September 3, 2005
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
The outpouring of compassion for each other in this disaster continues
to overwhelm me. Thanks be to God! Many have offered their homes and
time in response to this devastating hurricane. We are recording each
offer and invitation and are committed to responding to every e-mail and
phone call we receive. We will be contacting volunteers as soon as they
are needed in the affected areas. Please be patient with us as we
coordinate and manage all these generous offers to serve; we are, and
will continue, to help and hope to those affected by these storms during
the long rebuilding and recovery process.
In the face of heart-breaking news and images of despair and
destruction, I know it is hard to see the good news of the day. But
today, I rejoice in several important steps in the relief and recovery
process.
We gained access into the impacted areas of Mississippi and Alabama
yesterday and it appears we may be ready to deploy volunteers to assist
in debris removal next week. These volunteers will need to be
self-contained, providing all food and water for themselves as they
serve. At present, these areas still experience limited communication
and no electricity. Local food and water is being used to sustain life
in these impacted areas.
Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is
opening and has a temporary shelter and health clinic ready to serve up
to 500 persons. Many congregations are feeling called to do the same
thing and I thank God for you all!
And most importantly, please know that your prayers are making a
difference. I spoke with one mother this morning. She lost contact with
two of her daughters during evacuation from New Orleans and her youngest
son is struggling with asthma. She shared with me that she didn't think
she would ever see them again or would have enough medicine for her son.
This morning, she received word that her daughters were located in a
shelter in Dallas, and soon after she received medicine for her son! Her
words to me: "All the prayers that people are offering worked! Please
ask them to keep praying for us!"
My prayer this day is from Psalm 57:
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by. (Psalm 57:1)
May we all find refuge in Christ's mercy and compassion.
Heather
Heather L. Feltman, Diaconal Minister
Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
Director, Lutheran Disaster Response
Amy Bancroft, Administrative Assistant
Domestic Disaster Response
8765 W. Higgins Rd
Chicago, IL 60631
773.380.2748
773.380.2493 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
www.elca.org/disaster
|