A Hard, Cold, Wet, Glorious Day

Our folks are tough. I mean TOUGH. Today started off hard and just seemed to keep getting harder but our Disaster Relief folks of the Southern Baptist Convention continue to make a difference here in Alabama. Not many of us were prepared for the cold that we experienced today. 49 degrees is not that cold unless you are getting rained on and blown around. It felt miserable at times.

But it is hard to complain when you look around and see complete devastation. We had several opportunities to help folks clean up the wreck left by the storms but most importantly we had several opportunities to find out the spiritual condition of many people. We can help clean up their yards but God can change their hearts by introducing them to an everlasting love and peace. What greater need could they have?

Please pray for our teams. They have HUGE trees here and they are scattered everywhere. You will see one monster oak tree that was split down the middle - landing several feet apart. The picture does not do it justice - it is an amazing sight.

Please pray for our new friend Ray. He lost his wife in February and has now watched a storm tear apart his community. We had a great discussion today about his spiritual condition. Folks who had known him all of his life could not believe that he would even talk with me about Jesus. Quite frankly, it was an easy conversation. Ray is hurting and alone. He needs a savior. I am praying that he meets him tonight. I asked him to spend the evening just talking with God asking Him if he was really saved before. I can't wait to find out what God told him... We hope to get back to his house tomorrow.

Thanks for your prayers - they make the difference.

Kevin

Bad Tank of Gas?

Well, the truck seems to have caught a case of "bad tank of gas" and wouldn't start this morning. It's been taken to the "doctor" for treatment.

The area is truly devastated. The focus right now is truly on sharing Jesus and working where they can.

Finally, please keep praying for the guys. It's May and they are from Florida - the weather in Alabama is cold! In two days, it's supposed to be in the 40s! The church they are staying at has wi-fi and if they can later tonight, they will try to send pictures.

Alabama Disaster Relief Response

Over the weekend, the chainsaw/clean-up team and the feeding unit team were both activated to help with the Alabama tornado response. The teams are made up of folks from across Marion County that have been trained through the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief organization.

The feeding unit is in Double Springs, AL. The chainsaw/clean-up team is in Hackleburg, AL, about 55 miles outside of Jasper where the team is being housed. Hackleburg has a population of about 1500 people and they lost 30 people in the tornado. Please pray for these communities and for the men and women that have responded!

Kevin will blog when he has time and we will try to post photos as we get them.