured are some of the younger volunteers helping remove floorboards from a church.
(Photo by Nu Yang)
Pictured are some of the younger volunteers helping remove floorboards from a church.
(Photo by Nu Yang)
Mission Trip brings help to storm-affected region
By Nu Yang
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
It took 27 hours, a snow and ice storm and a traffic jam, but the Allegan First Church of God finally arrived in Pass Christian, Mississippi on Saturday, February 18th.
For one week, the 20 volunteers spent time completing Hurricane Katrina relief projects. Other participants came in their own vehicles, bringing the group's total to about 50 volunteers. Volunteers came not only from the Allegan area, but also from Plainwell, Otsego, Holland, Howell and Cedar Springs.
Pastor Don Hendrick started planning the mission trip a few months ago after hearing about another pastor's trip to the South. From there, Hendrick was able to contact Michigan House Representative Fulton Sheen and make the trip a reality. Sheen had travelled to the South for volunteer work several other times and essentially became a resource to Hendrick. Sheen also arrived in Mississippi with his own group of volunteers at the same time as Hendrick.
Hendrick's group was made up of professional electricians and licensed contractors as well as other older adults and teenagers. The diversity of the members helped them become involved with many different projects.
One of them included tearing off and building a new roff for an elderly woman named Mae Craver. The entire group used their skills, whether it was doing construction, picking up debris or comforting the Pass Christian residents.
For one week, the 20 volunteers spent time completing Hurricane Katrina relief projects. Other participants came in their own vehicles, bringing the group's total to about 50 volunteers. Volunteers came not only from the Allegan area, but also from Plainwell, Otsego, Holland, Howell and Cedar Springs.
Pastor Don Hendrick started planning the mission trip a few months ago after hearing about another pastor's trip to the South. From there, Hendrick was able to contact Michigan House Representative Fulton Sheen and make the trip a reality. Sheen had travelled to the South for volunteer work several other times and essentially became a resource to Hendrick. Sheen also arrived in Mississippi with his own group of volunteers at the same time as Hendrick.
Hendrick's group was made up of professional electricians and licensed contractors as well as other older adults and teenagers. The diversity of the members helped them become involved with many different projects.
One of them included tearing off and building a new roff for an elderly woman named Mae Craver. The entire group used their skills, whether it was doing construction, picking up debris or comforting the Pass Christian residents.
During the first day of clean-up at Craver's home, the group was surprised to receive a $100 donation from a man who was just passing by. Volunteer Sara Manning said the man saw the volunteers working and he was compelled to help them in their mission. The $100 was used to purchase lights so that the group working on the roof could work during the evening.
Various members of the group were scattered throughout the city, working on other projects.
Don Morehouse and Jerry Gorton are from Plainwell. They were licensed builders and they put up drywall inside a family's damaged home.
Various members of the group were scattered throughout the city, working on other projects.
Don Morehouse and Jerry Gorton are from Plainwell. They were licensed builders and they put up drywall inside a family's damaged home.
Shawn Pathuis from Holland, John VandenBrink from Hopkins and Ben Beck from Otsego are elctricians and helped fill many homes with light and power again.
In addition to Craver's roof, the church group also put time in helping a Baptist church clear their floorboard; they rebuilt another roof for another resident; cleaned debris around the city, from a park, cemetary and sidewalk; volunteered in the kitchen and served meals; helped in the distribution center where many displaced residents came for clothing, food and other supplies.
Throughout their projects, it gave the Michigan volunteers an opportunity to converse with other volunteers from all over the country. Among them was a volunteer named Robert Bell from Alaska. This was Bell's fourth visit to the Gulf Coast. For Bell and the other volunteers they were there to help residents in any way they can. It's not only making a difference for the people here, but also for the thousands of people who come here to volunteer," he said
In addition to Craver's roof, the church group also put time in helping a Baptist church clear their floorboard; they rebuilt another roof for another resident; cleaned debris around the city, from a park, cemetary and sidewalk; volunteered in the kitchen and served meals; helped in the distribution center where many displaced residents came for clothing, food and other supplies.
Throughout their projects, it gave the Michigan volunteers an opportunity to converse with other volunteers from all over the country. Among them was a volunteer named Robert Bell from Alaska. This was Bell's fourth visit to the Gulf Coast. For Bell and the other volunteers they were there to help residents in any way they can. It's not only making a difference for the people here, but also for the thousands of people who come here to volunteer," he said
Allegan resident Becky Long spent time with residents inside God's Katrina Kitchen. The kitchen was a large tent that served meals to volunteers and residents. Some days it served up to 800 people. The tent, as well as the food, was made possible because of donations. Long said most of the residents she spoke to were hardly filled with any negativity. Many of them were focused on rebuilding and were grateful for the many volunteers who traveled to their city to assist them.
During the bus ride to Pass Christian, Hendrick had asked the passengers about their reasons for going on the mission trip. Answers varied from "the bus ride" to "to do God's work".
As the trip progressed, some of their answers began to change. A few days later, Hendrick asked the group to give their testimonies about how the trip was going.
Howell resident Josh Manning said it was a blessing to work with everyone. Having previously gone on an overseas missions trip, Manning wanted to continue making a difference in the lives of others.
Fifteen year old Elizabeth Long said volunteering made her think about how much she had back home.
Volunteer Nathan Wolfe admitted he was hesitant about coming on the trip. He was unsure on how much of an impact the group was going to make in a week, but once he saw the volunteers work on the homes, the debris removal and the distribution center, he realized the group was actually doing a lot.
For volunteers Kathy Green and Katie Altenbernt, it was about connecting with the residents. Green said she enjoyed listening to the stories while Altenbernt said the people affected her because they still considered themselves blessed after everything they had been through.
To keep the group of volunteers motivated and on-task, the team wore bright orange T-shirts printed with the words "Jesus Inside." Before breakfast, the group met for devotions. At night, volunteers gathered inside God's Katrina tent for a worship service filled with song and prayer. Hendrick was asked to give the sermon during the worship service Wednesday night. That evening he spoke in front of about 100 volunteers.
Hendrick started his sermon by asking the audience, "Have you made a difference today?" In his speech, he told a story about freedom and rebuilding an empire.
He challenged the audience to do what they were doing her back home.
"Jesus' work is serving other people," he said. "I'm here to do His work."
At the end of the week, the tired Michigan residents boarded the yellow school bus for the long journey home. They knew they had left behind a few smiling faces in Pass Christian and had taken with them a valuable lesson in life.
Becky Long said, "I still want to do more because it's going to take a long time and long hours of work to get their lives back again."
There is still much to be done in the area, and many of the volunteers said they would return. Even the group of children said thay would like to see more kids on mission trips.
"Just because we're little doesn't mean we can't do some of the things adults can do," said 13-year-old Brenda Hendrick.
For Brenda and the rest of the kids, they saw first-hand how a little went a long way. It was the same with the older members of the group.
"If we only had 20 people, I still think we would have made a difference," said Allegan volunteer Joanne Hendrick.
During the bus ride to Pass Christian, Hendrick had asked the passengers about their reasons for going on the mission trip. Answers varied from "the bus ride" to "to do God's work".
As the trip progressed, some of their answers began to change. A few days later, Hendrick asked the group to give their testimonies about how the trip was going.
Howell resident Josh Manning said it was a blessing to work with everyone. Having previously gone on an overseas missions trip, Manning wanted to continue making a difference in the lives of others.
Fifteen year old Elizabeth Long said volunteering made her think about how much she had back home.
Volunteer Nathan Wolfe admitted he was hesitant about coming on the trip. He was unsure on how much of an impact the group was going to make in a week, but once he saw the volunteers work on the homes, the debris removal and the distribution center, he realized the group was actually doing a lot.
For volunteers Kathy Green and Katie Altenbernt, it was about connecting with the residents. Green said she enjoyed listening to the stories while Altenbernt said the people affected her because they still considered themselves blessed after everything they had been through.
To keep the group of volunteers motivated and on-task, the team wore bright orange T-shirts printed with the words "Jesus Inside." Before breakfast, the group met for devotions. At night, volunteers gathered inside God's Katrina tent for a worship service filled with song and prayer. Hendrick was asked to give the sermon during the worship service Wednesday night. That evening he spoke in front of about 100 volunteers.
Hendrick started his sermon by asking the audience, "Have you made a difference today?" In his speech, he told a story about freedom and rebuilding an empire.
He challenged the audience to do what they were doing her back home.
"Jesus' work is serving other people," he said. "I'm here to do His work."
At the end of the week, the tired Michigan residents boarded the yellow school bus for the long journey home. They knew they had left behind a few smiling faces in Pass Christian and had taken with them a valuable lesson in life.
Becky Long said, "I still want to do more because it's going to take a long time and long hours of work to get their lives back again."
There is still much to be done in the area, and many of the volunteers said they would return. Even the group of children said thay would like to see more kids on mission trips.
"Just because we're little doesn't mean we can't do some of the things adults can do," said 13-year-old Brenda Hendrick.
For Brenda and the rest of the kids, they saw first-hand how a little went a long way. It was the same with the older members of the group.
"If we only had 20 people, I still think we would have made a difference," said Allegan volunteer Joanne Hendrick.
Nu Yang can be reached at nuyang@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.
Allegan First Church of God is located at 1313 Marshall St. in Allegan. You may contact the church at (269) 673-4302 or stop by the church's Ministry Center for information about future Mission Trips. Also, please visit the church's website www.pathtohim.org/Mississippi.htm to read stories by individual team members and view nearly 50 pictures from the trip.
Please click here to request information about future Missions Trips.
Click here to report an error on this page.
Please click here to request information about future Missions Trips.
Click here to report an error on this page.