Missions and Outreach
October 2007
Hurricane Katrina hits the Central Gulf Coast in August 2005. At two years plus, much of the coast remains in ruins. Six members of Red Wing First joined 18 other United Methodists from Rochester, Spring Valley, Stewartville, and Wells to continue assisting in the recovery with and for the people of Mississippi. Red Wing's team members were Mardell Bartlett, Sue Hamberg, Peter Jacobs, Lois Marshall, Bill Petroff, and Wayne Walther. We traveled by bus to the Seashore United Methodist Assembly, a camp on the Gulf shore in Biloxi.
The big group was divided into four work teams and five of the Red wing group worked at one location while Bill Petroff joined another group assigned to complete the plumbing and rebuild the addition destroyed in the storm. Unfortunately their work was delayed first by the termite exterminator who sprayed over 200 gallons of insecticide at their location and a 2nd time when the rain kept them from working outside. That day they joined another group to complete some jobs they would never have gotten to do without their help. The rest of the Red Wing group led by Peter Jacobs was able to complete installation of a three piece tub surround, sand and stain the kitchen cupboards, paint a bathroom and trim boards and touch up other areas, install the kitchen sink, put down the living room laminated flooring, and place trim around the windows and doors. We were also able to begin fitting of the kitchen counter tops and the ceramic tile for the bathroom. Our home owner was delighted with the progress and since she loves to cook was excited to get into this bigger kitchen.
On Thursday, October 18th all groups worked until noon and then we toured some of the hardest hit communities. A city west of Biloxi, Bay St Louis, had some of the oldest buildings in the Gulf and many are destroyed. A cross seen in this area had the following inscription on the 2 arms—"He is Risen" on one and "So will we" on the other. A home built in 1841 and owned by Fr Abraham Ryan, the poet laureate of the Confederacy operated as a Bed and Breakfast before Katrina and had the unique feature of a palm tree that grew up in the center of the front steps. Following the storm only the palm tree remained. Many people in this area live in their homes but have no city sewer services as yet and depend on the city to pump their sewage tanks, which are in their front yards. Bridges taken down by winds as high as 135 mph have their spans completed now and the Bay St Louis Bridge is open except for the pedestrian portion. The Biloxi to Ocean Springs bridge will open two lanes in November.
While much has been accomplished in two plus years, it is predicted it will take at least 10 - 15 yrs to rebuild. As we moved about in our neon green volunteer shirts people thanked us for our work many times. If you are in good health and have the chance I hope you will consider volunteering, if not in the Gulf at other areas such as SE Minnesota. We were asked by both our home owners and the organizers to remember the needs of the Gulf people. If you are unable to physically make these trips, you are still able to donate funds to help rebuild. Donations may be made by marking checks or envelopes Hurricane Katrina 2005. There is much more to tell about this trip and if interested, feel free to ask one of the team members.—Mardell Bartlett
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2005 marked the 10th anniversary of Red Wing's mission work camp at the McCurdy School in Espanola, New Mexico. Trips were also made in 1995, 1997, and 2003. Some of the work done in the past was trimming apple trees in the orchard and clearing shrubs, weeds, trees and roots from the irrigation ditches. The old apple orchard had played a major role in agricultural education at the school during the late 1940's and early 50's. While random apple trees yet remain around the school campus, the orchard is now gone, but the system of irrigation ditches continue to need cleaning. In 2005 a swamp cooler for the pre-school classrooms was installed. Also installed were new windows and air conditioning units in classrooms. In previous years a new roof and new kitchen cabinets were installed and general cleaning of the buildings was done.
Some of the outreach programs we support are:
Loaves & Fishes dinners at our church on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month (held at 5:00 p.m. - free and open to all)
The Red Wing Area Coalition/Transitional Housing
The local Food Shelf
The local Habitat for Humanity
The Emma Norton House in the Twin Cities
Christian concerts
Faith in Action
Goodhue County Christmas Project
We hold a Thanksgiving Dinner every year on Thanksgiving Day which is free and open to everyone (see below)
We also rent out our church to non-members for weddings. Call or email for details or look at our wedding page on this website.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Every year we prepare and serve a Thanksgiving Dinner for anyone who wants to come. We also deliver meals to shut-ins. This is a free meal, however we do accept donations. In 2006 we served a record high of 275 people. In 2007 we served 268 people. You can come to the church to eat, or order take out meals or have meals delivered. These pictures were taken during the preparation of the meal the night before and Thursday, Thanksgiving day morning.
