Communities Pull Together--October 24

Abbeville UMC is posed to be one of 10 possible Lousiana Conference UMC Recovery Centers, made possible in large part to the generous contributions to UMCOR Hurricanes 2005 Katrina, and Rita. A Director, Construction/volunteer Coordinator, Case manager, and Assistant will work to connect resources, information, volunteers, and more to restore life to their area. The other major factor in these life giving centers is the faith that volunteers from UM's everywhere who will come and stand with communities be it 1, 5, or more years.

Like Lake Charles, Abbeville and all of Vermillion Parish (parish is what they call counties) have united with one purpose, restore lives and communities. Civic, governmental, and religious organizations, all working together. Few more beautiful pictures have every been painted. In this primarily rural area, one parish has seen over 1,000 homes flooded by Rita's surge.


Rev. Vining recalls his experience when Hurricane Emily hit several years ago. After the storm he saw groups from all different churches and organizations . . . and wondered where the Methodists were? His frustration eventually turned to amazement when the "connection worked" and he saw Methodists, and mostly Methodists, there for the long run to rebuild the community. He believes we could do more on the front end, but is already overwhelmed by the "connection" working and moving the recovery forward.

Love and prayers from the Bayou

Jason