9/6/11

Hey,

Things here have been crazy. Here is what has gone on the last two weeks. We first get hit by the earthquake in Richmond, VA and then later happen to get hit by Hurricane Irene. What fun. We only lost power but in most of NJ there was lots of flooding. WE ended up staying with Bart Oates who played in the NFL for the 49ers and the Giants for two days till we got power again. That was fun and I love him and his family. They are great! We went to Passaic the other day to do service after the hurricane. It was nasty. We went to pick up a member named carlos and he had a greese fire and but water on it and there was a huge fire ball. Why people cant get greese and water dont mix I dont know. It was scarry to watch but funny at the same time. A member gave us money to go get dinner so we went and got Sushi that was nice! The last two P-days we have been going bass fishing at a members pond and that has been fun. We found this great little spanish place that has really good spanish food so we have been eating lots of Pupusas since they are my favorite. On sunday we taught primary about missionaries. That was fun little kids are so funny. We also were asked to help conferm Angilo a member of the church. He is an amazing guy that the sisters in our ward baptized. On Saturday we did Service at the Bethal A.M.E. Church here in Morristown since they got flooded in the storm. If you go to Morristowngreen.com they have local news and my companion and I are iin the news. That's about all that has been going on. I would send pictures but the computers here wont let me. sorry

Elder Sanders

Service

Elder Everts, 21, and Elder Sanders, 20, of the Church of Latter Day Saints in Morristown​, helping out at the Bethel AME Church cleanup. Elder Everts hails from Mesa, Az.; Elder Sanders, from Orem, Utah. Photo by Kevin Coughlin for Morristown​Green.com

Liquid Church is a successful evangelical congregation in Morristown. But Tropical Storm Irene turned the Bethel A.M.E. Church into a real liquid church–with four feet of swampy water that devastated its basement hall.

Compounding the misery was an oversight that left Bethel A.M.E. without flood insurance.

Bethel Pastor Sidney Williams sent an S.O.S. to the community.


NAME THAT VOLUNTEER! Beth Courter helps at the cleanup of the flood-damaged Bethel A.M.E. Church in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
The response for Saturday’s cleanup was a beautiful thing. Members of area churches rolled up their sleeves on a Labor Day Weekend for a labor of love.

They came from the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, which shares roots with Bethel. They came from the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. They came from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. They came from the United Methodist Church. They came from the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints.

Calvary Baptist Church sent food.

Morristown First Lady Mary Dougherty waved the flag for Assumption Church. Her husband, Mayor Tim Dougherty, lent moral support. The Red Cross dropped off more food. (Sorry if we have left out anyone!)

“We’re blessed,” said Bethel member Gwyn Burnett.

Amen, Sister.