Salem Katrina Team Report - January 28

Last night I heard from Morella Larson, our well-traveled team member from Salem who is continuing her winter in Palm Springs. She is also continuing her work for Katrina relief, mentioning that she's making a presentation on our work in Gautier. Her friends in Palm Springs should be very proud of sending Morella to the Gulf with such generous gifts! I will always have a picture in my mind of Morella standing in the fellowship hall, wearing her work apron with the MORELLA name tag.

Various paperwork delays have kept me in Tampa, so today I worked with the RV dealership in preparing their donation of a travel trailer for me to tow to Ocean Springs. There, Christus Victor Lutheran Church has a couple older motorhomes parked behind the church for volunteer housing, and this very wonderful donation will allow up to four volunteers to have a bit more privacy and comfort after a hard day. Judy, an insurance manager here at the dealership told me earlier in the week that God must have a reason for slowing things down a bit and keeping me in Tampa longer than I'd like. She was right.

I phoned Bob Montgomery (a retired Navy commander and church member) at Christus Victor to give them a heads-up on this unit coming in, and he was eleated! A couple more such vehicles and it will look like we're having an RV rally! Bob and his wife Brenda have set new standards for Joan and me to consider in their tireless rededication of their entire lives - home, income, time, prayers, everything they have - to help their church meet the needs of Katrina victims. And we see folks like them in Gautier as well, and I'm thinking of Pam Martin, Fred, and so many other wonderful folks like them. Also...ever notice how so many of them are retired military?

Bob and Christus Victor remind us that money is still needed. Lots of money. Besides their free medical clinic and labor crews, Christus Victor continues to operate a huge distribution point where storm victims get food, clothing and other necessities. Although some food is donated, most has to be bought and they need money to meet the need. I wish we could do more than we have!