Sunday, June 22, 2008

OK, WE NEED YOU!!!!! :)




These pictures were taken at Jeff and Becky Lentz's home, they live in the city of Palo, Iowa about 10 miles north of Cedar Rapids. The pictures you see are typical of the damage done in this area, However Jeff and Becky'shome sits on a higher plain then the rest of the town (and these are newer homes). The older homes built in town closer to the river were completely wiped out and may not be salvageable and most are not able to get to there homes yet. This is a small community of about 1500 that sits along the Cedar river there are several such cities from Waterloo to point's South, so, as you can imagine there is a tremendous need for help.We have other's in our Church family that live in Cedar Rapids, the picture's would be the same the pain and concern that comes with this type of disaster is also the same.We look forward to any help you may be able to offer, as you may know we have devoted much time and effort helping people in Parkersburg Iowa (F-5Tornado victims) just north West of Cedar Rapids, we are aware of how to send teams out for a day or two to help people, but then we come home and were done, we pray for and have concern for these people, but as hard as it is to say it doesn't hurt like when it hit's your family... Sometimes the shock of what's happened prevents you from knowing what to do.THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! We will be praying for everyone on your team who will be traveling to Iowa.
Maurice (Moe) Colby
Elder
Cedar Rapids Church of Christ.

5 of our DRT Coordinators are now in Cedar Rapids, IA. working with the Central Church of Christ. Monday (tomorrow) is the 1st day of operations.

What does that mean, you ask?!?!?! ............
That means we are ready and now all we need is........YOU!!!!!

Housing is available for our volunteers in the church building, DRT supplies 3 daily meals, great fellowship and the work is ready and just waiting for you :)

The first phase will consist of distribution of supplies and clean up of homes. The DRT has a tool trailer and supply trailer on site. The shower trailer will arrive tomorrow. The DRT supply trailer contains new small household appliances, care packs and new clothing to be distributed to the community.

One thing that is very important to us is to make sure that the community knows that the help is coming from the "local" congregation. When DRT goes into a disaster area, we "become" part of the local congregation as we work with them. That way when it's time for DRT to leave the disaster area the community knows not of DRT but of the local church.
It's very important to us that the local congregation gets the "credit" for the work accomplished and GOD receives the glory.

Please see the website for a list of items needed and keep checking back here for updates.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Laura, The shower trailer should be in Cedar Rapids now. Tommy called tonight and said he was back in Decatur, Ill at his sisters after delivering it. We still have fond memories of everyone in the Katrina area. God Bless. Beverly

Laura said...

Good Morning Beverly, Thanks for the update. We appreciate you and Tommy so much for all that you do in your work for the LORD.
Blessings, L.