The UM ARMY

(The United Methodist Action Reach Out Mission by Youth)

Made up of United Methodist Churches from Pittsburgh, Fairfield, Marquez, Westbury, and Teague

June 18-25, 2006

Page 1 Work Projects

FUMC Home

Rita Restoration

Link to UM ARMY www.umarmy.org

 

 UM ARMY Page 2 Experiences in Newton UM ARMY 2008

UM ARMY 2005

The UMARMY is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is headquartered in Houston. Each summer hundreds of youth and adult mentors go on working mission trips throughout Texas. Recently, the organization is spreading to other states. These mission trips accomplish various tasks to help clients such as building wheel chair ramps, making minor repairs, cleaning up yards and cutting grass, painting, and the like. While these activities are of benefit to clients and communities, the primary goal is the spiritual formation of the youth. The youth work hard for their clients, and the daily worship and prayer is focused on relating their work experiences to their spiritual lives. That is to say, they work as part of the body of Christ in his world and for God's children. In it is an extraordinary organization: Making disciples for Christ for the transformation of the world. 
 

Prior to showing the work projects, here is what the group looks like
 

Prior to the work week, David Filis and Michael Hunter made 3 trips (each way about 5 hours) to scope out the projects. One of the largest projects this week is the Forward Memorial Church of God in Christ on MLK Boulevard in Newton. The following pictures are of the church before work began 
 

 A few repairs needed here!
 

Braedon checks out the back of the church to determine how much paint to get
 

Notice the leaks from the hurricane damaged roof
 

 

Unfortunately, the UMARMY is unable to do roofing. Any other groups who are interested in helping are very welcome to come to Newton!
 

Ms. Wood and Forward Myles (2nd and 3rd from the left) members and workers at Forward Memorial are shown with the UMARMY team. From left to right are Cortney Myer, David Filis, Michael Hunter, and Braedon.
 

 

Now how are we going to fix this porch?
 

The following pictures are of the progress made on the Forward Memorial C.O.G.I.C.

 

The Mighty Blue work group on Monday, just getting started, notice the old porch is gone!
 

 

The porch begins to take shape. 
 

 

Have you ever wondered what a UM ARMY cement mixer looks like? Now you know.
 

A short popsicle break
 

Back to work!
 

 

 

 

 A few more nails and this job is done!
 

 

 

 

The Painting begins in earnest
 

 

Now for the back steps and door
 

Based on the progress on this church building, as of Thursday, I thought the UM ARMY would never finish in time. I was wondering what we would tell this people who had a half painted church. I underestimated the resolve and of the UM ARMY group. An army of painters joined in and... well the pictures tell the story.

 

 

 

Do you believe it? All done! And it looks beautiful!
 

It was a week for Church buildings. St. Paul's Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) is located in Liberty Community and sustained roof and exterior damage.  The pastor is the Rev. Jules Williams. This is what the building looked like before the the UM ARMY arrived. The UM ARMY did not get started on this building until late in the week. There was no way (I thought) that they would get finished. I hoped that they would get a good start on it, and another group might complete it.

 

 

 

Ouch!
 

 

Then the UM ARMY arrived!

 

Just getting started! Scraping is the hardest part of the job; especially since each day of the week the temperature go a little higher, reaching well in the 90's. 
 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Filis with Mary Grant, one of the members of St. Paul's. This was taken last Thursday afternoon. On Friday an army of painters swarmed the building... the results are God sent.
 

 

Hard work, but see the joy in their faces?
 

 

A few more brush stokes and the job is done! 
 

The Completed Church building!
 

Now if we can just get than roof fixed!
 

Another project is the home of Helen Smith in Liberty Community. These pictures were taken on the pre-work trip made by David Filis, Braedon, and Michael Hunter. These were taken before Christ UMC put on a new roof

 

Ms. Smith stands in front of her home with (from left to right) David Filis, Braedon, and Cortney Myer.
 

 

 

 

 

The back door area leaks and is unsafe
Michael Hunter and David Filis make measurements for new window trim and screens for the entire house
 

 

 

Now begins the work as the UMARMY swings into action

 

 

 

 

Off with the old and on with the new
 

 

Notice from the UMARMY, this is the mighty Red Group!
 

 

 

 

It's getting there!
 

A quick popsicle break
 

There's some pretty sophisticated carpentry going on here
On the third day of work, this begins to looks like a new house! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a difference! WOW!
 

Surely, this is a new house!
A very appreciative Helen Smith with her work team! Notice the nice blue shutters and porch trim. The team chipped in their own money to buy the blue trim paint.
 

Pearl Sowell lives in Burkeville. The following pictures are of her home before work began

 

 

 

Pearl Sowell waits for help to come.
 

Ms. Sowell's porch is unsafe. This floor is very weak and just about to cave in completely, making it very difficult for her to get her wheel chair out of the house. This porch foundation will be rebuilt and a new floor constructed.
 

The UMARMY arrives on the scene and work began

 

 

 

The work group poses on the porch that will be rebuilt so Ms. Pearl can get in and out safely
 

 

Ms. Pearl even gets her grass cut
 

 A new load of materials for the porch arrives
 

 

 

 

 

 

Just the Start
 

The painting continues
 

Quite a difference
 

 

The final touches on a brand new porch and wheel chair ramp
 

 

 

 

 

 

Would you look at that nice, new, screened in porch and fresh coat of paint! 
 

Looks like a new house
 

Just a few more brush strokes!
 

Two other projects are right next to each other: the homes of Mattie Kenebrew and Ada Adams. Both homes were in need of new porches and good quality wheel chair ramps. Wheel chair ramps are the UMARMY's specialty.

 

 

The Blue team, some of whom come from Westbury
 

The Blue team in front of Ms. Ada's home with the beginnings of a new porch and wheel chair ramp
 

 

 

 

Would you believe, a perfect fit!
 

The blue team in from of Mattie Kenebrew's home
 

 

 

Enjoying a popsicle on her new porch
 

 

 

 

The ramp and porch on Ada's house nears completion
 

 

 

 

Similarly, the porch and ramp on Mattie's house nears completion
 

The team gets some help!
 

The last few frames are ready for the ramp
 

The completed Ada Adam's home. What a classy porch and wheel chair ramp done in the famous UM ARMY style
 

Ditto for Mattie Kenebrew's home.
Go to UM ARMY page 2