The Salvation Army Rocks!

IKE!

Wow, Last Wednesday when I was buying groceries for Tune Up, I would never have imagined that I would be getting a call to help with a shelter for evacuee's from Hurricane IKE. I guess it was around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10th when we got our first bus load. When the evacuee's all finally got to First Baptist Church of Belton, Texas we had a total of 86, ranging in ages from 94 to 19 days. It has been interesting. This past weekend the mood in the shelter was one of worry, fear, anxiety as we all watched the destruction of IKE. Then it went to relief and boredom and frustration and fear again as it begin to clear.

It is a very diverse mix of all ages, sizes, colors, cultures. One thing is certain! Kids are Kids are Kids. It is amazing how children adjust and adapt. So far this week we have fixed food for about 90 people 3 times a day which means we have served about 2430 individual meals this week.

I want to let all of you know that the Salvation Army has been responsible for purchasing at least 95% of all the food we have used in our shelter this week. They have been incredibly generous and supportive. Please don't forget to donate when you hear the bells ringing this Christmas!

There are many stories of things that happened this week. Some good some not so good, but one thing that happened to me was exciting!

One of the women came into the kitchen and asked for my contact info. As I was giving it to here she asked me this question, "How can all of you be so nice to all of us all the time?" I got to share with her about why I am there and about God's love for her and myself! It was great and the seemed very receptive! Here are a few pictures of the week!
Yesterday, I was arriving at the church around 10 a.m. just in time to see the first group of evacuee's get to go home. It was strange. We were all glad they were getting to return home and also that our jobs would be easier. But at the same time strange. Because even in the chaos and craziness you still get in a routine and what wasn't normal becomes normal very quickly.

So for right now, the news is that the remaining evacuee's that live in Freeport, Texas will be able to return home on Monday. We will see!