HURRICANE RELIEF UPDATE

FLOOD BUCKET SUPPLIES. One of the ways all of us can help is through purchasing items for assembling of flood buckets. These go into relief areas. You can purchase any of the items listed below and deliver to the church.

Assembly of the first batch of flood buckets will take place on Sunday, Sept. 28 - meet at 12:15 p.m. (just after the late service) in the MAC - a light lunch will be served and then we will start packing. All ages are welcome!

Items Needed For Flood Buckets (please note the sizes indicated, as all of the items have to fit in the bucket):

• sponges
• disinfectant dish soap (16 to 28 oz. size)
• latex gloves
• work gloves
• insect repellant spray (6 to 14 oz size)
• air freshener (8 or 9 oz size)
• clothes line (50 foot or 100 foot length)
  

We also need cash donations to cover the other items which are being purchased in bulk. It is estimated that $55 will cover all of the supplies for one buckets, but donations may be made in any amount. Mark your check "Flood Bucket."

Donations for other hurricane relief will continue to be accepted. Mark those checks "Hurricane." You can read Bishop Huie's letter to see something of how those funds are to be used (separate post below dated 9-19-08).

Hurricane offerings - here is the appeal - here is where the $$ will go

In addition to the "Flood Bucket" offering, our offerings for general hurricane relief (September communion offering plus any checks marked "HURRICANE") will be in response to this special appeal from Bishop Huie as outlined in this letter:

Special Offering for Hurricane Ike Recovery

Make your checks payable to Bellville UMC, and note "Hurricane" on the check.

Post-Ike Service Opportunities

Residents of Edgewater Methodist retirement community (Galveston) are being hosted by Christ UMC in College Station for an indefinite period of time. There are ways to help - call Christ UMC at 979.690.4673.

Volunteers are serving in park cleanup efforts for over 350 parks in Houston. Call 713.865.4537.

Testimonies from the front line

Here are some stories from the front line of Hurricane Ike relief efforts (click to read):

Bridge City woman's experience returning to her home

Bishop Huie's reports on Galveston and Bolivar

Worship in affected areas on Sunday, Sept. 21 - and also here

Flood buckets at work in La Porte

Paul's report from Brenham

As the aftermath of the hurricane is still unfolding, we see many families that have been displaced, without power and those who have to take an immediate vacation from work and normal life. This leaves many of us asking how we can get involved in helping and serving those who have felt the pressure of Ike, but not be overwhelmed with the whole of the situation.

Yesterday (Thursday, September 18), I had the opportunity to do a small part of service to help families who have been most affected by the storm of last week. On Thursday mornings, I meet with other youth workers from around Austin County (Young Life, other area youth ministers) for prayer.

This week after our time of prayer we headed to Brenham to serve families as they signed up for FEMA support. The families that I met with have been either displaced from their homes that were in the path of the storm or have been continuing to live in a home without electricity for the majority of the last week (five days as of Thursday). Some of the families appeared "shell shocked" because life has been changed so radically in such a short amount of time, but most were taking the situation in stride and were still in good spirits.

If you know anyone who needs some help in signing up for FEMA relief or any other aid, please head over to Faith Mission, 500 E. Academy in Brenham, and they can direct those who are in need to the proper authorities. Also if you would like to help those who have been affected by the hurricane without having to bite off more than you can chew, head to Brenham and help out the efforts that are going on at Faith Mission.

Blessings,
Paul Steurnagel
BUMC director of student ministries

Bishop Huie's letter on hurricane relief offering

Dear Friends,

Grace and peace to you in the name of the One who calms the wind and waves.

When we focused on risk-taking mission and service at this last annual conference, we had no idea of the challenges that Hurricane Ike would bring just four months later. Given the limited loss of life and injury from this storm, we also know that we have been blessed “beyond all that we could ask or imagine.”

The relief and recovery process from Ike creates enormous opportunities for mission, service and generosity for all United Methodists. People need our continual prayers, time and skills to help them put their lives in order again. They also need our financial support to deal with catastrophic expenses.

In 2005 Hurricane Rita caused damage in nearly every community in one district. Your response was tremendous—over $1 million. Ike inflicted damage on seven districts. We already know that more than 100 churches or parsonages have been damaged. Many are still without power. Two districts are especially hard-hit. The needs now are even greater.

These are our greatest concerns:

• Three-four months compensation for pastors whose congregations have evacuated and/or where whole communities are dispersed, such as congregations on the Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston Island and Sabine Pass.
• Assistance with church and parsonage construction and/or reconstruction.
• Many families and churches had little or no flood insurance.
• Assistance for families who have simply run out of money for food, gas and necessities due to two consecutive evacuation orders.
• Assistance with home reconstruction in our communities with greatest need.

In comparison, total recovery cost for Rita, including church support, pastoral needs and home reconstruction is approximately $5 million. UMCOR contributed $4 million. Over 850 homes are being re-built. Ike’s challenge will far exceed Rita.

We have learned a great deal in the last three years. For example, we have learned that volunteer hours double every dollar given to recovery. We know that the early response of the UMC invites other groups to engage with us and stay committed to long-term recovery. Whatever you give in time and money is multiplied many times over.

We pray and trust that there will be assistance from the national church as it was with Rita. We also know that we have personal responsibility to our friends and neighbors.

Contributions to ADVANCE #3019695 will be used for hurricane recovery in Texas, Haiti and other parts of the United States. All of the Ike Recovery contributions given to the Texas Annual Conference will stay in the Texas Annual Conference.

The words of Ephesians come to mind:

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God.” (The Message)

Grace and peace,
Janice Riggle Huie

News from Pasadena

My former congregation, First UMC Pasadena, had severe roof damage from a tornado or microburst, and will be out of their sanctuary for an extended period of time - they are able to hold services in the Christian Life Center. Nevertheless, they are also finding ways to serve the community:

In an attempt to help those affected by the damage to their community, First UMC Pasadena decided to take a different approach to meeting people’s needs during their recovery efforts.

They are making computers available to help people register with FEMA until there is no further need for it.

Associate Pastor Cheryl Smith said in an e-mail “Although we have had some major devastation at our church, we still need to reach out to the community as we can.”

They will be offering this service in their church library at 1062 Fairmont Parkway from 10-2 on weekdays.

“I think there will be many people who can use this service… calling FEMA is almost an impossibility, and registering online is a much better option. We will have volunteers trained in working with FEMA in place to assist those who might not be able to use the computer for one reason or another,” Smith noted. ” We may have bare concrete floors, but we can still do ministry!”

Experiences bringing supplies to Houston

From Pam Michna (working with the "Bluebonnet Ladies"), dated Tuesday:

Ed and I took two Suburbans packed to the gills to the shelter today thanks to all of you and Walmart! I just have to share this story with you......

This afternoon I went to Walmart and was able to talk to the manager. They ended up donating over $700 worth of mattresses and bedding! Isn't that awesome.....remember Walmart when you shop! But the best part of the story is this....at about 3:00 this afternoon a family of 5 and a family of 7 showed up at the shelter asking for a place to stay. The director in charge informed them that the shelter was full to capacity and they simply could not accommodate them. The mothers of the family began to cry and beg the shelter to take them. The director said, "If only I had beds for you, I would do my best to take care of you but I simply have no beds." At that exact moment I called the director to tell her I was on my way with 25 beds and bedding sets. She was then able to let the families in. Wasn't God's timing wonderful?! So thanks to all of you who made this possible!!!!

Thanks to all of you for all you do---Austin County ladies are the best!

Bishop Huie's site visits

You can find links to Bishop Huie's site assessments - CLICK HERE. It will continue to be updated. Just go to the page above, and click on the date.

She visited Beaumont/Orange area on Monday (report posted Tuesday). Her visit in the South District (Galveston to Pasadena to Baytown) took place Tuesday and that report was posted on Wednesday.

At the Galleries site, you can see some of the photos across the conference area.

Items needed for shelter in Houston

Ed & Pam Michna have been putting together items for a Red Cross Shelter in Houston. This shelter continues to have a serious need for bedding. They still need pillows and towels. Used are o.k. if in good condition and in the case of pillows have clean pillowcases. Otherwise the director said what would be most helpful would be gift cards to Walmart or Target--that way she can assure that she gets personal items such as socks and underwear in the proper sizes and add to the supply on an ongoing basis as needed. She would also use the gift cards to buy perishable groceries that would not be practical for us to provide--i.e. eggs, milk, bacon, and/or baby food as needed, and to replace toiletries as used.

They do not need any more mattresses at this time.

The Michnas have graciously offered to take the items to the shelter, so all you need to do is drop them off at the church. Thanks!

Volunteer needs in Caldwell TX on Wednesday 9/17

Here is the the info we received on needs for manpower in Somerville and Caldwell on Wednesday 9/17:

Ice and water will be passed out Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at two locations:

• Wal-Mart parking lot in Caldwell
• American Legion in Somerville

Hot meals will be served Wednesday at:

• Davidson Creek Park, Caldwell (12 noon and 6 pm)
• First Baptist Church, Somerville (12 noon and 6 pm)
• Freeman Center, Caldwell (12 noon)

There is no damage in Caldwell but they are on Entergy power (same as Beaumont) so lights have been out since Saturday.

On Tuesday, the food was brought in by three Red Cross vans - they just needed people to help serve - more hands helped speed the process.

I think if you just show up - you will find a place to serve.

If the Lord so provides, and the lights come back on, they still may be serving - don't know.

Directions to Davidson Creek Park - going in to Caldwell - turn right at the first traffic light - and go one block (this is the light just before Sonic and Dairy Queen) - the traffic light was non-functional by the way. Not sure where Freeman Center is.

You may prefer to go to Somerville since that is closer.

If you have a BARK shirt - wear it - we wore ours on Tuesday.

Serving food in Caldwell on Tuesday

We got word from our UMC district office that they could use a few willing workers in our neighbor town of Caldwell. Caldwell and Somerville (Burleson County) did not have wind and rain damage, but because they are on Entergy power, their lights have been off since the storm, with uncertainty about when the lights will be back on.

We were able to mobilize six of us to go and help serve a hot meal that was trucked in by three Red Cross vans from Bryan/College Station. We wore our BARK shirts!

I have never seen so much hot ravioli in my life. (And I may not be hungry for ravioli for a while!)

We reported for duty at 5:30 p.m. (as requested). The serving was supposed to start at 6 p.m., and a long line of cars began to appear. (This was a "drive through" operation - where people just rolled down their window and received the number of meals they needed.)

The food vans appeared about 6:20 p.m., and shortly thereafter the serving began. The Caldwell folks (including the pastor of the Baptist church) were surprised and grateful to see neighbors from Bellville helping to scoop ravioli!

The menu was hot ravioli, a hot dog bun, crackers and bottled water. We had granola bars also for the kids, and also some baby food. No idea how many we served. 1000+?? There were many grateful recipients, including one who wanted to pay for his meal! There was quite a bit left over that they took to the jail.

Fortunately we were able to complete the entire line of cars before sunset. After a little cleanup, we were back on the road to Bellville by 8:30.