Don bobinet and I spent tuesday wedsnesday and thursday at St. pauls umc at the host church directed by pastor sheryl campbell and her husband. the first day we moved furniture in the church because we had a trailer. Then we cleaned out an elderly womans basement. sheet rock and flooded paneling. she really liked the help. Staying at the church for showers food and support from the minnesota response team was good. We talked about what we did and will do. Questions and concerns were hashed out. The pastor was helpful but also had her hands full. Weds we went to and area of great need. We had a large group about 12 meeting at the cedar valley community church. the attitude for the day by youth pastor from Delaware did the prayer devotions. the World hope directors prayed for direction. It was needed as we got to the area the people were in need. I hugged the lady who we would change her life and house . It was hard work but we didnt mind. the day went fast and mucking out came to an end. We said our goodbys and off to the church for rest. The umc at st' pauls had a supper and service which lifted up our hearts. We needed that. The next day the three of us one from west virgina a pilot went to cedar falls to a new area of flooded out house. new stuff on the curb this time and got out the kitechen and grarge area. she needed mucn help. Their lives are up side down and sideways. The mucking out is still going and and rebulding is needed in the future. It is hard to see this and do. It is hard for the people we help as they must change and receive our help,and let us help because of the situation they are in and its hard to give up your things we find normal for us. One thing I can lift up is the last place we went. The cat was howling alot around the house we changed. It like us howling that our lives are being changed also. I felt so good that I could help in Wateloo this week. Pastor Sheryl Im not the best typer on the laptop so. I keep you in my prayers and St. Pauls Umc

The second trip to help flood recovery was on a Thursday the 21st of August. I was on my way to a fossil hunt and it rained so decided to call and see if help was needed.

One house was in need of mucking out so away I went. the house was located on Clair Street in Cedar Falls.. I helped clean out a basement of an over the road truck driver. When I got there it had about a 4 to 5 foot water line marked on the garage. Sheet rock was mostly all out but the basement had lots of trash. The water came up so fast the family had time to get a camper trailer out and the rest of belongings were gone. Mostly in the basement where they lived was damaged. He got behind as only working and cleaned on the weekends.

Four of us Tigh, lee, me and another cleaned the basement so he could power wash it. It was full of mud, debris and full of frogs as I scooped and carried. Tigh was a policeman from Genoa , Illinois and was related to the Hausen family, and two from Cedar Falls and myself. He plans to bring in a group from Genoa to sheetrock. It rained that afternoon and it kept us cool as we were already wet and muddy. Here is a picture of Tigh as he made a pile.on the curb.

He was really happy for the help that day.

 Second trips  by Don Bobinet and Merle Ayres to the Waterloo area was in July for Don and Merle in August. Don worked with a group called the Carpenters from Denver.Colorado in clean up of basements. Merle went in the last part of August and did clean up of a basement in Cedar Falls., with and Illinois and Cedar Falls group. It was on the end of the clean up in August as most teams have left. At St. Pauls they let me stay. A washer and dryer  was donated from Michigan for volunteers to wash their clothes.  Food is provided for your own cooking and I managed to make macaroni and cheese.Teams are now getting organized for another phase and general rebuilding in fall and winter. The people I was in contact with and others who came by shared their stories with me on how they were affected by the flood. It seemed they were moving into relatives houses and trailers and meeting the demands of adjusting to a shared way of living. I talked to one individual for and hour while he said it is hard to meet regulations from the city and inspectors. It just isn't the water I realized but challenges adjusting again.
  Our church is also in a local mission painting a members house and a good start has begun. Scraping and painting and general clean up. Now good weather is needed and a few volunteers. merle ayres


Friend to Fossils
Merle Ayres