Greetings in the name of our Lord from Clay Whitaker!

Greetings in the name of our Lord from Clay Whitaker!

I spoke today with Rev. Gerald Richardson who works out of the Louisiana Conference office and is playing a major role in coordinating relief efforts for Methodists. He informed me of 4 locations that are ready for teams right away. They are as follows:

1. Rev. James Mitchell 985-626-3307 (St. Timothy’s UMC, Mandeville) or
   985-624-6158 (home). Scott Adams is the Associate.
2. Rev. Alan Einsel 985-732-2568 (Bogalusa UMC) or 985-732-3148 (Home)
3. Rev. John Williams 985-641-5829 (Slidell UMC) or 985-726-2639 (Home)
4. Rev. Flint Shea 985-792-5255 (North Cross UMC, Madisonville) 985-792-1944
   (Home)
5. Rev. Tim Smith 985-863-7452 (Pearl River UMC) or 985-641-6082 (Home)

If you, or someone you know, wants to lead a team, please publish this information. Team leaders may contact one of the above directly to set up dates and details of your trip. No special training is required for these locations, other than a willing-ness to get dirty and work hard!

I would like to take a team into Louisiana, leaving on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 2, and returning on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The details (location, project, cost, etc.) should be in place by Monday or Tuesday of next week. If you're interested in going, call me. (See numbers in next paragraph)

We do insist - This is NON-NEGOTIALBE! - that all teams representing the Texas Conference be insured through the GBGM program, which is very reasonable (i.e. about .75 a day). If you need forms, contact Kathie Mann at the Conference Office (713-521-9383) or me (409-769-2878 or 2060).

Rev. Richardson needs to be informed of any team representing a Texas Conference UMC working in Louisiana. It's a simple matter of calling the storm center at 1-877-345-5193, and informing whoever answers, even if it's an answering machine, of your trip, i.e., destination, dates, church(es) you represent, and a contact person from your team, including a phone number for that person. This is another non-negotiable. Please follow procedure and inform Rev. Richardson of your involvement in Louisiana.

Here's another exciting opportunity. The Gateway UMC, Clear Lake, has set up a base camp, hosted by the St. Paul's UMC in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Several tents are in place (with air conditioning and showers) that can accommodate 40-60 people. All interested parties need to go to their web site @ katrina-relief.net. Look for a link where potential volunteers can register. If you prefer, call Rev. Randy Hageman at Gateway, 1-713-551-4800.

Our drop-off location at The Woodlands UMC on Saturday, Sept. 10, was a huge success. Many thanks to Fran and Jess Stokely and Christian Alliance for getting that truck in place, to Brother Thone Drawsand who donated his time to drive, and to Brother Pat Curtain and his team of volunteers from The Woodlands who took care of all the loading! You all are awesome!

That huge 18-wheeler was about 90% full. Thone made a pick-up in Vidor, which sent him to UMCOR-Sager Brown with a 100% full load. The delivery was made and Thone has returned safely home.

Beaumont District UMC's are to be congratulated for stepping to the plate big-time! Your generous numbers of health kits, bed packs, flood buckets, and other important items explain why the Christian Alliance truck couldn't get all items here. We will make another delivery to Sager Brown on Sunday afternoon (on our way to the work site), Oct. 2. Please do your best to get all delivery items to 1st UMC, Vidor, by that time.

Clay Whitaker, UMCOR Chair Texas Annual Conference