December Update: Restoring Christmas Cheer in Rochester

At Last, a Christmas to Celebrate

Catriona evacuated her home in October of 2022 amid flooding that was ‘beyond worst case scenario’. Helplessly, she recounts, “we had all just sat and watched it go up and up and up, there was nothing we could do”. Catriona, a relief primary-school teacher, returned to her childhood home after the 2011 floods to take care of her elderly father.

In the weeks, then months following the flood, Catriona would relocate several times, starting from a community home, then into a temporary housing village, and finally into a caravan where she is currently staying. “I’ve had times where I’ve waited more than three months for anything to be done…it’s been challenging, just the slow pace of progress.”

Throughout the year, Catriona edged towards being able to move back into her house. By chance a gardener had mentioned that Samaritan’s Purse volunteers were returning to Rochester to offer a helping hand. Catriona’s gutters had recently been repaired, but had remained unpainted, and her backyard had several dead high-hanging tree branches which posed a safety risk to her and her home.

Over two days, Samaritan’s Purse volunteers completed Catriona’s eaves, colour-matching them to the new gutters. The team also cut down and removed several high-hanging dead branches, allowing her to return to her home with an outdoor space that was safe for her and her two dogs. “To have people come in and offer their services so freely and obligingly couldn’t come at a better time. I’m really grateful.”

This Christmas, Catriona hopes to move out of her caravan back into her home. “This Christmas it will be the first time I’ve been able to invite friends to my house and have company for quite some time.
I look forward to being able to welcome them into my house and say, look at my eaves, look at my house, look at the inside, look at how beautiful it is!”

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) chaplains accompanied our volunteers and were invited in by Catriona. While Samaritan’s Purse volunteers were working on her property, the RRT chaplains were able to provide spiritual and emotional comfort, lending a listening ear to all that Catriona had endured, even before the floods struck. “To feel listened to, it’s really important because it doesn’t happen a lot.
I just appreciate the support the chaplain has given me over the last couple of days.” To read more about our RRT Chaplains in Rochester, vist the website at billygraham.org.au.

Despite living outside her home for more than 12 months, Catriona considers herself lucky. “But you know, I’m not the worst…there are people that still haven’t had strip-outs done.” Many of Rochester’s 3,000 residents won’t be back in their homes this year and continue to struggle in their recovery.
Please pray for the ongoing work of Samaritan’s Purse as they restore the community spirit in Rochester. Our volunteers have completed work in over 110 homes. So far more than 100 volunteers have given over 5,600 hours to serve the community of Rochester in Jesus’ Name.