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Louisiana Flood: Situation Report #2 - August 19, 2016

Imagine waking up after a stormy night, making your way downstairs for your morning coffee -- and discovering water over the first three treads of your stairs…and it’s rising.  Within minutes, you’re inundated with at least three feet of muddy, dirty destruction.  You are witnessing a horrible assault on your home which has never flooded before -- and you stand there in amazement…helpless to do anything to make it stop.

This story can be told countless times in the greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana area.  Yesterday, our team came to the aid of an elderly widow whose home received at least 36 inches of water.  Like most people impacted by this flood, she does not have flood insurance and she wonders how she will ever recover. 

Hope Force International (HFI) is called to people just like this vulnerable widow in need of help…and it is something we call the “ministry of presence.”  We’ve engaged in gutting out her home, guiding her through the process of sorting through what can be saved and what must be discarded –- a very emotional and difficult process.  Repeatedly throughout the day, we’re reminded of the privilege of expressing our love of God and people by doing the “dirty work” of flood remediation.  At the same time, expressions of gratitude and a glimmer of hope begins to permeate the room in the hearts and minds of not only the survivor…but also our responders. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP!  The breadth and depth of the need here in Louisiana is staggering.  Our ability to respond is directly tied to both financial and human capacity to do so.  Please prayerfully consider making a financial donation to support the recovery effort.  Also, if you are interested in volunteering, REPLY HERE for further information.

Grateful for the privilege,

Jack Minton

Co-Founder, President
Hope Force Internaonal