Health Care Mission -- Haiti 2009; "GOD gives, but does not share" by Dr. T.R. Shively

There is a Haitian proverb that goes like this:

"Bondye konn bay, men li pa konn separe."

Literally translated, it means: "God gives, but does not share." That proverb came to me in reading Tracy Kidder's book, Mountains Beyond Mountains; the quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a man who would cure the world.


The more I thought about that proverb, it became apparent that I would need to find out for myself. Soon, as the Holy Spirit would have it, Ted Gaiser, a good friend whom I'd met through the Global Episcopal Mission Network, informed me that he was planning to be a part of a Diocese of Massachusetts health care mission going to the mountains of Haiti and they would like to include a dentist. I knew then it was a part of my calling. I contacted him, and we began to communicate and plan.

On September 28, 2009, I joined the team in Boston. We flew to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and then motored out of the capital city in a van and truck to Loegane. We stayed overnight at a guesthouse adjacent to the Hospital St. Croix.

The next morning found us heading to the mountains. We transported several miles in the truck and van to the end of the road. The infrastructure in Haiti is very devastated. At Fondwa, we began our hike on mountain trails to Lazile. This trek took nearly three hours to reach our destination, the homestead of Madame and Monsieur Dezire. There perched on a mountain ridge, we began our clinic, in "mountains beyond mountains."

The dental "office" was set up in a gazebo fashioned of branches and bushes. There, we treated patients for several days.
The people were all very polite and pleasant. The gratitude was expressed verbally, but also by the wearing of their "Sunday best" when they came to see us.

During this entire experience, I continued to think of that proverb. Even in the makeshift bed, located in the chicken coop, in which I slept. After sharing and living with these gracious people, the clarity of those words came to me.

God gives us humans everything we need to flourish, but he's not the one who is supposed to divvy up the bounty. That charge is laid upon us. Of course! Our baptismal covenant.

Tout moun se moun = We are all human beings.

Yours in mission, Dr. T.R. Shively

Are YOU being called to join, pray, support the Dominican Republic Medical Mission?

An interview & invitation to join Nancy Gaunt, Pat Penny, Ken Messer & Larry and Karen Snyder on a medical mission in 2010.















For more information, read on! Or call the Snyders at 217-575-0045... or e-mail larryasnyder@gmail.com for info or to enlist!

For twenty-two years an Episcopal medical mission group that originated in the eastern U.S. has offered medical care in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The medical mission was begun by Bishop MacBurney in Haiti, but due to safety concerns this annual outreach moved several years ago to the north shore of Hispaniola, Dominican Republic. The mission began to have midwestern participation when Father Larry Snyder and his wife Karen moved to Illinois to serve St. Paul's, Warsaw. The tie with Iowa started when Larry began to serve St. John's, Keokuk.

When he started going on the mission trips in 2002, Larry says, they had a team of eight to ten people traveling to Haiti; two doctors, two to three nurses and a couple of priests. They slept in tents on beaches and one year stayed in a hotel that was later condemned. Karen noted that if a hotel is condemned in Haiti, you have to know that it was in really bad condition. Now, the mission team members stay at a nice hotel with a beautiful view of the ocean. It is not a posh resort hotel, but is a comfortable, safe facility with good services, and provides a good home base for the medical team.

For the past five years, Larry and Karen Snyder have been co-leaders of a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, which occurs annually during the last week in January and the first week in February. And during the time of their leadership, the medical mission has grown to include 52 people; two teams with six to seven doctors and nurse practioners on each team. Each morning, each team boards a bus packed with people, medical equipment and medicines to travel to a rural village or urban barrio, where they set up a health clinic. The need is intense, and the team's visit is anticipated; in one barrio this year, 600 patients were seen in one day! The clinics serve mainly Dominicans, but more each year, the teams are seeing clients in villages crowded with impoverished Haitian refugees with critical health needs.

The Snyders enthusiastically invite people to volunteer for the mission trips each year: always the last week in January and the first week in February; in 2010: January 24 - February 6. Volunteers can choose to come for the entire two weeks, or for just a few days at any time during the two-week period. The cost = $1,200.00, with everyone paying their own expenses (though sometimes churches, friends and relatives help sponsor a missioner). Although half of the 52 volunteers this year were medical professionals, including surgeons, neonatalogists, infectious disease specialists, pulmonologists, ob-gyns, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, nurses, operating room techs, dentists & EMTs, Karen and Larry are adamant that you don't have to be in the medical field to be a valued volunteer. Everyone on the team wears scrubs to identify them as being part of the medical mission team. Nancy Gaunt, a retired teacher from Keokuk, said that this year was her first time with the mission team. She felt very much an active part of the team as she worked to distribute over 500 pairs of reading glasses and help dispense medications at the clinics each day.

The volunteers, according to the Snyders, represent a wide range of medical and religious backgrounds, and age is not barrier. For instance, young people are welcome as volunteers. The Snyders state that adding 'kids' to the mission team makes a real difference in the young people's lives and creates a better dimension for the whole mission team. Working together, youths from both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic provide excellent services as Spanish-English interpreters for the team.

A Eucharist is offered every morning overlooking the ocean at dawn. Ken Messer describes the morning liturgy as "a beautiful, holy way to start the day... beginning in grey pre-dawn moments and seeing the sun fill the sky with pink and then luminous brilliance as the Eucharist progresses... becoming filled with the power of the Spirit and armed with a significant homiletic message." The service is optional, because the mission team includes not only "Episcopalians of every flavor," but also Roman Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, as well as a number of Jewish people, who spiritedly call themselves, "the Jew crew."

Larry pointed out that their older son asked why his parents were putting so much effort into going overseas. His son asked, "Why not do medical clinics here in this country?" Larry explained that the doctors they work with on mission have said that it is difficult to do the same type of clinic here, because of the paper work, bureaucratic regulations, insurance requirements, etc. Pat Penny added, "The poorest of the poor in this country are rich in comparison to the people we see in the Dominican Republic." Larry said, "Even if a patient is able to receive treatment at a public hospital or somehow is able to pay up front for services in a private hospital, there is no one to care for the patient beyond the direct medical treatment. A patient must bring his or her own food and bed linens, and family members to provide nursing care."

The team has established good partnerships with the local hospital, an orphanage and the hotel where they stay. Each year, the team leaves its surplus of supplies and medicines with a local hospital. Last year, they shared the surplus with an orphanage. And every year, the team holds a clinic for the hotel staff and their employees. The first year of the clinic at the hotel, about 30 to 40 staff and family members were expected; 175 people came in as patients. And, each year, the number of patients increases at the hotel clinic. They are also working to establish a year round clinic in Montellano that employs local doctors and will encourage some of the mission team's long-time volunteers to visit through the year. Larry notes, "We have also become very close to members of St. Mary's Episcopal parish in Montellano, which makes our annual return to the Dominican Republic exceedingly joyous, and our departure very difficult. We have become a spiritual family, working together to care for the physical needs of the poorest of the poor, reaching out to them in the name of Christ."

Pat rejoiced, "The people we see year after year seem healthier. We are able to address diabetes and blood pressure problems on a more long term basis, because we do go annually and are getting to know the poeple we see each year." Pat said that she would like to see more classes addressing nutrition (diet), exercise and foot cleanliness. Pat commented, "I keep going on these missions, because I come back with so much more than I go with. I also like that we give longer term care than other medical missions, and that it doesn't matter what religion you are. God knows no boundaries. I became a nurse late in life, and sincerely feel since God called me to be a nurse, I need to share that skill in mission."

Nancy said she was surprised at how patient the people were waiting in a long line, standing in the heat for hours, waiting to get into the clnic. She was also amazed that in the midst of all the poverty and illness, the people were so clean, smelled good and everywhere had fresh laundry hanging out to dry. She said, "I didn't see even one dirty child." Karen agreed, and added, "Although the women tend to have children when they are too young, they do have happy, well-behaved children." Larry noted that this is different among the Haitian people, who are more economically stressed as illegal immigrants and have more aggressive behaviors and poorer hygiene.

Karen stated, "Those we work with year after year have become family." She told of a young woman named Irene, whom a number of team members sponsored to go to the University. After they first informed Irene what they hoped to do for her education, she disappeared. She was found crying with gratitude. "I didn't know strangers could be so kind to me," she said. Irene has since graduated from the University, and now works at the local airport. She is considered a beloved daughter by the mission team.

Larry concluded, "First, we invite people to participation in the upcoming mission trip, but of course, we could never turn away financial support. And," he smiled, "Your prayers are always welcome." He added, "We would like to increase the Iowa level of participation." Karen noted that the team is excited about the possibility of Dr. Terry Shively, St. Alban's, Spirit Lake, going next year to offer dental services at the mission clinics, and they welcome more Iowans to come along, too.

For more information or to indicate your interest in going on the 2010 medical mission to the Dominican Republic, please:

call the Snyders at 217-575-0045 or e-mail: larryasnyder@gmail.com

The Snyders "would love to bring our stories and pictures to congregations in the diocese. Just call!" Larry says, "You will be truly blessed by your participation."

Thule's Time in Iowa ~ A Beautiful Honeymoon ~ by Melody Rockwell

The Rev. Charles Kunene returned from Swaziland in mid-June 2009 to the three Episcopal parishes he serves in southwest Iowa. Charles has an extra big smile on his face these days, because he didn't return alone to his Iowa home in Red Oak. Charles' wife Thule has joined him for three weeks in Iowa... to see the sights, renew acquaintances with companions she'd previously met in Swaziland, and make new friends throughout our state.

Thule, who works as a supervisor in the maternity ward at the hospital in Mbabane, Swaziland, describes her sojourn in Iowa, as "a beautiful honeymoon." Thule says, "The people here in Iowa are very welcoming and kind." She has found Iowa to be "a nice place... very clean." But, she's also been surprised by a few things.

"The prices in the shops," Thule exclaims, "are so much cheaper here." She did note that the one thing she couldn't find in the Iowa stores was bar soap to do laundry. Charles explained that in Swaziland, they do all their laundry by hand and traditionally use bar soap for that process.

Thule said, "Another surprise for me is that your roads are so well-marked! You have no excuse for getting lost here in Iowa, though it takes some getting used to driving on the right side of the road. Oh, and the toilets that automatically flush! And the organs that are programmed to play automatically! Those were nice surprises."

"And, there are many houses here made with planks of wood, which is so different from Swaziland, where we mainly use concrete blocks," Thule said. "It was surprising to me that double-story houses made of planks would be strong enough to stay standing." Thule commented that she was also surprised by the high humidity in Iowa. "We have hot days in Swaziland, but it is dry heat, not so humid as here."

Thule expressed genuine enjoyment visiting many different parishes and communities in Iowa, meeting the friendly people and being an honored guest at many welcoming parties. Thule said that an extra special treat were first rides ever on boats: on Spirit Lake and on the Mississippi River near Burlington. "It was so beautiful," she sighed happily. "It has been a good honeymoon for Charles and me."

Welcome Thule... Iowa has been blessed with your presence!

The Church in Latin America; Wartburg students first-hand experience in the Dominican Republic

From May 1 to May 15, 2009, eight Wartburg College (Waverly, Iowa) students accompanied their professor Judith Jones to the Dominican Republic, as part of their May term class, "The Church in Latin America."

Photo: Rosa, the woman in yellow, asked for this picture of, as she put it: "black & white together." The Wartburg team was in Batey Regajo, a sugar cane workers' community, where they had just finished distributing donated clothing & medicine. Rosa, the owner of the store behind the group, helped with the distribution by organizing the crowds and by translating from Spanish to Creole and vice versa so that the team could communicate with the Haitian immigrants in the community who had not yet learned Spanish.

Judith reports: We studied the history of the Church in Latin America (the good, the bad and the ugly), the structural causes of poverty in the Dominican Republic, and different Christian understandings of the relationship among mission, charity and justice.

During our two weeks in the Dominican Republic, we actively engaged in three service projects: 1) donating three chlorinators and teaching the receiving organizations how to use them; 2) distributing clothing and medicine in remote sugar cane company towns, and 3) working with students at a residential technical school for disadvantaged youth to prepare the ground and plant a vegetable garden and a variety of fruit trees. The seeds we used were open-pollinated so that the school students and staff can harvest seeds and plant more in coming years.

Photo: Dr. Judith Jones & Wartburg student Jessica Knutson teaching Santiago, the maintenance supervisor at the Episcopal Church's Bishop Kellogg Center in San Pedro de Macoris, how to use a chlorinator. Santiago will be responsible for producing chlorine solution to purify water at the Episcopal clinics and schools in and around San Pedro.

Photo: Dominican students & Wartburg students working together to plant a vegetable garden in San Pedro de Macoris. The soil was so rocky that we had to sift it before we could plant small seeds, such as parsley, green pepper & tomato.

All of the students said that their time in the Dominican Republic was a life-changing experience. Two of the students are planning to become doctors, and another plans to be a dentist. All three of the pre-med students stated their intentions to volunteer their services in the Dominican Republic and other impoverished countries -- once they are trained.

Michael, a student who blogged about the class, wrote the following: We read the following quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu in one of the class texts: "If you are neutral in a situation of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has his foot on the tail of the mouse, and you say you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." After spending some time thinking about what this quote means and how it is applicable to my life, I cannot help but ask questions. How can I live a life with an abundance of 'things,' when there are people who barely have enought to survive? What can I do to make a difference. How can my faith play a role in fighting for justice and peace?

Melody's global missioner's note: What a shining demonstration of our "next generations of faith" in mission!

WHERE THERE IS NO DENTIST ~ Mission in Uganda by Dr. T.R. Shively

Ugandan huts = mission headquarters/home...

It started with an e-mail from Karen Gleason. We'd met at a Global Episcopal Mission Network conference two years earlier...

KIDA (Kitojo Inter-Developmental Association) Clinic in Uganda


...and about one year ago, her informational e-mail arrived with an inquiry to me.

Dr. T.R. Shively with one of his first Ugandan patients and an interpreter...
First, the Friends of Ruwenzori Mission 2009 was interested in finding a dentist to travel with them to Uganda in February 2009. We electronically discussed this need, the options and right person for this assignment. Karen knew that I'd had experience with this type of health care mission, but since I'd already committed for a mission to Africa (Swaziland) in the fall of 2008, I had no real thoughts of returning to that continent three months later. However, after a few e-mails and a lot of prayers, that person did turn out to be me. Thus, began an intensified study of conditions, language and needs before I left for Swaziland in October 2008 and after I returned.

On January 31, 2009, we [Friends of Ruwenzori Mission 2009] traveled to Uganda. My orientation had been brief by necessity, as I was over 1,000 miles from the rest of the medical team, many of whom resided in California. During the month that I was in Uganda, I had the pleasure of treating patients with a very capable health care team: Delia O'Hara and Ewa Zaborowski. Delia capably handled the pre-op screening, including vitals and health histories, and post-op care and instructions. Ewa served a triple role as a physical therapy expert, dental assistant and sterilization coordinator. Both were superb teammates.

The adapted dental office at KIDA Clinic...

The dental team divided its time between the Manna Rescue Orphanage in Fort Portal, and the KIDA Clinic at Kitojo. While at Manna, we examined, diagnosed and treated over 35 patients, including all the children currently living there. Our time at KIDA found me starting the days early and seeing patients clear through into the evening. The norm was 30 to 40 patients per day.

Even with the challenge of no potable water, no compressed air, only periodic electricity and no dental chair, we were able to care for well over 200 patients. The vast majority of the patients are HIV/AIDS positive, as were the children in the orphanage. Most of these patients had never seen a dentist.

Presentation of curing light to Fr. Ezra Musobosi, KIDA Clinic Director

It was a blessing to mentor a young man who had dental technician training. We worked together well at KIDA. This answered my prayers to "teach them how to fish," so that they might realize dental care after I left. In that spirit, I donated several instruments to this man so that he could continue patient care. Also in that same mode, I donated my UV curing light for the dental wing of the future hospital at KIDA.

It was an honor and a privilege to serve the Lord's calling with all my teammates. Certainly, the LORD was with us and guided us in our activities.

Inspiration in Uganda~ St. Stephen's at Kissisi

Dominican Republic Experience by Ken Messer

In late January through the first week in February, Ken Messer joined an Episcopal medical team led by Father Larry Snyder in the Dominican Republic.

Ken says: Just a short note to say that the mission experience humbles one and it does not make one feel lucky as much as it makes one feel blessed. One forgets about all the privileges that we take for granted. At some point in one's life, a transition should be made to thank God for all the problems they are experiencing and to thank God for all the problems that they are not experiencing.

Although the numbers of care providers could always be larger, it was gratifying to see all the people from different corners of the United States that were offering their services for the benefit of others. God works in mysterious ways.

The work conditions were limited; generally to electricity, no running water, tables and chairs pushed around to channel the flow of people. The afternnons were busier than the mornings. At lunchtime, some of the workers would walk through the villages, and the grapevine had an impact for the afternoons. There is so much need for everything. Basic survival rather than luxury living.

It felt like a time warp for me when I was in the Dominican Republic. I did not read a newspaper, or read a book, or watch television. I mostly absorbed the sights and sounds and smells in a limited way, a small part of the culture. I am amazed how many beautiful people God has created.

Dr. T.R. Shively Safely Home from Uganda by Stevie Shively

Dear Friends ~
Terry is home from a month long health care mission to southwest Uganda. Four members of the seven person team were from Episcopal churches in the San Francisco area. They treated 40+ children who live in an orphanage in Ft. Portal & 200+ people at a KIDA clinic in rural Karabole district. All are HIV/AIDS positive. What an opportunity! He has many experiences to share!

Thank you for all your prayers! Stevie Shively :-)

Tuesday, February 17 in Galveston by Fr. Pat Genereux

The crew went back to the house we left yesterday and I have stayed at WTEC to get caught up with ODRR 'paperwork' and reply to and send emails. After lunch, we took a trip to Bolivar Peninsula. This is the area that got what is called the 'dirty' side of the hurricane; that is torrential rains, storm surge, high winds and tornados... most of the homes were severely damaged or destroyed. The community at the west end was completely destroyed as was the community at Gilchrist about 30 miles up the peninsula where only one house was left standing. The area reminded us of Parkersburg, Iowa.

Pictures tell the story better than words. The search for bodies was called off just this past week, but they expect to find more 'missing persons' as brush and debris are slowly cleared away. This is another moment when words fail and all I can do is look. We don't stay long, because it feels like we are entering a sacred space to which we have not yet been invited. The Gilchrist Volunteer Fire Department has asked the Episcopal Diocese to help them rebuild their firehouse so that an essential service can be reestablished. I wish we could stay to do that. We return to Galveston via the State Highway Department's free ferry service.

Galveston Hearts & Hands -- Jesus of the Trash Icon by Fr. Pat Genereux

Monday, February 16 ~ ...cooler, though sunny this morning... our first job is to clear out a 'garden shed.' For we midwesterners, a garden shed is a 3x6 building (plastic or wood) from Lowe's. This was more the size of a small house and filled mostly with ceramic pieces & molds. Someone had done a lot of work making plywood Christmas decorations for the lawn, all of which had to go to the dump... along with 'Spiderman' and other superhero comics from Marvel Comics, a collection of 78 LPs (from the 40s and 50s) and original children's Golden Books (invaluable in many ways... memories as well as cash) and a ton (figuratively speaking) of Milton Bradley games from the 50s and 60s... so many things, all in the dump...


And at the very top, this picture... an icon of hope and renewal... 'Jesus of the Trash' is iconic in the sense of the hope that is seen in the recovery work being done in the area. Bishop Alan reverently placed this portrait on the pile after the homeowner said she didn't want it...


Apart from trashing all these memories, the crew had to deal with a nest of cockroaches the size of mice... or so it seemed, and at least one poor rat that was more confused and frightened of us than we of it...


After lunch, we headed for a new job, doing some of the finishing work on a house that the Mennonites had started. This task has a different feel. No more throwing out or taking apart of people's lives, but now we were helping in the final stages of putting life back together. For some of the crew, it was a new experience. Wielding a drill and sheet rock screws, laying the underlayment in the kitchen... a sight to behold with many new skills learned!

Galveston Mission on Sunday, February 15 by Pat Genereux

Sunday, February 15, 2009 ~
...attended the liturgy at Grace Church. Grace had some flooding. When I asked one or two parishioners about the size of their congregation, they were no longer sure of what size they were or are not fully aware of the exact number of parishioners. Apparently, a number of folks have not come back yet, and others haven't been to church much since Hurricane Ike.

Paul Wehner, the rector, has a very positive, can-do attitude even though for the time being he is working out of his secretary's living room. Needless to say, he is looking forward to getting back into their newly remodeled parish hall and getting the nave floor refinished. There is a lot yet for them to do, but having survived yet another hurricane (including the 1900 killer storm), they know what to do to get on with their life as a parish, and their mission and ministry...

Tales from Galveston continued... by Fr. Pat Genereux

Saturday, February 14th ~~

About midway through Saturday morning, a growing concern we all were having becomes what we believe to be reality, and that is, for all of everyone's efforts, this home may not be salvageable... We find several areas of wood rot, insect infestation and serious water damage; the bathroom floor and wall is literally ready to cave in. It is dangerous and I ask the Iowans not to work in the bathroom area. Dave and Tom aren't sure what to do. I call Maggie to see what sort of inspection was done. She tells me that it was just the initial inspection, and that a deeper, more thorough inspection is needed to determine the next steps. Our work is almost done. We decide, however, to finish what we started... we don't want to leave bits and pieces of wallboard hanging off the walls and ceilings, as it seems in a strange way to be disrespectful.

The owner wants us to remove the bathtub. It is cast iron & he has a salvage guy who will pay him for all the scrap metal. So, we do go back into the bathroom and it takes six of us to get the bathtub out through the back door, the shortest route through the house. We do this wondering if at some point we and the bathtub will fall through the rotting floors, but we make it!

Since we don't feel we can continue to work on the house until we get some official word by the city or other official, we call it a day and head back to the WTEC... but first, we clean up as much gutting debris in the house as we can and we clean up the front yard. If the house has to be taken down, then our work is most likely done, but we still want to leave things as 'tidy' as possible. This is more a metaphor than what is reality. We are disappointed, because we had hoped that we could have finished the gutting and perhaps even have had a small hand in the first steps in rehabbing. Dave & Tom, the site guys, think the house is salvageable, but we and they shall now have to wait and see..

We will move on to a new project on Monday, but the owners will continue to live with waiting and seeing what an inspector says, waiting and seeing about Armando's cancer and its treatment, waiting and seeing what will happen next in their lives... waiting and seeing just like their many other Galveston friends, neighbors and fellow citizens, just like the thousands of folks in Louisiana and Mississippi, in Kentucky and back home in Iowa.

On Saturday evening, we go to Seawall Drive. We eat, have a beer or two and watch the first of the Galveston Mardi Gras parades. This isn't New Orleans or Mobile, but the Galvestonians are bent on having a celebration. It isn't wild and the folks who catch beads give them to children and even to some of us shorter adults. Obviously, we are visitors and the locals smile, joke and talk with us. And then, for a few minutes, hurricanes, floods and lives changed forever are forgotten and drowned out by the raucous noisy high school bands, shouts for beads and recorded jazz music blaring from the colorful floats of the parade. There is a determination to party on!

There is a homeless guy living outside the back door, who adds yet another layer, another dimension to our experience here. We'd like to feed him, but when another group did it, it apparently caused some issues... as in his trying to move in. He seems to have enough money to eat at Micky D's (about four blocks from here) as well as chain smoke... and then there are the cats. Sue likes feeding them...

Hearts & Hands Travel Log & Reflections by Fr. Pat Genereux

Wednesday, February 11th... We (my wife Sue & I) left Burlington at about 8:30 a.m. with Chuck Lane and Robert Adams, who came the night before. We loaded cars in the middle of a cold winter rain storm... what a great start! By the time we got to Osceola where we met Bill Trotter, the rain had stopped. We drove through the rest of Iowa, then on through Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma... & spent the night in Oklahoma City.



Thursday, February 12th... We left Oklahoma City about 8:30 a.m. and drove the rest of the way to Galveston. Somewhere in the middle of Texas, thing in the countryside started greening up. Spring is on its way... at least in this part of Texas. We arrived at the William Temple Episcopla Center (WTEC) at about 4:30 p.m. and after quickly unloading the car, I turned around and headed back to Houston to pick Alan up at the airport. Later that evening, we ate out at kin od a fast food seafood place called "The Spot" -- right on the Gulf, but as it was dark, we jut heard the waves. It was very mild and we loved being warm again. The rest of the party -- the three "Lukies" from Cedar Falls -- Dave Buck, Dick Wieck & Ken Cutts will arrive tomorrow night.



Friday & Saturday, February 13th & 14th... On Friday morning, we met with our site coordinators, Sam (a Texan), and Dave & Tom (two guys from Wisconsin), who shared some of the Hurricane Ike story with us and then took us to our work site. Our first task wa gutting the home of an older couple, who are not only dealing with being displaced by the hurricane, but are also dealing with the husband's cancer treatments and care... As we know from our experiences in Iowa, it is probably the rare family or individual who deals with just the effects of a particular disaster. Most are dealing with a multi-layered set of life issues.



It is warm & humid (for we Iowans). Bill is soaking wet and the rest of us are getting there. It is (as the team already knows from other work they have done, because thankfully most everyone has done this before, either at home, New Orleans, Mississippi or Central America) filthy, dirty work, but yet it is sacred work, a type of liturgy, as we enter into one of the most intimate parts of someone's life. So, we work with care even as we hack away at the remnants of their life. I am uneasy working too vigorously... for no matter how often one guts or clears out a disaster victim's home, you are adding new wounds to already wounded lives. It is like some necessary, but unwelcome surgical procedure. We know this pain is needed for future healing, but that doesn't make it easier.





When the 'owners' come around, you can see the pain & anxiety in their faces and in their eyes. Everyone defers to them when they are in the room you are working in. It is like being at a funeral and the family has arrived and conversation becomes muted as they approach the casket. So, we tone down our conversation. Sometimes, we work in silence... the only sound the clang of hammer on crow bar, the dull scraping of metal on wood as mod-infested sheet rock is removed and piles of debris begin to grow on the floor. Robert appears almost out of nowhere with a shovel and a wheel barrow and silently begins shoveling what is left of someone's bedroom into the wheel barrow. Then, he wheels it outside to be added to the small mountain of what is left of the houe, the owner's home. Sue talks with the wife and finds out that it was here they raised their children and some of that is what is in the pile out by the street. The wife is able to recover one of her cherished Christmas tree ornaments, part of a set she had been collecting over the years and she tells Sue, this is the only on left. I help the owner and a friend, who doesn't seem to know very much English, take down the ceiling fans... every piece of life that can be salvaged is...


More postings with news from Galveston coming soon...

Iowa Team in Galveston... returning home tomorrow!

Here's a team photo of the hardworking crew in Galveston, Texas.

Three hearty cheers to Diocese of Iowa Hurricane Ike recovery volunteers:

back row from left: Dick Wieck, Dave Buck, Bill Trotter

& front row from left: Robert Adams, Ken Cutts, Chuck Lane,

Sue Genereux, Alan Scarfe, Pat Genereux.

Traveling mercies to all and our thanks to you for being mission in the world.