Houston...We Got Mormons

[Darren10]

Today I posted the following on facebook:

Quote

Like clockwork, after a natural disaster, the Mormons are out to help out others.

Careful Houston....the Mormons are coming!

As the rains cleared and the Sun was actually shining outside, our home teacher called to make sure we were all OK. My wife Niki told him that all s well but that I had a tear underneath my car which caused the under covering (if that's what it's called) to drag along the road making noise. It is safe but, um ,disturbing to hear and disturbing my passengers when I drive for Uber and Lyft is the last thing I want. He said he'd come by and also tat the Bishop's Storehouse was open yesterday which is irregular as they open on Tuesdays and Saturdays but they opened due to possible need. He called the Relief Society President to call Niki to get that taken care of. Soon after that a knock on our door was answered and it was James who is my wife's cousin's husband. He's part of the bishopric of the neighboring ward and he had n the Mormon Helping Hands yellow t-shirt. He and the bishop with his wife and two of their kids (outstanding kids they are) came by to make sure we were OK since they were on their was to the other end of the neighborhood to help clean out houses that were flooded. Soon after he left my home teacher came by, looked under the care, went home with his wife and soon returned with a battery powered hand drill and a bottle of screws to refasten the undercover back to the car. I watched him and he did a great job and the car was good to go.

Both Uber and Lyft had temporarily suspended all their driver's accounts due to the Houston authority's call to stay off the road. That suspension ended yesterday so I got to drive. How perfect was my home teacher's timing? I did not get much rides today but  I was able to make some much needed money for my family. I stopped at a McDonald's to use the facilities there and on my way out I saw a group of familiar yellow t-shirts sitting at a table enjoying their food / drink orders. While I drove Niki took all the kids except one who stayed home to catch up on laundry we need done, to help out cleaning out homes in the back of the neighborhood.

I felt very blessed yesterday.

 

Edited August 31, 2017 by Darren10

[Robert F. Smith]

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/latter-day-saints-prepare-hurricane-harvey .

http://fox13now.com/2017/08/28/lds-temple-in-houston-threatened-by-floodwaters-temple-presidency-asks-for-prayers/ .

https://www.lds.org/church/news/tropical-storm-harvey-displaces-scores-of-lds-families?lang=eng .

https://www.lds.org/church/news/houston-mayor-involves-missionaries-in-flood-recovery?lang=eng .

 

[Darren10]

36 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said:

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/latter-day-saints-prepare-hurricane-harvey .

http://fox13now.com/2017/08/28/lds-temple-in-houston-threatened-by-floodwaters-temple-presidency-asks-for-prayers/ .

https://www.lds.org/church/news/tropical-storm-harvey-displaces-scores-of-lds-families?lang=eng .

https://www.lds.org/church/news/houston-mayor-involves-missionaries-in-flood-recovery?lang=eng .

 

Ahhhh, the Mormons are making the news rounds.....excellent!

[Tacenda]

18 minutes ago, Darren10 said:

Ahhhh, the Mormons are making the news rounds.....excellent!

Darren10 my niece on my husband's side wants to go to Houston and help. Is this a good idea, because if so, I'd love to also. Or are we in the way if we go? I saw a huge line of volunteers on FB the other day.

[Darren10]

5 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Darren10 my niece on my husband's side wants to go to Houston and help. Is this a good idea, because if so, I'd love to also. Or are we in the way if we go? I saw a huge line of volunteers on FB the other day.

That's very kind of both of you. You absolutely may come and help. There are lines and lines of people waiting outside of shelters waiting to get in and...volunteer(!!!) so if you two come you may not be able to volunteer at one of these shelters but you can always hook up with local LDS leaders and find out when Mormon Helping Hands go out and clean up neighborhood homes. There's plenty of those to work with. Make sure are absolutely clear in how to get to Houston. Forget flying in at this time and driving can be very tricky at this time as well. Make sure you plan a route that has already been cleared of water and debris. Google maps should show routes that are still closed.

Edited September 1, 2017 by Darren10

[Rain]

4 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Darren10 my niece on my husband's side wants to go to Houston and help. Is this a good idea, because if so, I'd love to also. Or are we in the way if we go? I saw a huge line of volunteers on FB the other day.

I would not just drive down. Make sure you have a place to stay. Look at ldsphilantropies.or or justserve.org for places that need you. If you come down not having a plan and working with an organization you may become  a burden rather than a help. 

[Tacenda]

8 minutes ago, Rain said:

I would not just drive down. Make sure you have a place to stay. Look at ldsphilantropies.or or justserve.org for places that need you. If you come down not having a plan and working with an organization you may become  a burden rather than a help. 

I signed up with the Red Cross a few days ago, they called me just about a half hour ago wondering if I'd like to volunteer there. They said I could choose how long or when. I guess they're going to need volunteers for many, many months. 

[Rain]

7 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

I signed up with the Red Cross a few days ago, they called me just about a half hour ago wondering if I'd like to volunteer there. They said I could choose how long or when. I guess they're going to need volunteers for many, many months. 

Cool! How long will you be then? 

[Tacenda]

Just now, Rain said:

Cool! How long will you be then? 

Well after I got off the phone, my husband wasn't too excited about me just taking off and not knowing what would happen. After he settled down, he now wants to go, so I guess we'll see. I'm thinking after the water recedes they'll need people to help with homes that need to be rebuilt or just a lot of clean up. It's a big question mark right now, if my husband wants to go. When my husband got upset about it, he wasn't aware that I'd put in an application a few days ago. He thought the person calling was just a random phone call and couldn't believe I would go without knowing any of the people going down. I told him, "Well you went on your mission not knowing anyone, for two years!". 

[BlueDreams]

5 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Darren10 my niece on my husband's side wants to go to Houston and help. Is this a good idea, because if so, I'd love to also. Or are we in the way if we go? I saw a huge line of volunteers on FB the other day.

My brother lives in the Dallas area. The church specifically asked that the members there not head down to Houston, because it's still in a bit of chaos and can slow down emergency relief efforts in the mess. Instead they were asked to help in the area around them, particularly in housing people who may need temporary homes. But that may be area specific. When Katrina happened the church had a very organized method to maintain continued and fresh clean up work through the helping hands. They webbed out through the stakes surrounding New Orleans to have them come to the area in consistent groups. This meant it wasn't a rapid inundation of volunteers and they were able to maintain the same level of help for far longer. Right now, donating money to a relief group already down there may be more helpful. 

EDIT: I saw that you already figured it out! 

With luv,

BD

Edited August 31, 2017 by BlueDreams

[Darren10]

Wife anyone wants a place to stay you're more than welcome to stay with us. That is, if you're willing to put up with two dogs and a foul mouth matriarch. We'd be glad to have one or two if you here but we need to know ahead of time. 

Edited September 1, 2017 by Darren10

[bsjkki]

I know Mormon Heling Hands organizes by stakes and you have to sign up for a certain day. In Florida, stakes travelled to Mississippi to help with clean up and I thought they even took them on busses. We were able to drive to a stake center but then we car pooled to the service area. 

[Rain]

3 hours ago, bsjkki said:

I know Mormon Heling Hands organizes by stakes and you have to sign up for a certain day. In Florida, stakes travelled to Mississippi to help with clean up and I thought they even took them on busses. We were able to drive to a stake center but then we car pooled to the service area. 

I know either the email I got or the attached letter said things would be sent down through priesthood lines so that makes sense.  

[Calm]

More  ways to help effectively:

https://www.lds.org/church/news/7-ways-you-can-help-with-hurricane-harvey-relief?lang=eng

[Jeanne]

15 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I signed up with the Red Cross a few days ago, they called me just about a half hour ago wondering if I'd like to volunteer there. They said I could choose how long or when. I guess they're going to need volunteers for many, many months. 

So admire you...keep me posted okay?  I would love to do this but need to work..that being said, we have set up help at every store.  Kudos..what a wonderful experience to be needed and able to help. 

[bsjkki]

17 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I signed up with the Red Cross a few days ago, they called me just about a half hour ago wondering if I'd like to volunteer there. They said I could choose how long or when. I guess they're going to need volunteers for many, many months. 

Please keep up us all updated on how this goes for you! In five years, when my last kiddo is gone...I would love to sign-up and get  trained to do this. 

[Tacenda]

12 hours ago, Jeanne said:

So admire you...keep me posted okay?  I would love to do this but need to work..that being said, we have set up help at every store.  Kudos..what a wonderful experience to be needed and able to help. 

 

10 hours ago, bsjkki said:

Please keep up us all updated on how this goes for you! In five years, when my last kiddo is gone...I would love to sign-up and get  trained to do this. 

I always wanted to do something like this, hopefully will follow through. I'll let you know.