Mission Accomplished -Tornado Tasks

As I stated on Monday, I am trying to re-focus my blog with a purpose each day. On Wednesdays, I'd like to feature a ministry or project that needs attention.

If you have paid any attention to the news in the past week, you have undoubtedly heard about the horrific devastation that has rampaged the south. In Alabama alone, there are over 200 confirmed deaths from the F4 and F5 tornados and supercell thunderstorms that went through on April 27. Over 300 remain "missing" in Tuscaloosa area alone. I have seen many sites and posts lately springing up with information about how to help the residents of these communities as they attempt to find temporary lodging, cleanup what is left and rebuild. I wanted to try to share some different sites with you and encourage you to reach out and "love your neighbor" as Christ commanded us to do!

First of all, you can go to www.redcross.org. Here is a portion of their post on these storms and the relief efforts:
"How You Can Help
The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. Those who want to help people affected by disasters like wildfires, floods and tornadoes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. This gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS; you can also text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013."

In addition, if you click here you can link to a post from one of my friends' friends that is a native of Pleasant Grove, AL. That town is right outside of Birmingham and was hit very hard by the storms. She is taking donations THIS WEEKEND at Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky. If you have items you'd like to donate, check out her information about how to do that.

Here is another post from Facebook about a lady in Lawrenceburg, KY trying to gather supplies for her hometown in Tuscaloosa, AL.
"Jan Frasier is setting up the Tuscaloosa Tornadoes Relief Station at First Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg on Wednesday from 1:00-7:00. She will be taking a trailer down to Tuscaloosa on Friday or Saturday. They need diapers, wipes, depends, baby food, all consumables, bug spray (it gets really hot down there), clothes, batteries, flashlights, candles, cell phones, chargers, anything that you have! Contact the church TOMORROW if you have some items to donate. Thanks all!"

In case you HAVE missed this coverage you can see some clips in the following:

Here is the aerial footage of the Pleasant Grove Damage….PG damage starts around the 1:30 mark and ends at the 5:13 mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8SLdLOAM2c&feature=youtu.be

This link is for the Weather Channel. It shows before and after images of areas as you move your cursor over them:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/alabama-tornadoes-before-after_2011-05-02?from=sb_tools_face

This is a link to a series of pictures from the tornado devastation:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/04/tornadoes_kill_over_200.html?p1=News_links

This should go without saying, but PLEASE pray for the people in these areas who have literally lost everything. Pray for God's presence to be known, his peace to be felt. Pray that shelter, food and safety are provided. Pray for the children who are shaken and scared by this tragedy.

And don't just pray - DO SOMETHING. Link up to an organization like the Ky Disaster Relief Teams sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention. There is a training being offered at Hope Community Church in Frankfort (US 127 S) THIS Saturday, May 7. The cost is $40 and you will then be eligible to go down to these areas and volunteer by providing meals, cleaning up and rebuilding.