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To: [log in to unmask] Dear Christian friends, In the midst of many meetings in Fargo this past week, Dr. Leon Phillips (Director, Lutheran Disaster Response) and I met with Bob Bottchen. Bob and his wife Carol have just returned from upstate New York, where they delivered fifty generators from the on-going North Dakota disaster response operation to help with the northeast ice storms. But they did not only deliver generators to the rural homeowners and dairy farmers; they stayed for three weeks to help install, service, and pick up the generators. More importantly, they worshipped and spoke with the local folks and organizations, added moral support, and shared the Gospel of hope. Bob told us the people were truly grateful for Lutheran Disaster Response. "They couldn't believe that a church or church-sponsored organization would care enough about them to travel all those miles, and be willing to loan them a generator at no cost to them...considering Lutheran's are in the minority in this area." Bob shared this experience, which I want to pass on to you: "A man came to the house we were working out of, and asked to borrow a generator. This fellow looked as though he had not been near soap and water for sometime, and really looked very tired. After Carol helped him fill out the paperwork, and I put the generator in his trunk, he shook my hand and thanked LDR for being there to help, and at this time he began to cry, saying that we did not know how much he appreciated the use of the generator, as he had a six week old baby on a monitor and that they had been living in a shelter for the past seventeen days. This generator meant that he and his family could go back home. If this would have been the only generator that was needed, it would have made the trip worth while." In a letter to Bob and Carol, Bishop Lee Miller (Upstate New York Synod) referred to them as "Traveling Angels." My brothers and sisters, by your on-going support, you have enabled Lutheran Disaster Response to reach out directly in Christian love to the people of upstate New York. In addition, LDR also provided presence and support through Lutheran Social Services of New England to several communities and LCMS congregations in Maine and Vermont. Now we are watching closely the storms and flooding on the West Coast. Some emergency disaster grants have already been provided as specific needs are assessed. Please hold in your prayers all who are experiencing disaster-related needs. And to assure that LDR will be able to respond -- even through "traveling angels" - please send your contributions to: ELCA Domestic Disaster Response PO Box 71764 Chicago, IL 60694 Yours in Christ, Gil Furst GILBERT B. FURST (written on Sat, Feb 14, 1998, at 4:37 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