Grove Relief

On April 25th a second group of rebuilders, headed by Bill Robertson (aka "House Captain" in RT parlance) fixed the front walk on the townhouse of a woman with Parkinson's disease.  For Diane Gary, a tripping hazard is a big deal, so she really appreciated those who came to add a new paving stone and level her walkway, on a hot day.  Volunteers also repaired and repainted Diane's back fence.
The photo on the left shows how unlevel the walk was,  Diane stands with volunteers behind the leveled walk on the right...

    

Volunteers and homeowner Diane include from left: David Young, Bruce Rothrock, Mary Perry, Diane Gary, Ridge Kelly, and Sylvie Favret, in front.   Not pictured: Jane Seegal and Emily Cavey. 
Below: repaired and repainted fence, 3 project leaders...

                               

MANY thanks to:  All the wonderful volunteers on April 18th, 19th, and 25th, to Gary House Captain Bill Robertson, who put in many hours in the heat, to Bruce Rothrock, saftey coordinator for both R T jobs, and to Ed Mroczka, Crusoe House Captain and overall coordinator, involving paper work and planning...Congratulations all, on helping our neighbors!   

    
                                                                                                    
               Bill                                             Bruce                                            Ed
   

Following the fund-raising Silent Auction in March of this year, our town/church rebuilding group, "Grove Relief" added railings and created new steps for the Crusoe family at the first of two projects in April that we participated in through "Rebuilding Together of Montgomery County" (RT)--formerly known as Christmas in April.  Like other rebuilding projects Grove Relief has participated in, the RT projects serve the needs of residents who have disabling conditions.   McArdle Crusoe is blind and suffers from partial paralysis due to a stroke. 

At the Crusoe house 4 18 09, David Young, Bill Roberson, and Steve Wertz prepare to rebuild the walkway.
Photos by Emily Cavey

As it turned out, McArdle and Frances Crusoe, owners of the home we were repairing, had a fascinating story of their own.  They immigrated to the US from Liberia ten years ago, during Liberia's civil war.  McArdle ("Mac") has a degree in chemistry, and worked in Monrovia with water purification, both in the laboratory, and caring for water mains.  For many years Mac and Frances had walkie talkies as a regular part of their lives in Liberia, where Mac was responsible for repairing any break in the water system, 24 hours a day.
Interviewing Frances and McArdle Crusoe... 

While I found out some of the fascinating and difficult story of fleeing war in Liberia from the owners, who graciously agreed to have their story written up (below following pictures), volunteers followed plans designed by Ed Mroczka and Bill Robertson, to make the front walk and various aspects of the inside of the home handicapped accessible.

a new front stoop  Craig and Bill digging post                                                                                                                   holes and putting in supports for railings...

 
Bruce in action                             Planning the railing

Inside, transitions that were hard to go over in a wheelchair were replaced.

 
Paula, Jane and Ed discover metal under wood, which has to be drilled through...

Meanwhile, Sylvie sands indoor railings and attaches new grab bars.
     

                                                     Bruce and Mac                Volunteers Mac, Frances, amid the posts...Left to right Back row: Bill Sylvie, Mac, Frances, 2nd row: Emily, Steve, part of David (!), a bit more of Jane, Craig, Front row: Dick, Paula, and Ed. 

    More of the story of Mac and Frances Crusoe in their own words: 
    Frances-- Ten Years ago, while Mac was a Chemical engineer managing Water Purification for Monrovia, the Liberian capital, I worked as the chief secretary in the National Bank of Liberia, and also did social work part-time with Liberia's then first lady, in the charity she founded.  How many children do we have? [consulting with Mac]  Eight--well ten really...You see, in Africa those of us who are fortunate and educated take in children from our extended families, so they can get educated too.  Mac had three children from his first marriage when we married, and we had three children together.  But we've raised other children in our home, some of my second cousins, and so on... That is why it is sad for us that only one of our children is with us in the United States so far.
    The war, the family: 
   Frances-- Mac used to visit the United States regularly for eye treatments in the 1980's and the 1990's.  
   Mac -- When skirmishes here--and skirmishes there broke out in Monrovia, we sent our youngest son here with his aunt, so that one member of our family would be saved, anyway.  McArdle Junior was born at the start of the civil war.  He was four years old when he came to the US.
   Frances--In 1997 we were here visiting young Mac and things got very bad in Liberia, so we thought of staying [under the temporary protective stay that made Liberians legal during the war], but the first lady asked me to return to help further with her charity, so we went back.
    Mac--That was after our house was burned in 1996.  Three men knew Frances worked at the the bank, and robbed her, then they burned part of the house, and we knew we had to move out.  We lived in another small house we had on the outskirts of the city.  Other people moved into what was left of our house.  The house they burned had been my mother's house, it was the house I grew up in.
    We have been through war, and we know what it is.  For eight days once we didn't eat, we had no food.  Frances was looking at food pictures in a book--pretending to eat pictures of food.  George H. Bush said at that time that Liberia was not at war with anybody, so they didn't interfere.  But 450,000 people died.  The U.S. warships sat on the sea, and people in Monrovia wished so much for the food they threw away...
    Frances--Finally when we both came to see Mac Junior in 1999, and things got really bad in Liberia while we were here, we stayed, under the "temprorary protective stay" extended to Liberians because of the war (that's what we had until our green cards came through last year).  We talked to our children in Liberia and decided they should all go to Ghana.  They stayed there during the war, then when they thought things were better, all 8 boys went back to Liberia.  Two of our sons were killed in Liberia when they got back. 
    Mac--It was a terrible time in Liberia then.  Before we left, a pregnant woman was jumped and killed--for five dollars.   We saw dead men eaten by dogs in the street.  When you have been through war, you are grateful for peace.  
    Frances--Our daughters stayed in Ghana longer, then they returned to Liberia when it was safer.  We were hoping they would be here with us.  The immigration laws changed between when we applied for our green card and now.  It was to have included five of our children.  We are so grateful for your help now--God bless you!  Because things have been hard since Mac got the stroke.  We had saved to buy this town-house.  You have to have a place for family members to live, in order to include them on your immigration petition.  So we bought this house, but then we couldn't afford medical insurance after Mac's stroke.  I took Mac to Mobile Med--but with my job it's been hard to wait at Mobile med for the hours it takes to be seen there.  We had paid the $350 per child application fee for the green card--with all the fees combined we paid $6000.  Some of it we ended up paying twice.  We had applied in Montgomery county, then were told we had to return to Liberia to apply--but wouldn't be allowed back if we returned to Liberia.  Then we were sent to Baltimore to apply, and they couldn't get back the fees we had already paid to the office here--so we had to pay some of the fees twice.  And with the immigration changes made in the laws, by the time our green card came last year, our children weren't included after all.  It will be two or 3 more years before our children can join us.  I am learning patience.  Five of the children can come then--one wasn't a minor when I married Mac, so he doesn't qualify.  Our children who were adopted informally don't qualify.
     Mac--Our youngest grandchild was a one-year old baby when we left Liberia, so she doesn't remember us.  Her parents have to show her pictures and describe us that way.  That makes us sad.
     Frances--One of our boys works at a bank in Liberia and he can help the other children some.  Another works at the University, others work in the community, and one is a farmer.  I mail packages to my daughter with things she needs.  After my experience in social work in Liberia I decided to work here in that field.  I take care of people with Arc of Montgomery County.  I did over-nights as a team leader for a while, but that left Mac alone, and he needs my help, so now I work in residential care on a shift again, so I know when I can get home to help him.  I also work every other weekend caring for people in a group home.  So we've been able to pay for private insurance, so Mac can go to doctors more quickly.
     Mac--I enjoy the Monday and Friday morning Senior Citizen program here--they have current events, pictures, music, and lunch.  On other days it gets lonely.  Looking back on my life, I see that we suffer, suffer, suffer.  Sometimes people lose faith--thinking why must I suffer like this?  You must be a strong person, with a strong faith.  Faith makes one stronger.  When you go through it, you understand it.
     Frances--One of our sons is very anxious to come here to take care of his Dad.  
   Mac and Frances are optimistic about the future:
     Mac--(responding about how he sees things in Liberia now)  Things are much better in Liberia now.  Our new president is very good.  We only wish she would plan to run for reelection--right now she is not planning to stay in office past one term.  She is honest and educated.  She graduated from Harvard and has good international connections.  I feel things are hopeful now in Liberia.  I knew her, the president, as a child--we played soccer together as children.  The people with an education all know each other in Liberia. 
     (In the U.S.)--Things in the U.S. are rough economically now, more than in the past.  But President Obama will stand for justice.  Anyone who thinks he will favor one group over another will be disappointed--he will stand for justice, and not be "on their side" if it isn't just.  That's a good thing.  Africa is behind this President, because he sees the needs of the world.  I think he is right to make peace as we can, even with Castro.  It's important to reach out to the Muslim world and try to soften them, also.   Frances wants to become a US citizen, but I'm an African, my green card is enough for me.  
     Frances--We are so grateful for your help today.  It was not good to bump Mac's wheelchair down that 1 foot stoop, and to get him back up was especially hard.  Now he'll be able to use his walker and come up the small steps, with the new strong railings...
     Mac--And the repairs inside too--we bless you for this.

                                                                Photos by Emily Cavey

Mac and Frances think over the past, tell their story, and share pizza, as well as their gratitude and some of their wisdom with volunteers.  It was a priviledge to work in their home.  -- Judy Young

       
 
                                                                                  
                                                                 

 Earlier this week the Grove and most of northern Montgomery County had the instructive experience of doing without running water for a day, then without potable water for two more days (boiling water before use was the order from the powers that be).  Some Grove landmarks usually regarded as quaint 
began to draw speculative looks...
  While other sights refreshed and reminded us... 

...that we are among the truly fortunate in this world of limited resources, most especially of limited fresh water.  Our almost forgotten three day hiccup in the water flow was a small taste of normal life in much of the world...Meanwhile signs of water to come from another direction continue to appear during many afternoons...     

Between thunderstorms in the Grove it’s been a pleasure to host a Games night at the church, and to celebrate the milestone of Sarah Steel’s special birthday, hosted in the town hall by Sarah’s children and grandchildren. Several wonderful Steel family musicians played and sang to the pleasure of the crowd, including Sarah.  An attempt to photograph the delightful dance of one of Sarah’s granddaughter’s produced an unintentionally abstact composition.  
      

Amid the fun, a call came in from my cousin, the first to arrive at a summer camp in Canada that’s been in my family since the 1940’s. Cousin Erich delivered the sad news that there are in fact critters more destructive than the mice and raccoons that have sometimes perplexed us up there, just as their southern relatives have sometimes plagued the Grove. There we usually don’t suffer from foxes or coyotes, though, just beavers…… 


and yes, bears. Our Ontario cottage has been broken into by a black bear, my cousin reports, with all the attendant mess and destruction of a large hole in the cottage wall, china cabinet pushed over, propane tanks disconnected and rolled around (bear toys?), canned goods opened with those powerful paws, and spread around, with opportunistic mice following after…Quite a mess to tidy come August!  Meanwhile, hopefully this news will make the latest ant or coon attack seem a bit less upsetting…Down deep, in a strange way it’s also a relief to know that nature is still full of the unexpected. God’s in his heaven, the world is more than human beings…

 Ed and Judy Mroczka had a chance to see Gustavo's ramp today.  In the first shot they look great posing on the ramp that Ed spent so much time planning.  Gustavo's great smile shows up in the next one, near the flower planters he's already hung from the railing.  (I'm standing in front of the Judy Young memorial nail.)  Gustavo plans to stain the ramp railing, and he describes the great feeling of mobility he has now, as well as the pleasure of the extra space it gives to the front of his trailer. 
  

 It's hard to believe that this time five days ago the project had just begun, below,...and soon it was over, and everyone joined in the group shot at the end of the last entry--except for George Paine, the photographer--here he is after taking that shot.  
Thanks to all the helpers, both those present and those "behind the camera" so to speak, like Ed.  Gustavo told us today that he and many others have benefitted.  He laughed that all of his neighbors have been finding excuses to drop by.  They've come to check out the "miracle" of the one-day ramp, and to hear Gustavo's story of this combined effort of his church and community, and of friends from another community and another church.  Gustavo says "it has given me hope--and not only me--it has given a lot of people hope..."

 
 

A journal reflecting on ministry in the United Methodist church in Washington Grove, the "town within a forest," necessarily addresses the roots of faith stretching back to the 19th century camp meeting whence we came.  It also addresses the branches of today's community, which provides a canopy of care for God's creation and for our neighbors who share it.   The relief felt by everyone who returns to the Grove, to the East and West Woods, to the birds singing in 150 year old oak trees, is one reason for the title of this journal.  Grove Relief also applies to the church/town rebuilding team that has carried out inspiring out-of-Grove service projects together.  Saturday's ramp building project was the most recent, a follow-up after the "Grove Katrina Relief" team first worked together in Mississippi...

 

On June 7th, the team had a wonderful time building a handicapped ramp for a member of another United Methodist church, Camino de Vida of Gaithersburg.  Despite the heat, all were in good spirits from the first setting of the posts to the final handrail on the finished ramp.  The smiles tell the story in these photos of Gustavo and his daughter on the ramp, and with another handicapped friend, who dropped by to test the final product--as Gustavo shook hands with Ridge Kelley, master carpenter from the Grove team.  Gustavo is an athlete who has won the New York wheelchair marathon, but that's no reason he should have to heave his own wheelchair 4 feet up into his trailer, then drag himself in after it with his strong arms, as he used to!  (click thru these thumbnails for larger pics)
    

Having started with shots from the end of the job, here are some from the beginning--George Paine was too busy working to photograph the first part of the job, so here are some shots that didn't make his blog.  (If you haven't already seen his great shots of the work, they're at  http://www.livejournal.com/~15_the_circle/2008/06/09 )   Hutch, who arrived early to do the lay-out for the job with Ridge, is in the background of the first shot below, to the left of George.  Ridge and Hutch built on plans started by Ed Mroczka.  The teamwork was everything, just as it was on our Katrina Relief trip... 

      

The job that we expected would take a full two-day weekend if not more, was finished in a day.  In addition to the great planning, it was a godsend when Pastor David Rocha brought other members of his congregation and friends (seen here sawing boards), all of whom worked hard in the hot sun for nothing but lunch. Pastor Rocha, a friend from seminary days, was our contact person as we planned this job--he poses with Gustavo on the first planks of the ramp...  
   
 
Here are some shots of the work progressing, with Dick Cavicchi and David Young joining those burning up in the sun...Note that the edge of blue tarp visible in some shots is evidence of hours of work on Ed's part, installing this temporary fix for the leaking roof problem last week. 

 

After a break for a classic lunch of sandwiches, rotisserie chicken from Sam's, and rice and beans and fried plantain from Antojitos, it was back to work on the 2nd part of the ramp... Mary (Ellen) Perry and her "tacayo"--person with the same first names--Maria Helena Rocha (standing behind Gustavo) helped to provide the lunch. 
,       

The nail I'm pointing to below is the one I actually hammered in--other than helping to feed people, that's the only work I did all day, hence the photo (and the smile, other folks actually had to work in 100 degrees to get credit for this).  More smiles in the group portrait finish the tale of what a joy it is to help someone like Gustavo!  David Rocha commented that to him this kind of collaboration is real Christian fellowship, the "koinonia" of God's love.