help from far away

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Peanut butter

When someone goes with out food for a long period of time, protein is one of the main things you need to get to them. In our push into the areas that have had no relief, we have put together packages that meet that need.

Sunday morning, one of our workers appoached me before our middle service.
"We need peanut butter - and a local store has some, but we need $1000 in cask to go get it."

I was a little shocked by the request, and then realized that theyy were not asking me personally. Looking at our congregation I replied "Give me 45 minutes and I'll have it for you"

Now in all honesty, I had no idea wheter or not that group had that much cash on them.

As the service began, I explained "I need $1000 for peanut butter, adn I need it now. When you come forward for communion, I ask you to help me with this. And to make it even more if a challenge, I need to do it in addition to our normal offering."

During communion, I looked into the eyes of several families who had lost everything. I could hardly get the words out "The blood of Christ- poured out for you"

After communion, I grabbed a walmart bag and began to collect the bills. Where I had expected to see 5's and 10's I saw 50's and 100's. At that point, my eyes filled with tears.

When all was said and done, $3400 in cash was collected. By the end of the day, almost $20,000 had been collected. Each dollar will go directely to those who need help. And it will make a difference.

power

We had a lady from Diamondhead Miss. some into the Prodisee Center.

"That area was hit really hard, and we need help."

We talked about the basics that we could send, and when it could happen. As she finished, we had a plan. At the last moment she said, "we really need a generator for the doctor's office - do you have one?"

Well, we have a lot of stuff here, but that was not among them. I told her to write down the specifics, and put it on the buliten board.

Within moments after she left, a gentleman approached me. " I have a 40 KW generator (very big!) if you need it...

Within hours we had that generator, food, water, and supplies headed to Diamondhead. I'll let her tell the story-
"When we pulled up at the doctpr's office, everyone there jumped up and began to clap, cheer, cry and hug. It was a miracle."

The group had been working under a makeshift tent in front of the office. The roof had been blown off, and they were treating people on metal tables in the front yard. As our team left late that night, power was on, and the doctor's were treating people.

78

I just met a man from N.O., he is 78 years old and stopped by the Prodisee Center to see of FEMA reps were here. I asked him about his story - here it is.

I lived in an apatment building in N.O., and the storm waters sent me to the roof. I waited there until Wednesday at 4 am, when a Coast Guard helicopter landed on the roof and got me. I rode in the helicopter to a nearby parish, where they put me on a bus. I wasn't sure where the bus was going, but I did as I was told. Eventually, I ended up at the dome (Astrodome). There were thousands of people just wandering around in that place. I got ther early, so I had a cot, but most of the people were sleeping in the seats. I had promised Chris (from Spanish Fort) that I would call her after the storm to let her know who I was. I found a lady from the phone company, and she got me in touch with Chris.

Chris told me to stay put, and she called some family that she had in the Houston area. They told me to stand under the flag, so they could find me. Well, there were thousands of people in there, and they didn't know what I looked like, adn I didn't know what they looked like. Security was pretty tight, and they couldn't get in to find me. They eventually made it in, and by the grace of God, we found each other.

I went to their house in Houston, and went to sleep. On Sunday, I got on the plane, and now- here I am."


Imagine going through a hurricane, loosing everything you have and then going through all of that.

Believe it or not, he smiled as he told his story, as if he could not believe a 78 year old man could make it through such an ordeal.