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Dear friends in Christ,
Two years ago Lutheran Disaster Response helped build a small tornado
shelter in Royal Oaks, near Little Rock. Designed for 6 to 8 people, it
was constructed behind Nelly Eddings' rebuilt mobile home.
This year, on January 21, thirty-eight killer tornadoes tore across
Arkansas. On that day 22 people crowded into that small shelter - and Nelly
Eddings' mobile home was destroyed. But she and her neighbors are safe,
and recovery efforts are well under way in her community.
These last two days I've traveled in Arkansas with Ms. Bernice Karstensen
(President, Lutheran Social Service of Kansas/Oklahoma, the agency managing
our LDR response) and with Hal Shope (our local LDR coordinator). We
visited Nelly. Although she was affected by tornadoes twice in two years,
she smiled and gave me an "OK" sign. LDR volunteers in '97 and '99 came to
clean up debris in her yard - including a massive tree that crushed her
mobile home in January. LDR not only helped in her times of need. "LDR
saved my life," she says, "and saved the lives of my neighbors."
In addition to removing debris, re-roofing, and repairing houses, LDR will
help provide three additional tornado shelters in Royal Oaks - near the
homes of an 80-year-old couple, a widow in her 70s, and a handicapped
child.
We stood in an area where most of the thick forest was destroyed. Hal
pointed out numerous work sites. "The challenges are great," he told us.
"The needs are widespread and scattered, and LDR is the only help being
provided here. The volunteers are wonderful and so helpful. Their very
presence gives people renewed hope." Often the volunteers present an
interesting ecumenical perspective. One group of 29 youth and 6 advisors
came from St. Mary's Cathedral in Gaylord, Michigan. This Roman Catholic
youth group, working for Lutheran Disaster Response, slept in a nearby
Methodist camp.
There is so much work yet to be done in Arkansas. How can you help?
> Your prayers provide indescribable support for the survivors of this
disaster as well as for those reaching out to help in Christ's love
> Volunteers - groups and individuals - are needed to provide the "hands
on" help that is needed.
To volunteer, call: Hal Shope, (501) 562-5489
> Your contributions help provide cash grants, sustain the response, and
buy needed supplies. Contributions can be sent to:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Tornadoes"
P.O. Box # 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764.
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
LC-MS World Relief
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
Let us continue the work of sheltering these disaster survivors in the
loving arms of Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Tue, Mar. 6, 1999, at 9:28 pm)
Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response (Division for Church in Society),
Lutheran Disaster Response (A cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LCMS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493
Visit our website: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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