Montpelier, Mississippi
First let me say that I am devastated over the destruction that has just occured in Joplin, MO. My heart aches for the lives lost, hurt and property destroyed! And we can’t forget about the ongoing flooding along the Mississippi River! Many ongoing needs throughout the heartland of our Nation – may we not become weary in helping our neighbors!
Montpelier, Mississippi and the surrounding area of Mantee cannot be forgotten either! A friend of mine has been out there working since a couple days after the April 27 storms. She has a supply distribution area set up at the polling place on Colony Road in Mantee. Some residents can’t get there to get their basic needs, and so supplies will need to be delivered. There are uninsured who need help clearing their yard, and elderly who are being charged atrocious amounts for debris clean-up. We need boots on the ground out here! Just think – if it was your grandma or grandpa being scammed would you want to help? There is also a need in Wren, MS I hear. As I get info on that I will post about it.
I do have pictures posted below I took with my cell this afternoon (3 weeks after the tornadoes) and I’ll try to get more later with a better camera. But first, a list of supplies needed I was given by the House of Second Chances. They are 501(c)3. Contact Vanessa Beal at 662-295–5574. Just copying what she gave me:
2×4′s & 4×4′s, Plastic Tubing for bathroom (I’m assuming this is plumbing), Tarps & String for Tie-down, 1/2″ Sheets of Plywood, Common Nails, Brooms, Rakes, Garbage Bags, Shoveles, Sheets of Underpins, 12ft Ladders, Jacks for houses, Stones for houses, Coolers, Camp Stoves, Hammers, Saws, Screw-Driver Kits, 1/2″ Drywall Sheets, 3/8″ Drywall Sheets, Roofing Nails, Mops, Pails, Dry-wall Screws, Tape Measures.
Sylvania, Alabama
While we were in Rainsville, we drove through Sylvania to take some pics of the ongoing needs there. If you want to help contact Lance Rowe at 504 722 5404
Made it to Rainsville
A very gracious woman responded to our Craigslist ad in Hernando. We made the trek up there last night and made the trek to Rainsville this morning to deliver the items. This is how we travel 
Off to Rainsville
*Yawn* Sleepy morning. Got up early to see the the early reports on Ron Paul’s announcement. A great start to the day! And now I get to pack the family and get ready to head. 7 kids isn’t always an easy task to get ready to head out for a weekend (and unpacking is even harder).
We’re on our way to Hernando, Mississippi this morning. Had a gal reply to my Craigslist ad requesting donations to bring to Rainsville. So we’re hauling the 20ft trailer up there hoping to come away with a haul for the victims Saturday we’ll head to Rainsville and stay there for 1 or 2 nights helping as we can. I hope to come back with some stories and pictures for y’all.
Pennsylvanian’s helping in the relief effort
Anyone on the East Coast that wants to help in Rainsville, there’s a group out of PA that will be assisting with the relief group there. Follow them and/or contact them at: https://helponeanother.wordpress.com/
Aerial of Torando Damage; Tuscaloosa
The Damage just goes on, and on and on… really sad 
Rainsville, Alabama Relief Center Donations
To send donations to Rainsville, Alabama relief center please send them to: Lance Rowe P.O. Box 308 Rainsville, Al 35986 Thank you for all your support!
NEED VOLUNTEERS to deliver supplies/food!!!
Plenty of supplies, more will be needed as time goes on BUT there are many who haven’t even been able to leave their homes yet – living under tarps/tents. Can’t get anywhere to get stuff b/c there is still debris in the road and have lost cars, homes, everything. They need volunteers!!!
Watch this video and hear about the appeal for help needed NOW!
DeKalb County, Alabama Relief Center
We are in contact with a gentleman who has had some buildings donated for use for a disaster relief center for the Rainsville, Alabama area. Clean-up crews are needed by the hundreds! The relief center can house 150+ volunteers (info is posted below). The area had two EF4s and an EF2 go through it within 2 hours on April 27th. Rural mountain towns are almost completely gone.
Disaster clean-up crews are needed in the hundreds right now. Matt is there now and says they need coloring books and crayons. We are desiring to purchase used washers to bring out there to set up for folks to wash their clothes. If anyone would like to contribute to any portion of this cause in any way please contact me at rainsvillerelief@gmail.com or 662-259-7118.
Pictures of Dekalb County Tornado
Praise the Lord, my precious brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ! I hope this finds you well and blessed. I spoke to the mayor of Rainsville yesteerday, and he told me that he doesn’t foresee any problems with a long term volunteer tornado relieef center in Rainsville. I have thhe Building for the housing, and have sent a letteer of intent to the Sand Mountain Electical Coop, asking them to waive a connection fee, and for a reduced bill since this is a volunteer effort and not about money changing hands. I intend on driving up there later today with my tent/outreach trailer. Am leaving my family here for now until I can determine what kind of volunteer response/commitment we will get. There may yet be a possibility of starting a Flood relief center right here in Vicksburg, later on.
Iniitially, we need chainsaw and cleanup crews…Those who come will be resposible for their own transportation to and from the work site. If and when donations of furniture, clothing, and other neccesities start coming in, we will need people to handle the distribution side. In a week’s time, i intend to begin to have the tent being occupied daily and nightly for worship and prayer and miinistry.
Those of you who know me know I won’t be making appeals for cash donations, so the volunteers will be responsible for their own food. There is a McDonald’s and a Taco bell across the street, and a Pizza hut nearby.
Right now my intent is to provide housing for those volunteers who want to asssist in the cleanup/rebuilding of the area. If anyone has cots or air mattresses,chainsaws,or other tools, they will be more than welcome to send them our way. Whatever in the line of relief that someone wants to contribute, we will accept. We have a warehouse location where we can distribute out of. Eric has already informed me that we should be getting some dog-food horse and cattle food supplies comeing in today or tomorrow.
The need is real there. And it will be an on going need. Please let people who are interested in doing work let them know of this center. You can give them my e-mail and my phone number.
Crosscountry4jesus@juno.com
504-722-5404
Just to be clear:
I am tryng to keep this as simple and as free from “politics” as possible. There is a need, and we are attempting to provide an avenue to meet that need. All are welcome. This IS a Christ Centered outtreach effort. If anyone is ofended by the Gospel message, and has reservations about ppartaking in a Christ Centered (not peripheral) relief effort, you woould be better off finding somewhere else to funnel your energies. I am all about the unity of the Church…(not “faiths”), and the furtherance of the Kingdom of God in the lives of all I encounter. Our assisstance is NOT dependant on whether or not someone is open to the Gospel, but those who we help will certainly be aware that all that is being done is to honor Jesus Christ. I am not in this thing for what it might profit me. I have been in ministry for over 22 years, and money or things or promoting “MY” ministry has never been a part of the ministry. God has always provided our needs, and I know He will here, as well. We are NOT a 501c3 organization. We are a “4 1only2c us” ministry. Jesus is our Chief Executive.
My computer screen is messing up on me and my cord isn’t charging like it ought to (iit only charges the batteery when the computer is off) so my time on this willl be sporaadic. If you need to get in touch with me, the best way to do it is by calling me.
I’ve already gotten word of a few groups that want to come and work with us…An Amish group is one of them! GLORY! I covet your prayers as we embark on this new adventure for the Glory of God!
South Tornado Relief Opportunity
As many of you have heard, tornadoes have ripped through the Southeast. We are smack dab in the middle of it, with no damage in our town, and are coordinating relief efforts to areas that are not getting a lot of media attention. We are acting as a collection point for monetary donations, supplies, and volunteer help for these affected areas around us. If you are part of any group that would like to volunteer any time, please contact us. If you would like to send supplies and we will give you a mailing address. If you would like to send us a gift and designate it as tornado in the memo line, via paypal, so you don’t have to ship items, you can send it to my paypal. If there are certain items you would like to be purchased please tell us with the gift. Leave a comment to contact you via email and I will send the paypal addy.
Many of these people are poor, without electricity, food, water, sanitary items. Many people have been killed, and many families are having to bury their loved ones and friends while trying to pick up the pieces of their own homes. It’s a very tragic situation, and reminenscent of Katrina. Entire towns have been wiped off the map, and destruction is widespread. There are many who haven’t been found yet – one news report said they fear that some families who took shelter in their tornado shelters have yet to be found. There was so much debris that they have buried the shelters and the families can’t get out. We can only hope and pray they are still alive and not suffering from dehydration and starvation! Please keep these situations in your prayers!
Although Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the United Way are great organizations, the needs of the small towns are not getting as much attention as the ones in media attention. Matt has seen this first hand in Misssissippi already. We currently have 2 different teams going out to survey some towns in Alabama. Matt has seen two towns in Mississippi close to us that have been decimated. The locals are helping as much as they can, but our resources can only go so far.
Items that could be of use: water, diapers, feminine items, formula, clothes, toilitries, soap, gas for generators, paper plates, plastic utensils, shoes, towels, flashlights with batteries, coffee – or anything else you can think of.
If you own a restaraunt or grocery store, or know someone who does, this is a great way for them to donate.
Please, forward this email. We would like to get the word out. Send it to your church leaders, community organziations, boy scout troups, etc.
