A 53 ft semi load of tools and supplies just arrived with a bus load of volunteers to work next week. There will probably be around 250 volunteers here working next week.
You may have to enlarge the photo but if you look you can see leaves coming back on this tree. If you space down you can see it bare.
345 meals served yesterday. Next week is going to be a very busy one. We have 180 volunteers scheduled to stay at NorthPort Church of Christ and help with cleanup.
408 Meals served yesterday. Thanks so much to all the volunteers and to all of you who have helped out with donations we could not do this without all of you.
Below is the recap of work that has been done here in Tuscaloosa so far.
142 Bible Studies Setup 5 Baptisms 28,292 Meals Served 575 Families helped with cleanup(chainsaw and other work) Many Many loads of other food, water and supplies handed out. Church building is completely torn down and being hauled away in trucks.
We are working with some adults, but mostly working with the school age children. We are conducting a vacation bible school and use the contacts in follow up study. Sunday night we had about 30 children, it has grown every evening Last night we had 95 in attendance. We go up and down these very hot streets every day telling the parents about VBS. and then walk thru the streets again about 4:30 telling the children, it is amazing how many of them follow us to church. We have 5 young people with us on this mission trip. They teach. You would be so proud of these young people and the good example they are setting with these children of Belize.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
554 Meals today. The photo below is all that remains of the Central Church of Christ building.
This is to let everyone know what we are doing. The Disaster Assistance Mission will be continuing our work here at Central Church of Christ, where we are also working with Northport CoC and Westside CoC. We have over 30 groups of volunteers scheduled to come here and work during the next few weeks. The work here in Alabama is far from over. We do not have the resources to be working in more than one location and we make a commitment to the Church and people not to leave until our services are no longer needed. The news coverage has now shifted to another area but please remember that your prayers, volunteers and funds are still needed for our work here in Alabama. Photo below is of some of the cleanup work going on.
690 meals yesterday. Also we have over 30 groups scheduled to come here and help over the next few weeks.
A massive tornado that blasted a four-mile path across southwestern Missouri slammed into this city with cataclysmic force. Joplin, Mo was one of the worst hit areas. We can continue to do this work of feeding hungry people whose lives have been devastated by disasters only with the financial support of our brothers and sisters across the U.S.
Below are some comments taken from Trae Durden (Campus Ministry @ Central CoC). We have been very blessed at the Central congregation! So far over 21,000 people have been served a hot meal. And we have work crews out every day meeting new friends in need of assistance. The best news of all is that with the help of some of our brethren trained in the "We Care" Bible studies three souls have been added to the Lord's body! Three new Christians in the last two days! God can and will continue to bring great things out of this disaster! All our Bible studies started with taking a hot meal to people in need. I am so grateful to Mike Baumgartner with Disaster Assistance for his vision to meet the needs of victims and create an opportunity to teach them the gospel.
We have now settled into an ongoing daily routine, serving breakfast and lunch, making to go lunch bags, passing out all other food products and supplies and send out crews for cleanup and chain saws.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
430 meals today. The daily total of meals is getting more manageable now. Several loads of supplies arrived and many many supplies were handed out.
Just came out of meeting with the local congregations. Central Church of Christ which is where we are setup is going to continue what we have been doing(Evangelism,meals,food boxes, ice, fruit, dry goods and many other supplies). Disaster Response Team(DRT) will be arriving this afternoon and will be setting at University Church of Christ and running there operation form there. Don has 112 bible studies signed up. Through yesterday we had passed out 12,218 meals. Photo below is of the work going on here at Central this morning.
Even though it rained all day we still took out and received a lot of supplies. In the photo the semi in front had lots of ice and cases of fruit. The smaller truck in the photo was completely filled with all kinds of food and supplies.
A good start this morning, SYSCO was here at 6:30AM with the first order we are getting from them. They brought us our meat, chips, snack cake, bun and condiments. Sure was easier than going to Sams.
Have made arrangements with SYSCO to deliver all our cooking needs on a daily basis starting tomorrow. Also have a refrigerated truck coming tomorrow and 2 big tents. Send me a email and let me know if you want to come and help for awhile.
Have meeting setup today with SYSCO Foods to try and get delivery here each day so we do not have to go to Sams or Walmart each night and get supplies for 3000 meals. If this works out it will be great help.
One of the county school systems brought us what they had in their freezer because they have no power. All day long we were cooking school pizza so it wouldn't go to waste.
Without your help this mission will not be able to continue
DONATIONS
If you would like to help us assist our neighbors please click on the link above or make check payable to and mail to Disaster Assistance Mission, 402 Center Way St, Lake Jackson TX 77566. Receipt for your taxes will be provided if needed.
VOLUNTEERS
Would you like to be added to our list of posiable volunteers that we can contact if necessary. Please email me your name, address, phone #. Email to: disasterassistance@gmail.com
If you are looking for an opportunity to become involved in evangelism and mission work right here at home, I believe you will really appreciate this information. Mission work in all areas is greatly needed. For those of us who can help in home missionary work, there are several organizations that are highly involved in helping people.One of these mission efforts in which Rosemary and I are very active is "Disaster Assistance". "Disaster Assistance"is made up of many volunteers, who go to areas of disaster, esp. weather related, and help people in need. Not only do we cook and provide meals, help churches organize and distribute relief supplies, but we also provide spiritual help in talking with people about the Lord. Outreach is one of our chief efforts. We endeavor, not only to talk with people, but also offer to visit with them, pray with them and set up bible studies with them. It is our effort to help spiritually,as well as physically.. We have found that when we go into areas hard hit by floods and storms, provide much needed food and supplies, that the people are eager to know of this God we happily serve. They are very receptive to the idea of studying God's word. Last year, we signed up over 500 people for bible study thru this effort.You can be a big help. We always need volunteers. We need people who can help cook, wash and scrub big pots and pans, clean tables, serve food, organize and distribute supplies and we very much need volunteers who can help conduct bible studies. Of course your sacrificial donations of money and supplies help make this mission effort possible. When we volunteers go into an area wearing our bright orange shirts that read, "Disaster Assistance Church of Christ" it is a message that says to people, "The Church of Christ is here to help." As you may desire to help and be a part of this mission work, here are some ways you can let us know that you want, in some capacity, to have a part: Email our director Mike at disasterassistance@gmail.com You can also email us donhudsoncoc@gmail.com You can also view our web page at http://www.disasterassistancecoc.com/ Again, thanks for all you are doing in this mission effort. God is being glorified, Christ is being magnified, and the Church is being edified. Don