Ongoing Hurricane Ike Relief Teams Now Forming

Although it has been years since Hurricane Rita hit the East Texas region the damage is still evident. This damage is now exacerbated by this years hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The East Texas communities of Vidor and Beaumont are reflective of communities long forgotten after the storms have passed and the damage and ruin remains. Many people have yet to get back to their homes while others have resolved to living in broken homes in disheveled conditions. And the ones who are back home are struggling with the lack of food, jobs and resources.

In order to continue providing relief after these disasters, a team from Christ Church United Methodist recently completed a fourth mission trip to the Vidor/Port Arthur area for hurricane relief and has organzied monthly one-day mission trips into the Houston/Galveston areas to continue helping families recovering from these storms.

"When Hurricane Rita came through the Texas United Methodist Conference had made a commitment to assist many families in need. Since that initial commitment, there are still 69 homes and families that are in need of attention. As we left the Vidor/Port Arthur area a few weeks ago, another church came in right behind us to continue the work we had started on this particular house. The conference is still gathering data for the numbers of families in need since Hurricane Ike. The number of 69 is certain to grow again," says Deanna Young, Minister of Spiritual Formation at Christ Church United Methodist.

Since Hurricane Rita, the number of volunteers entering the area to offer aid substantially decreased. Out of sight - out of mind. When it is no longer reported in the press people tend to forget the need is still out there and recovery is still taking place. To help keep the focus of such needs and to continue to provide aid in the wake of Hurricane Ike, Scott Young of Christ Church United Methodist will be leading a volunteer team into the Houston/Galveston area each month on a one-day mission trip. The first mission trip was held on Saturday, December 13.

In the recent mission trip to the Vidor/Port Arthur area, the mission team "helped a family of nine who have been living without a kitchen for 3 years. This family had the back room of their home, their kitchen, pretty much blown away. We tore down what little was left, then built from the ground up the foundation, framed up the walls and got the joists in for the roof. The next team came in the following Monday and picked up where we left off. The thing that spoke the loudest to me is that it would be very easy to forget that the need is still out there when we don't read about it or see it on television. But long after the television crews are gone the need still exists. We, the church, need to rebuild, strengthen and renew the individual's (those devastated by the storm) belief in the goodness of humanity, their belief in a God of provision, and their belief in a God of restoration," shares Deanna Young.

Assistance is needed in the form of volunteer workers as well as donations of materials and funds. Anyone interested in helping with hurricane relief projects can contact Scott Young who will be leading these teams or Marc Donaldson. For a detailed listing of 2009 Hurricane Recovery dates and further information, please visit the Christ Church United Methodist Web site and click on Missions.