Jay Blough writes:
The Avant project has been going on for over a year. It will be ending in September. Much has been
accomplished. A new home build, a family relocated, drywall, new floors, electrical and plumbing
repairs, new roofs, skirting, decks and ramps, buying materials, training clients to flooring along with
other skills as well as the MDS interns, remodeling a house for a MDS volunteer center. MDS exceeded
the goals of Responding-Rebuilding and Restoring. A strong relationship in the community was
developed with the long term commitment of Bill and Betty Mast. We truly developed a community
partnership. We are strangers no more. (The theme of the 2018 All Units Meeting) While the physical
work is long, the memories and relationships built by the presence of the MDS volunteers doing what
God has commanded, love your neighbor, help those in need, show understanding and compassion will
stay with the community for years to come. Even though this project is in its final phase, we can still use
volunteers.
The MDS four pillars of a long term project were met early on. Funding came from two grants which
gave access to fund projects immediately and to overcome shortages with funds coming from other VOAD sources. We had meaningful work. The school gave us access to a residential property for housing. Volunteers came from several states as well as Oklahoma. Volunteer hours totaled 3,500 as of July 31, 2020. A big thank you and blessings to all who helped make this recovery possible.
MDS also participated in three other home projects. A roof was replaced in Haileyville by volunteers
from the Coalgate area. A doublewide in Langley was raised over two feet and the interior repaired.
MDS volunteers from Chouteau and Pryor spent over 500 hours working. A mobile home that needed
walls rebuilt as well as roof repairs, siding and a new deck and steps built was completed in Yukon. Volunteers from the Hydro area came to serve that project.
OK MDS continues to build our base of volunteers and church participation. Church contact persons are essential to our goals for promoting the mission of MDS. State, Regions and Binational are developing new venues to help states building their units. This will give ways to help communicate within CCP’s and individual church settings.
Currently, it is still too early for MDS to have a response for damage caused by hurricane Laura.
However there are several plans for opening projects in Texas. One is an RV project. Go to the MDS
website for more details.
MDS will be holding their Region 3 meeting virtually November 14 at 2:00 pm. Please go to the MDS
website to confirm date and time as this may change. There are plans for the All Units meeting to be
held in February. Plans have not been finalized and we will update when they are.
Once again, thank you for making our 2019-2020 MDS Mission a success. Your prayers, financial support and labor of love is a blessing to many.
With Gratitude,
Jay Blough
