Providing Relief and Shining a Light: Vermont Flooding Update
Providing Relief and Shining a Light: Vermont Flooding Update
by Dan Bair, member of Covenant OPC, Barre and Vermont flood site coordinator
It has been a good couple days here with brothers coming together to provide relief and shine some light into our neighbors lives. It seems that each job we go to has more work to be done than anticipated which has turned out to be a good thing. Where we thought it might just be a mold spray there often is more removal of debris and affected walls and floors than previously thought. This gives us the opportunity to interact with the homeowners more and get to know them better through work and through prayer.
Curt Sproul, member of Grace and Peace OPC in California, MD (center of photo) with a group
from the Southern Baptist Convention helping to muck out homes in Montpelier and Barre, VT.
This past weekend, six OPC Disaster Response volunteers from California, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and Maryland came to serve by moving belongings, ripping out flood-damaged walls and spraying mold enzymes.
We have had a homeowner thank us through tears of joy and another connect and pray with us through her Catholic faith. Our teams have provided assistance, relief and comfort at five different sites in just two days with a team of five to eight men. (In addition to many other homes since the flood July 12.)
There is more work scheduled for the days upcoming and we are encouraged by the frequent and thoughtful prayers of the team and those around us.
I wish to lift up Sam in prayer. She has had to work through the court system to remove her abusive ex-husband from the house that she now has full ownership of. She and her 13 year old are living with her mother while Samantha works two jobs. Our help in cleaning the house will help her move in or sell it. Please pray that her work schedule opens up to allow her to be with us even for a short period of time so that she might see the light of the Lord working for her benefit.
As colder weather approaches, Covenant OPC's Vermont effort plans to take a break, with the hopes of restarting sometime in the spring. Please stay tuned for that!
Thank you for your consideration and prayers.
If you would like to serve, please contact Covenant deacon Craig Comstock. Photos by Covenant OPC, San Jose, CA deacon Jack Frahm.