REPLACING DAMAGED WOOD - Gary Norton is captured by the camera as he and others have worked around the local church. The First United Methodist Church of Raymondville is getting minor repairs from a group of folks who do volunteer work while enjoying retirement.

The group is winding up a three-week stay in town and will take another three-week break before they go to another place to do similar work.

The called themselves NOMADS, which stands for Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service. The organization is made of church members who are usually retired or getting close to retirement, are either part- or full-time recreational vehicle travelers and who use their skills to help others.

Most of their work include building projects, maintenance, repairs, new construction, office work, painting and sewing job, childcare and gardening.

“We have been here for two weeks and have one more week to go,” Robert Dobbs, the group’s leader, said. “We are doing this because we feel we should be giving something back to the community. Besides, this beats sitting around doing nothing.”

A former educator back in Illinois, Dobbs said he never thought of himself as being a handy man, but learned the skills from working alongside others.

“This is our first year to come here with the NOMADS,” he said in between jobs outside the church at 192 S. Third St. “Everything we do is at our own expense, but the church provides parking and hookups for our RVs.”

Gary Norton, a full time RV’er, said each of them signed individually and pick places that usually are not so far apart.

He and the three other couples were replacing wood that was damaged by Hurricane Dolly, painting areas that needed retouching, fixing leaks, changing light bulbs and fixing or replacing toilets, among other things.

The group came in their on RVs and are among 1,100 people who belong to the NOMADS.

Devlon Goodman, the church pastor, said he was thankful for having them here.

“These are folks who care about making a difference,” he said. “They spent two weeks working in the church and this week they will fixing up a house in town.” tony@raymondvillechroniclenews.com