NAUBINWAY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
News and Events
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Events: MDS Trip to Minot, ND: Friday & Saturday, September 9 & 10, 2011
WYSE WORDS ABOUT SOME THINGS I LEARNED IN THE LAST 8 DAYS
We are safely back home with many memories, stories, new
friends and some pictures. More on that later. Yesterday, Friday, we, the crew that were constantly under pressure in our work, because Dale, Dale and I were the pressure washing crew washed two homes. We have the coolest job being totally water cooled washing basement joists and subfloors in spite of the 80 plus weather, but we had to actually work in the heat for a hour while water was hooked up to the house. We received no sympathy. We pulled nails left after the soaked drywall had been removed. The water level in this house was only about 5 feet about the floor so
outside up to that level was mud stained. Even the mailbox on the house had mud in it. Some homes had mud on the ceiling fan blades. Twenty-eight days underwater does no favors to anything designed to be dry. We then went across the road and cleaned Melanie’s home on the outside. Blasting half the paint off makes less mud to clean. Just the fact of pressure washing the sidewalk and porch raised a little hope that springs eternal. There is dry dirt everywhere until we come then there is slippery mud. All lawns and grass are gone from being flooded so long. We saw one dog, no flowers whatsoever, heard no birds and household contents were piled high along the curbs even though officially they halted curbside pickup on the 5th of September. We left for home about 4:30p.m. after a delicious roast dinner. Bonnie and
crew were great cooks. After a DQ about 10:00 we continued until someone noticed the back door of the trailer open. All of the contents were there except my duffle bag which had my camera, and pills, plus other items I would normally not share with the public. Prayerfully the right person will find my name and address inside my battery door and answer our prayers. We spent part of the night in a motel in Duluth and then continued the uneventfully trip home today arriving at 5:00 pm. This has been a great week of sharing God’s love though our hands,
backs and feet with those who have lost so much. A few things I have learned this week follow: 1. I’d much rather drive to ND to muck and PW someone’s house than to
muck our own. 2. When traveling with six people, if you call for a pit stop and no one
else says they need one, you’d better hurry when the car stops or you’ll be waiting in line. Why didn’t someone else speak up? 3. Don’t plan on waiting for a fuel stop to go because Tim’s Excursion
goes 800 miles on a tank of fuel. 4. You drive better and make fewer mistakes when everyone is asleep.
5. Sleeping single on a 4” foam mattress was comfortable, but lonely.
6. Rugby, ND is the geographical center of North America.
7. Working with two Dales is a challenge. When you need something
and call for “Dale” they each expect the other to respond and neither come to your aid. Also if you need a small hose part from Lowe’s and ask Dale to go get it they both leave and fight over who will get to drive. 8. When the Salvation Army Food Van comes around honking with snacks
or meals it’s break time regardless of the time. God bless them and their G2 Gatorade. 9. Dale St. Andre' must have been a great boss in the real world because
he kept Dale Burgess and I on task, most of the time and we’re better friends than ever. 10. Little green houses on each corner with a capacity of one became
known as Mennonite Relief Centers, also Nazarene, Baptist, Samaritan Purse and Salvation Army. 11. With MRC's on each corner, working mid block can almost be too far.
12. Pastor Tim leads a very inspirational communion service as well
as singing some Amish heritage and playing fine sleepy time music on his guitar. What a talented servant! 13. Helping move a floated deck off a picnic table can bring
more joy that ten Christmases to a lady struggling to cope with their loss. I think it took 10 of us to do it, but what a blessing to be a part. 14. Losing a duffle bag with over $300 of stuff is peanuts compared to
the losses of the Edwards, Pitts, Melanie and 3997 households in Minot. I still would be blessed to get my pictures back. 15. Canadian Christians love Jesus too and are His hands even if
they talk a little different. Thanks Bill and Florence for dedicating a part of your retirement to operate this project. We thank you and those from home who made this experience possible. We are too blessed to be stressed.  The group before our communion service 
One wet Larry!
 Back: Tim M., Amanda C., Dale B., Evelyn B., Yvonne S., Dale S., Bill H., Roger M. _______, Florence, Bill Front: Ray K., Elmer C., John N., Wilmetta M., Norman M., Bonnie H., Dale H., Larry W. Thursday, September 8, 2011 Well it’s my turn to bring you up to speed with our antics – I mean
activities. If you’ve read all the writings up to date you might think antics is appropriate, however, I will say in all seriousness that the workers from Rexton Mennonite, Naubinway Christian Fellowship & Pleasant View Mennonite (of Indiana) are hard workers. Hopefully you’ve been enjoying the levity in these writings, so I’ll
take some time to be a bit more serious. I am truly a blessed man to have three church families; for those of you who are unaware, Kathy & I attended Pleasant View Mennonite in Goshen, Indiana for 17 years prior to moving to the U.P. I have enjoyed the company, the fellowship, laughter and working along side people from these three churches. The trip list is as follows: RMC – Dale & Evelyn Burgess; NCF – Larry Wyse and Dale & Yvonne St. Andre’; Pleasant View – Dale & Bonnie Hoover, Norman & Wilmetta Maust, Roger Martin, John Nice, Bill Headings, Elmer & Amanda Christner and Ray Klassen. Great people - great group. Our group made great strides today on our project, we finished the house
we’ve been working on all week, and Charlene (the owner) stopped by to help, she told us her story of how this is her second loss of a home (the first due to a flood). It pulls at my heart strings to hear how helpless people like her and her husband Gary must feel. The three stooges, Larry, Dale & Dale, are still struggling with “trigger
finger” & somehow are unable to aim their power washer guns with much success. Oh sure they get the job done but somehow “how” they get it done is still a mystery. At noon today we went to the first home these men hosed down, to spray
a mold killing agent on everything, this is the final step before restoration begins. Roger Martin & Norm Maust left early to drive 2 hours to get the Pleasant View van, which had broken down on their way here Sunday. That left Ray Klassen, Evelyn B. & I to do the entire house; we got ‘er done too. This morning I requested that all of the men from the three groups meet
us back at our first home to help pick up a deck and move it away from the home so that the owner can power wash the siding. During the flood the deck was actually lifted up, moved and came down on top of the picnic table that was on the deck! This evening I led the team in a time of singing and communion,
since this is our last evening together. What a wonderful way to bring our time together to an end. Tomorrow morning Dale S. is bringing the morning devotional & Larry W.
consented to write tomorrow’s blog. - Pastor Tim
 Ray Klassen, Ev B., Charlene Graveson, Roger Martin & Norman Maust
 Ready to "treat" a house: Ev, Tim & Ray
 Moving the deck at the Graveson's
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 My day starts with getting to the kitchen by 6:00 a.m. to help the cooks
(which are Bonnie and Wilmetta from Pleasant View Mennonite Church). They are excellent cooks! Our job is to get breakfast for the men and women and also get food set out for them to make their lunch. Then when we are through cleaning up, it’s on to the next meal! For example our dinner for the day included meatloaf, mashed potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, corn, pickled beets, pickles, coleslaw, rolls, coffee and water. Everything is homemade by the way! Opal from the church we went to on Sunday brought dessert for us. Says she loves to practice her baking on us! Today we also went out into the field to bring the guys coffee, juice and homemade muffins and cookies. That way we got to see what they were doing. I have to stick up for my own species! Evelyn Burgess and Amanda Christner
do a great job keeping up with the guys! And the guys work hard too! HA HA! The power washing crew Dale S., Dale B., and Larry W. had sore fingers today! The people that we have talked with on the MDS trip are very grateful for
the help. It makes us all feel good to be helping! We are blessed to be here! See you in church Sunday!
-Yvonne  The kitchen crew: Yvonne S., Bonnie Hoover & Wilmetta Maust
 Roger Martin & Ray Klassen of Pleasant View Menn.
tearing out the basement wall studs. Every day starts with a good breakfast! I’m on the power washing crew
(Larry W. and Dale B.) then it’s off to the races! Loading our truck with tools and following Larry’s directions to get to the job is always interesting. At least we’ve been able to see some of the city that way. Salvation Army finally made it to our project site today, they bring food!
As if we needed anymore! They were at the two other groups’ sites yesterday. Finally found our crew today. The aftermath of the flood is devastating; I think we’re all glad to be here,
to help in whatever way we can. Don’t get me wrong, its hard work. It’s great that our church is involved in this mission. Not only are we power washing the insides of the houses, but there are a
lot of oops! Sorry Larry, Sorry Dale I thought I was power washing the ceiling! Dale B’s. tennis shoes got power washed today; I think it was an accident! :o) Had a wonderful meal tonight compliments of Norm’s sisters and
their family! Norm and Wilmetta are members of Pleasant View church from Goshen. His one sister lives in North Dakota. Topped it off with Pastor playing the guitar and all of us singing. I’m moved by everyone’s love for the Lord! Hope to see everyone soon!
Dale S.
 Singing after dinner
 Evelyn hard at work  The streets are piled with debris
Today was the first REAL day of our mission trip with all of us up by 6:30am to
pack our lunch and have breakfast. I was soooo proud of Dale St Andre (he made his own sandwich) and went to his work site without Yvonne!! Breakfast of pancakes with blueberry topping and lots of fruit and coffee
prepared us for our day. Dale B, Dale St A, and Larry Wyse went off together with power washers.
We were all apprehensive about giving a power anything to that trio but they all came back alive so I guess it was alright. Another group of 5 went to a house on the SE side and that left 5 of us to
go to the house that Pastor Tim and I were assigned to. I can’t speak for the others but we had a great day. We got to the site around 9am and went to work immediately. Tim and I ended up working in the bathroom which was a stinky mess. We had to remove the stool and bathtub and of course, all the wall covering that had an odor related to the flooding. The owner of the house spent the whole day working with us and his
wife stopped by and offered to help when she got off work. They were so grateful for all the help and offering to help in any way they could. I swept floor and swept floors and swept floors today! My back ached
and my neck is in a permanent downward position but it was a great day. The guys that I worked with were so good and committed. Pastor Tim thought he was ‘Big John’ and was ripping metal lathe out because they told us it couldn’t be done and I have to admit, he did it! The Salvation Army came by our site 2 times and brought us snacks then
came back with a lunch for everyone. The power washing crew are still crying because they didn’t make it to their site just a few streets over from us… As you can see, we are having a lot of fun but I have not worked
so hard for so long in a long time and it was worth every minute. God has been good with his protection and care. Pray that people see the Lord as we labor in the field. -Evelyn
 Dale St. A. & Larry W. suited up for power washing  The house before and after power washing
 Work sucked everything out of Dale B.!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
It’s Sunday and after a Continental Breakfast at the “Mission Motel”
(Quality Inn), we hit the road. Didn’t hit it very hard though because we stopped frequently for one reason or another. Pastor Tim and Captain Wyse drove all day yesterday and Pastor Tim drove all day today. The trip has been one laugh after another with head comedian and Master of Ceremonies Dale (Jr.) St. Andre' running the side show. Yesterday, Dale (Sr.) Burgess bought the first round (water and coffee) in Manistique and Dale Jr. innocently mentioned he would treat to a second round of ice-cream later,
so we found a Coldstone Ice cream shop last evening that cost him a bundle. We told him it was worth every spoon full, and he was really good humored about it all while Yvonne was paying the bill. We all are all ten pounds heavier from all the snacking (brownies and lemon treats as well as home-made caramel corn on the way and Dale Jr. keeps feeling his neck for some reason. Today we arrived at the Congregational church where we are staying
and attended a 4 p.m. Church service with the Mennonite Brethren, who are holding their services at another church because of Flood damage. Tomorrow we get to work, although I think we’ll have more fun too.
Dale Jr., Dale Sr. and Dr. Wyse are on the same power washing team. Tim and Ev are not assigned yet but sound like they will be mucking. Yvonne is cooking, plus laying out Dale Jrs. Clothes, making his lunch and putting him on the school bus...Oh that’s right, there’s no school bus! Pray for us as we have fun and work together. God Bless all of you. We miss you! -Dale Sr.
Rugby, N.D. the geographical Center of North America -Saturday, September 3, 2011 Finally the day of our departure arrived Saturday at 12:00am. Some of us The first pictures were taken as Dale and Evelyn, Dale and Yvonne, Pastor Conversation was abundant, sometimes seriously theological, and sometimes humorously hysterical but usually jovial. Realizing we may need to wear Our trip continued quite uneventful with periodic stops as needed for food, -Larry Wyse Dale's chin!! The gang at Coldstone - yum!!
Events
Community Ladies’ Bible Study every Monday @ 7 Community Men’s Bible study every Thursday @ Peace University Class Offered at NCF |
