House Resolution 113 - Introduced HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 113 BY JACOBSEN A Resolution honoring Father Raphael Assamah for his 1 dedication and service to the residents of Hamburg, 2 Iowa, during the floods of 2019. 3 WHEREAS, the devastating floods of March 2019 4 brought disaster to the lives and livelihoods of 5 residents of southwest Iowa; and 6 WHEREAS, historic levels of flooding in the Missouri 7 River basin killed several people, left thousands of 8 people homeless, and devastated farms, fields, and 9 local businesses; and 10 WHEREAS, the flood victims found strength and 11 resolve to rebuild from a faith source in the form of 12 Father Raphael Assamah; and 13 WHEREAS, when Father Assamah arrived to take 14 his post as pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in 15 Hamburg, Iowa, he did not know that he would be the 16 right man for the right job at the right time, for he 17 was chosen to protect his parish from both the flood 18 and COVID-19; and 19 WHEREAS, while flooding rivers devastated towns 20 and villages along their banks, they also took a toll 21 on the spirits of residents, but the raging Missouri 22 and Nishnabotna rivers were no match for the 5-foot, 23 7-inch, sturdily built and energy-filled priest from 24 the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Ghana; and 25 WHEREAS, Father Assamah’s Hamburg parish had 26 completely flooded and was only accessible by boat or 27 helicopter, and most items that residents attempted to 28 -1- LSB 6269YH (2) 89 js/rn 1/ 3

H.R. 113 salvage had to be disposed of; and 1 WHEREAS, fearing the devastation would lead his 2 small parish to despair, Father Assamah deployed a 3 power mightier than mere raging rivers: the power of 4 faith, hope, and charity; and 5 WHEREAS, Father Assamah knew that praying together 6 would strengthen the community’s resolve to build 7 together, hope would make the community’s future 8 brighter, and charity would bring the community’s 9 members together with the larger community of the 10 Diocese of Des Moines; and 11 WHEREAS, despite the church building being under 12 water, the members of the parish were not as Father 13 Assamah kept the community together and moved the 14 Catholic congregation to higher ground at the First 15 Baptist Church, where they prayed, planned, and rebuilt 16 their town despite the new challenge of COVID-19; and 17 WHEREAS, the time has come for Iowans to express 18 their gratitude; NOW THEREFORE, 19 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That 20 the House of Representatives honors Father Raphael 21 Assamah for his efforts, care, and devotion to the 22 residents of Hamburg, Iowa, during the floods of 2019; 23 and 24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of 25 Representatives thanks Father Assamah for his service 26 and designates him an honorary Iowan; and 27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 28 resolution be distributed to the Bishop of the 29 Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, and the Archbishop of the 30 -2- LSB 6269YH (2) 89 js/rn 2/ 3