A week of hope produces change for a lifetime in Bastrop

BASTROP—Jennice Swank has been working daily on her property, trying to rebuild a life with her special-needs children that was engulfed in flames. In the wake of the inferno, there have been long hours sorting through debris, what few possessions remain and attempting to stay afloat with no end in sight.

Student missions volunteers Kaitlyn Martin, Kendra Holt, John Whitten, Jared Anderson and Taylor Horn move fallen trees in Bastrop. (See video  of the mission project here)

But recently, an army of help arrived in the form of students from the Hardin-Simmons Baptist Student Ministries. They stepped in and did much of the work Swank hoped to one day get to. They even built her a garden and a shed.

"I'm blown away with how much help I'm getting," Swank said. "They literally went through my fields and took the debris and put it in burn piles for me. Every person is like a whole day's work for me. This is like months of work for us. We may actually get caught up."

The HSU team is part of about 180 volunteers serving through a disaster recovery mission trip organized by Marla Bearden, disaster response specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Jared Anderson and Sarah Cash from Hardin-Simmons University move fallen trees in Bastrop.

Teams also arrived in Bastrop from First Baptist Church in San Antonio, the BSM at Navarro College, First Baptist Church in Beeville, Glenview Baptist Church in Fort Worth, First Baptist Church in Midlothian and First Baptist Church in Holland.

During the weeklong experience, Texas Baptists removed trees, picked up debris, sorted through the remains of people's belongings, helped the relief distribution center, prayed with people and shared the hope of Christ.

No matter what task they were performing, Texas Baptist volunteers attempted to share the gospel in word and deed with the people they encountered, according to Taylor Horn, an intern at HSU's BSM. They encouraged fire victims, provided practical assistance and prayed with those who were struggling.

About 180 volunteers served on a disaster recovery and rebuilding mission trip to Bastrop.

"We want to show the people of Bastrop and the people that have been affected by the fire that we love them and that we really do care and we really do want to help out with the things they are going through," she said.

"It's been fun to get to know the families and to get to be able to have conversations with the people that we come in contact with and just telling them that we care and showing them we care by doing things for them."

Zach Vanveldhuizen, associate youth minister at First Baptist Church in San

Hardin-Simmons University students serving in Bastrop over spring break included (left to right) John Hunt, Kendra Holt, Chad Moore and Taylor Horn.

Antonio, said serving in Bastrop helped his church's youth group connect with people in need of help. The effort opened their eyes to how events affect people's lives.

Sifting through people's remaining items, students were reminded that relationships—with Christ and with others—is truly what's important in life, Vanveldhuizen said.

"We've had a chance to bless people who know Jesus and some people I think who don't know," he said. "And those who don't know Jesus, we have a chance to give them the greatest hope, which is not rebuild a house, it's a chance to meet Jesus."

Groups and volunteers came together from across the state to echo that refrain: Jesus is Lord and cares about the people of Bastrop, Bearden said. Baptists worked together seamlessly to meet the needs of those who have been affected by the fires.

A volunteer uses his chainsaw to clear off fallen timber.

The trip, which was arranged with the help of designated Texas Baptist disaster response funds, particularly set out to help Bastrop residents affected by the wildfire who did not have insurance or were struggling financially.

"We had a great time," Bearden said. "There was plenty for everyone to do, and there's more work to be done. We're taking a holistic approach to restoration. We've created a coalition with the ministerial alliance and some other faith-based groups in the area to help people heal spiritually while getting them back into houses."

Count Swank among those whose life was changed as a result of the HSU BSM serving on her property.

"I feel like with the help I'm getting, I see normal life coming back where I didn't see it before, honestly," she said. "I just felt like this would be life for a year or two. Seriously, all these projects are just crossed off the list that maybe we can actually do something fun again. We will make it."

For more information about getting involved in ongoing Texas Baptist recovery efforts in Bastrop, visit www.texasbaptists.org/disaster or contact Bearden at (888) 244-9400 or [email protected].

–Based on reporting by Elizabeth Biedrzycki and Rex Campbell.