When Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi, we the pastors of the East Bay Lenten Caravan, which consists of seven churches in the Oakland/Berkeley com-munities, knew that we had to get help to the victims of Katrina. It was decided that several of us would go down and assess the damage and see how we could get help that would go directly to the people in need. I called a relative in Hub, Mississippi and found out that many of the people in the rural areas needs were not being meet by FEMA or the Red Cross because all their attention was on the larger cities. Mississippi didn’t get the flooding that New Orleans and surrounding areas were victim to, but they had a lot of wind damage from Katrina; roofs blown off, water damage from the rain, no electrical power, no drinkable water and no food. Trees were blocking the roads and the elderly could not get out of their homes to get to the centers and get help. The seven pastors and churches along with Mike Lavin, President of European Sleep Works of Berkeley, donated over $100,000 worth of goods. New bedroom sets (80) with linen, clothes, baby diapers and baby clothes, shoes, dishes and other items were sent directly to Hub, Mississippi. All the transportation was paid for by Mr. and Mrs. Lavin. We were able to provide immediate relief for families in that area.

I was blessed to be able to go down to New Orleans and Hub and see that the donations we gave had gone directly to the people we had sent it to. In Mississippi, there were families that had moved there from New Orleans who had nothing, and we were blessed to be a blessing to them to help them with a new start. By the time I arrived, Wal-Mart was open and we bought school supplies, food and more clothes; we were also able to purchase a stove for one family and medication for an elderly woman. The stories go on and on. God blesses us so that we might pass blessings on to others. Families wrote and said how thankful they were for all the support they received from us. I have gone back to New Orleans and helped with the gutting of homes and to help pressure our political leaders into getting money into the hands of the people so they can start rebuilding their homes and communities and getting their lives back in order. One lady said “I didn’t just lose my house, it was my life”.  She had no house or community to go back to - all was gone.

To the pastors of the EBLC and churches, we did make a difference in the lives of those we were able to help and by doing so, we demonstrated the love of Christ. Cosmopolitan church family you are the BEST, the Holy Spirit smiled on me when He appointed me as your pastor. Whenever I ask for your help, whether it’s in Africa or Mississippi, you reach out with your finances and prayers - I thank God for all of you.