THEY HAVE ARRIVED!!!!

OUR FRIENDS HAVE ARRIVED!! The ones we knew from before and others we've just met.
We are so encouraged by everyone that comes in to volunteer. It is just the greatest thing to have such wonderful brothers and sisters from all over!! If you're reading this and haven't been here yet, we're still waiting on you to arrive!! We'll keep the lights on for ya!! :) 5 from the Melbourne, Fl., 7 from N. Tampa, 1 from Heritage Place, and 2 from North Alabama arrived tonight. I don't want to miss 1 from Gainesville, Fl. that arrived last night and just happens to be Don Hudson's brother. How can 1 family be so blessed to have 2 terrific men? I should add, mine is just as blessed, I also have 2 terrific brothers!! :)

Today Mark and I unfortunately weren't able to get away to check out the Bayou LaBatre area. So we sent out our scouts :) 5 went to Bayou LaBatre with chicken sandwiches, potato salad, baked beans, chips and dessert. They were able to serve about 250 but ran out of food. They came back in a somber mood. As Don began to explain the situation to us, it became apparent that we just "have" to get back over there.They have no food and no housing, they are sleeping in their front yards. Their livlihood is fishing, and now they have no boats. Their houses are still there but have been completely flooded. As one man put it, he saw the upper part of a boat near the electric wires. That is a huge surge! The "talk of the town" is that they won't be allowed to rebuild their houses unless they are on stilts. These people have no money to rebuild especially if they have to put their houses on stilts. We will be talking to city officials there tomorrow to see what can be done. FEMA and the people of Bayou LaBatre were promised we'd be back tomorrow. So tomorrow Lord-Willing, we will be serving in Pascagoula and Bayou LaBatre. The menu will be Spaghetti, green beans, rolls, dessert and drinks.

As you can see there is such a need to help these people. It is very costly cooking for this many people everyday, but if we don't cook, they don't eat. Please consider this yourselves, talk to others, talk to your congregations about helping to support this ministry. It is desperately needed!

Tomorrow (Friday) we will have crews out cutting trees, cooking and serving food, helping people to move their waterlogged belongings out of their houses and sorting food, personal items, clothing, etc. Please keep this effort and these victims of Hurricane Katrina in your prayers. This is such an awesome opportunity to reach out to these "friends we haven't met yet" and show them the "LOVE of CHRIST".

Please keep checking our website www.churchesofchristdrt.org we will continuously be posting new pictures.

Please forward donations to: Somerset Church of Christ
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
P.O. Box 247
Somerset, Ohio 43783
740-743-2313