It's hard to watch our city fill with water like a bathtub and try to decide where to go from here. Our hope rests in the firm foundation of our sovereign God who holds us in his right hand. This morning I think of John Newton’s words, “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.”--Don Elbourne
I'm getting word from relatives, friends and fellow-bloggers about how they're being affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
A New Orleans pastor...
My friend Don Elbourne, a New Orleans-area pastor, has finally been able to blog about his situation.
Don says he's expecting the worst as far as his house and church building are concerned. His church is in Lakeshore, Mississippi. Don writes: "For those not familiar with the gulf coast, Lakeshore sits about half way between New Orleans LA and Gulport. MS, just outside Waveland/Bay St. Louis. Our church is only about a mile from the gulf, in a very low lying area. As soon as the roads open I want to get in and assess the damage. I will be very surprised if any of our church buildings still stand at all."
Evangelist Tim Lee's ministry is accepting donations for Don and his church. Lee says all financial donations earmarked for Don Elbourne will go directly to Don. You can send your contribution to:
Tim Lee Ministries
P.O. Box 461674
Garland,TX 75046
Sheltering the victims...
This message from my cousin Judy, who lives in the Beaumont, Texas area:
"Thought all of you in the rest of the country might like a local update about the Katrina evacuees. Our local area has a few thousand it sounds like. Our convention center in Beaumont has 1000 and many of the local churches are housing hundreds more. Mom said East Tx Baptist Encampment in Newton is housing some. One church in Lumberton, near me, has about 200. They are calling for all kinds of donations and the Red Cross especially needs cash. I hear that many have medical needs...including medicine and even dialysis. We are starting a sign up list at work for volunteers to help serve food and no telling what else. Also sounds like about 475 buses will be coming through here on IH10 to go to the Astrodome."
A five-year-old can't come home...
David of Espresso Roast is asking for prayers that his five-year-old son Jacob can come home soon. Jacob is safe with his grandparents in Mississippi, but is basically stranded there right now. Read more here.
"I saw several people crying today...
My blogging friend Ashley alerted me to this blog entry by her sister Lindsay, who helped out in a Red Cross shelter as part of her job with the state of Lousiana.
Lindsay writes: "I saw several people crying today, and for good reason. it was heartbreaking to watch the adults watching the news on the big screen tv set up in the corner. at one point, i stood over there and watched with them for a few minutes. they were showing new orleans and they had the caption - sunken city - next to it. some of them just stood there, shaking their heads in disbelief, watching these pictures of their hometown with water up to the roofs of the houses. lots of people told us that they know they have nothing left..."
Opening their homes...
Carol, who has opened her Texas home to relatives fleeing Katrina's aftermath, has some advice:
"If you know someone who has taken in evacuees, call. Ask if you can stop by. Take some flowers or cookies or something.
"We see a lot about the people stranded in the city and being sent to Houston. They are in an unimaginable situation.
"There are also hundreds of thousands of others who left when told to and are scattered about the nation. They are isolated, their resources slowly dwindling, they are frightened, many do not know where their loved ones are or if they have a home to return to or when or a job or . . .
"Sometimes a smile from someone who has heard and expresses concern is huge.
"I have some of these people in my home. They are my family. Simple gestures of kindness have done so much."
Simple gestures of kindness. Yes.
"And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”--Matthew 10:42
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