Gayler said he started volunteering for chain saw callouts back in October 2002. "We now have three chain saw units, two feeding units that can serve up to 10,000 meals per serving, and a couple of mobile shower and laundry units," he said. The local convention can also provide 42 trained chaplains when needed.

Local churches fund the disaster team well enough that Gayler oversees the team as a full-time ministry, he said, though there is no guaranteed funding. "Each week we have to pray and ask God to pay our bills, and he does it every time. We'll keep at it as long as that happens."

Zortman said his crew worked on 65 different jobs, clearing areas from one to 10 acres in size, as well as a couple of campgrounds. The team ranged in ages from 21 to 75, with the oldest "right out there sun up to sundown as well. I'm pretty proud of them."

Most volunteers had never met before they signed on, he said, but all have been trained for such work. "Every person on the team was picked by the Lord, they had their place and no one left out. It was just awesome, like God planned it," Zortman said.

"We're doing what God created us to do. He made us to be servants, not self-serving. When the whole group goes with a servant's heart, it's just absolutely fun. There's no bickering or complaining, we go to serve, and that's where our heart is, or we wouldn't have signed up for it," he said.

"I'm ready to go again."

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com

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