Kansas Update

I'm sure you've all been watching the news stories like this one. Greensburg Kansas is pretty much wiped out. I had the pleasure (in serving the Lord) today to help get a 30 foot trailer and supplies ready to roll out. This would have been impossible without Tim Shivers (Team 7) of New Life in Gahanna loaning out his new Diesel GMC 2500.

Thanks Tim!

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team is ran by Laura and Mark Cremeans. They are from Ohio originally, but are relocating to a new base of operations in Gainsville Florida. After 10 years of part time first response when Hurricane Charlie came through, they sold their construction business and went full time. This trailer will join a kitchen trailer, shower trailer, RV, and tool trailer that will all be on-site between tomorrow and the weekend. They'll let us know about volunteer requirements over the next week. If you are feeling called to go help, be making some very tentative plans and I'll get the word out if I'm taking a team out. We may well be joining them in the next couple of weeks.

Whites Ferry Road will also be in Greensburg this weekend. Note the referenced appeal letter from Carol Ogle. We are not in competition, but are partner's in God's work in disaster relief. Servants Unite is a faith based operation, but not affiliated with any particular church. Church of Christ partners are who we have worked with for Katrina relief. If you know of other church organizations working in Kansas, please pass along the info.

We're all looking at fundraising and preparation for the upcoming spring storm and hurricane season. Servants Unite as well is down to a couple thousand dollars. We'll need approximately $10,000 to cover expenses for our teams through the end of July, though they are paying a lot of their own way. A very large response for a new hurricane causing the sort of damage Charlie, Ivan, Katrina, or Rita did will call for a $30,000 immediate outlay to cover shipping, transportation, and supplies.

This money may be pledged by churches for such a response or donated outright, but I need to start getting an accounting of what we can count on when the next emergency strikes.

Keep all those working in relief in your prayers as well as those who have lost so much in these disasters. Please pray they will see Christ in our work and seek him and be closer to him in their lives.

John McGuire