DRT IN BEAUMONT,ORANGE AND BRIDGE CITY, TEXAS

Morning devo with the DRT "staff"

Our first day of serving meals- We hadn't even gotten

a sign out yet letting people know it was available.

Our TERRIFIC kitchen staff!!! WE LOVE YOU!!

mmmmmm.......good!!!!

This is a lady in Bridge City. I talked to her for awhile.

Her house was completely flooded with over 5' of water

She has piles of memories, furniture, basically everything

she owned (now known as debris) on the curb. She is

seen here raking and cleaning her yard.

Bridge City, TX. Piles of memories.......

The lady in the picture raking her yard had 5' of water in her house. She is raking because that is something she can control. Something she can complete. She "knows" she can clean up her yard, get it finished and it will look nice. Unlike her house, that will take a very long time. We see this in every disaster. Many people have very nice looking yards and that is what they want help with. Although to some of us that may seem unimportant, to them at the time, it is the "most" important, because it can be "completed" and completed soon.

Many of us call these piles "debris" but to the owners they are memories. They are...... "were" their possessions now dwindled down to a few piles of rank smelling trash on the street. Some.....try desperately to go into their houses grab whatever furniture, possessions they can in hopes of saving them many times to no avail.

How often do "we" put our lives into our possessions? We put all of our time into earning money to buy more possessions only to have an event like Ike take them away in a matter of hours.

What we really need to be focusing on is our LORD me included, we all get into this trap. The devil grabs ahold of us and makes us think we need all of these "things" for our families. NO WE DON'T!! We NEED to spend time in the WORD and spend time with our families. Teaching our families service to the LORD by example. Possessions don't matter.

I'm saying this to myself as I type this, if you know me......you know one of the things I excel at is shopping :) (but I look for bargains!!) Does that count?? :)

BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED

DRT is currently working in the Beaumont, Orange, Bridge City areas helping to get relief efforts going. The Fire Chief and mayor have asked us to also go into the Rose City area. Many members have lost everything in these areas. We are working with members and helping them reach out to their communities.

DRT helps with urgent basic necessities, household items, new clothing, building materials, food to cook and serve to the communities, cash to congregations in need and volunteer help to cook, muck out houses, cut up trees, clean up and rebuild as well as evangelism teams to help the local congregation with follow up. All of this depends on the church working together. We can't do it without you.

OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEED US, THEY NEED YOU!

DRT - 1st Responders
9 of us have arrived in Beaumont, Texas, 6 more will be arriving tomorrow. There is no power, no gas, no stores open, people are getting hungry and it is VERY dark at night. While we are assessing the area here, some of our team will be serving meals to the Beaumont community as well as the smaller surrounding communities. Others will be taking chain saws out and helping with the "clean up". We will also help get the relief effort up and running here by Thursday.

DRT is hosting a luncheon meeting with the area congregations tomorrow to see what needs they have so we can match resources and volunteers.

We will be assessing the needs in other areas this week to see where the need is the greatest and where DRT's services and resources can be most beneficial.

Ok..........that's what "we're" doing. It's your turn......tell me what you're going to be doing :-)

Really.......it's easy......just head on over to the website: http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org
All you need to do is fill out the volunteer sign up form and voila~ There you are, all set for the most gratifying experience of a lifetime.......AND........YOU ARE NEEDED!!!
People need fed physically as well as spiritually, they need help cleaning up their yards and houses, they need help rebuilding their houses, they need hugs and someone to listen to them, they need someone to pray with them, they need someone to teach them Bible Studies.
YOU'LL BE THAT PERSON, WON'T YOU?
You can't make it this trip? We understand....
It also takes funding:
To purchase the food that is served to thousands each day
To purchase building material for those who have no insurance
For daily necessities for those who have just lost everything in the storm including their job
For fuel to run the generators and propane to run the coolers in the kitchen
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.......YOU ARE NEEDED!!!!
YOU'LL BE THAT PERSON, WON'T YOU?

To all of you who already support this ministry whether it's by praying, volunteering or donating, we thank our GOD for you!! Without ALL of you on the Team DRT would not be possible.

IKE HAS MADE LANDFALL

Several of our 1st Response Coordinators and equipment are mobilized in the gulf coast area with more on their way, awaiting weather conditions to improve to allow entry into the disaster stricken areas of Texas and Louisiana following Hurricane Ike's arrival early this morning. As of now, our plans are to stage relief efforts working with several congregations in the Houston/Galveston, Texas areas. However we will post updates on the blog and website as soon as they are available.

Early reports show that thousands of houses have been flooded, many destroyed. Over 1 million are without power. Search and Rescue efforts are beginning due to over 100,000 staying behind and not heeding evacuation orders.

Many volunteers will be needed as well as funding. Please sign up to volunteer on our website, WE NEED YOU! http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org/

To help with MUCH NEEDED FUNDING: You may do so through our website or by postal mail.

CHURCHES OF CHRIST DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM

C/O MELBOURNE CHURCH OF CHRIST

810 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.

WEST MELBOURNE, FLORIDA 32904

Everyone working together and giving a little helps tremendously!

It has been a very busy week but I have a feeling this week is going to feel like a vacation compared to the next several weeks or months. WHY??
IKE is coming to town....
We are still praying he'll fizzle and just become a rainmaker but if we're needed, we'll be ready.

Mark and several others have been working diligently on getting all the trailers loaded, tires checked and changed when needed. Trucks serviced, phone calls made and received (during a disaster, everyone just describes Mark as "the guy over there in the red shirt with the phone up to his ear") No matter what day or what time of day you see him, he will have a red DRT shirt on and you can pretty much count on the fact that he will be on the phone.

Me??.......Well, part of my work begins before the disaster. I deal with all the logistics as you saw in my last posting. The rest of this week I've been working on the logistics of the relief effort itself: Where it's going to be, which coordinators will be going in immediately, who will be coming later and when, which trailers, equipment and vehicles will be needed and taken immediately, which ones will be coming later, menu planning for the mobile kitchen, shopping list for the mobile kitchen, items needed to be in brought in the 1st response supply trailer, etc. etc.
Then there is all the packing for Mark, Ashley, me, 2 dogs and 1 cat, (can you believe we actually travel with all those pets?? Neither can Mark, bless his heart!!) then there's the laundry and going to see my mom and last but most definitely not least is going to love and hug on my (6) sweet, precious grandbabies! (ok, and maybe cry a little too when it's time to leave) I sure do miss them when we go to work a disaster.
But just maybe someday they too will see what joy it is to give a little to those who have been through a disaster and to be able to share the Love of Jesus with those who have been broken and who need so desperately to know of HIS LOVE just as we all do.

We are heading out to meet up with our 1st Response coordinators and equipment drivers. As I type this Ike is at 100 mph and is expected to be a catagory 3 or 4 at landfall along the Texas coast.

Ok, I'm going to try this again......I spent this afternoon typing a huge post to this blog since (as you can tell) it's been quite a while since my last one. As I typed I kept seeing at the bottom that it was being "autosaved" into my draft file so I didn't think too much about it. UNTIL.......YUP......all of a sudden it was gone, just like that. No problem I thought, it's all saved I'll just go into my draft file and get it. So.....that's what I did and sure enough there was the post with the timestamp of when I had been typing except.....it was BLANK!!!! Uggggghhhhh!!!! So..... after taking a long break and doing other things instead, I'm trying it again...Here goes...wish me well :)
Many people have asked us about the logistics of DRT. So I thought while we're hanging out waiting on Ike to decide which direction he's going, when he's going to get there, and how strong he's going to be when he does get there now might be a good time to fill you in on some of the "nitty gritty" of DRT. (don't take me seriously about the hanging out part, the DRT coordinators are all extremely busy having just gotten back from the Iowa floods, taking care of things following Hurricane Gustav and preparing for Hurricane Ike) ANYWAY.......
When I say "nitty gritty" sometimes that can also translate into the word "frustrating".
Such as with Gustav and Ike. Directly following Gustav's landfall Mark and I started making phone calls and sending emails to churches and contacts that we have across the gulf coast to find out how things were following Gustav (as you'll see in a minute, things are done differently for a cat. 2 storm compared to a major hurricane) Anyway, I spoke to Doug Burleson from the Goodwood Church of Christ in Baton Rouge. He said they had trees down and some roofs blown off but their biggest problem was lack of power but that the electric company was working on it and everyday there was more and more people with power. He felt that within 2 weeks when about everyone had power, Baton Rouge would be in pretty good shape. For the time being though, their congregation is doing a great job reaching out to their community with supplies and cutting trees, etc. I kept calling others and got about the same reports.
Keep in mind....... At the same time, Ike is lerking around the corner. It looks as though Ike could head into south Florida as a major hurricane. We are based out of Melbourne, Fl. our equipment is at our property in High Springs, Fl. .............NOW .......Whenever there is a "MAJOR" Hurricane predicted to make landfall in the U.S. things are set up differently for DRT coordinators and equipment drivers. (DRT is a 1st Response Disaster Team meaning we are prepared to respond immediately to catastrophic disasters) We all head toward the direction where the hurricane is to make landfall (close enough to get into the area immediately but far enough away to not be in harms way or have our equipment damaged) In this case we are to meet at our storage and training center in High Springs, FL. Ok......plans are made, drivers are scheduled............Ike's track changes and it seems as though he's going into the gulf. This particular update it looks as though he'll head right for our property....next update looks as though he'll head farther west, possibly Alabama or Mississippi.........We take a look at things again and decide it's best to come in from the east from Florida rather than trying to drive from the North following landfall so we keep the plans the same.......HAVE YOU TOTALLY LOST INTEREST YET?????
I bet you'll never ask about logistics again, will you?!?!? :-)
(and remember.....this is just the logistics about where to meet before the hurricane hits!!!!)
Ok, where was I?!?!.........Oh ya......I have you caught up to yesterday.....see this isn't so bad :)
So we have 2 of our coordinators (Bob and Shirley Card from Ohio) take the shower trailer to Florida (it had just returned from the Iowa floods) so they could come right back and pick up another trailer and go back down when we all meet there together. Sounds good so far.......Meanwhile........yesterday afternoon I begin receiving phone calls from Louisiana saying DRT is needed in Louisiana in a couple of areas that have absolutely no help at all!! OK.........BUT, that's not all........The new hurricane forecast update looks more and more like Ike could head for Louisiana or even Texas!!! ---------Well you don't need to know too much geography to know that is quite a ways from Florida! ;) AND.....Remember......Bob and Shirley are already on their way with the shower trailer to Florida.

Well, we have some new decisions to make.

1. Do we change all plans and immediately send the coordinators and take all of our equipment to Louisiana where we are told we are needed?

2. Do we hold off and see just where Ike is going first?

3. What do we do about Bob and Shirley who are already almost to Florida with the shower trailer?

One of the WONDERFUL things about being a Christian is.....we don't have to make all the decisions alone. :) So......we pray. (Laura's side note: I can't imagine how people that don't pray get through their day)
Anyway......We weigh things out and decide that if Ike does head for Louisiana we'll all have to evacuate anyway within a couple days of when we would have been able to get everything set up. Talk about a logistic nightmare (we've had to do this before following Hurricane Charley, what I've described above logistically is nothing compared to evacuating)

So.... 1. We decide for now to "hold off" a few days and see what Ike seems to do (maybe he'll fizzle over Cuba!!)

2. Yes

3. Bob and Shirley call and come up with a suggestion of going on to Florida, picking up a few more chain saws and equipment, etc. then taking the trailer west part way and drop it at the Creekwood Church of Christ in Mobile, Alabama (where we based one of our relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina) until Ike makes landfall ..GREAT IDEA BOB AND SHIRLEY!!!!! We call Creekwood, they have no problem with us leaving the trailer there and voila~
Next step is to contact all our drivers and coordinators with a new staging area west of Florida and we're done for another day.
I'm just glad to be done with the "frustrations" and hopefully return to the "nitty gritty" tomorrow ;-)

I've never had a hard drive crash......well not until a couple of weeks ago!!
Here are a couple of things I've realized in the process:
1. I "can" go without a computer for longer than a day.
2. It isn't easy to go without a computer for longer than a day.
3. I'm VERY thankful for an offsite back up service my mom recently recommended.

ANYWAY......I'm back online now and wanted to give some updates.

First the Personal Updates:
Thank you so much to all of you who have pr.ayed for and sent cards to my mom. It really means alot to her (and to me). If you didn't see my earlier post, my mom has had a recurrence of breast cancer. She has started going through radiation treatments and is doing great. She has another 4 weeks to go. I am here in Ohio to be with her but plan, Lord-willing to go to Cedar Rapids around the 2nd week of August.
It would mean so much to me if you would add my mother to your prayer list. If you would like to send her a card the info is:
Janet Baker
19371 Knox Lake Rd.
Fredericktown, Ohio 43019

My next prayer request is for one of our very special DRT volunteers. She also has been diagnosed with breast cancer and just had surgery last week. She is now home from the hospital. Her info is:
Shirley Shockey
P.O. Box 211
Lodi, Ohio 44254

Now For DRT News:

Tonight at 7:00 pm Harding's Theatron will be performing at the Central Church of Christ in Cedar Rapids, IA. for the church and community. That will be a special treat after the trauma they have all been through.

****

Thanks to so many wonderful DRT volunteers we have had 223 volunteers so far with another 55 registered for the 1st 2 weeks in August. 692 Flood survivors have been assisted!! PRAISE GOD!!

Look for more pictures starting tomorrow.

Will you see your picture or anyone you know?!? :)

DRT VOLUNTEERS ARE THE BEST!!

DRT volunteers in Cedar Rapids, IA






Mark tells me that GOD is working in such awesome ways in Cedar Rapids, IA. He tells me the "GOD Thing" events that I talked about last week are happening constantly. Here's one more he told me about:

Yesterday we had a youth group of about 65-70 volunteers that were traveling from the Lewisville Church of Christ in Texas to work with us in Cedar Rapids. They had planned to be here in time to eat dinner. Well.........things don't always go as planned and they ran into a few challenges that put them behind schedule so they stopped along the way at a restaurant to eat. While inside, a man came up to them to see where so many young people were headed. They told him they were coming to volunteer in Cedar Rapids. He then (obviously impressed! We have Super Volunteers!!) told them that he wanted to cover the expense of everyones meal that night. WHAT?!?!? ..............65-70 PEOPLE????? Pay over $500. on meals for people he didn't even know?!?!? ...........YEP.....It's definitely a GOD THING!! The LORD just continues to keep blessing DRT over and over. We Praise HIM!!

As always, we have wonderful volunteers coming to Cedar Rapids to work with us.
The Central Church of Christ has been so gracious to all of DRT. They also are real workers themselves and are spending hours upon hours in the relief effort.
We've also had volunteers from Cedar Rapids as well as other locations in Iowa.
So far we've had volunteers from the following states:

Iowa
Michigan
Missouri
Ohio
Texas
Virginia

We also have volunteers scheduled from the following states:
Alabama
California
Michigan -- More from MI.!! :)
Ohio-- More from OH!! :)
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Texas-- More from TX!! :)
Michigan--More from MI!! :)

We are so thankful to everyone who comes to work with DRT. You are amazing and such an inspiration to us as well as everyone around you.

Why don't YOU decide to come and be a part of this wonderful mission?? YOU ARE NEEDED!!

YOU ARE NEEDED!!!!

July 4, 2008 -- Independence Day!!
It's an exciting time. Fireworks, Family get-togethers, Cookouts and remembering the reason we celebrate this day of Independence.

There are those who, in a different way, may not be feeling so independent. Many are feeling very helpless and dependent on others due to tragic disasters across the U.S.
DRT is onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa working with the Central Church of Christ.

Many of you have already helped with praying, volunteering, making care packs and sending financial donations and we are so thankful to you!!

BUT WE STILL NEED MORE HELP

Mark informs me that they have stopped accepting applications for help from the
community (for now). They currently have over 500 families on the waiting list requesting help to clean out their houses. I just received a call from the Council on Aging in Cedar Rapids requesting help for many elderly residents as well. Many of these did not have insurance.

PLEASE HELP US REACH OUT TO THEM.
Several of those affected are members of local Churches of Christ and several of them do not have insurance.
We desperately need Prayers, Volunteers and financial donations to help.

We can house up to 125 volunteers at a time. We have our shower and tools trailers onsite and DRT will provide continental breakfast, sack lunch and evening meals for all volunteers.

If you are able to volunteer, please fill out the volunteer sign up form on our website.
http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org

To send donations: You many do so online through our website or by postal mail:

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
C/O Melbourne Church of Christ
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Florida 32904

TALK ABOUT A GOD THING.........

Talk about a "GOD" thing....have I got stories for you!...........
First let me say that GOD is truly blessing this ministry. Without GOD none of this would be possible. It is so awesome to stand right here and see GOD work!

CASE #1

Last week I checked to see what items were needed in Cedar Rapids (as you remember, I'm still in Ohio helping my mother who has a recurrence of breast cancer) well anyway........they said they were going to be needing cleaning supplies, especially bleach. I hadn't yet put the word out about that need whenI received a call from a newspaper in Fort Dodge, IA. Her name was Regina and she said that they wanted to put a semi out in front of a store to allow the customers to donate items that we needed. "What do you need most", she asked........hmmmm let me think...CLEANING SUPPLIES AND BLEACH!! Well, this morning I received a call about 9:30 am from the semi driver that he was a block away with a semi load of cleaning supplies, etc. YEP......a "GOD" thing!! Of course, He took care of that need.

CASE #2

Saturday Mark called me. "Just checking on the funding", he said. "We are in need of more generators to run the fans and dehumidifiers in these houses" .......I checked on things (funding is still low) and we agreed that if he could get a good sized discount for purchasing 3-4 generators that he should go ahead. WELL..........about 1/2 an hour later in walks a man with a semi........He is with Harbour Contractors Inc. out of Plainville, IL. He tells how he had a semi load of new, ("very good quality", Mark tells me in a SUPER EXCITED tone of voice.) tools (generators, power sprayers, etc.) He said before he left home he and his brother prayed to GOD to direct them to the right organization to donate these tools to. He first stopped at FEMA, they said they couldn't accept them......his next stop was Red Cross who said they couldn't accept them but that we were accepting donations and sent him to us. YEP, $40,000 - $50,000 worth of tools donated and just the items we needed. Don't tell me that's not a "GOD" thing!! We are thankful to and praising our LORD!!

CASE #3

I talked to Mark today. (imagine that!) :) He was telling about a need that they had today for baby items and how (Dawn - from the church in Cedar Rapids) had just received a call from a lady that wanted to donate money but she really wanted it to go for........you guessed it.........INFANT ITEMS!! Another "GOD" thing you ask?!?!?
I BELIEVE SO!!! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! PRAISE GOD for providing what is needed.

I'm sure I'll have many more to tell you about, these were just the ones in the last couple of days! :) I'm sure there's more that I don't even know about.
GOD IS GOOD!


Below are pics of some of the DRT volunteers in Cedar Rapids, IA.

SHIRLEY CARD - SIDNEY, OHIO-(MID-COUNTY CHURCH OF CHRIST-TROY, OHIO) -WORKING IN CEDAR RAPIDS


VOLUNTEERS IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IA

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. MORE VOLUNTEERS

This is Richard.

How Many Richards Can We Help?!?!

His name is Richard. He lives in Cedar Rapids, IA. and Richard has cancer.
Richard is like so many others in the flood stricken areas in the Midwest. They all have their stories to tell, their stories are all different but yet the same.

Richard relays to the needs assessor for DRT how he has beaten cancer once and now that it has returned and become 2 different types of cancer he says he will beat it again. Richard is optimistic even though he has just been through a horrible ordeal with the flood in Cedar Rapids. Richard had just purchased all new appliances about (1) year ago........then the rains came. It flooded his basement........then it continued until it had flooded 4-5 feet on the first floor of his home. All appliances (among other things) are now gone.

Richard's story is touching and pulls at the heartstrings. Yet this story is typical of so many in the Midwest. Over 5,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed. So many have no insurance. Many were not in flood zones at all or were in 500 yr. flood zones. THEY NEED YOUR HELP!!

PLEASE consider taking the time to volunteer. Let's help them get their homes cleaned out and rebuilt. Let's help give them hope. Let's help them get through this. Let's show them THE LOVE OF JESUS!

Housing is provided at the Central Church of Christ in Cedar Rapids. DRT will provide continental breakfast, lunch and evening meals. DRT also has air mattresses available as well as towels for the showers. (this will help to give you more room in your vehicles to bring more people!!) :)
The work is there waiting on you. People are counting on us as christians to help them. We can't let them down. This is our opportunity to reach out to them to teach of Jesus' Love for them.

Please fill out the volunteer sign up form on our website: http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org/
You may email or call me with any questions you have. disasterrelief@hotmail.com
937-308-2259 Laura

WORK IN CEDAR RAPIDS

The relief effort is underway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. DRT is working with the Central Church of Christ there and they are doing a tremendous job of pulling together and working for the LORD through disaster relief.

The distribution of supplies began yesterday as well as volunteers helping move belongings of a member of the church there. DRT coordinators are also checking out jobs that need done.

Over 5,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed with MANY not having insurance. Much help is needed. PLEASE consider coming and volunteering for this great work, YOU ARE NEEDED!!

Another levee has been breached in Missouri and additional towns are flooding. We'll keep you posted as we have updates.

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.

On A Personal Note..........

Before I get into more information about the midwest floods I'd like to ask a personal request of you.

I will not be heading to Iowa with the rest of our coordinators for awhile. I will be staying in Ohio helping my mother and taking her back and forth to Columubus for appointments, etc. As some of you know, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy 30 years ago. She had a recurrance 10 years ago in her scar (for those of you who have had breast cancer or know someone who has......PLEASE examine your scars also. This is not common but can happen.)
My mother recently noticed a change once again in her scar and went in for an MRI. It did show a mass in her chest wall near her ribs. I am sitting in the waiting room as I write this while she is having a biopsy to determine if she has had yet another recurrance of cancer. She's a little more apprehensive this time (my father passed away about 5 years ago so she doesn't have him here with her this time)
Please lift her up to the Father in your prayers. She has had such a tremendous influence on my day to day life as well as my spiritual life. She is truly a woman of GOD. If you would like to send her a card of encouragement, it would mean so much to both of us!

Janet Baker
19371 Knox Lake Rd.
Fredericktown, Ohio 43019

FLOODING--

Several more levees have been breached threatening towns in Illinois and Missouri.
This is a large scale disaster and your help is desperately needed.

The elders of the Central Church of Christ in Cedar Rapids have asked for our assistance and with your help we all can help them reach out to their communities.
Please fill out the volunteer form on our website.
As always we will have a place for volunteers to stay, we will provide your meals and the work will be lined up and ready for you when you arrive.
Our shower trailer will be coming to Cedar Rapids from our base camp in Florida.
Feel free to email or call with further questions.
(Laura -disasterrelief@hotmail.com or 937-308-2259)

Most importantly, please keep those affected by the floods and those that are ministering to them in your prayers.

Great things will be accomplished through our LORD in these trying times. Remember to always give GOD the praise and glory.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA

DRT is working with the Central Church of Christ in Cedar Rapids, IA. following the recent flooding of much of their city.

Volunteers and financial donations are needed for this and other flooded areas.
To volunteer, please fill out the volunteer form on our website.

http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org

Donations can be made through our website or by postal mail to:

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
Melbourne Church of Christ
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Florida 32904

Please watch this blog and the website for further information.
Most of all please keep those affected by the floods in your prayers as well as those ministering to them.

Midwest Flooding

 

Many of you have done such an amazing work for the LORD in past disasters by partnering with DRT to help those in need and we thank our GOD for you!

Once again, we come to you with the news of flooding in the Midwest. Many of our brothers and sisters have been affected by these floods. TENS OF THOUSANDS of people are out of their homes and MANY have no flood insurance.

We appeal to you today to PLEASE once again, partner with DRT to reach out to our Christian brothers and sisters in need as well as helping them reach out to their communities through disaster relief.

DRT brings to the disaster areas trained coordinators to help the local congregations set up a relief effort. DRT provides tool trailers, shower trailer, mobile kitchen as well as RV's for use by volunteers. Some of the ways DRT helps congregations in disaster areas reach out to their communities is by providing home cooked meals, basic necessities, volunteer labor and helping provide building material for those without insurance. DRT's main goal is to build relationships with those being assisted and to be able to reach out to them through example and by teaching the Good News of our LOVING LORD AND SAVIOR.

*****Due to so many disasters this year as well as last year, DRT's funding is down considerably. Your donations are URGENTLY needed to help with transportation of equipment as well as the above services and goods that DRT provides in disaster areas.

Please watch our website for opportunities to volunteer and please keep those affected by these disasters and those ministering to them in your prayers.

Donations can be made online through our website:
http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org

 

Or by postal mail to:

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team

Melbourne Church of Christ

810 Hollywood Blvd.

West Melbourne, Florida 32904

 

Your caring is such an encouragement to us as well as those in the disaster areas!

TORNADOES, FLOODS AND FIRES

Many weather related disasters are taking place around the country.

Flooding is taking place in Kent Co., Delaware.

Please keep the survivors of the tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and fires in your prayers.

The following is the lastest information from WESH on the wildfires in Florida.

Volusia County
An 800 to 1,000 acre brush fire is burning in the northwest area of Daytona Beach along LPGA Boulevard.
The fire is 20 percent contained.
The first call of the fire was received at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday.
The brush fire forced the closure of all traffic on LPGA Boulevard between Williamson Boulevard and International Speedway Boulevard.
Authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation for 500 homes in the LPGA International subdivision until 9 a.m. Monday.
The voluntary evacuation ordered for about 200 homes in the Bayberry Colony subdivision has been lifted.
About 50 firefighters and nine engines will work Monday to improve fire breaks created around the fire.
Winds are blowing embers away from the fire and starting additional spot fires.
Red Cross shelter established for evacuees at the Hampton Inn at 1715 W. International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach.
The City of Daytona Beach has established a hot line for evacuated residents at 386-671-5347.
Brevard County
Interstate 95 is open in Brevard County.
Motorists are urged to use caution when driving in the area of Interstate 95 and S.R. 524.
Firefighters are battling a 250-acre brush fire in Cocoa near Cox Road, Friday Road, state Road 524 and Satellite Boulevard.
Firefighters had to evacuate home and business owners as the brush fire came close to structures.
The fire is not under control.
No injuries have been reported, but at least one building in Cocoa was destroyed.
Brush fires were blamed for some power outages in the Cocoa area.
Firefighters have been on scene since approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Heavy smoke may be present at times and emergency vehicles are entering and exiting the area.
The brush fires near Malabar in southern Brevard County have burned 1,900 acres.
Sheriff's deputies closed the area near U.S. Highway 1 and Malabar Road to both northbound and southbound traffic.
U.S. 192 in Melbourne is closed.
Seven brush fires in Palm Bay are considered suspicious in nature.
The fires are burning in the area of St. Andre Boulevard.
Residents in Palm Bay were allowed to return to their homes late Sunday night.
Brevard County Fire Rescue has activated a brush fire hotline. That number is (321) 937-5550.

Tornadoes AGAIN.............

(Picher, OK)

Severe storms are once again making their way across the midwest into the eastern U.S.

So far tornadoes have hit Picher, OK., Missouri and Georgia and warnings are currently in many other states as well.

DRT is currently making assessments and checking into these areas. We will keep you updated.

MIDWEST FLOODING

Flooding is currently affecting the states of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio.

We are continuing to monitor the situation and will keep the blog updated as we get infomation in. If you are in an area affected by the flooding please contact us by phone or email.
disasterrelief@hotmail.com or info@churchesofchristdrt.org

937-308-2259 or 937-308-0035

Flooding in Ellington, Missouri

PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA PICTURES

DRT work site coordinator-- Jimmy Nichols, tarping roofs in Prattville, Alabama.

Mike Manley, member of Prattville Church of Christ about 1 hour after the storm.

Looking through the front door of Manley's house. The back wall is blown out.

Brick home totally demolished.

Same home as above. The man and wife walked out of this rubble. Church members prayed with them to thank GOD for their safety.

Prattville Church of Christ minister, Brent Missildine and church member Sammy Huggins working on roof of Huggins' home.

EARTHQUAKES AND TORNADOES

(WELLS, NEVADA) EARTHQUAKE
There was a 6.0 magnitude earthquake near Wells, NV. this morning. Some damage reports are beginning to come in to the USGS. So far we know that there are reports of damage to buildings including 1 building that has collapsed. It is a sparsely populated area. I will update as more information becomes available.

PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA
Volunteers worked late last night tarping roofs, etc. before the rains started.
Many in the community are being helped through the clean up phase and the LORD is being glorified.

ANOTHER PRATTVILLE UPDATE

Mark spent this morning in a planning meeting with the churches in Prattville, Alabama. Between 2 of the local congregations in Prattville we now know of (2) church families whose homes have been totally destroyed and (12) families who have had significant damage.

An update on what is currently being done in the Prattville area:

DISTRIBUTION PHASE:
** Food and supplies are being hand delivered as well as distributed from the local YMCA.

CLEAN UP PHASE:
**Volunteers are helping with the following:
*Packing up belongings
*Boarding up windows before the coming rains
*Cleaning up debris and brush

PRATTVILLE UPDATE

Mark is on his way to Prattville, Alabama to work with 2 of the local congregations. Jimmy Nichols arrived there yesterday and helped unload a truck from Nashville. Mark and Jimmy will be helping them get their relief efforts set up, from there we will decide if we need to bring any more of our coordinators into the Prattville area.


We received a call earlier today from some of our volunteers from the Richmond, KY. area. They are heading to La Fayette, TN this weekend to work with the church there following the tornado that went through that area. We will update you on the situation there when they arrive.

Ashley and I are here in Gatlinburg to set up the DRT booth at CYC. If you're in town for this please come by our booth and say hi!!

MORE TORNADOES

Once again tornadoes have ripped through the southern states yesterday.
Prattville, Alabama was hit pretty hard with approx. 200 houses and 100 businesses affected.
So far we know of (1) church family that had a total loss of their house and (6) church families with damage to their houses.
We will be giving more updates as we have them.

If you would like to donate to help with the tornadoes as well as future disasters you may do so through our website at: http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org/
or by postal mail to:

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, Florida 32904

TENNESSEE

Mark, Ashley and I are on the road traveling from California to Tennessee.

We've been in contact with several areas that have been affected by the recent tornadoes.
We've been in contact with the church in Moultin, AL. and Jimmy (our work crew coordinator) is there working with them.
Frank Bradford (Freed-Hardeman) (Frank has worked with us for quite some time and is very experienced) He is working in the Jackson, TN. area.

We also have someone checking the Memphis area and we'll let you know about that area as soon as we know.

The Church of Christ in Greenville, Ky. has agreed to work in the Central City area.

We will continue to do what we can to assist those in these disaster areas.
***************************
The following are dates scheduled where Mark and I will be with the DRT booth and literature. If you're going to be in these areas, please stop by and say hello!! :)

FEBRUARY 15-17
Winterfest --
Gatlinburg, TN



FEBRUARY 22-24
CYC--
Gatlinburg, TN



MARCH 27-29
ISWW --
Tulsa, OK



APRIL 29-MAY 2
Pepperdine Lectureship
Pepperdine Campus
Malibu, California

Church Services at COCC. We had 30 in attendance.

This is Ben. Ask him about his Pandas. :)

Volunteers from the Richland Rd. Church of Christ in Marion, Ohio.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

I Know....I know.....You didn't think I was ever going to sit down and write in the blog again, did you?!?! :)

It's going to take awhile to get caught up. Things have been VERY busy for the DRT.

We are stationed in Barrett Junction, CA. We're working with the San Diego area churches of Christ following the recent wildfires.

We have set up a "tent city" area here in the back country. It is called the Churches of Christ Center (COCC). We are housing people who have been affected by the fires and need a place to stay. We're also providing over 1200 meals per week to the survivors of the fires here in this area.
We have a large distribution area where we provide supplies. We have volunteers going out to work with the families on their houses and lots and we have worship services here every Sunday. We've been having about 30-35 in attendance every Sunday. Another service we provide is showers and a laundry trailer. This has been a wonderful benefit to the community, they've had no electric or water and many are still staying in tents on their property.

Shirley Mansfield is in charge of registration. She has set up an awesome system and has everything on computer. Her husband Harry is in charge of making sure all of the generators are filled. (these are large generators that provide power to everything we have here as well as pumping in heat and air conditioning to the tents that people are staying in.) He makes sure our drink containers are always full in our dining tent as well as doing "a little bit of everything else" :) Mike Baumgartner works in the distribution tent and is doing a wonderful job of helping people with their daily needs as well as some occassional cooking. Marge Wood is our onsite bookkeeper as well as helping with meals, keeping the dining tent clean and supplied, washing towels from the kitchen and showers and many other things that are done "behind the scenes". Jimmy Nichols is in charge of taking the vounteer groups out to the job sites and keeping our trash emptied :) he is always keeping us laughing. He never has a negative comment and is a joy to everyone.

Tune back in for the update on our Christmas Party.

GREAT NEWS IN FINDLAY, OHIO

There have been close to 600 people helped so far here in Findlay, Ohio.
Since my last post we've had volunteers from the Mid-County Church of Christ in Troy, Ohio, Marion, Ohio, and another group from Norval Park Church of Christ in Zanesville, Ohio. We currently have a group from the Cox Blvd. Church of Christ in Sheffield, AL. and tomorrow have groups coming from Richmond Church of Christ in Richmond, KY. and from the Southgate Church of Christ. Saturday we have a couple coming from Huntsville, AL that will be bringing supplies.

We are so thankful to ALL of you who are praying, coming and working, bringing supplies, sending monetary donations, etc.

THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS!!! We are having visitors that we have been helping from the community at each of the worship services on Sundays and Wednesdays. PRAISE GOD!!!!
Our prayer is that the church here will continue with the follow up and that souls will be added to the Lords church.

SUPPLIES ARE NEEDED!!!

It is VERY busy here!! Red Cross has shut down. This is not a sign that things are ok here, this is just the way it is in a disaster area.....the Red Cross only stays for so long.
Now is when the people here in Findlay are really needing help. As hard as it is they are coming to the realization that they MUST throw away precious belongings and tear out walls, etc. Now is when they need the cleaning products, household supplies, furniture, etc. that their insurance did not allow for.

We are running extremely low on supplies. If your congregation is one that agreed to make up care packs for us......now is when we need them :) If you don't have them made up but would like to furnish the funds to allow for us to make them up here....please respond by phone or email as soon as possible to let us know. It is very needed and the community has been very appreciative of the church here in Findlay.
The seeds are being planted today......PLEASE help us reach out.

With this being said......vounteers are still desperately needed as well to help with the clean up and disinfecting stage.

You may call my cell phone 937-308-2259 or email disasterrelief@hotmail.com to make arrangements to ship the care packs, let us know funds are on the way or to schedule a trip to volunteer.

Funds can be mailed to:
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
C/O Melbourne Church of Christ
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, FL. 32904

FLOOD CLEAN UP

These are some pictures the Norval Park group from Zanesville, Oh. took while they worked with us yesterday.

In case you can't tell by the picture......the washer is FILLED with muck and yuck!

Flooding is such a nasty, disgusting job to clean up after! We are so appreciative of all who are volunteering their time!!

FINDLAY GOING STRONG

The church here in Findlay is reaching out to many in the community. We've had many coming in for supplies as well as signing up for assistance with their houses.

Today we are blessed to have volunteers from the Millersburg Church of Christ as well as the Norval Park Church of Christ in Zanesville, Ohio. They are doing an excellent job sharing the Love of Jesus through disaster relief. They are doing some nasty work on these houses, we are so thankful for them!!
PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING.......we are in desperate need of more volunteers! It is dirty work but VERY rewarding!! :)

Many of you have sent the care packs that your congregation made up and we are so thankful for that!! We recently "revamped" the care pack program, if you would like a copy of the new items that go in the care packs, please email me. disasterrelief@hotmail.com


****IF YOU SIGNED UP THROUGH OUR WEBSITE TO VOLUNTEER OR RECEIVE UPDATES THROUGH EMAIL................

I am asking you to please sign up again. My computer (along with the backup CD) was stolen. There was no information on the computer from any of you that would cause an identity problem, etc. for you, however I no longer have your email addresses or the forms that you filled out to volunteer.

YOU ARE NEEDED

Yesterday was an excellent day of reaching out to the community here in Findlay, Ohio.
We have had a steady stream from the community coming to pick up supplies.

The stories you hear are so sad. One of the families told of having their house flooded then a few days later it caught on fire. Many of these families have no flood insurance. They did not live in a zoned flood plain and were told they did not need it. Now they find themselves with either no house to live in or one that is quickly becoming filled with mold. Walls and flooring need tore out, basements, crawl spaces and living areas need bleached to stop the mold.....vehicles, furniture, appliances have been ruined by the flood.

You have been so generous in the past and I know once again you're asking............

What can I do to help?!?!?!

Your help is needed through financial donations and volunteering.

Volunteers are needed to help with distribution, answering phones, assessment, bleaching houses, helping with clean up and debris removal and when houses are dried out, rebuilding.

The financial donations help to purchase building material, houseshold supplies, furniture, etc. for those without insurance.

TO VOLUNTEER......please call me (Laura) at 937-308-2259

We will house you, feed you, and have the work all lined up for you when you arrive. We also have our shower trailer here!! Doesn't get any better than that, does it?!? :)

TO HELP FINANCIALLY.......

You may donate online through our website.. http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org/

or by postal mail to:

CHURCHES OF CHRIST DISASTER RESPONSE TEAM

C/O MELBOURNE CHURCH OF CHRIST

810 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.

WEST MELBOURNE, FL. 32904

FLOODING IN FINDLAY

Well.......it has been a very long time since I've updated this blog!!

Between computer problems, then having my computer stolen, getting our house finished and putting it up for sale.....Anyway....the house is done and up for sale (that's how we help to support ourselves) I now have a new computer and we're "good to go" :)

We are now in Findlay, Ohio working with the Bright Rd. Church of Christ following the recent floods. Over 4,000 structures have been affected here and many are without flood insurance.
We have a few of our coordinators with us. Harry and Shirley Mansfield from Texas and Marge Wood from Lancaster, Ohio are here with us coordinating the relief efforts.

Today we have volunteers from the Norval Park Church of Christ, Zanesville, Ohio working with us. They brought school supplies, cleaning kits and personal care kits with them and will be working with those who have had flood damage to their houses.
The church here in Findlay have had several members go out and help members of the community work on their houses.

We are in desperate need of volunteers. If you are able to help please call me at 937-308-2259 to schedule.

Funding is also desperately needed to help those without insurance. If you are able to help in this way please send to:

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team
C/O Melbourne Church of Christ
810 Hollywood Blvd.
West Melbourne, FL. 32904

BE PREPARED

Tornadoes seem to be all around us this year and it sounds like hurricanes could be coming our way as well. Please help us (and you) to be prepared.

We've been receiving an excellent response from many of you approving our request to use your parking lots as a staging site should a disaster occur in your area and we thank you. We still need MANY, MANY more of you in the following states as well as the states we haven't heard from yet. So far we've heard from:
ALABAMA
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
KENTUCKY
MISSOURI
NORTH CAROLINA
OKLAHOMA
SOUTH CAROLINA
TENNESSEE
VIRGINIA

If you haven't emailed to let us know your congregation is willing to allow us to use your parking lot as a staging area should a disaster occur in your area, please consider it. It is a wonderful outreach and really helps to have things in place "BEFORE" a disaster happens. We need the final approval to be from an elder of the congregation though, the only exception would be if you don't have elders at this time.

MMMM.....MMMMM.....GOOD!!!! :)

The mobile kitchen has kept us busy here in Greensburg, Kansas. We've served approx. 4500 meals. The elders of the Mullinville Church of Christ have taken time during the lunch hours to come and meet with those that eat with us. Sitting and talking, mainly listening with an understanding ear. The kitchen is a wonderful outreach ministry. We've had visits here at worship service and have a Bible study set up.
There is a lot of work that goes into the kitchen work and we've had many volunteers helping. To all of you that have spent countless hours....and there have been many, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!! I'd like to say a special THANK YOU to LARRY for teaching me SO MUCH about the kitchen!!! Larry used to cook in the Army among other places and I learned so much from him. You ALL helped tremendously and it could not have taken place without ALL OF YOU!!!

Many think that when you have "free food" at a disaster area you get hot dogs, sandwiches, etc. we feel that it is very important for those that have been through a disaster to have a well balanced home cooked meal. Here is a list of just a few of the items on our menu that we've served over the last couple of weeks.

French Chicken (Chicken & Rice)
Green Beans
Mixed Fruit
Salad
Roll
Dessert
Drink

Baked Spaghetti
Hominy or Green Beans
Baked Potatoes
Fruit
Roll
Dessert
Drink

Grilled Chicken
Corn
Fried Potatoes
Salad
Roll
Dessert
Drink

Fresh Kansas Beef Cheeseburgers w/
Lettuce/tomato/onion
baked beans
Macaroni & Cheese
Mixed Fruit
Roll
Dessert
Drink

Swiss Chicken
Lima Beans
Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Salad
Dessert
Roll
Drink

Double Cheese Meatloaf
Baked Potatoes
Corn/Green Beans
Salad
Roll
Dessert
Drink

Enchiladas
Refried Beans
Rice
Salad
Roll
Dessert
Drink

2007 HURRICANE SEASON

I decided to be the only person who didn't mention the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season yesterday. :) However......there always seems to be a however doesn't there??! :) The 2007 hurricane season did begin yesterday and we have now already had 2 named storms. If the forecasters are correct we have another 15 named storms to go.

****This brings me to something we'd like to discuss with you. ******

We are looking for congregations of the Church of Christ who will give us advance approval to use your parking lot as a staging area for our equipment should a disaster occur in your area. We are a 1st Response Organization and need to be "on the ground" immediately following a disaster. Many times following a disaster cell phone towers are down and it is basically difficult to get in touch with all the elders, etc. in a congregation to make this decision immediately. If this approval is given in advance we can come in immediately and reach out to those affected. We are completely self-contained and all we need is the use of a portion of the parking lot. This response can be done by email, however it must be done by an elder of the congregation.
While no one wants a disaster in their town, disaster relief is very helpful to the members after a disaster and is a very effective way to reach the lost in the community.