Katrina Friday Morning Misc.

several things today
1. YOU CAN BRING STUFF SUNDAY
There is a group leaving after church sunday to spend Sunday thru Thursday doing debris removal and necessity distribution in Biloxi, Mississippi. Please bring
~non-perishable food items that don't require can opener
~hygiene necessities (diapers too!)
~lightweight clothing, it is hot (doesn't have to be new, can be used)
(I need someone to volunteer to help coordinate the stuff that comes in and getting it to the people leaving... robp AT christcommunitychurch DOT com

2. Update on needs of our church in uptown New Orleans, i was involved in RUF at Miss.State with pastor's wife (fyi this is also the congregation that Danny Wuerffel? was involved with)
Please pray for the rescue of several people from Jeffrey’s congregation who are apparently “trapped” in flooded areas/buildings and unable to leave: Paul Verret, a female nurse, and an elderly man.

Please pray for the restoration of law and order in New Orleans since this is a serious obstacle to the rescue workers continuing their search.

Please pray for Jeffrey’s family who are moving to Memphis temporarily: his three children (Lucy, Jeffrey, and Bedon) are seeking to enroll in Memphis area schools and have their interviews tomorrow. Jeffrey and Cathy are especially concerned that their children can be re-settled quickly with a minimum amount of difficulty; they earnestly seek prayer for their children during this time.

Please pray for wisdom for Jeffrey and Cathy as they seek to care for each other, their children and the Redeemer-New Orleans congregation.

3. From the Desire Street webpage:

Latest Information
Thank you for your prayers during this very difficult time. We hope to update our site as often as possible in the coming months to keep you posted on our staff and the children and families of Desire and the surrounding communities.

Our staff members are almost all accounted for and are living with friends and family from California to Florida, but most remain between Houston and Atlanta. Many staff evacuated with youth from the community and will serve as surrogate families for the time being. We are working hard to locate everyone and provide them with resources.

We are establishing a hub of operations in the Atlanta area and are working to relocate as many children and families as possible. Churches and individuals have offered many resources, from housing and supplies to funds and ready workers. We are very grateful and hope to corral these resources to impact the families we are called to serve.

As you know, it will be quite some time before we can get back into the city of New Orleans to start any type of recovery process. In the short term, we are working with World Relief, an agency that has access to the city. In the long term, we look forward to linking arms with the body of Christ as we work to rebuild our community.

Our greatest immediate needs are for prayers and funding. We are determined to keep as many of our staff members as possible, so operational support is critical. Job descriptions will certainly change, but our calling to minister to the children and families of Desire remains the same.

5. This is from a guy like us, member of pca church in gulfport--(i think we were in the same church as children--believe it or not!) The reality is beginning to set in for us. Holly has been amazingly strong but tonight while working on some FEMA documentation she began to break down. I am still numb/cold. But I am beginning to come to grips with the fact that we may be financially kaput. We have been cared for in so many ways by so many people. Our hearts are warmed and comforted by the outpouring of support. But we are afraid. The coming months will become a great test of faith and endurance.

Again, I cannot begin to thank all of you who are finding ways to help us. The show of love and kindness and compassion is truly remarkable. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. -Batch Batchelder

Sure some of the relief money will wind up going to those who have wrongly looted and seem 'demanding' on TV. But i believe 95% of your $$ and donations is going to people like Batch and his family.


--more to come, Rob