The Approach of The Holiday Season In A Disaster Area

As I drive around the city of Galveston, the familiar sights and sounds of a neighborhood approaching the season are missing. Piles of debris, from ruined belongings, or debris from the insides of houses that have been gutted, decorate the yards. The sounds of children playing are replaced by silence, or in some cases the sounds of demolition of the interior of the houses. At night, the neighborhoods are mostly dark, quiet and uninhabited. There are some houses that the owners have gotten fixed, but they are few.

As I drive around, I think, "If we had more volunteers we could get people back into their houses". The volunteer groups we saw during Katrina efforts, have not come, the church has not responded in mass numbers, so the work we are able to do takes longer. The neighborhoods full of various church groups and volunteers, so commonly seen during Katrina relief efforts, are absent. I thank God for the ones who are here. I Thank God for the churches who are sending workers. I see relief organizations pull out every week, not because there are no needs, but because of the lack of volunteers and funding. If it were not for the faith we have in Christ, and keeping our eyes fixed upon Him, it could get discouraging. We have found we need to keep our focus on every person we see, every person that comes by for a meal and not losing sight of the individual due to the enormity of the task. 

At this time Bibles are very much in demand, we can't keep bibles stocked, they are taken as soon as we put them out...people are desperate for the hope and encouragement. As I write this, we are all out of bibles, we still have a few Spanish Bibles, and some New Testaments in English. I pray every day that God will send more so we can send people out with His word.

I look toward the Holidays in anticipation. Thanksgiving we are planning on filling hungry bellies with a hearty Thanksgiving dinner. We are doing Toys For Tots this year, and expect to have many people signed up, we would like to be able to give each family a Bible and some Christian children's DVD's, as well as some much needed housewares(blankets, sheets, small kitchen appliances, etc.) if we are able. 

Remember the disaster victims as the holidays approach, there are still many thousands still out of their homes, many needs, keep these in prayer, and if you can do something to help, no matter how small it seems, be assured everything matters.

Vance Weesner-C4C Staff