Southeastern District Katrina Relief Update October 20, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I would like for you to meet Ruth who is a member of Atonement Lutheran Church, one of the two churches the SED is shepherding following the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Ruth is a widow on a fixed income. She had over 5 feet of water in her home. Everything was destroyed. At this time she is living with relatives, but that is a temporary solution. Ruth needs our prayers. She also needs our love and support at this extremely difficult time in her life. She needs a congregation from the SED to pray for and with her as she determines where God is leading her in the coming months. Are you that congregation?

Then there is the Schmidt family. Husband Bill is currently deployed with the military leaving Mom Stacy to care for their two daughters, ages 4 and 7. Their home and car were both destroyed by the flooding. Like Ruth, this family needs our prayers and support. Stacy needs to know that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who care about her and her children at this very difficult time in their lives. Is your congregation ready to respond to the call?

And then there is the Fuller family. Dad had his own business that was completely destroyed, and Mom is a full time mom for their three children. Their home sustained severe damage from 2 feet of water. They have insurance, but with no income, they are struggling to meet the deductible amount necessary to restore their home. As active leaders of Atonement, they are mentors for the congregation who have requested our prayers, encouragement and support.

These are only three of the stories of the 55 families Atonement has identified who need shepherding at this time. As of October 19, ten of these families have been connected to SED congregations for prayers, love and support. That means that 45 families are waiting for the phone call from a compassionate person identifying themselves as a member of a congregation from SED who is there to offer their prayers, love and support. Many families have specifically requested prayers as they face difficult days ahead; others have some financial needs; but all need to feel the love and presence of their Lord through us, their family in Christ. Please discuss this important calling with your congregation and ask that they open their hearts to these people who have suffered great losses. Remind them that at the end of a day, they can go home and put their feet up and relax with a nice meal. . .while there are many families in the New Orleans area who have no home to go home to. These families need to tell their stories and we need to listen. They need to hear our voices of love and assurance that God is using us to be His instruments of care and compassion. They need to have their hands held, to be prayed for and with. They need us and we need them as a reminder that God calls us to serve one another in love.

On Atonement Lutheran Church and School property, Lutheran Disaster Response has set up tents to house the volunteers. Now we need to fill those tents with willing and able bodies to help these people make repairs to their homes. Please go to the web site <trcbr.org> to find out how you can volunteer as a team or as an individual. Then let us know what your congregation is doing. They need our help.

Sally Hiller and I will be visiting our two congregations next week, October 27-30. At that time we will be taking your cards and letters to those churches. Please get them to the SED office by Wednesday, October 26 so they can be included in our gifts to them. At that time we will also present your monetary gifts to them which you have so generously sent to the SED. Thank you for making that possible.

Please continue to keep me informed through disasterhelp@se.lcms.org. Together with God’s help and guidance, we can bring His love to many people who need to feel His loving embrace and the promise that He is always with them.

In His <>< service,

Deaconess Elizabeth (“Liz”) DeMik