By By KERRY WHIPPLE BEAN – Publisher
A week after he finally finished renovations to the interior of his house, Tim Rhodes - and his roof - met Ivan.
A year and a half later, it took just a week for a volunteer group from the United Methodist Church to help him finish rebuilding what the hurricane did.
The volunteers - mainly from Tennessee and Kentucky - were part of a group of 21 people who headed south to Brewton last week for a hard-working mission trip.
Part of the United Methodists' Corps on Relief, the project connected volunteers with local residents who still needed help cleaning up after the past two hurricane seasons.
Some didn't know each other before the week began - and many had never done construction work before.
But by Thursday they were joking like old friends and laying shingles like experts.
Kenneth Davis of Franklin, Tenn., was one of the more experienced workers - and the one the others in the group let take the lead. &#8220I'm not the boss,” he said. &#8220I'm just making sure everything gets done.”
Their days last week began at about 7:30 a.m., with a break at noon for lunch, and ended around 4:30.
And evenings were spent meeting many people in the community.
&#8220Everybody we have met has been marvelous,” volunteer Linda Baker of Columbia, Tenn., said. &#8220It's the friendliest and nicest place we have been.”
Carolyn Jennings, who has been working to help coordinate the volunteers this week, said help is still available for those who need it.