ke has disappeared off of all the maps, but the destruction he put on our neighbors will be around for a long time. The Faith Mission Emergency Relief Center opened its doors last Monday morning to a steady stream of evacuees. Over 500 individuals have been serviced during that time by a corps of volunteers determined to be a blessing. Donations have begun to filter in which increase our ability to help them in very meaningful ways. The motels remain full of evacuees. Some are leaving, others are moving in.... We believe some 2500 remain in Washington County today.

This has been a week of individual stories from people that were damaged by the storm. I walked into a storage area yesterday and one of our hardest working volunteers was standing there crying. She had been so touched by the difficult circumstances of a family, she had to excuse herself and find a moment alone. She went to the storage room so the family would not see her without a smile.

I am reminded of a man that whenever his friends would ask him "how he was" he would respond with "richly blessed". One day when his son and family were back home for a visit from the mission field, his son was killed by a hit and run driver. The next day someone asked him "how he was doing" he answered " richly blessed".

If we are "richly blessed" regardless of our circumstances, how much more should we count ourselves blessed by not meeting Ike face to face. May God give us the grace to help those less fortunate.