Mark Searing, Southwestern District superintendent, writes,
Supplies from other districts are beginning to arrive in Waco and Longview to be distributed where most needed in the Houston area. The communities most impacted that we are located close to are West Houston (near the reservoirs that are still flooding that area), Sienna Plantation (Missouri City), and Baytown (East on I-10).
Worshipers gather at the Baytown church
In that respect, we are located near the neediest areas in the Houston Metro area. There are still some areas south and east of Houston where the hurricane came ashore or the rain extended, which are also deeply impacted and continue to need help for the long term.
Paul Kaiser, who is assisting in the relief efforts, reported that the worship service at Baytown on Sunday was excellent. Apparently, a testimony from one man who was helped by a team from the church to clean out his house from the flooding was truly amazing.
Maria Young, whose husband, David, pastors the Baytown church, writes,
The man at the center is surrounded by volunteers from the Baytown church who helped clear debris from his home (pictured at the top of this update).
The older gentleman in the middle of the group photo (left) is the homeowner. He had no one to help him, so our church got involved. We also had a father and young daughter who drove from Kansas, a father/daughter who lived in nearby Pasadena, and a group of kids from the local high school who were there helping.
This is just one neighborhood out of thousands where this kind of work is having to be done; much of it is neighbor helping neighbor. These are people’s lives, their memories, their precious treasures. Harvey did not discriminate in the homes it ravaged. But many are thankful for their lives and are finding comfort and making new friends from strangers. We are blessed and grateful to be the hands and feet of Jesus during this time. He is our true refuge in the midst of all the storms that life brings our way.
The Baytown church members also took time to prepare 500 breakfast burritos for first responders; those were handed out early yesterday morning by volunteers from the church to the people they were helping in their community with debris cleanup.
Both Greenhouse Community Church and Baytown Alliance Bible Church are presently preparing to host work teams.
Volunteer In Texas
Local churches in Texas need willing hands and feet to help rebuild their communities.
