Weekly Report for Bastrop

“This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” These were the words from the Project Director during the dedication of Ms. Michelle and Mr. Juan’s home. On Friday late afternoon approximately 40 people gathered to celebrate one more family moving into their home in Bastrop County. With tears of joy, and a bit speechless, Michelle and Juan thanked MDS, the volunteers and the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team to make this a reality. 

To accomplish this, MDS could have not done it without this week’s volunteers. The group of 14 came from Lenape Valley Presbyterian Church, Pennsylvania to complete Ms. Michelle and Mr. Juan’s house but also work on Ms. Robin’s house. This group had been on seven other mission trips with other organizations, so they knew how to work. MDS was extremely grateful for their passionate and joyful service.

On Ms. Robin’s house, the crew completed all the framing with the interior walls so that another local Church group from Texas can take over to complete it. MDS is closing the site on Monday but plans to return this fall. 

Ms. Robin and her son came down for Wednesday supper. Before she told us of her experience of losing her house from the wild fires of Sept., 2011 she told the volunteers that there were not enough words to thank them. After the fire, she was living in a hotel room with five people. She continued to go to work because that was the only thing that was normal.

The only thing that survived in the fire was the barbeque and two skillets. She misses her neighbors and therefore she is thankful that she can move back where she lived for many years and where her son grew up. She is looking forward to peace and serenity again.

Long-term volunteers: Anne and Roger Friesen, Flo and Bill Thiessen, Lydia and Peter Schroeder