By Donna Boisvert
On May 25 four members of the Eastern Canada Disaster Relief Team began a weeklong journey to assist the flood victims of Fort Kent and the surrounding area in upper Maine. The team joined their fellow DR volunteers from Alabama, Virginia, New England and Idaho.
In the previous weeks, the St. John’s River had swollen to over thirty-nine feet above the banks and flooded the whole surrounding area. The Incident Command Centre was set up in a rectory in Frenchville and the Eastern Canada team was able to assist with feeding volunteers, mud-out, assessment and chaplaincy. The team felt right at home, as this area is mostly French speaking and very similar terrain to the Ottawa area. Being able to understand the culture and language made connecting and sharing with the homeowners very special.
While the devastation was extensive, offering practical help and the hope of our Savior brought joy beyond expression.
Here are the impressions of this experience from two of the Eastern Canada DR Team:
The four days in Maine I worked on “MUDD OUT;” for those of you who have done the training know it’s not a clean or easy job. I was partnered with Wendy and we worked! We got to know each other very well, and we got to know the home owner and listen to this woman’s story. Her husband left at 8 am and by 11 am they needed a canoe to go back into the house to get some personal belongings.
To physically see the devastation on the face of this homeowner, our brothers and sisters, was heart breaking. While speaking with this woman I told her I couldn’t imagine what she must have been feeling, or what it would be like to be in such a situation.
Her response to me was that she was ok now because us being there to help her was her hope! After everything she had been through “we” were her hope! We were able to give her a Bible, she was prayed with. We could leave knowing that she had God’s Word and we had given her hope after all she had been through.
What an amazing experience: for her and for me.
As well as working alongside the homeowner, we also got to meet many volunteers from many different places, and of all different ages. But we were all there for the same purpose, working to help our brothers and sisters in a time of need, all for the glory of God!
I strongly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to serve in Disaster Relief to do it. I feel that I’ve grown closer to God, and as a person, and I thank everyone that aided in getting me there. It’s a gift that can never be taken from me. It’s in my heart, and if called upon again you can be sure I will do my best to serve.
During our week in Maine we stayed in Frenchtown, where we were blessed with a warm bed and a full kitchen to prepare meals for the volunteers. Everyone worked hard to serve as they had skill and we all appreciated each other for that.
Donna and I had the unique task of feeding and wanted to bless the volunteers with good food and appreciation for all they would accomplish each day. Donna, Melinda and Wendy were on the Mud out crew and worked so hard at pulling up floors, walls and disinfecting the homes. I also was blessed by shadowing Bonny (Chaplin) and Donna on assessments and spending time with some clients of this flood.
A flood is unique in the sense that three weeks after the flood it was not easy to see the devastation from the outside. All that was needed was to approach a home and the smell hit you first.
The water level of the St. John's River rose 39' to my understanding, filling the entire basin and then overtaking many homes away from the river. To understand that this home was submerged from the basement to just under the ceiling of the first floor amazed me.
Septic waste and the contents of their oil tank filled the home and by the time we were able to come the toxic black mould was growing wild. This is hazardous for people, especially the elderly and children.
Two of the homes I observed were owned by elderly people without flood insurance. Without flood insurance they could not cleanout or repair their homes themselves. They were left devastated without enough help. The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Organization has made a difference to them. It was very important for us to listen to their stories and offer hope through Christ in such a difficult time for them.
I felt called to go to do what ever I could to aid and give hope. I believe our disaster relief team, along with many from other US Southern Baptist disaster relief teams, have shown God's love and hope for their futures. I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to serve. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to also do all they can to help. This is a beautiful way to show God's love to the hurting and take action to help wherever you can.