(News, first posted at 5:30 AM on August 25, 2020)
NOTES: (1) this is a ‘Reverse Dated’ list. The most recent post is at the top and the oldest at the bottom
(2) After Laura came ashore in Louisiana, we switched this page to a ‘response’ page, still reverse dated. (3) Then came “Delta.” That’s part of this response too.
Hurricanes Laura and Delta, Response #9 – 10/14/2020 9:30 PM
Last Monday (October 11, 2020) the team from Utah, along with staff and a few Trinity folks went to Lake Charles and began the process of cleaning up and gutting at Lake Charles Bible Church, from Hurricanes Delta and Laura. If you’re available, we have another opportunity this Saturday (October 17, 2020). Contact Bob DeGray (bob.degray@trinityfellowship.net) or Kat Welch (katrina.welch@efca.org)
Thanks
Bob
Hurricanes Laura and Delta, Response #8 – 10/10/2020 2:30 PM
Lake Charles has been hit hard again. Many of the homes that were damaged in Laura have been damaged again by Delta’s winds and rain. In addition (partly because of all the debris already blocking drainage) there has been a lot of flooding into homes. The church where we have been working on damage from above has now received six inches of flooding from rising water. It’s a mess.
A few of us are thinking of going over on Monday to begin helping. If you can be available, contact Bob DeGray (bob.degray@trinityfellowship.net) or Kat Welch (katrina.welch@efca.org)
Thanks
Bob
Hurricane Laura Response #7 – 9/29/2020 2:30 PM
We continue to have opportunities to work in Lake Charles. If you’re available this coming Saturday (October 3, 2020), you can help with gutting Lake Charles Bible Church, which was severely damaged by the storm. This has been a great opportunity to help a church that is in much the same position we were after Harvey. We will meet at Trinity at 6:00 AM and travel in personal cars and Crisis Response vehicles, returning around 7:00 PM.
Please contact Bob DeGray or Kat Welch if you are available to help.
In Christ,
Bob DeGray
Hurricane Laura Response #6 – 9/16/2020 12:30 PM
We’re too far away from Hurricane Sally to provide much help, but we’re still close enough to Lake Charles to help folks impactedby Hurricane Laura, and the need is great. If you would like to join a few folks making the long drive for a day’s work this Saturday (September 19, 2020) please email or text Kat Welch. (katrina.welch@efca.org) or Bob DeGray (mail@trinityfellowship.net)
Thanks for being the hands and feet, the heart and voice of Jesus
Bob
Hurricane Laura Response #5 – 9/9/2020 2:30 PM
Dear Trinity Family
The folks who went to Lake Charles last Saturday (September 5, 2020) were amazed by the damage. This need will continue for a long time. If you would like to join a few folks making the long drive for a day’s work this Saturday (September 12, 2020) please email or text Kat
Welch. (katrina.welch@efca.org)
Thanks for being the hands and feet and heart and voice of Jesus
Bob
Hurricane Laura Response #4 – 9/6/2020 4:00 PM
Here’s another short video showing the second Hurricane Laura response trip, to Lake Charles, Louisiana. The devastation in Lake Charles is incredible. We hope to have more opportunities to show the love of Jesus there in the near future. Watch this space for details.
Hurricane Laura Response #3 – 9/2/2020 4:00 PM
Dear Brothers and Sisters;
The Lord really blessed our time in Sulphur, Louisiana last Saturday. 22 folks from Trinity were able to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a number of homeowners. This week we have another, more organized opportunity in the epicenter of the hurricane, Lake Charles itself. EFCA Crisis Response has connected with the Lake Charles Bible Church. This church was badly damaged itself and has many members whose homes were damaged by fallen trees and wind. People from several churches are meeting at Lake Charles Bible church this Saturday to help with tree removal, roof tarping, gutting, and moving debris. If you can come, it would make a difference.
The plan is to leave the church at 6:00 AM and return between 6:30 and 7:00 PM. Please wear work clothes, including boots if you have them, and bring gloves. Also bring a bag lunch and plenty of water.
If you think you might be available for this, please respond to this e-mail or text Bob at 281-787-7130.
In Him
Bob
Hurricane Laura Response #2 – 8/31/2020 4:00 PM
Here’s a short video showing the 22 people who came out on Saturday to help in the Sulphur, LA area. We were able to help several homeowners remove downed trees, fallen fences and debris. We hope to have more opportunities to show the love of Jesus in the near future. Watch this space for details.
Hurricane Laura Response #1 – 8/27/2020 7:00 PM
Dear Brothers and Sisters;
We’re still not sure what we’ll be able to do long term in the Lake Charles area, but we’ve decided to try to go over on Saturday and find some way to help. We expect this will be moving trash and debris or possibly giving out and / or applying tarps to leaky roofs.
The plan is to leave the church at 6:30 AM and return between 6:30 and 7:00 PM. Please wear work clothes, including boots if you have them, and bring gloves. Also bring a bag lunch and water (though we expect bottled water will be available).
If you think you might be available for this, please respond to this e-mail or text Bob at 281-787-7130. Depending on how many volunteer we might also need another vehicle or two to make the trip.
Thanks for considering this. It’s good to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need.
Hurricane Laura Update #3 – 8/27/2020 7:00 AM
Dear Trinity Family;
This is the third, and possibly last, Hurricane Laura update. As you all know by now we were spared almost all the effects of the storm and spent a peaceful night while our neighbors to the east were enduring as-yet-untold horrors. Please keep them in your prayers. If you are interested and available to head that way in the next few days while the work is still cutting trees and gutting, please let us know. I’m not at all sure that formal opportunities for this will present themselves, but if they do I’d like to have a few folks to call on.
In Him
Bob
Hurricane Laura Update #2 – 8/26/2020 5:00 AM
Dear Trinity Family;
This is the second Hurricane Laura update. During the last 24 hours the storm track has consolidated somewhat east of us. It appears that Laura will go ashore as a major hurricane with 120 mph winds someplace right around the Texas Louisiana border. This will have major impact on Beaumont, Port Arthur and Lake Charles, but much less impact on us. As of now I think we can anticipate some winds and rain overnight but not much worse. Of course, things could change. I’ll try to send an update if they do, and I recommended continuing to follow spacecityweather.com
As far as church events and family go, some of our building users have canceled events for tomorrow, (Thursday, August 27, 2020) but no church events have been canceled. A few families with fragile health situations have evacuated, but most have stayed.
If the storm develops as now anticipated I will do a third update tomorrow morning. That may be the last unless we have opportunities to provide aid to our neighbors to the east.
In Him
Pastor Bob
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Hurricane Laura Update #1 – 8/25/2020 5:04 AM
Dear Brothers and Sisters;
I want to begin what I hope will be a short series of Hurricane Laura updates. These have two purposes: (1) to provide information pertinent to the Trinity family on the hurricane itself and on our response as a church; (2) to provide a place where you can keep us (Bob, the elders and others if you want) up to date on your own personal preparations, evacuation choices and storm impacts. To do this send an email to elders@trinityfellowship.net.
Why am I starting this now? I just looked at the 4:00 AM National Hurricane Center update, and it upped my concern that we may see real impacts from this storm. Here’s part of what it said “The majority of the guidance has shifted a notable distance to the west on this run, perhaps due to a weaker trough over Texas and a more westward initial position of Laura (possibly due to persistent northerly mid-level shear). The new NHC prediction is at the eastern edge of the new guidance envelope since I don’t want to bite off on such a large change on just one set of model runs. But since the storm has been tracking west of forecast expectations for quite some time, future westward track adjustments could be required later today.”
Eric Berger and Matt Lanza at spacecityweather.com have been concerned about this for almost a day now, and I have little doubt that this is a valid concern. Keep your eyes on their posts. As always with hurricanes, no one knows for sure, but now is the time to start praying and preparing.
Let us know your plans.
In Him
Pastor Bob