Volunteers in Mission (V.I.M.) Disaster Recovery Trip to Vermont
As the team was giving a SUM prayer shawl to Joanne, the homeowner, she started to cry so Marcy Sheaffer, UMCOR Project Manager, gave her a hug. Our team left to right: Donna Motyl, Mike Motyl, Larry Gannon, Jeff Cedarfield, and Mike Block.
It is hard to describe the moment when the homeowner says, “Thank you.” It is far more than gratitude for work that was absolutely necessary but absolutely unaffordable without the volunteer labor. It is a deep gratitude that their lives were touched by a team of strangers who bonded together with a commitment to serve others with the grace and love God shows us all. It is a moment when “Because Jesus loves me, I love you” becomes real.
A moment that will be remembered by our eight-member V.I.M team that traveled to Glover, Vermont, the week of Sept. 15. Five from our Quad: Mike and Donna Motyl from Simsbury and Jeff Cedarfield, Larry Gannon and Sue Gannon from North Canton. Another three people also came from Immanuel UMC, the church Larry and Sue attended in Camillus, NY. In true United Methodist spirit, it was through our connection that we were able to accomplish so much.
We worked on two houses. Both husbands had Parkinson’s. One from Agent Orange in Vietnam and one from the chemicals in the factory where he worked. Both wives were wonderful examples of facing adversity with a positive, caring attitude.
For the first house, we were the final team, so our work was limited to repairing sheet rock and painting the basement. The basement had been flooded with four feet of water from a very small creek that was so far downhill and so far away that it was difficult to imagine that water had reached the basement.
The second home was one of the most challenging Disaster Recovery projects we have ever encountered. The heavy rains washed out the front wall of the stone foundation of this 200-year-old farmhouse. A new foundation wall had been installed, but the large rocks of the old wall had to be jackhammered and removed. A new drainage ditch had to be dug with crushed stone, piping, and a sump pump installed. New cedar siding on one side of the house had been so severely damaged that it had to be replaced.
Disaster Recovery work can be physically exhausting but is spiritually uplifting. There are still 700 homes to be repaired, and we will all be there on our next trip. We would love to have you be part of our return trip to Vermont in May 2025 or be part of the trip to Ft. Myers in January 2025. Your support and participation are an important part of the success of these missions.
- VIM VT Disaster Recovery Team: Mike & Donna Motyl, Jeff Cedarfield, and Larry & Sue Gannon
Sue Gannon
NCCUMC