Work History:

• October 2003 - September 2004: Residential Construction Coordinator.

The above dates are approximate, +/- 3 weeks.

Reference websites:

• MERCI Mission Center

• Hurricane Isabel

• "Down East" in Carteret County, N.C.

My duties as a MERCI disaster-recovery Residential Construction Coordinator included:

• Survey and assess scope of work to be accomplished by MERCI in Carteret County.
• Meet with, interview, document each request for MERCI assistance. During my fifth month as coordinator, a MERCI case worker arrived to take over this responsibility.
• Develop a work plan for each assistance request, which included scope of work, types of work activities, building supplies and materials required, types/numbers of construction skills required, duration of work effort, and test/document the extent of chemical/biological contamination/hazards at/within the work site.
• Interface with personnel at MERCI headquarters regarding: approval of assistance requests, supplies and materials needed for each request, types/number of construction skills required to complete each request, construction tools and equipment needed for each request, scheduling and receipt of tools/supplies/materials from MERCI warehouse (if available).
• On an as-needed basis, meet with Carteret County building permits and inspections personnel regarding proposed/planned MERCI construction activities.
• Purchase (and sometimes transport) from local sources the tools, equipment, supplies, and materials - as needed - to accomplish MERCI's mission in Carteret County.
• Interface with local churches regarding housing for Volunteer Work Teams coming to Carteret County to work on the above requests. Make sure that the Volunteer Work Teams were properly housed during their stay.
• Coordinate, supervise, and specify the work to be performed by each Volunteer Work Team. On an as-needed basis, demonstrate construction and work procedures, methods, and techniques.
• Ensure that building supplies and materials, work related tools and equipment, were available and on the work site, when and as needed.
• Meet with local pastors and ministers regarding the disaster-recovery needs of their congregations.
• Coordinate the remodeling, provision and staffing of a 'MERCI Disaster Recovery Center' office in Carteret County.
• Interface with the local chapter of Habitat For Humanity, and coordinate their MERCI-related work activities.
• Periodically attend MERCI staff meetings.
• Interface with staff from local newspapers and media organizations, provide them with information about MERCI's Carteret County mission and activities, and be available for meetings with them at MERCI work sites.

MERCI provided me a small travel trailer in which to live. The trailer also served as a location sometimes used as a meeting place with families seeking MERCI aid and assistance. The trailer was parked a few feet away from Sea Level United Methodist Church, and was connected to its water, septic tank, and electricity.

MERCI provided me a Chevrolet pick-up truck, circa 1990 model, for use in work-related activities. I would not have been able to do MERCI work without the truck, and the MERCI fuel card provided to me.

Although MERCI's mission in Carteret County was focused on disaster recovery for families and their homes, I felt called (by God) to include several area churches within the scope of the MERCI mission. As a result, MERCI assisted with disaster recovery with church and/or parsonage at Sea Level United Methodist Church, Cedar Island United Methodist Church, Williston United Methodist Church, and Stacy United Methodist Church. Although I did not supervise the effort, I participated in the construction of a modern "on pilings" parsonage for Cedar Island United Methodist Church.

I feel blessed and very grateful for the opportunity to have served God and the residents of Carteret County and its communities. If given another opportunity to serve in this or related capacity, I would gladly and joyfully say "Yes, Lord, I will go".