Photo: (Top) The team with Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick (the owners of one of the homes where we worked), (Bottom left) Sammy Ramos, pastor of Cistern Church, and Jere, a BSM student, work at tearing out sheetrock, (Bottom right) Kaitlin pulls out nails left after the sheet rock was removed.
Our hearts have been so heavy for our friends in Houston, and we have been looking for ways to help. Last weekend, we took a group of 10 UTD BSM students and staff to Houston to work with Cistern Church (the church plant we were a part of before moving to Dallas) to help clean out homes that were flooded by Hurricane Harvey.
Houses in southwest Houston (where the church plant is focused) have mostly been cleaned out as the water receded in this part of the city first. Large piles of debris line the roads and the smell of mold fills the air as you drive through the neighborhood streets. Since this area is fairly situated now, we headed to Northeast Houston where the water receded a couple of days before our arrival and cleanup efforts were just getting started. We joined with some volunteers from Neartown Church and Cistern Church to clean out two houses in this area.
Our team worked so diligently carrying soaked furniture, carpet and other household items out to the curb. They also ripped out soaked sheetrock, insulation and flooring before spraying down the framing that remained with bleach. This is just step one in a long road of recovery that these families will have to walk.
Please continue to keep these families in your prayers!
- Mark and Kaitlin
Prayer Requests
- Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick - one of the couples we helped while in Houston. This is the second time they are having to rebuild their home, as they were flooded in Hurricane Allison. Also, please pray for Mr. Fitzpatrick as he is having some health issues and needs surgery once they get their home situated.
- We mentioned last week that our new house has been a challenge for us and that we are still living with friends because of many unexpected issues that have appeared. More issues came up this week and we are now spending the weekend ripping out the ceilings on the first floor so repair men can come next week. We feel this house is the one God has for us, but this journey has been much more challenging than expected. Would you pray against discouragement? And would you pray we have strength and wisdom to finish the tasks at hand while still investing in students relationships on campus?
- Our Fall retreat is the first weekend in October, and we are in the midst of inviting students to go with us. Would you pray that students will accept the offer and be willing to pull away for the weekend? Would you pray that this is a time that they open their hearts to encounter God, whether that be for the first time or just in a fresh, new way?