Lutherans Perservere in Red River Valley Recovery Work

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "I spent the first day of autumn breathing in dust and mold. There is dust in the air and a heavy smell of mold and mildew. But there is something else -- the sweet smell of fresh-cut lumber, the new smell of wallboard and spackling, the sounds of hammering and the words, 'thank you,'" said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, associate director, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Domestic Disaster Response.
The record snowfall and floods of the 1996-1997 winter and spring seasons caused catastrophic conditions along the Red River Valley. "The devastation was so incredible that recovery will be a long-time endeavor," said Julie K. Aageson, Nora Lutheran Church, Perley, Minn., in an interview. "There is still such a sense of vulnerability among people because the floods were so devastating. People are afraid of the upcoming winter ... there is fear that it could all happen again," said Aageson.
"There is so much yet to be done in Northwestern Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. The floods have receded in the Red River Valley, but thousands of homes still stand in need of repair," reported Furst. Furst visited rebuilding sites in Grand Forks, N.D., and East Grand Forks, Minn., last month.
The Rev. Robert L. Dahl, Our Savior Lutheran Church, East Grand Forks, N.D., told of 30 families in his congregation whose homes have been completely demolished. Most of these families have been living in trailer parks set up for flood victims since April. Others live in half destroyed homes, with basements still full of water.
"My husband and I volunteered at a congregation in which the foundation was completely destroyed," said Aageson. "The basement can no longer be used for fellowship and to teach Sunday school classes. Instead, the basement is now completely sealed off, so worship during the upcoming winter season can be warm. The church will need to be moved; the existing foundation is beyond repair," she said.
"The primary needs in our recovery efforts have not changed. They are prayers and cash," said the Rev. Rick J. Foss, bishop of the ELCA's Eastern North Dakota Synod. "But the need for volunteers has suddenly become the number one need. There are hundreds of homes that require skilled volunteers to help rebuild," he said.
Foss said the past year has been "confusing and chaotic" for most people in the greater Grand Forks area. "The weather has wreaked havoc with schedules, plans, property and our sense of security and community." Foss and others are using a four-stage description for their situation.
"The heroic phase, where the adrenaline flows and the sandbags fly, is the first stage. Here, people do whatever they have to do. There is a sense of adventure for some and it works ... for a while," Foss said. The second stage is the "honeymoon phase." People are grateful for surviving. They are helping, praying and offering, he said.
"The disillusionment phase, where things are still a mess, recovery is slower than expected, furnaces may or may not get in before winter, nerves are frayed and frustrations abound, is the stage we have now entered. Within the last five weeks, pastors report they are doing more counseling than ever before, and the most common issues are marital and family stress," Foss said.
The final stage is the "recovery phase," where a "steady return to normal (albeit a very different normal than before) is taking place," said Foss. "But the disillusionment piece will be the predominant theme. After the next spring season, the recovery phase, I think, will begin in earnest," he said.
By July 30, 1997, the ELCA and Lutheran Disaster Response "had provided more than $1.5 million in assistance throughout Minnesota, North and South Dakota," reported the Rev. Leon A. Phillips Jr., executive director for Lutheran Disaster Response, a joint ministry of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. "Lutheran Social Service agencies in each of the three states worked closely with Lutheran Brotherhood, Aid Association for Lutherans and others," said Phillips. "The ELCA assisted its congregations and pastors, helping congregations meet urgent and necessary expenses and supporting pastors whose homes had been destroyed," he said. Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans are fraternal benefit organizations.
Representatives of Lutheran Disaster Response and Lutheran Services in America signed "a statement of understanding outlining respective responsibilities in disaster response." The signing took place at the Lutheran Disaster Response board meeting in Fargo, Sept. 24-25. Lutheran Disaster Response "maintains partnership agreements with many social ministry organizations, relying on them to manage local disaster efforts," said Phillips. "This agreement potentially mobilizes the resources of the entire LSA network of social ministry organizations as part of our Lutheran Disaster Response," he said. LSA is an alliance of the ELCA, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and their 280 social ministry organizations.
In addition to cleanup, rebuilding and organizing, Lutherans address both the spiritual and emotional needs of flood survivors. Seminars are scheduled this fall to bring pastors and other care givers up to date on grief counseling and the emotional needs that follow disaster. "Pastors and care givers will need to offer more at the very time they have less resilience and energy," Foss said. Resources, workshops and "people to help with care for the care giver" will be at Lutheran churches in eastern North Dakota. Workshop topics include stress management, post-traumatic stress and lay leadership.
Ten ELCA congregations in the greater Grand Forks area will gather to host a "confirmation extravaganza." The event is geared for students in grades seven through nine, but will appeal to all ages. Senior high youth, parents and other adults are encouraged to participate in the festivities scheduled for almost every Wednesday evening beginning Oct. 15. "The message our youth will hear is applicable to anyone's flood, blizzard or farming experience and ongoing growth in faith," said Foss.
Four congregations in the ELCA's Eastern North Dakota Synod will celebrate their 125th anniversaries. "During those 125 years, there have been floods, fires, wars, droughts, depressions, recessions, language changes, new technology ... and more. And through it all, the people of God have gathered to worship, pray, sing, serve and cope with whatever comes along," said Foss. The congregations are: Norman Lutheran Church, Rural Kindred; First Lutheran Church, Fargo.; Aal Lutheran Church, Hillsboro and Hickson Lutheran Church, Hickson.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or
NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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