Below is a recent update from our friends Pastor Paul & Sandy Golden from Alvin, TX (Houston area). Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to minister to hurricane victims. Thank you.
UPDATE:
"...Freddiesville... was devastated by Hurricane Ike. Freddiesville sits off of SH-6 just North of where SH-6 meets Interstate 45 and our church has become very involved in helping them since just after the storm up to the present time.
My church, Light Christian Center, in Alvin was introduced to this community as they assisted Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse International Relief organization (http://www.samaritanspurse.org) as a relief center beginning immediately following the storm. Our church served by gathering applications for relief assistance from the citizens, going out and assessing the damage to determine the work force needed to meet the needs and then assembling teams to help the citizens of the Alvin/Gulf Coast area recover from the storm.
I have been so proud of how our small church has stepped up to make a big impact and help meet the needs of Alvin and the surrounding area during and after the storm. Our church slogan is "People Touching People" and that is what they have been doing literally everyday since the storm.
When they went out to this community they could not believe what they saw. Freddiesville is a low-income to middle class subdivision community right on the coast that received a pounding from the storm surge. There are many homes in this community that are still without utilities due to the extensive damage. Government assistance has been slow or non-existent for many of the families. Many homes that did survive intact were badly flooded and the home owners lost most all of their possessions. For example, one family that we have grown particularly close to is living in what’s left of their tool shed, with a generator since their home was destroyed. The wife drives to Houston to work in the Galleria area and her husband is fighting cancer of the esophagus."
PRAY FOR:
"…
On Christmas Eve we are hoping to bless this community with door to door delivery of at least 150 Crock Pots and a box of non-perishable groceries to go with each. In addition, we are currently gathering a wish list from the community kids in hopes of getting them all a Christmas present - we have 225 names of kids to purchase for. One little seven year old girl said she wanted a light bulb for Christmas. Her home is still without power so you can imagine the darkness has been traumatic for a young girl that age.
In addition to the 150 pots and groceries we are also collecting the following:
Coffee Pots, Irons, Heaters, Silverware, Washer/Dryer, Dishes, Pots/Pans, Towels/Wash Cloths, Blankets, Tables/Chairs, Microwaves, Refrigerators, Stoves, Sofas, Bedding/New pillows, Beds, Household Decorating Items (pictures, mirrors), etc..."
PRAISE REPORT:
- "What started as a desire by our church to feed a few families a meager meal for Thanksgiving turned into a huge Thanksgiving feast paid for by Valero and cooked by the Lighthouse Charity Team for 400 people.
"
- "Local 10 year old boy told guests not to bring him gifts for his birthday party but instead bring items for us to distribute to the Freddiesville community."
- "A local Chiropractor clinic took all payments for one day in the form of food and items and donated for us to use for this community."
- "GAP handed out 250 bags of personal hygiene items with us to this area."
- "Sunday, 11/30, a family drove from The Woodlands to deliver to our church in Alvin some bedding supplies and clothes for this community. A 120+ miles round-trip drive."
AREA PRESS COVERAGE:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ike/galveston/6130822.html
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=8a160fe137ad4940
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e01cc9af98484a49