Response from those we have helped

Dear Friends,

We continue our efforts to help those along the Gulf Coast and we receive a lot of thanks for the work we do. I want to share with you an email that was sent from David and Anita Green, pastor of St Paul's UMC in Bridge City, Texas. If you recall we sent a team over to help them clean out their home the first weekend after Hurricane Ike and a large group of college kids went over later to help other church members in Bridge City. Anita's email was so touching I wanted to share it with each of you.

From: David and Anita Green
Subject: Two Months Later, Aftermath and Life After Ike

As I write this I am in my parents' house in AL. It is 2:00am on Nov. 13. Exactly two months ago, I was also in my parents' house in AL, but Hurricane Ike was in our house in Bridge City, TX, flooding our house and our town with several feet of water for three days. Hurricane Ike and its aftermath left in its wake, death, destruction, decay displacement and despair. The church groups and other volunteers that have come in and done so much have brought help, hope and healing.

The change in our situation has been miraculous. We have been in family's homes, friends' homes and a FEMA hotel. We have been in a church member's travel trailer for over a month and will be there for at least another month or two. Every day and every night we have been provided for. Church groups and volunteers have worked so hard for days to move our belongings and the church belongings to the curb, gut our parsonage down to the studs and take all the debris to the curb. Debris trucks and a friend have moved away all our trash and debris. A friend and neighbor has even shuttled our sewage to his sewer drop several times a week.

Kingwood UMC has bought and built and taped and floated new walls. They have rented and brought in two PODS for the things we are trying to salvage and the things that people have given us. They are buying and putting in new doors, new cabinets, new tile, new carpet, new windows, new electrical wiring and outlets, new plumbing and new appliances. A member of Kingwood is even having my great grandparents' sofa and chair salvaged and redone. Two long time friends from Airline UMC have taken us to Florida and given us much furniture, household goods and clothes. A long time friend from Atascocita UMC has donated a five ton AC unit. A friend from Alexander UMC is taking David hunting. Two brand new friends are putting the kitchen cabinets in for free and donating granite for the kitchen countertops. Friends, families, churches and volunteers have given us food, clothes, water, ice, cleaning and storage supplies, furniture, household items, money, books, Bibles and hymnals and many other gifts and acts of love. People have given us love and support and help in so many ways in our great loss from Hurricane Ike and the tragic death of our beloved "child" and constant companion, comforter and comedian, Hunter. We have a nice place to worship and have Sunday School and we have a beautiful new church being built.

We have nothing put praise and thanks to God and all those who have done so much and given so much to us. We do not deserve all the good things we have been given and can never repay all the kindness, generosity and goodness that has been shown to us.

Love, Thanks & Praise,
Anita & David

Enough said…thanks be to God!
Blessings to all,
MDUMC Disaster Response Team