Gustav and an Open Invitation!

Here's the latest from our friends about New Orleans:

September 2, 2008

Gustav Sunday Night - No electricity, but we have Power!

Back Home! I'm sending this letter out from City Hall, Mandeville. Our councilman, Jerry Coogan, kindly offered to let me tap into his access. In the big scene of things, compared to Katrina, we dodged a bullet. In the short run, there is a lot of clean up to do. Here's my eyewitness report of our area:

1. 1.7 million people are still evacuated. Schools are out until Monday. People are being urged not to return for a couple of days.

2. 1.5 million people in Louisiana are without power. All of our area, and New Orleans, are without power.

3. Covington (the town where our church is located) is evacuating 1,000 people today because the Tchfuncte River is cresting and is expected to flood homes.

4. The Mandeville Lakefront and street is 2 feet under water.

5. One of our neighbors has a pine tree through his home. Most of the pines that fell, however, missed homes.

6. Mark Lewis and the Compassion first-responders are working in Houma this week. This is where Gustav first hit. There is a lot of work to do over the next 4-6 weeks.

7. John Gerhardt and Castle Rock Church are being housed in an Evangelical Free Church in Birmingham. There is a possibility that they will stay one night at Trinity before gaining access back into New Orleans. We'll see. John is a terrific shepherd.

8. Trinity Church survived Gustav. There is a lot of debris in the parking lot, a few trees down and a big puddle in the nursery, but the water has been swept out of the door already.

9. Moody Broadcasting with Chris Fabry called today to get a first hand report. We are thankful for the PR.

10. We have heard that there is a levee breach in Plaquemines Parish, but all of that you probably have more information than we do since we have no television!

11. We have had lots of storms today, and there are still tornado threats.

If you want to come with a team, please come. There is a lot of work to do. Check the website at www.trinitychurchonline.net and www.efcacrisisresponse.blogspot.com for more information.

Betting the Farm on God,

Michael

Please keep them in your prayers!