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May 09, 2014

Church to Help Family with Critical Home Maintenance

The Strong family is dealing with a very sick 11-year-old and the failing health of an elderly parent. Their daughter, Kayla, has numerous health issues that require the family to spend long stretches of time at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. The family's home has fallen into disrepair as the family's resources have drained away. Kayla’s mother Karen quit work in order to care for Kayla and her own mother¹s deteriorating health.

 

Parishioner Mark Cambria learned about the family’s situation and asked ministry leaders of the northwest Houston church to help. They immediately agreed to plan a three-day work project to tackle the most critical repairs and they invite others in the Diocese of Texas to join them, June 5, 6 and 7.

 

“Kayla's treatment for several critical diagnoses has taken both an emotional and an economic toll on the family,” said the Rev. Janie Kirt Morris, rector of Emmanuel. “We can make a very big difference for the Strongs with a little elbow grease.”

 

Four members of the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota, with whom the Diocese of Texas has a partnership, will join church volunteers to help with the renovation work. The four will stay with members of Emmanuel while working on the Strong house and share some of the critical needs they face back home.

 

“This is what our partnership looks like,” said Morris, who is also chair of the Diocese¹s World Mission Board.  “We are bringing all our prayers and expertise to bear on the situation to give the Strongs some breathing space and, at the same time, to strengthen our ties with our partners in North Dakota. We hope others in the Diocese will come and join us.”

 

For information or to volunteer for one or all three days, contact or visit emmanuel-houston.org/ren4life.