Frank and Marion are tired homeowners. They are devastated by damage caused by the flood, and by the fact that the people they hired to do the clean up didn't finish the job. Now as we work beside them, they are watching the walls of their first floor being removed to a dumpster. (There are 1-3 inches of wet mud at the base of the walls between the studs.) We are careful to consult with them during the process so that we don't throw out moldings they wish to replace. The biggest challenge is to be able to move the pocket doors so that the mud can be cleared from around them. We haven't achieved that yet. As we find treasures in the walls of this house that was build in the late 1800's, we make sure that Marion and Frank get them. Most importantly we listen to their stories and their pain. 
Our team: Jay and Cathie D., Dave F., Aimee T., and Wayne W. from Shen. UMC and Barbara. P. from Jonesville UMC. Barbara reflected, that of all the Volunteers in Mission trips she has been on in the U.S., Nicaragua, and Cuba, this one has touched her the most, because she feels like she is helping a neighbor. Between down pours we were able, with Frank's help, to get the heavy black contractor bags off their front lawn and into the dumpster. We leave the wonderbars, shopvac with hepa filter, crow bar, and shovles that were donated for the VIM trailer with Frank and Marion because another team from Albany District led by Paul Bresslin will be coming tomorrow. We will return next Wednesday. Pastor Carol Coltrain will have an assigment for us and Pastor Jeff from Middleburgh UMC will welcome us again. As Jay and I leave, the community begins to arrive for their supper provided by the church.
If anyone wants to help with the meals, please contact Gloria Gebhardt at Middleburgh UMC 518-827-7940 or 518-827-4440 or Pat Costello at Our Lady of the Valley 518-231-6870.
If you would like to join our VIM team, Contact Jay Dunkleberger at jdunkleb@nycap.rr.com or 518-371-7071.
