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Dear friends in Christ,
I spent the first day of autumn breathing in dust and mold. Elaine Richter
(Director of LCMS World Relief and Assoc. Director of Lutheran Disaster
Response) and I visited rebuilding sites in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and
East Grand Forks, Minnesota. There is dust in the air, and a heavy smell
of mold and mildew. But there is something else--the sweet smell of
fresh-cut lumber, the new smell of wallboard and spackling...and the sounds
of hammering and the words "Thank you."
We visited the house of Anton and Kathy Pederson. They and their six
children have been out of their house in East Grand Forks since April. A
pile of water-soaked insulation and wallboard, children's toys, even a baby
crib stands in their driveway. But on this day volunteers from Batavia,
Illinois, were completing the installation of dry wall and spackling in the
Pederson house. Tomorrow the Pedersons are moving back in. Two of the
boys were excited to show us their "new" bedroom. Mr. Pederson in simple
and grateful words said "Thank you" to Lutheran Disaster Response and the
many volunteers who have worked in their home over the months.
In Grand Forks Kaye Molton described how the floodwaters came "one inch
about the main floor" and tilted her house at one corner. And with a
thankful heart she told how Lutheran Disaster Response volunteers have been
working in her home, and she is now able to live in it once more.
At Immanuel Lutheran Church we talked with volunteers from Littlestown,
Pennsylvania. They had driven through the night from their home near
Gettysburg, and were in Minnesota to offer their presence and their
support. Although they are not highly skilled workers, there is plenty for
them to do, and they feel blessed to be here.
The floods have receded in the Red River Valley, but thousands of homes
still stand in need of repair. Volunteers are urgently needed, and will
continue to be needed for at least the next year. Work will continue
throughout the winter, and housing is available for up to 100 volunteers in
the Grand Forks area.
There is so much yet to be done in North Dakota, Northwest Minnesota, and
South Dakota. Lutheran Disaster Response is working at eleven sites.
Prayers, contributions, and volunteers are essential.
To contribute: ELCA Domestic Disaster Response
PO Box 71764/ Chicago, IL 60694-1764
To volunteer: 1-800-987-0061 (Minnesota and North Dakota)
1-800-568-2401 (South Dakota, Rose Kormann)
On this first day of autumn, cool days and cold nights bring their message
of another coming winter. As thousands in the upper Midwest continue to
clean up and rebuild, let us pray God's strength and presence with these
long-suffering brothers and sisters...and show our faith active in generous
love and volunteer service.
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Tue, Sep 23, 1997, at 5:49 pm)
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
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