Baptist volunteers rebuilding lives one house at a time

Posted: 8/03/07

Baptist volunteers rebuilding
lives one house at a time

By Jessica Dooley

Communications Intern

’HANIS—When Mario Reyes woke up on July 20, he expected it to be a Saturday like any other. But when he looked out his window and saw water rushing through a nearby pasture, he knew he had to get out of his house.

Most residents received little or no warning about the overflowing Seco River, so Reyes took it upon himself to inform his neighbors before heading for higher ground.

Now residents of D’Hanis, a community of about 500 on the outskirts of Hondo, are attempting to rebuild their lives. The Seco River, too narrow to handle the amount of rain it has received, flooded the Brickyard neighborhood, leaving 242 people without a place to sleep.

The American Red Cross transformed Hondo Middle School into a shelter. Meanwhile, First Baptist Church in Hondo called Texas Baptist Men and began working alongside Baptist volunteers from across the state.

“People are in need and are hurting. We are trying to meet those needs because it’s what Jesus would do,” said Ross Chandler, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hondo.

A TBM clean-out unit from Second Baptist Church in LaGrange, the Austin Baptist Association shower and laundry unit, and Victim Relief chaplains have ministered in the area more than a week. Baptist Men from across the state put their lives on hold to help First Baptist Church with its disaster response in D’Hanis.

Baptist General Convention of Texas Congregational Strategist Fred Ater met needs in the area, and the convention made family financial assistance available to flood victims.

“The church could not do it all without the Baptist organizations,” Chandler said. “Baptists all over Texas have helped D’Hanis.”

First, the men remove furniture and cut out sheetrock and carpet damaged by the water. Then they spray a chemical that sanitizes the house and stops mold from growing. Once the chemical dries, residents face the decision of moving back in or moving out.

“We will rebuild. We have to. We have no choice. And in 10 years, we will rebuild again,” Reyes said as he shook his head and looked at his belongings scattered across the front yard. “They want us to relocate and buy us out, but this land was given to us by our grandparents. We have to stay together and be a community, Hispanic or white.”

Cruz Guana does not want to move because he can walk to his job. He works at the brick factory located at the end of his street, which is where the neighborhood derives its name.

Nearly five feet of water swept through Guana’s home, carrying the refrigerator through the house and knocking out the back wall. The family’s belongings were swept away with the current.

Like many residents of the Brickyard, the Guanas continue to sleep in their broken home.

Homeowners are afraid of looters taking what little they have left, so they put a mattress down on the floor and continue to live amid the rubble. One family set up a tent in their living room.

But through the devastation and harsh living conditions, residents still are finding a beacon of hope.

“This is the first time I’ve smiled in a long time,” Luz Aguiñagaz said. “These (Texas Baptist) men have such joy and smiles. What they have been to me and this community is inspiring.

“I have been Catholic all my life, though I haven’t practiced since my husband died in 2003. I am inspired, and I want to see what their church is about. I am going to First Baptist Church Hondo on Sunday,” Aguiñagaz said as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Stories like these are what First Baptist Church and Texas Baptist Men have hoped for. Currently, there is no Baptist church in D’Hanis. Chandler said his church has been looking to establish a presence in the community.

“FBC Hondo cares and could not have shown them that without the Baptist Men mud-out units, chaplains and disaster relief teams,” Chand-ler said.

The next step for First Baptist Church is to help the people in the community rebuild their lives. The congregation is developing a long-range strategy that will assess the needs of residents affected by the flood. From that list, the church will try and figure out a way to meet those needs.

“The Brickyard needs hope,” Chandler said. “And with help, they can find it.”