Hurricane Gustav

All eyes are on Hurricane Gustav. The people of the Gulf Coast are anxiously preparing for this storm. I can't help but think of many of the people I met last year on our mission trip to Louisiana. I am sure many of them are on edge. We pray that this storm will diminish in strength or that it will be diverted to a unpopulated area.

Here are a few specific prayer requests in relation to this storm:

We have a number of Lord of Life people who are planning on volunteering at the Returning Hearts Celebration at Angola Prison. Three years ago this event was canceled because of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. We pray that there will not be a repeat of 2005. So much effort and preparation is going into this wonderful event and it would be a great disappointment for it all to go to waste. The even greater disappointment will be for inmates and their children.

We also pray for those who have already been impacted by the storm. Here is an email from Pastor Issac of the Lutheran Church in Haiti:

The peace of God be with you!

After Hurricane Gustav we live in a very difficult time. The damage is very serious. The gardens are devastated, many houses and churches are broken. There are many cries in Jeremie and the surrounding areas.

I ask if Lutheran Charities can help us with emergency aid for the needs of Christians who are left to themselves. The school will open next week, the workers are very worried because they are in great need. Thank you and God bless you. Pastor Isaac

If you would like to help you can make a donation at www.lutheranchurchcharities.org.

Pastor Mesidor Ernst, who Lord of Life supports and runs a church and orphanage in Haiti also wrote to us at Lord of Life that the situation is very dire and asks for prayer and support. He reports that the children of the orphanage had been moved before the hurricane arrived and are safe. But he says many homes and churches have been destroyed.

We pray for all our brothers and sisters in Christ and everyone who has been impacted by this storm and potentially will be.