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 OIMC Clergy and Spouses spent their annual retreat working and assisting in a variety of ways at Camp Gruber, where displaced persons from New Orleans have been housed since Labor Day weekend.
The retreat was held at Fin and Feather Resort, September 19th-21st. The Resort is located about twelve miles from Camp Gruber. “It would have been difficult for us to be enjoying ourselves at a retreat, knowing that we could be helping hundreds of persons who lost everything and were only a few minutes away,” said Rev. David Wilson, Conference Superintendent.
Wilson said he called several committee members who agreed to rearrange the schedule so that clergy members and clergy spouses could volunteer for a day and a half at Camp Gruber.
At the time, there were still approximately 350 persons still housed at Camp Gruber, Wilson said.
Bishop Hayes and his wife, Dee, also came to the retreat, participated in the Bible Study on Monday morning and then visited Camp Gruber to thank those who have worked so hard at the Camp.
Several persons loaded donated goods into a trailer that would be shipped to another area in need, Wilson said. Clergy and spouses spent a hot afternoon loading the boxes and completed the work in one afternoon. Those in charge of the warehouse were grateful for the hard work so that the warehouse could be closed and be used for intended purposes on the base.
Other volunteers worked in the phone bank, assisting temporary residents in making calls to loved ones situated across the country. One person had finally reached his wife, whom he had not talked with since he left New Orleans and the phones went dead, due to a line break on the grounds. OIMC clergy members were in the room when the phones went out and searched for cell phones so he could continue his call.
OIMC volunteers sorted through piles and piles of donated clothes and recalled a women tell the story of her brother who was stuck in New Orleans in the flood and helped many persons.
The sister told the workers that he grew tired and laid down to rest and later died. She was searching for a dress for her mother to wear to the funeral later in the week.
Other clergy members visited with residents as they waited for buses to leave from the facility.
Among the participants were Rev. Ruth Harris-Jacob and Rev. Lois Neal, both retired. “Their presence was an uplifting experience for us all,” said Rev. Wilson, “They came wanting to do whatever they could to help out and their presence reminded us of our call to Christian service, regardless of our status or age.”
“It was a rewarding experience,” said Rev. Bernadine Dowdy, Mary Lee Clark UMC. “I am so glad that we were able to provide a Christian witness to person there and also to our own churches,” she said.
Approximatley 30 OIMC clergy and clergy spouses participated in the retreat.
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