And They Are Off!

We have three teams that are well on their way to LaPlace, Louisiana. Hurricane Ida stalled out for 5 hours over LaPlace according to Charles Dillon. The damage was massive. So we have a team of 12 going to do an “assessment trip”. We want to see how the JIBC family might be able to help over the next months and maybe even years.

So as we go, we are taking the supplies that the people on the ground say they need the most. Thank you JIBC for so generously giving to make giving possible. We had just received word last week that the FBC LaPlace “free store” ran out of supplies. It is a free store where the community can come by and get what they need. Your gifts should allow us to re-supply the store for a little while! We have one SUV and two Sprinter vans loaded from top to bottom, front to back. There is just enough room for the driver and passenger. Joanne Brown and her father, in his SUV, left Sunday afternoon to drive half way there and are planning on driving the rest of the way Monday. Mary Braxton and Martha Faye Blankenship are driving one Sprinter Van (the big tall vans) and Ron Corry and Roddy Watts are driving the other. Ron Corry has some family on the way so that is a comfort. It is a 12 hour drive, perhaps 13, with stops for gas and food breaks. The rest of our team leaves Tuesday. Everyone on this trip should be back Wednesday. So, by the time you read this article, we should all be back into our regular schedules.

So, what should you do if you want to go? By the way, not everyone needs to go or even wants to go. Don’t feel bad about that for one minute. But if you want to go, we can help you make your plans so you know what you are going into and what you will be doing. We are blessed to have former members, Charles and Judy Dillon on the ground, now living in LaPlace, helping to coordinate incoming teams. There is no need to panic about when you might go…the needs will be there for quite a while. Just about any skill set you have could be used in these types of settings. Some people go to minister to the volunteers while others go to help those who have fallen through the cracks. I know people who would be great to take a thermos of hot coffee and just sit with victims and hear their stories. They could use prayer teams who prayer walk and set up booths for prayer. Some will go to provide music, children’s activities, grief counseling, yard clean up, etc, etc. As we get plans together, we will let the church family know in case one of the trips interests you and/or your family.

Again, the number one request from the people of LaPlace is prayer. We go in Jesus’ name, to offer hope, help and hands. Thank you for making this trip possible. May Our Heavenly Father grant us favor. Remember them in your prayers.

Pastor Tom