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Dear Friends in Christ,

I am writing this first day of spring from southwest Texas, where two days
of rain has stopped, the sun shines, and wild flowers bloom in the fields.
In two days I've traveled over 400 miles with Pastor Norman Hein (Texas
Lutheran Disaster Response coordinator) and Johanna Olson (ELCA Assistant
for Domestic Disaster Response).  Five months ago extensive flooding
affected over 1,350 square miles with half a billion dollars damage.
Lutheran Disaster Response is responding though Lutheran Social Services of
the South, coordinating efforts with the Texas District (Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod) and The Southwestern Synod (Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America).

We visited pastors, lay leaders, and flood survivors in this wide area.
Although many repairs have been made, I am surprised to see: houses still
standing as broken shells; people putting flood-damaged furniture and
water-soaked (and moldy) sheet rock and insulation on curbsides; empty lots
where houses once stood.

In New Braunfels a paraplegic man in a wheelchair described the terror of
being rescued.  "The water was up to my neck and I thought I was going to
drown."  He described the shock of returning to his destroyed house.  And
he talked of volunteers who helped clean up, make repairs, and rebuild a
ramp.  "I never knew I had so many friends, "he said.  "God has truly
blessed me."

In Seguin, Edgar and Charlene Nelson greeted us with broad smiles.  This
retired couple has lived in a small FEMA camper since October.  Tonight
they would sleep in their repaired bedroom, the first room in their house
ready for habitation.  As we stood in that room, their pastor, William
Lange, offered a prayer of thanksgiving for God's presence and the hope
provided by God's people.

In Victoria the goal is to work on 250 flood-damaged houses, for people who
have the greatest needs: 59% of the homeowners are over the age of 60 and
35% are below the average median income level.  Coordinated and intensive
repairing will begin in June and probably continue for at least a year.

In Cuero one quarter of the houses were damaged or destroyed.  Gutted
buildings, debris piles on curbsides, and mold growing on exterior walls
tell the story of the frustrations and struggles of disaster survival.
Volunteer coordination is getting organized and ready for June, to work
over the next year.

$370,000 (from LDR, the Southwestern Synod, the Texas District, and
matching funds of Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans)
has been distributed to help individuals and support the response
ministries.  Resources for children and pastoral care, and support for the
pastors and caregivers, are also being provided.

How can you help in this major disaster response:

>  Prayers - to support and sustain the disaster survivors and helpers
>  Volunteers - to continue the extensive clean-up, repairs, and rebuilding
>  Financial contributions - to sustain and continue a Lutheran disaster
ministry

To volunteer:  Contact Karen Ashorn (LSS of the South),1-800-938-5777

To contribute:

    ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response - "Texas floods"
    PO Box 71764
    Chicago, IL 60694-1764

       Credit card contributions:  1-800-638-3522.

This first day of spring in Texas rain has stopped and the sun shines.  I
leave deeply aware of the sorrow, loss, grief, and turmoil in so many
hearts.  I also see God's people, present and active, offering help,
encouragement, and love.  Signs of recovery, hope, and new life are already
beginning to blossom.

In Christ,
Gil Furst

GILBERT B. FURST (written on Sat, Mar 20, 1999, at  9:30 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