ONE THING I HAVE REALIZED

I am amazed as I think about all these people who have lost everything but yet are so eager to help each other. There have been times during past disasters when you have to really keep an eye on people because when we are handing things out to them, some will come and take anything and everything they can get. That has not been the case here. We have groups who have been handing out food, grills and charcoal. When they return they tell me the stories of families who are so excited to receive the grills and are so appreciative. They also told of families who say no thank you, we have a grill please give it to someone else who really needs it. One family said people have been delivering canned goods to them and they really appreciate it, but they have no way to cook them so they wanted to trade some of their canned goods for a grill.
You know, Whether it be volunteers or those we are helping we have met so many wonderful people in this area. I'm so glad this ministry is the one GOD put us into.

Today I am taking a large group of the volunteers into Biloxi to work. 2 from the N. Tampa church of Christ have been scouting the area for us over the past 2 days and really see a need there also. I'll be speaking with those at the church there to see what ways we can be of assistance to them. We will still have 2 groups staying here. 4 will be taking chain saws and cutting trees and another 5 will be staying to cook and serve food in the Bayou La Batre area.

We have11 additional volunteers who have come in to help. 3 are from the Frankfort, Ky. area, they've been willing to do "anything" including gutting out houses, thank you guys!! 2 are from the Red Oak Church of Christ in Petersburg,Tenn. they are excellent with the chain saws and we appreciate the donation they brought with them from the church!! We also have another 2 who arrived from the Newark, Ohio area. They are a blessing and willingly allowed us to put them to work immediately helping to serve the people in Bayou La Batre. We also have 4 who have come from Maryland!! Steve and Stacy have come to help and are in training and they've brought 2 others with them!! Steve and Stacy felt a calling to go into the disaster relief ministry after helping in Gulf Breeze, Fl. last year. They will be going "full-time" with us in March or April!!They are eagerly working to get support so if you know of a congregation who would like to help sponsor them, please get in contact with us. We thank GOD for them!! We appreciate ALL the volunteers who come our way!!

Donations have been coming our way and we appreciate it so much. There is so much that needs done. We are purchasing food to feed these communities, purchasing building material for those without insurance (which is many, most have hurricane ins. but not flood) and helping members who are in desperate need of financial assistance due to the loss of their belongings and/or jobs.

Please consider being a part by coming and volunteering and/or donating funding! Please mail all donations to: Somerset Church of Christ
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
P.O. Box 247
Somerset, Ohio 43783