Disaster Recovery Ministry
LCR began participating in disaster relief trips after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After 6 trips to the Gulf Coast, we traveled to Iowa to help in the recover from their flooding. These trips provide an opportunity for a person to experience God in a unique way through service.
New Orleans Mission Trip - The Sr. High youth of our congregation have given us witness that there is still much work to be done in New Orleans. They have encouraged us to continue to bring God’s love to the people who are still trying to restore their homes and lives. In response to their testimony, we made our seventh congregational Hurricane Katrina relief trip to Louisiana in November 2009. We made our eighth trip Nov. 7-13, 2010. Our ninth trip was Nov. 6-12 2011.
Read this inspiring letter from Pastor Barb Simmers of Peace Lutheran Church in Slidell, LA. This is the congregation that has hosted our group in its work in Slidell.
Hi Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This past week, members of Peace, Slidell, LA and Christ the King, Kenner, LA, a total of 10 people of all ages, traveled on a mission trip to Joplin, MO. to meet with the congregation of Peace, Joplin. The congregation's building were completely destroyed. They are currently without a pastor (Pr. Wm. Poppe serves as peracher/presider on Sundays) and waiting the arrival in August of the one appointed by their bishop. We gathered gift cards, supplies and so forth and traveled the 700 mile each way trip. We treated them to a dinner that was prepared along with prayer shawls and home made Louisiana quilts distributed at the dinner. They were so thrilled to have us come in person and many teared up because we care enough to come and listen to them and offer them advise as they continue in their relief stage of their recovery. We gave them a tool trailer which had been gifted to us by the churches in the Dayton Conference. This trailer will help them in a variety of ways from storage to helping in the rebuilding process as the months unfold. Barbara, from CTK, brought a bag of new toys, which were really God momments for two little girls when we first arrived on the cement slab that used to hold their church.
A 6-block area of Joplin was destroyed, with 158 dead. Two elderly ladies and at least one young family lost everything. Several members have already died because of the stress associated with the disaster. There were at least another 9 families that suffered damage of some kind. Peace, Joplin, had insurance, which will get them going, but is not all they need. Peace, Slidell, is planning another trip at the end of September if any of you in the Greater New Orleans area might want to be involved in going or having us bring gift cards to them. Meanwhile, I have contacted ya'll because I know that you are all ambassadors for Christ. I urge you to pray for Peace, Joplin, and contact them in support in any way you deem led to by the Holy Spirit.
Please review the clip below regarding our trip which was on their local Fox affiliate, "Fox 14", July 9. This interview was taken right when we first arrived on their slab. Also, see the Joplin, Globe, July 9th for a nice article about our mission trip.
The local LCMS church, Immanuel, was moderately damaged, but will not allow Peace to use it for worship because there is a female pastor coming! They do provide lunches everyday to volunteers. LDR has given some members of Peace and I would imagine Immanuel, some money, but they were not on the ground yet, however, they have word that they are coming and will be the last ones to leave.... I did see Orphan Grain Train marked on a few boxes outside of Immanuel. Peace is worshiping at a local Presbyterian Church, Bethel, and that is where we served them dinner and presented them with a lot of the monetary gifts and quilts/prayer shawls.
A blog has been setup to provide updates from the mission trip. It can be viewed at: http://lcr-relief.blogspot.com/what-is-love.html