BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MONMOUTH WORSHIP CENTER Members of the Monmouth Worship Center, Marlboro, were shocked to see the devastation that remains in New Orleans almost one year after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and left the city under water. MARLBORO – Following a mission to New Orleans, members of the Mon-mouth Worship Center said they were most shocked by the total devastation of the Gulf Coast city.
The Monmouth Worship Center, Route 79, teamed up with Churches for Disaster Relief, Newark, to assist in the cleanup, repair and reconstruction of homes that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
A group of about 20 church members traveled 30 hours by bus to New Orleans on May 13 and returned on May 20; some with a new outlook on faith and the devastated city.
Joe McCain, pastor, said the group was split into three teams; the first team gutted houses which had been damaged by water and mold; the second team put up wallboard; and the third team put up roofs and wallboard.
McCain said the group teamed up with churches in New Orleans to find out who needed help rebuilding their homes. He said the goal of the mission was to get local church leadership back on their feet so they could help the parishioners get back on theirs.
Volunteers help to rebuild a home that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina nearly a year ago. One person who went on the Monmouth Worship Center’s mission to Louisiana described the situation as an “overwhelming amount of destruction.” Ken Jasko, pastor, said it was great to serve other people, especially when they are in such dire need.
McCain said that on the drive down to New Orleans, the group took a tour of the city to get an idea of what kind of damage was done by the hurricane.
“It was bad. It was very bad. It was indescribable,” he said.
McCain said news coverage of the hurricane could not even begin to describe what the situation is really like in New Orleans.
Jasko said he was unprepared for the reality of the situation and added that someone could drive for miles and not see any homes or businesses.
“It’s pretty much a ghost town. There are entire neighborhoods and some towns that are entirely empty,” the pastor said.
Jonathan Pierre, 22, a parishioner of Monmouth Worship Center, said, “As far as the eye could see every house was destroyed.” He described the situation as an “overwhelming amount of destruction.” However, Pierre said that as a Christian he believes that God can fix any situation.
During their time in Louisiana, the group members attended local church services. Pierre said they sang the same songs of hope and faith as the congregation at the Monmouth Worship Center. However, Pierre said it was a completely different experience when the people of New Orleans were singing about hope and faith.
He said it is amazing that people who are faced with so much destruction and devastation have the same faith, as others who have not been similarly tested, that God will help them.
“I learned a lot about faith and strength. I feel really blessed,” Pierre added.