November 2, 2022 – Members of the Decatur First Church of the Nazarene (D1Naz) Mission Group traveled to flood-ravaged Waverly, Tennessee, to help rebuild homes after a 2021 flood damaged hundreds of homes, businesses and schools while leaving 20 dead in the aftermath.
Over a twelve-hour period, the area received 12-15 inches of rain. The D1Naz Mission Team consisted of members from the D1Naz congregation with skill sets from all aspects of life with the goal of rebuilding the town.
“It was an invaluable experience to help rebuild the lives of the people of Waverly,” recalls Deb Hancock, D1Naz coordinator for the church, located in Decatur, Illinois. Hancock adds, “It was hard work in a hot environment, but what we had to endure as part of the rebuilding process was nothing compared to the horrors of those who lost lives and homes from the flood.”
Members of the D1Naz Mission Group helped to rebuild homes in the form of building decks, removing and reinstalling insulation, siding installation, painting, electrical work, general demolition and anything the local Tennessee crisis management team asked of the group.
“As a professional photographer and first-time mission member, I didn’t know what I could do to help the people of Waverly, having an artistic background vs. not having a construction background,” says Chad N. Mitchell, a member of the mission team. “But what I quickly found out was, beyond helping in anything I could do physically, just talking to the people of Waverly, and more importantly, listening to their experiences, was just as important as pounding any nail.”
