Mennonites continue to rebuild with reorganized Second Hope Homes

"Rita recovery work continues in Deep East Texas," according to Newton pastor Joe Miller, who is part of the Second Hope Homes projects who are moving forward to put families into houses.

Second Hope Homes (formerly Self Help Houston of East Texas) has reorganized and opened an office in the Century 21 office building across from Lowe's in Jasper. It is now a 501(C)3 non-profit whose mission is to provide affordable housing for the residents of Jasper and Newton counties.

Miller says the Mennonite Disaster Service continues to provide construction volunteers and management people from all over the United States and Canada.

"They exemplify the service modeled and commanded by Christ," Miller said. "There has been so much work accomplished that I am unable to keep up."

Miller said funds come from several sources, including the permanent endowment fund of Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church of Galveston, Rita Recovery of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and Church World Service.

Miller's website at www.newtonmethodist. com has pictures of six homes in progress.

Shelly Haynes is director of Second Chance Homes, 384-4800.