Disaster Relief: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita & Wilma

After performing in Houston Shelters our singing team heads for Ground Zero — New Orleans

First Request: Singing for “Church in the Restaurant!”
Our team drove through the night to hold four Sunday Services in a restaurant that suddenly got converted into a feeding station for 2,000 police, military and rescue workers. Though very tired, the singing team managed to get a good response from the early bird diners at the 8:00 A.M. Service with their rendition of a New Orleanian favorite, “This little light of mine!”

(left to right Karen, Conchi, Clare, Ken, and Jaz — “The Ground Zero Singers!”

Helping to Feed the Police, Military and Rescue Workers Between Singing Breaks

Karen and Conchi helping to serve the food!

Between services, the singing team helped prepare and serve the delicious meals prepared by our very good friend Glen Guidy, who had to quickly learn how to feed 10 times more people than usual. At first it was a bit hectic, but we managed to survive putting in long 14 hour days relying on a lot of prayer to mantain our “good humor.”

Yes, we even do “Take Out” home delivery!

Karen and Daisy bringing delicious grilled Tuna “take out” to the electric repair men.

Grisly Allen “on the alert” making sure no one loots during his watch!
Since not everyone could come to the restaurant we brought food to those still stranded in their homes and the building crews. One interesting fellow who really enjoyed the “shrimp and crawfish etouffe was Allen, who we nicknamed “Grisly Allen.” He stayed through the storm in his house and then the next day rounded up the stray dogs left behind to care for and feed them. He loved our visits, songs, food and prayers.

Music helps the Vaccinations “Not Hurt So Much!”

Our next singing “engagement” was at the West Jefferson Hospital where vaccinations for Hepatitis A & B, and Tetanus were being administered. Many of the “vacinees” told us how they “didn’t feel a thing” during the shots as they were “distracted” listening to our lovely songs of comfort and hope.

Caleb distributed some beautiful color story books to the children getting their shots while the singers “did their thing!”

Many modern heroes Big and Small

It was so inspiring to see the many people who stayed behind to help in any way that they could. Amongst the many was a good friend of ours who has been working around the clock with many other medical personnel maning the hospital and vacination center! Mark stayed even when the hospital was “under seige” by the looters!

Surprise performance for Mass held at the Hospital

When the kindly mannered Priest who was giving Mass at the Hospital saw us with our guitars he asked if we knew any “hymns.” Many of the doctors, nurses and patients were moved to tears by the songs, and later commented how motivated they were to see teens helping out so cheerfully!

Soldiers and Police encouraged by “God’s Word!”

Happy Norman happy to be performing with our happy singers!

Military men “Line Up” to get their Gospel Posters Autographed by the Girls

Singing for the Brave Military who “held down the fort” at the Airport

Singing for Radio France Reporter at Airport!

Rescue Worker “breaks down” in tears as he falls on his knees in prayer during “Peace in the Midst of Storm” song!

Our Wild Bunch of Singers will Sing Anywhere!

Stay tuned for more “ACTION” from the Ground Zero Singers!!! Or better yet, come and join us on the front lines!

By Stephen

The Family International has been providing entertainment for the Children’s Activity Center at the Houston Astrodome, where nearly 8,000 evacuees are still being housed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Activity Center is being operated by the American Red Cross and volunteers from Houston from the Houston area. The following is a video clip of our own “Sunshine Singers” performing for the kids.

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After praying about what to do concerning the Hurricane Katrina, the Lord surprised us by telling us to stay put for the moment and He would show us what to do. Eventually His plan became apparent to us when the Evacuees began flooding into our area to take up residence in Churches, Sports Centers and Red Cross Shelters. We then realized that the “Relief Effort” had come to us and there was plenty to do.

We first registered with the Red Cross to go through their orientation program so that we could be available for help in the shelters. This has proven to be a good first step as it has gotten us involved with relief efforts in providing food and shelter for the incoming evacuees.

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From Crystal:

This is Stan. We met him today at the Astrodome, and he told us his horrifying tale of being swept along by the rushing currents. He tried holding frantically to anything passing his way! He managed to grab onto an overhanging telephone wire, which he clung onto for dear life for 8 hours! In this toxic soup, the thought crossed his mind he might die. He said he wasn’t afraid of dying as he knew he would go to Heaven, but didn’t want to die alone! Finally, a canoe came by and took him to higher ground. He stayed for 3 more days in the hot baking sun giving him 2nd degree burns all over his body. Eventually he was transported to the Astrodome in Houston.
On arrival at the Astrodome his feet were very swollen, so he secured himself an area to sleep near the food canteen and bathroom so he wouldn’t have to walk any distance. At last, he was able to show a volunteer his feet which had tripled in size. The doctors fear he’ll lose both feet to gangrene from being submerged in this contaminated brew for so long. After a few days some of the swelling did go down. After praying with him for healing he was moved to tears. Please do continue to pray for him that he’ll fully recover! We left him with some feeding reading to encourage him at this stage.

On September 10, Nick and I were up at 5 and ready to start at the shelter by 6AM. Saturday morning was slower as the days before were very busy with the announcement of the Debit card and funds for evacuees. It had been very busy to help people with that. With Family Services not available on the weekend it was quieter, but we had one young man, Kevin come in.

He arrived really dirty, and wrapped in an old blanket — it was almost unbelievable. He was very broken-hearted, his eyes were all red from crying and I wasn’t sure if he would burst into tears again. He told us his story of how he had come up from Mississippi to East Texas where he had one relative, but no phone number or address. He explained he hadn’t eaten in 4 days, he had gone to one place where they didn’t have a place for him to stay overnight and then he tried the next night at a church, but he was in such a traumatic state from wandering and traveling that sadly he was misunderstood and turned away.

He had one relative in a tiny town and no address or number, and decided to walk there. He finally found a hospital where he received some medication as he had been crying uncontrollably, and then walked another 3 miles from there and turned up here at the shelter this morning. We immediately referred him to the doctor to check him, and signed him in. Then I was able to assist and take him for some clean clothes, and set him up with a bed and bedding in the shelter. When asked how he felt by others, he said,” do you know how it feels not to eat for over 4 days? Even a small candy fills you”. We found out he has lost contact with his wife and daughter, so after getting him breakfast and settled in we started helping him with calls and an internet search for them.

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From Haven:

Liz and I went to the Windsor shelter today and we helped with the childcare. They have a very nice set-up for the 0-6 year olds. The women who are staffing the center are very concerned about keeping everything clean and organized and they’re doing a great job. They were able to get their little daycare set up nicely in the just the past few days, thanks to a lot of dedicated volunteers and many kind donations. We are now helping out by doing musical performances for the children. We also spent some time in the other childcare area playing with the 5-8 year olds. The department that cares for the children also told us that we could bring in our guitars and sing with the kids. We’re very thankful for a way to be able to share some happiness with these kids. Most of them seem to be enjoying themselves in the play area that the shelter has set up for them, and the kids are quite happy and energetic and responded well to the attention we’ve given them.

From Crystal, Ruth & Daniel,

Hurricane Katrina has ripped apart lives, and shattered hopes for 1000’s of souls that survived her wrath. Many escaped without even a pair of shoes on their feet. Blistered feet fled New Orleans, some having lived on their rooftops in the boiling sun waiting for rescue.

An atmosphere of hopelessness permeates the Astrodome in Houston, the new home for thousands of displaced Americans. Little did I know what was awaiting me when coming from my missionary work in Africa to visit a Family International base in New Orleans! Who could have imagined the devastation that was yet to unfold as I watched the daily reports on the news of what was happening? I was considering coming to New Orleans before my visit to my family in another state, but God changed my plans. He speaks! My flight was already booked, so I was rerouted to Houston so I could meet up with the team here to help with the relief effort.

I didn’t know what to expect when arriving as I knew that the missionary team based in New Orleans had to leave their base and flee. I was prepared for living in real tight quarters on the floor with other Family International volunteers in Texas. When I arrived at our location, I was absolutely taken aback at the Lord’s supply and love for this team. A dear woman they met at a shelter donated the use of her fully furnished house. This dear woman had been praying that day who to give the house to, and the team had prayed that same morning specifically for a house.

In New Orleans the Family International missionaries are presently ministering to the military and police officers. These men have been working non-stop, most having lost everything themselves to the hurricane. This Family International team is helping to provide hot meals for the police and military officers, and a team of young people, (Conchi, Karen, Jaz, and Claire) along with Caleb and Becky went to New Orleans to sing for the police, military, and FEMA workers.

Yesterday, we once again were ministering in the Astrodome — people wept in our arms, and we were able to pray with them and leave them with something to read. The children from the Family International in Houston performed at the Astrodome tent for children’s activities. Please continue to pray for our ministry to the evacuees —Jesus is their only hope and peace!

For the past few days a group of teens from The Family International have been volunteering their time after school to help sort and pack food at the Food Bank for the Katrina hurricane victims. They have done a great job working together as a team and their efforts have been appreciated by the Food Bank staff.

We had another amazing day at the Astrodome & Reliant Center shelters as we were able to help a Radio Station from Miami “Super 96″ who together with The Florida Marlins did an enormous toy drive and collected 3 large truck-loads of brand new toys, games, books, shoes,etc. for the evacuee children. They drove all the way from Miami and even brought a clown with them but were not being allowed to enter with the toys. So because Jeff and & I had already met with many of the organizers & people in charge, we were able to get the authorization for them to enter and distribute the toys.

What a joy & privilege to be a part of this! Just to see the smiles on the children’s faces after all they have been through brought tears to our eyes. It was Christmas in September for them. We were also able to give a poster with a message of comfort and inspiration to the children along with their bags of toys. We were a team of seven Family International volunteers working together with lots of other volunteers until late at night, but it was worth it all.