By Br. Bernie Spitzley, SVD Last February, Lenny Uhal, the SVD Alumni Director, along with five alumni, Dave Eversmann, Mike Langer, Bill Mauss, Terry Ptylarz and Rick Schultz did just that, they built miracles! As the Human Development Coordinator for St. Thomas (civil) Parish, Morant Bay, I see hundreds of destitute people living in nothing more than a collection of termite-infested boards with rusted out tin roofs, with the holes plugged with smelly old rags. For over a year I have been trying to make some basic repairs on these houses, replacing roofs and securing walls to ensure some shelter for the residents. Lenny learned of my efforts and in a matter of days was able to get volunteers. Richard Toomer of Food for the Poor visited us. We took stock of the conditions some of the elderly live in. His response was “I’ll see to it that you get the materials you need for the alumni to help you build three houses.” Suddenly our plans were changed from making repairs to actually building three houses. We found temporary accommodations for the three elderly ladies who would be getting new houses. Richard sent a crew from Food for the Poor to help. First, we tore down the old shacks, a process that took only minutes, since the wood was so rotten. Then with the help of my Jamaican assistant, Everton Macfalane, we measured for the new 12-foot-by-12-foot houses with 6-foot verandas, and dug the foundations. Soon the only thing you could hear was the clanging of shovels and thud of a pickaxe breaking new ground. Next, we poured cement and set up blocks for a new foundation. This was done after carrying all the sand, gravel, and cement blocks over a half-mile, to two sites because the road had been washed away. We wondered if we’d ever see the finished product! However, once the cement was dry and the boards delivered it did not take long to build the houses. Soon boards were being cut, nailed, and painted. Four days later, ninety-one-year-old Margaret Little stood in front of her new, freshly painted house with the crew who had worked overtime to create her miracle. The same can be said for Frances Eunick and Virginia Hall, each of whom had a new house to call home. Dave Eversmann, who stayed an extra day, helped Frances move into her new house and helped set up her new bed complete with a new mattress. With the marriage of two groups from different cultures, a miracle took place. The collaborative efforts of American precision and efficiency, along with Jamaican ingenuity and a “don’t worry—be happy” attitude, taught both groups how to build houses and enjoy life. Yes, miracles took place when the alumni group came for a visit:
three ladies each received a house they can proudly call a home.
Six alumni had an experience that will forever change their lives,
and the pastoral team was enriched by the dedication of six men
who created miracles in St. Thomas parish. |
