Tornado damage tonight team 12 overnight stop for tomorrow...

Irony of ironies, we chose to continue with the plan of sending this Servants Unite team to Louisiana because some of the teen's parents were concerned about sending them into the new disaster zone in Dyer County Tennessee. Tonight there was major storm damage around Nashville including a tornado touchdown in Hendersonville, the suburb where the team is scheduled to stay tomorrow night, though towns east and west of Hendersonville sustained the most damage. [CNN Story]

I just spoke with Mark Bryson who is our contact at Hendersonville Church of Christ. He just came from the church where the Red Cross has set up a shelter in the Gym. Many homes have been destroyed all around Nashville and at least 11 are reported to have died in the storm.

Please be in prayer for this area and the families grieving tonight.

Mark says our team is still welcome to stay overnight that there is no problem getting into the church and there is plenty of room for them in the Gym. I've left voicemails or talked with the adult members of the team and asked them to get with the teens they are taking. For Northland and Spring Road kids, I left messages from Robin and Troy. For Northside kids I have talked to Beth. I've also informed the team lead, Gary Sargent.

As this is fresh news our plans to leave at 12:30 Saturday are not yet changed, but it is inevitable that some adjustments will be required. I will check back with Mark at Hendersonville in the morning and be able to get more information out then.

The Hendersonville church has hosted most of our teams on their way home from Katrina Relief trips and many other groups. They volunteer weekly and contribute heavily to the Nashville based Churches of Christ Disaster Relief who has sent so many truckloads of food, water, supplies, and now appliances and furniture.

I believe we need to rise to the opportunity God has given us here to help them in their area's time of need. I expect there will be an immediate need for volunteers to help in the area. There is also an immediate need for water in neighboring towns where all electric and utilities are out. Verification of the safety of working in the area will be of primary importance.

• We should expect to leave the scheduled team at Hendersonville as needed.
• We should supplement their effort with more volunteers who read this email as they can be assembled and equipped over the next few days.
• We need a few tools to send with them:
• Chainsaws with Gas, Oil, extra chains (4 adult use only)
• Wheelbarrows
• We need people to volunteer to man donation stations at local churches to collect water. I'll check with Master Provisions and Convoy of Hope for availability of shipping to move the water down economically.
• We need additional donations to cover expenses of this unplanned, though anticipated need. Servants Unite currently has $10,000 with $2,000 planned to cover this trip. Shipping and transportation costs of more volunteers will further deplete our limited funds.

Anyone who can serve this need, please contact me ASAP (info in signature at bottom).

Again please be in prayer about this new calamity and also for our team and leadership and for wise decision making while following the path God has laid out before us.

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Mark 12:30-31, Mathew 9:36-38, Romans 12:4-8

John McGuire
www.ServantsUnite.org
614-523-3996 home
614-404-8610 cel