Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Updates on my family from the Gulf Coast...
At about 7 a.m. I saw my Mom, 25yo brother, Jason, and sis, Alicia off as they started their 10-12 hr. trek (depending upon the traffic of course) home, to the MS Gulf Coast. We'd loaded their two vehicles up with boxes of non-perishable foods (covered in laundry, so as not to draw attention), water bottles, gas cans and plenty of cash. We all had mixed feelings... they're both eager to check on their homes, yet nervous at what they will find, and a bit anxious over all the unknowns of the days ahead for them... I'll just miss them...my sister and I stayed up late last night, just talking together on my bed. It was so nice... then we went out to the dining room to get Chris to pray with us, and he SURE DID! He even broke out the olive oil and anointed her head as we prayed for her, and her children. She'd mentioned to me days earlier that she wanted to be sure that we did that before she left... and then Chris, led of the Spirit, initiated it without our even mentioning it to him. She was so blessed by it, and thankful, as was I. And she prayed for us too. We were all crying and hugging by the time we were finished. It's so quiet here now. They're supposed to call me as soon as they get there. There is a 6:00 p.m. - 6 a.m. curfew in effect for the entire area, with Marshalls patrolling afterwards.
Before they left, we read an article from a local news station over there on the MS coast, stating that they have plenty of food and water, but that what most people are really needing, and wishing that out of towners who want to help out would send them, is GAS! Many can't even get to where the supplies are being handed out for lack of it!
We got a call from my sister-in-law, Sharon, (who's in Misourri with my oldest brother and their 3 kids) yesterday, and she was calling to let me know that she'd finally heard from her Mom, who lives down the road from my Grandparents. They'd just now been able to contact her, since they don't have a cell phone. Her Mom, who's an insurance adjuster, had just started back to work yesterday, and so had called her from the office (which had no a/c working, and was 104 degrees!). She told Sharon that their place fared alright, besides the tree that fell onto their roof, and damage that incurred. Also, one of their cars got entirely drenched/immersed in sea water, and they don't expect to ever use it again. Apparently the 30' storm surge caused by Katrina made its way all the way up to where my Grandparents home (which got 2-3' flooding throughout), and Sharon's parents' home is (20+ miles inland!). She said that they've been told it will be a month before their phone line is up again, not sure how long until their electric is back on, but that their water is working... HOWEVER, their well has been totally contaminated (all the local groundwater is), and they have salt water coming out of their faucets, YUCK! She also said it's starting to smell really bad all around, because of all the dead sealife washed up by the storm surge, which is now rotting on the ground, everywhere around them. Her husband, Steven, recently waited in line for gas for 7 hrs.! You can pray for him too, apparently he's still not heard from some of his family, who lived in an area of town that was hit so hard that the officials aren't yet letting anyone enter it to look for loved ones. So, he's quite upset, not knowing what to expect yet really... Also, the associate Pastor of their church found over 6' of water had flooded his house throughout, and he lived so far from the water, that he didn't have flood insurance either, so pray for provision there. We heard that the morgue in Gulfport has over 2,000 bodies in it already...
There are so many wonderful people helping out though, with such generously open arms and hands. Just yesterday, while we were at WalMart, the lady behind us in line was obviously loaded up with toiletries for coastal hurricane victims. She said they were filling up their van with supplies, which her husband was then going to drive down to the MS Gulf Coast, along with their church's caravan, and he was giving away his van while there too. We got to talking and sharing of our individual church's efforts to help out, and she ended up even offering to open her own home (a big farmhouse which only she and her husband now share) to anybody/family we might want to recommend to her. She said she could tell from talking with us that she could trust our judgement (wow-what a compliment!). So, she gave me her name and phone #, and we parted ways, both thankful for the other ... It's so wonderful to see the love and life of God in His servants, it's like meeting Him on the road, face to face.
Today, my meditation shall be...
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4.7,6
...and a few more thoughts a precious friend sent me this morning...
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
~Psalm 18:2
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
~Isaiah 40:29
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
~Galations 6:9
Before they left, we read an article from a local news station over there on the MS coast, stating that they have plenty of food and water, but that what most people are really needing, and wishing that out of towners who want to help out would send them, is GAS! Many can't even get to where the supplies are being handed out for lack of it!
We got a call from my sister-in-law, Sharon, (who's in Misourri with my oldest brother and their 3 kids) yesterday, and she was calling to let me know that she'd finally heard from her Mom, who lives down the road from my Grandparents. They'd just now been able to contact her, since they don't have a cell phone. Her Mom, who's an insurance adjuster, had just started back to work yesterday, and so had called her from the office (which had no a/c working, and was 104 degrees!). She told Sharon that their place fared alright, besides the tree that fell onto their roof, and damage that incurred. Also, one of their cars got entirely drenched/immersed in sea water, and they don't expect to ever use it again. Apparently the 30' storm surge caused by Katrina made its way all the way up to where my Grandparents home (which got 2-3' flooding throughout), and Sharon's parents' home is (20+ miles inland!). She said that they've been told it will be a month before their phone line is up again, not sure how long until their electric is back on, but that their water is working... HOWEVER, their well has been totally contaminated (all the local groundwater is), and they have salt water coming out of their faucets, YUCK! She also said it's starting to smell really bad all around, because of all the dead sealife washed up by the storm surge, which is now rotting on the ground, everywhere around them. Her husband, Steven, recently waited in line for gas for 7 hrs.! You can pray for him too, apparently he's still not heard from some of his family, who lived in an area of town that was hit so hard that the officials aren't yet letting anyone enter it to look for loved ones. So, he's quite upset, not knowing what to expect yet really... Also, the associate Pastor of their church found over 6' of water had flooded his house throughout, and he lived so far from the water, that he didn't have flood insurance either, so pray for provision there. We heard that the morgue in Gulfport has over 2,000 bodies in it already...
There are so many wonderful people helping out though, with such generously open arms and hands. Just yesterday, while we were at WalMart, the lady behind us in line was obviously loaded up with toiletries for coastal hurricane victims. She said they were filling up their van with supplies, which her husband was then going to drive down to the MS Gulf Coast, along with their church's caravan, and he was giving away his van while there too. We got to talking and sharing of our individual church's efforts to help out, and she ended up even offering to open her own home (a big farmhouse which only she and her husband now share) to anybody/family we might want to recommend to her. She said she could tell from talking with us that she could trust our judgement (wow-what a compliment!). So, she gave me her name and phone #, and we parted ways, both thankful for the other ... It's so wonderful to see the love and life of God in His servants, it's like meeting Him on the road, face to face.
Today, my meditation shall be...
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4.7,6
...and a few more thoughts a precious friend sent me this morning...
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
~Psalm 18:2
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
~Isaiah 40:29
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
~Galations 6:9
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