thank God for small favors

From this week's Week of Compassion Update:

Official Hurricane Season Ends Quietly
People up and down the Atlantic seaboard and all across the Gulf South are breathing a huge collective sigh of relief as an unexpected and unusually mild hurricane season ends today. 2004 and 2005 were two of the costliest and most damaging hurricane seasons in meteorological history, and communities across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas are still years away from normalcy. Hurricane Katrina alone killed more than 1500 people, left tens of thousands homeless and caused billions of dollars of damage.
2006 had been predicted to be another busy year, but there were just nine named storms, only two of which were major storm systems. Only two tropical storms hit the U.S. mainland, neither causing significant damage. In 2005 there were 28 named storms, 15 reaching hurricane strength and four striking the U.S., including Katrina and Rita.

Disciples Hurricane Efforts Continue
Grateful for such a mild season, Disciples nevertheless are moving at full speed with hurricane recovery efforts. Week of Compassion, in partnership with Disciples Home Missions' Office of Disciples Volunteering, the Great River and Southwest regions, five local Disciples Mission Stations, scores of ecumenical church partners, and hundreds of Disciples congregations across the whole church, is supporting hurricane recovery work all across the Gulf South. One major program, the Disciples Hurricane Recovery Initiative, seeks to put 750 work teams into the region from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2008. Just 3 months into the initiative more than 140 groups (20% of our goal) have either gone or have registered to go. Please visit the WOC website (www.weekofcompassion.org) for details.

This is where our Partners in Comfort gulf coast hurricane relief effort comes in. 7 trips in '07 and 8 trips in '08. Five of the 7 trips are already on the books:

February 18 - 24, 2007: Slidell, Louisiana*This trip will be in celebration of Week of Compassion, working year-round, but recognized each February. We have invited WoC Executive Director Johnny Wray to join us in Slidell.

March 4 – 10, 2007: Covington, Louisiana
*Sponsored by Selah! Ministries for Women at Geist Christian Church, this is the first (annual?!) women’s mission trip.

May 13 - 19, 2007: Lake Charles, Louisiana
*Hit hard by Hurricane Rita, Lake Charles has been quite overlooked in other recovery efforts.

September 16 - 22, 2007: McComb, Mississippi
*Working with an interfaith agency, expanding the reach of recovery.

November 11 - 17, 2007: Algiers/New Orleans, Louisiana
*This mission station is finishing a new facility for hosting work groups of up to 70!

(Two more dates still TBA.)

It's never too early (and usually not too late!) to get your name on the list to be part of these trips. You can also support the mission effort by being on the 'home team,' giving support from right here in Indy ... contribute to the mission fund and make it possible for others to be on the trip without concern for 'affording' it ... check out our wish list and contribute to the equipment stock for trips to come ...

If you want to get connected you just say the word and we'll make sure there's a place to plug in!

unbelievable!

Like Bob said when he sent this article my way, it's amazing that even editors and publishers don't know -- or at least don't 'get' -- the extent of the damage, the need, the destruction, the recovery yet to come.

Editors and publishers toured the Gulf Coast, from New Orleans to Biloxi (a familiar stretch, huh, Rod?) and were astonished at what they saw. Even after they'd had staff reports from the very area, pictures and all.

It's THAT dramatic, seeing it for yourself.

Makes you want to do something, doesn't it?!

Hmm, wonder how you could do something to help ... Hmmmm.