First Presbyterians in Minot, ND Help Flood Victims

The flood waters are finally beginning to recede in Minot, ND.  Although there is some warning about the waters rising again near Foxholm, residents are experiencing the all clear in some areas to begin to return home and start the long recovery process of tossing out their wallboard and beginning again.  The Red Cross disaster newsroom have documented the entire process of this disaster, that has affected thousands.

The difficulty of Red Cross, Salvation Army, the National Guard and US Public Health Service officials has been remaining healthy while joining the city and state officials in bringing disaster relief to the city.  The Souris river is heavily tainted by oil and pesticides. 

On one of my evenings free, I read that the First Presbyterian Church of Minot, ND was going to help in a unique way.  They were going to host the opening of the Lincoln Elementary School, until their building was ready to welcome students.  I wrote to the church, and received this reply.

Hello Diana,


Thank you for your recent inquiry about our relationship with Lincoln Public Schools. Here is the short version. Because of the flood damage to so many of our public schools, buildings with capacity (and out of the flood zone) were targeted by the Public School Board as potential temporary locations to house school students. One of their goals was to keep as many of the kids together as they could to give them more of a sense of normalcy since so many of the families’ lives were disrupted by the flood. One of our elders is a school principal at another public school and she was asked if our church might consider hosting Lincoln School. Wanting to help the community as much as possible during this time of crisis, we said that we would gather together our session members and trustees and listen to their proposal. After a time of questions and answers they left and we voted unanimously to move ahead and organized a small committee to work out the details. Our small committee then met with the Lincoln School Principal, the superintendent, the assistant superintendent and the financial person. Both sides spent time figuring out how to make this work with the least impact to our regular everyday activities. We have agreed on everything that is to go into the contract and will be signing one soon. After that meeting many of our members (school teachers, principals, retirees) and others went to work preparing our education (Sunday School) wing for our new guests.


All I can say is that God had his hand in this from the very beginning and had all of the people he wanted prepared and ready. To quote Henry Blackaby, “God is always at work around us.” “God invites us to join him in his work.”


We are happy to be able to provide some normalcy to kids whose lives have been turned upside down and bless them and others at the same time.


His servant,


Mark Frueh / Lay Pastor
Outreach and Discipleship Coordinator
First Presbyterian Church
1000 NE 3rd St
Minot, ND 58703

Death of Kathryn Galloway, Wife of Beloved Pastor

Kathryn T. Galloway, passed away on July 12, 2011 at the age of 96 years old. She was residing in Florida. Kathryn was the wife of the late Rev. Chester A. Galloway, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church from 1949 to his retirement in 1973. During that time Kathryn played a vital and active part in her husband's ministry. A memorial service is planned in the near future at Bedle's Funeral Home in Matawan at a date to be determined.

Condolences can be sent to her son, Chester W. Galloway, 258 Van Dorn Street, Keyport, NJ 07735; her daughters, Barbara J. Dincer, 3544 Westminster Way, Nazareth, PA, 18064-8007, and Terry A. Burd, 9028 SE 120th Loop, Summerfield, FL 34491.

Getting to Minot

On Wednesday I received a phone call from my local Red Cross training coordinator.  "Diana, there's a great need for people to help with sheltering people in Minot, North Dakota.  Are you available?"

Thursday morning I was on an 8:15 flight to Fargo.  From there I picked up a rental car and drove to Bismarck, ND to check in.  I was told that the reason we flew into Fargo and drove 3 hours to Bismarck was because they needed rental cars in the flood zone and the rental agencies up there were tapped out.

Friday was spent travelling from Bismarck to Minot, North Dakota, a burgeoning town of about 36,000 people.  The population there has swelled since 2000 people because of the discovery of oil reserves.  However due to the low lying plains, whenever there is a large snow fall winter with extremely heavily rains, the snow melt results in some flooding. 

The flooding was astronomical in 2011, with waters from the Souris (or Mouse) river and the Missouri running through the area.  During the afternoon I arrived, the midtown was temporarily flooded due to heavy storm activity the night before.  I arrived late Saturday evening to receive my orientation.

The staff conditions are under hardship status here.  The water is non-potable.  I was warned not to use it to brush my teeth or wash my hands or face.  (I stopped at the Walmart to pick up sani cleaner, and industrial size packages of wipes).  I also bought a foam and pillow for my cot, and slept in the gym with a couple hundred other volunteers.  (Clients are housed nearby).  I was also told that due to high staff and short supplies, there is no food for staff.  We will make our arrangements for food elsewhere.  As local businesses are open I don't think that will be a problem.  I was also told to take care of laundering my own linens, however there are no laundry facilities.  I bought six new shirts and more underwear last night as well.  As for food, I will have to walk to local stores nearby and hope to find granola bars and fruit or other durable snacks that will survive in a non-air conditioned environment.

I now await assignment, whether it is client sheltering, client casework, damage assessment or bulk distribution. The clients have been in and out of shelters since May, and some have houses that are totally lost.  Many are angry or upset because they have been informed by FEMA that there will be no funding, depending on their circumstances.   It should be interesting. 

Please keep the folks from Minot in your prayers.

Diana

Mission Matawan Update - 1 July 2011

Based on an unprecedented level of committed energy by teen and adult volunteers, Mission Matawan has completed over 90% of all the requests for help for the week.

Members of our church, the St. Joseph's Church, Breakthrough in Christ Ministry and the general public have swept through Aberdeen, Matawan and Keyport.

Yesterday, we mulched a yard, sprayed 6 gallons of poison ivy spray in two other yards, painted a stairwell, hung a screen door, worked on support posts, and repaired a set of brick steps...most of that was before lunch.

With PNS inspectors working around crews, we trimmed the lengthy row of hedges front the playground in the yard out front.

After lunch we began what is potentially the largest job of all, a cleanup of a former "mini-farm" in Marlboro.  Volunteers for Friday and Saturday will do well to wear long sleeves, long pants and work boots to protect from the noxious weeds and possibility of nails and other sharp objects.  (Note:  the severely allergic might want to give this one a pass).

On Tuesday, our middle school youth and members of Breakthrough in Christ Ministry cleaned up the Matawan Food Pantry.  The online newspaper, the Aberdeen Matawan Patch came and covered much of the action.

On Wednesday, volunteers from the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross visited.  They spoke of their recent deployments in Joplin, Missouri.  Frank Wroblewski presented a slide show he created from photos.  Gary Olivero described the role of the American Red Cross historically, and at the local, regional, and national level.

On Thursday evening I was invited to an annual dinner of the Aberdeen Matawan Rotary, which provided a grant to Mission Matawan again this year. Thank you!

On Saturday, members of the church and Mission Matawan participants throughout the week are invited to a potluck dinner/picnic at the home of Peggy Knowles, from 4 - 8 pm.  Peggy's address is available through the church directory, or you may call the church for directions.  The only cost of admission is a dish (main course, side dish, or dessert).