Columbia volunteers offer hurricane relief

Columbia Bible College (CBC) students and staff were among the first volunteers with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) from Canada to help in the U.S. Gulf region following Hurricane Katrina.

Eight students along with Bible professor Ken Esau and administrative team member Shirley Esau, flew to Louisiana on Monday, Oct. 3. They repaired homes in the town of Des Allemands near New Orleans, and returned Oct. 9.

MDS B.C. chair Leonard Klassen (back row, left) with the volunteer team from Columbia Bible College.

The CBC group was slated to spend a week removing debris, repairing and re-roofing damaged homes primarily for elderly and disabled residents who did not have homeowners’ insurance. MDS had already sent U.S. based staff to the hurricane-ravaged area. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided building supplies, with MDS covering travel costs, food and lodging for the group while in Louisiana.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to cooperate for the benefit of others,” said CBC vice-president of development Walter Bergen.

More than 45 students signed up to go on the trip to Louisiana. Those chosen were selected on the basis of their leadership skills, spirit and experience in short-term missions. The volunteers were commissioned at a CBC chapel service Sept. 29.

When the students were asked why they volunteered, Dallas Johnson said, “An extraordinary opportunity has been placed in my life to be able to be used as a vessel for God’s work.” Brad Bates, another volunteer, agreed.

“As soon as I heard about the trip I knew that I had to go help and show them love,” he said.

The team included Jonathan Gifford (B.C.), Aaron Dyck (B.C.), Brad Bates (B.C.), Dustin Siemens (Man.), Dallas Johnson (Sask.), Lindsay Ukeniek (Alta.), Valarie Frare (Wash.) and Alisha Marriott (Alta.).

—CBC news release by Amy Dueckman