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Dear friends in Christ,
"God bless this home," reads the simple sign on the floor of Gerry's house.
Signed by some of the many volunteers who have been repairing her house,
that sign reflects the blessings brought by many from across the country to
the people of Houston, Texas.
I am writing to you from Houston, where I'm traveling this week with Mark
Minick (LDR-Texas disaster coordinator) and Dale and Jean Peercy (LDR
Construction Coordinators). On this visit I have meet with local people
working to coordinate services, homeowners affected by floods, and
volunteers who are bringing blessings.
Fourteen months ago (June 2001) Tropical Storm Allison brought death and
destruction from Texas through New England. Over 36 inches of rain fell in
Houston, causing over $4 billion of damage. The storm was responsible for
43 deaths. FEMA reports that nearly 119,000 registered for help just in
the Houston city area. 47,243 houses were damaged, 3,600 totally
destroyed. Nearly one-third of the affected are people over the age of 62,
with an average income of $14,000 or less. This is the second-largest
natural disaster to which FEMA has ever responded.
Lutheran Social Services of the South (Kurt Senske, president) is managing
the local response on behalf of Lutheran Disaster Response, a cooperative
ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod.
The scope of this disaster is enormous. Recovery efforts are slow in
coming together. We met with Linda O'Black and her United Way staff. "The
Peercys," she said, "have been an amazing gift to Houston." Linda and her
staff have been instrumental in bringing together diverse groups and
agencies, as the community endeavors to develop a comprehensive picture of
the needs and available resources. We met with Nolan Kuehn, the new
executive director of "Disaster Recovery Interfaith," and members of his
staff. "DRI" has had many difficulties this past year, as systems changed
and leaders came and went. "DRI" is working to streamline processes as it
works with the city and county. We spoke with Pastor David Patzold (Holy
Trinity Lutheran Church), who described desperate needs in his community,
many still not addressed. And we met with Nancy Sterling from Chapelwood
United Methodist Church, a nearby congregation with resources and
volunteers that wants to share recovery ministries with LDR.
This week there are thirty volunteers from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
(Schaumburg, Illinois) and ten volunteers from Trinity Lutheran Church
(Lemoyne, Pennsylvania). These two groups worked together last year in
Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Wednesday evening we shared a "Texas Bar-B-Q"
at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, which houses LDR volunteers in its
parochial school facility. Pastor Larry Kelm speaks of the blessings
volunteers have provided to this area and to his own congregation; over
one-quarter of his members had flood damage.
Yesterday we spent time visiting some of the homes in which the volunteers
were working. Louvilla Hewitt was not able to be with us, her daughter
Daphne explained. She was about to be released from the hospital this day
and should be back in her home within the next three weeks. Jovita Garza
is excited because she will be moving back into her house by the end of
August. Alma Johnson is also excited, because volunteers have brought her
home to the point that she'll be returning to her home in a few days.
Gerry Findley is hoping to be back home within the next ten days. These
frail elderly are only a few of the thousands who have not been able to
return to their homes, or even worse, who continue to live in flood-damaged
houses that are in disrepair and full of mold. It is a startling sight for
me, as we drive through the neighborhoods, to see new piles of moldy
furniture and insulation being brought to curbsides for removal fourteen
months after the floods.
The promise of the church is to be involved for the long haul, to bring
help and hope to those who have been affected. LDR has been active here
from the very first day of the flooding. But the church can only be
involved and remain involved with the support of its members.
Your support is needed. You can help by your prayers, for the tens of
thousands still affected by this tropical storm_and for those who are
present to help. Remember especially the elderly, the disabled, and the
non-English speaking population.
Your volunteer support is needed. In September LDR will work together with
skilled volunteers from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. LDR
is making a major effort to repair and rebuild houses in the last quarter
of 2002. Skilled volunteers and teams can sign up by calling
1-713-647-9860.
Your contributions are needed to provide for immediate needs, repair and
rebuilding supplies, and to deliver spiritual and emotional support to the
survivors and the caregivers. Please give generously to
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Tropical Storm Allison"
P.O. Box # 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764.
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
Credit card gifts via the web: www.ELCA.org/disaster
LC-MS World Relief - "Tropical Storm Allison"
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
Help the church to continue bringing God's blessings into the homes of
Houston.
Yours in Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Fri, Aug 2, 2002, 9:44 am). Director for
ELCA DOMESTIC DISASTER RESPONSE (Division for Church in Society) and
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493
Please visit our website: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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