Mennonite Volunteers Dedicate Home - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Mennonite Volunteers Dedicate Home

Thousands of people along the Mouse River are in various stages of rebuilding after the record flood of 2011.
Many have found it financially impossible to rebuild on their own.
And that's where volunteer organizations have been playing a big role locally.
One faith-based volunteer group - Mennonite Disaster Services - has completely restored one Minot family's home.
As Jordan Pederson reports, the group handed the keys over to the homeowners during a welcoming home celebration this week.

The Mennonite Disaster Service reached out to the Minot community after the devastation the flood left in it's wake last summer.
(Cletus Yoder, Project Director, Mennonite Disaster Services) "I'd rather give then have somebody, ask somebody to help me. We are very grateful to homeowners to allow us to come and help them."
Just days after the one year anniversary of the 2011 flood, Anna Winters-Jones and husband Gary are moving back home.
(Anna Winters-Jones, Homeowner) "We are very blessed to have the people that we had come into our lives and help us."
The Mennonites hosted a 'Home Dedication' ceremony welcoming Anna, Gary and their three sons back home.
(Cletus Yoder, Project Director, Mennonite Disaster Services) "We want to thank the Lord for providing the volunteers. Allowing us to come in and share our time and to help them."
Friends and family along with volunteers gathered to witness the celebration.
(Pastor Duane Deckert) "A day which we celebrate another family getting back to their home."
The family was presented with a bible
(MDS Volunteer) "Remind you guys of us but most importantly what God has brought to you guys."
A homemade comforter
(MDS Volunteer) "Hope this comforts you in your new home."
and two potted flowers to set out on the deck..
A deck that had floated away... but was found a block over.
(Anna Winters-Jones, Homeowner) "We were fortunate we didn't have to look at Oak Park for it."
When Anna and Gary's home was chosen to be worked on by MDS volunteers, they filled out a card detailing the work that needed to be done.
Work included gutting, mucking, sheet rocking and plumbing.
(Anna Winters-Jones, Homeowner) "They have been just wonderful. Every group of people that we get in and  just bring such joy to us."
As part of the dedication ceremony.. the work card was signed off and the keys were handed over.
(MDS Volunteer) "Your are home now."
The first order of business being back home?
Jordan Pederson, KX News.

The Mennonite Disaster Service provides disaster relief assistance across the United States and Canada.