Religion

Texans helping Texans — "Rebuilding Futures" Mission Trips to ease the devastation left by Hurricane Rita

Church is looking for volunteers for short mission trips in Texas to rebuild homes and lives

From League City Methodist Church

July 27, 2006

Almost everyone in our area knows of the devastation caused by Hurricane Rita, but many of them make the assumption that funds have been distributed, repairs have been made and all is back to normal.

“It’s just not so” declares League City resident and League City United Methodist member Kevin Sicking. “While FEMA relief is on the scene, often it’s not enough for people to get their homes back in livable shape. We hope to help restore those people’s hopes and dreams for the future they saw for themselves before Hurricane Rita paid them a visit.”

Sicking is spearheading a mission program called “Rebuilding Futures”, which coordinates skilled volunteers and sends them to the hardest hit areas in Texas to roof, frame, sheetrock and paint. Experience in rebuilding is not a pre-requisite, and skilled workers are often paired with others with less experience and form teams to maximize their efforts.

“There are all sorts of opportunities to help” Sicking adds. “Besides the actual building skills, we need folks to get materials, check resources, do clerical and organizational work—the list is endless!”

During the last week in July, the mission team will be stationed in Orange, and will stay at the First Methodist Church’s Malloy Center. Other trips are being mapped out throughout the year.

When asked what he’s looking for in a volunteer, Sicking grins and simply says “anyone willing to donate some time and who wants to make a real difference.”

He goes on to explain how surprised he was at the level of destruction that still exists, and how many people are still living in partially damaged homes. In his initial trip to make site assessments, he visited 45 homes in under two days, and saw hundreds more with blue tarps on the roofs.

Sicking is traveling to Orange with a team that includes several LCUMC members that spent time doing the same type of work in Costa Rica.

For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the church website at www.lcumc.org. To contact Kevin Sicking directly, call 281-332-2958 or email ksicking@ houston.rr.com . League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street, one block east of Interstate 45.

HYPERLINK - http://www.lcumc.org