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Dear friends in Christ,

"I'm so tired" is an almost universal phrase I keep hearing these days,
whether it's in conversation with Minnesota and North Dakota pastors, synod
bishops, Lutheran Social Service workers, South Dakota outreach workers, or
clean-up crew members.  Fatigue is a major factor for the people of the
upper Midwest, who have dealt with record-setting blizzards this past
winter and record-braking floods this spring.

In North Dakota and Minnesota, fatigue has resulted from the major clean-up
efforts, now all but complete.  But the situation in South Dakota is rather
different.  Having just driven south from two days of meetings with these
northern neighbors, my gatherings today with pastors from the Watertown,
South Dakota, area and outreach workers from Lutheran Disaster Response of
South Dakota show me a different scenario.  Volunteers are desperately
needed to help with clean-up efforts.  Mold is a developing problem,
especially in the homes of the elderly.  One pastor described how difficult
it is for 80-year-old members to come to grips with the loss of valued
personal items and look to others for help.  Farmers continue to face
adverse conditions, the latest being a devastating hail storm a few weeks
ago that destroyed many crops.  It wears down a person, and erodes one's
energy and spirit.

But we Christian people do not tire in responding, in making our
confessions of faith become expressions of faith, and living out the Gospel
of hope.  This week, Dr. Foster McCurley has been meeting with pastors
throughout South Dakota, bringing a Biblical word of support to pastors who
struggle with their own fatigue as they minister to their tired members.
Outreach workers continue to go door to door and farm to farm, making
contact in the name of Christ.  Once again I was privileged to affirm that
brothers and sisters across this country continue to offer prayers and
financial support, and are ready to come and help in the hard work that
lies ahead.

Are we, indeed, unflagging in our support?  Are we still willing to help
shovel mud, rip out wet insulation, write out a check, and offer a prayer?
I believe deep in my heart that we are.

A new statewide LDR-SD coordinator has been named.  Rose Kormann has
replaced Ray, who did a wonderful job of getting South Dakota through the
"chaos" phase and who is now using his energies for the upcoming national
ELCA Youth Gathering.  You can contact Rose at 1-800-568-2401.

In the Watertown area, Jennifer Grosland has been hired to coordinate the
survey of unmet needs, and she will coordinate volunteer efforts in the
present clean-up and future rebuilding efforts.  You may contact Jennifer
at 1-800-568-7116.  We have also added to our LDR staff Dale and Jeannie
Peercy, two contractors from Miamisburg, Ohio.  They just returned from a
five-month LDR rebuilding ministry in the Virgin Islands, and have "signed
on" for a 3-6 month effort in South Dakota, to serve as site managers and
coordinators of volunteer work crews, as well as working directly in
damaged homes.

May God grant to us both the will to do our ministry and the energy to
fulfill it.  As our brothers and sisters in Minnesota and in North Dakota
prepare to repair houses and worship areas - and in South Dakota continue
cleaning up and prepare for repairs -- let us continue to add our support,
helping to hold up tired arms and to share a strong faith.

You can help by
 > your faithful and regular prayers of support
 > your contributions to  ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
                          PO Box 71764
                          Chicago, IL 60694
> your volunteering in North Dakota and Minnesota (1-800-582-5260) and
  South Dakota (1-800-568-7116)

Yours in Christ,
Gil Furst

GILBERT B. FURST (written on Thu, Jul  3, 1997, at 12:32 am)
Associate Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
Internet address: [log in to unmask]
For more information, click on our web site:  www.elca.org/dcs/disaster