08673
September 17, 2008
First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, welcomes ‘re-evacuees’
Editor’s note: Reports from the Texas gulf coast are still sketchy as evacuees return and power and other utilities are slowly restored. PNS, with the invaluable assistance of Shane Whisler, director of communications for the Synod of the Sun, will publish updates as they become available. — Jerry L. Van Marter
SAN ANTONIO — When 4,000 sheltered evacuees in Lufkin, TX, faced a second evacuation in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, one of the churches that stepped into the breach was First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio.
Sarah, a two-year-old whose family evacuated from Alvin, Texas, reaches for a doll offered by Terri Wilson, a nurse serving Baptist Child and Family Services, at First Presbyterian, San Antonio. Seated are shelter volunteers Rosemary Engstrom and Lucille Lammert. Photo by PDA/Harvey Howell Terri Wilson, a certified nurse aid contracted to Baptist Child and Family Services (BCFS), drove west to San Antonio on Saturday (Sept. 13). Along Interstate 10, she saw numerous families pulled over in parks, byways, and just on the highway shoulder.
“They had children and distracted looks, like they didn’t know where a safe place to go might be.”
Carter Dreesman of First Presbyterian (San Antonio) Church's emergency response task force, smiles after hundreds of Presbyterians from First, San Pedro and St. Andrew congregations, signed up for shifts as shelter volunteers. Photo by PDA/Harvey Howell On Saturday night, Terri and 22 guests seeking shelter from the storm found more than a safe place to go — at First Church, San Antonio, one of a network of congregations partnering with BCFS in the San Antonio area sheltering evacuees.
Congregation members offer more than a building and lights. They are showing Christ's love to families escaping from the devastation left by Ike.
Sue Steed, left, and Becky DeWees, right, volunteers at First Presbyterian's (San Antonio) shelter, sit with Harvey and Pauline Goodwin, evacuees from the greater Houston area. Photo by PDA/Harvey Howell Those wishing to respond financially may do so by designating gifts for USA disasters and emergencies, DR000015. Donations may be sent through normal mission giving channels. Gifts by credit card can be made by calling PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283 or online. Checks payable to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can also be mailed directly to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
Julie Pechacek, First Presbyterian (San Antonio) shelter volunteer, plays with Matthew, a young evacuee from Alvin, Texas. Photo by PDA/Harvey Howell The Synod of the Sun office will accept and hold checks for New Covenant Presbytery if checks are clearly marked “New Covenant” relief in the memo portion. Donations may also be made directly to South Louisiana Presbytery and Mission Presbytery who are helping people recover from Hurricanes Dolly and Gustav earlier this summer.
Harvey H. Howell is a member of First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio. | 
