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STATE OFFICEDick TalleyState Disaster Relief DirectorRae JonesAdministrative AssistantVOLUNTEER STAFF
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FACTS ABOUT WATER
1. Roughly 70 percent of an adult's body is made up of water.
2. At birth, water accounts for approximately 80 percent of an infant's body weight.
3. Approximately 85 percent of U.S.
residents receive their water from public water facilities. The
remaining 15 percent supply their own water from private wells or other
sources.
4. Drinking too much water too quickly can lead to water intoxication. Water intoxication occurs when water dilutes the sodium level in the bloodstream and causes an imbalance of water in the brain.
5. Water intoxication is most likely to occur during periods of intense athletic performance or extreme consumption.
6. The daily recommended amount of water is eight cups, or 64 oz., per day.
7. Soft drinks, coffee, and tea, while made up almost entirely of water, also contain caffeine. Caffeine can act as a mild diuretic, preventing water from traveling to necessary locations in the body.
8. Water dissolves more substances than any other liquid. Wherever it travels, water carries chemicals, minerals, and nutrients with it.
9. Somewhere between 70 and 75 percent of the earth's surface is covered with water.
10. Much more fresh water is stored under the ground than on the earth's surface.
11. The earth is a closed system, similar to a terrarium. The same water that existed on the earth millions of years ago is still present today.
12. Of all the water on the earth, humans can use only about three tenths of a percent of this water. The rest is saltwater.
13. The United States uses about 350,000 million gallons of fresh water every day.
14. The United States uses nearly 80 percent of its water for irrigation and thermoelectric power.
15. The average person in the United States uses anywhere from 80-100 gallons of water per day.
16. The United States uses more fresh water per person than any other country in the world. This includes uses for agriculture, manufacturing, etc.
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Cookie Crumbs
1. Specialized need - TBM needs EMTs, paramedics, retired firemen, and search and rescue personnel who have "first responder training". If you are interested in being a first responder for TBM locally, nationally or internationally, contact Cookie at volunteers@tbmdr.net
2. Help us stay connected with Yellow Cap friends. Ask your buddies who have e-mail if they received this newsletter. If they did not, their e-mail address may be wrong in our database, or they may have inadvertently blocked messages from TBM Disaster Relief. Ask them to send a message to "volunteers@tbmdr.net" with their correct e-mail address.
3. Would you liketo become more involved? There are great opportunities for volunteers of all skills. Contact your nearest Area Director listed above.
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Hope
A Promise From God
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy.PROVERBS 13:12
O Lord, you alone are my hope. I've trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!PSALM 71:5-6
We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.EPHESIANS 4:4
Hope is never an afterthought in the Bible. It is a key component of the good life. As far as the authors of the Bible were concerned, hope was a vital part of life. They understood that people aren't content to simply live, but need to have something to live for. For those who confess their sins and accept Christ as their Lord and Savior they can receive the assurance of God's gift of eternal life with Him. What greater hope can there be? |
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Financial Support
TBM appreciates your prayers and support of our Disaster Relief ministry. Without your financial support we would not be able to help so many hurting people in their hour of need. You may mail a gift to TBM at 5351 Catron, Dallas, Tx 75227 or give by credit card through our website at: www.texasbaptistmen.org. If you have any questions about a financial gift please call Mickey Lenamon at 214-828-5177. |
San Angelo Feeding Unit Needs Volunteers
Begun less than a year ago, they are presently capable of serving 15,000 meals per day. They plan to grow to 30,000 meals per day capacity. Even though we have been blessed with fewer disasters this past year, they have kept busy practicing their skills for community churches, schools and other organizations. They recently prepared a gourmet meal for a Habitat For Humanity meeting. According to unit director Arlen White, their goal is to have at least one cooking event each month to keep their skills sharp and to train new volunteers. For information, please contact Arlen at 325-486-2394, or by e-mail. |
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Buckets of Hope
 Texas Baptists have collected more than 9,000 Buckets of Hope (roughly
270,000 pounds of food) for the Haitian people. The first shipment of
buckets is on its way to Haiti. South Carolina is expected to collect
9,000 buckets, and North Carolina has already assembled 12,500 buckets.
Buckets are being collected from all across America.
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31
YEARS AGO - April 1979
Deep in the heart of Texas, the
sparkling church building stood as a spiritual beacon in the green
countryside. The fact that it was standing at all, after nearly closing
its doors in the 1970s, was something of a miracle. It continued to
stand, thanks to the love of loyal members who joined hands with a group
of retired Baptists to rebuild their church. Some said that their
accomplishment was..." more like a wonderful dream than a reality." In
the hot sun of July 1979, Olen and Morene Miles of Driftwood, near
Austin, arrived with a dozen other retired couples to rebuild the church
facility. Less than five days later, the walls were up, the roof was on
and the volunteers were putting on the shingles.
Beginning with
those 13 enthusiastic couples, TBM Retiree Builders grew in its first 20
years to about 400 members and had built nearly 500 sanctuaries and
education buildings for churches that otherwise could not have afforded
them.
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"5000 Dinners, Please"
The first Disaster Relief Mobile Feeding Unit was rushed into service in 1972, when a flash flood struck the Seguin/New Braunfels area of Central Texas. A 30-foot wall of water drowned 17 people and inflicted property damage of more than $17 million. The new mobile unit was set up in the courthouse square, and volunteers served 2,500 hot meals to both flood victims and disaster relief workers.
Mobile Kitchen Units are now deployed throughout Texas, and are called for duty in neighboring states as well. There are five capacities of these units...from 5,000 to 20,000+ meals per day. There is also a "Fly Away Kitchen" for disaster relief service in remote or foreign areas.
Once receiving a request for help from such organizations as FEMA, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, or the State of Texas, the TBM-DR team goes to work. Volunteers are recruited, schedules are established, and coordination with other relief organizations is set up.
The food is provided by the agency requesting our help. Local churches provide housing in Sunday School rooms, gymnasiums, etc. Volunteers will bring bedrolls, cots, or air mattresses for overnight stays. The TBM Asset Protection Unit provides security for all of our feeding units, in conjunction with local law enforcement or military personnel, if required.
Preparing tasty, healthy food for an entire community of hungry people isn't at all like a family week in the woods. Cooking over an open fire, washing dishes in the nearby stream and hoping the water is pure enough to drink may work there, but not at a disaster.
A variety of delicious and healthy hot meals are prepared depending on what is provided by the requesting organization. It takes many hands to set up the equipment, to do the initial food preparation, cook the meals, serve and clean up when the day is done. You may enjoy cooking your favorite recipe, but cooking enough for thousands requires an entirely new perspective.
The TBM Mobile Kitchen Units are operated under some very strict regulations. Everything from what clothing to wear, to when to wear gloves...how to wash and sanitize cooking utensils, to the proper use of can openers. Rules for food preparation and preservation, for both hot and cold items, are strictly followed. The standards for these kitchens will usually exceed what is required by local regulations in the area they serve.
Food isn't the only thing Texas Baptist Men provide. Their overall objectives include their desire to show God's love by their Christian actions, to meet physical needs with something to drink and a hot meal, to meet emotional needs through prayer, to being a good listener, and to meet the spiritual needs of those shaken by the disaster.
TBM's ability to deliver on those "5000 dinners", and even more, plays a major part in helping families get back on their feet and focus on what the future holds for them.
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Hurricane Biz Workshop
A Hurricane Biz workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28, at the Del Mar Center for Economic Development in Corpus Christi. 9 am to 1:30, lunch will be provided. For more information, contact James Hudson by e-mail.
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 A Message From Dick Talley
HELP NEEDED IN GALVESTON AREA
Nehemiah's Vision is a non-profit organization working in the Galveston/Bolivar area since Hurricane Ike. There is a real need for anyone interested in helping to build and rebuild in the Galveston area. They are looking for anyone with construction type experience.
Projects include painting, hanging sheet rock, texturing walls, laying floors, hanging windows and doors, and even such professional skills as roofing, plumbing and electrical. For more information please contact Mona Williams at 409/769-1616, or by e-mail at mona@nehemiahsvision.com.
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A Short History Of Water
This history is, one might say, somewhat waterlogged. Since water is absolutely essential to all life, it should not be surprising that it is an important component of human history. Yet it is
surprising how little attention water receives until we must go without. The "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" reminds sailors of the fact that there is..."water, water, everywhere, but not a dro p to drink."
Humans have generally settled near convenient sources of water. Most of the great ancient civilizations depended on a particular source of water. For example, the Egyptians centered their civilization on the Nile. Mesopotamia (the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present day Iraq, and parts of Syria and Turkey) was the home of several important ancient empires. Chinese civilization was located principally in the Yellow and Yangzi river basins.
More water filters are being prepared as seen in the photos above and below.
Water was also an important source of industrial power during the Industrial Revolution. Soon, water became a hidden factor in human history. For many, it quite literally went underground, hidden from sight until one turned on a faucet.
Water is our lifeline that feeds us, bathes us, puts out fires and allows ships to travel around the globe. In all cultures water represents the very essence of life.
The Romans were the first to pipe water into their growing cities, especially with their aqueducts. They also realized that sewage water could cause diseases for their people, and needed to be removed from large areas where people lived.
Water has played a role, not only in the history of countries, but in religion. In many religions water is believed to cleanse the soul through holy application. The water at Lourdes, France is thought by many to be sacred water with healing powers.
Pure water is a vital health giving component in the lives of every living creature.
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Outstanding Volunteer Award
HOMER THORNTON - After graduation from the University of Houston with degrees in Electrical Engineering and math, Homer went into computer sales. He transferred to the Dallas area in 1967 and began volunteering with TBM in 1972. Bob Dixon needed a system for tracking volunteers and called on his friend Homer for help. Homer's computer skills made him an important part of TBM Disaster Relief team.
Leo Smith, Executive Director, presents Homer Thornton with Outstanding Volunteer Award at the Executive
Board Banquet.
Homer's first major project was to establish a database to track volunteers. At that time TBM had a few hundred volunteers. Today, that number has grown to over 9,780 volunteers, and Homer continues to track volunteers by assuring that they are input into the database. In addition to his computer work, during his early days of his "volunteer" career with TBM, Homer helped build the first feeding units. He participated in many call-outs through the years. For the past 2+ years, Homer has worked at the TBM office four days a week maintaining the TBM Disaster Relief database, and responding to call-outs when needed. Homer is well deserving of the Outstanding Volunteer Award.
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God Is Doing Big Stuff In Haiti
My name is Andy Patterson. I am a 40 year old, lifelong construction guy from South Carolina. From January 30th - February 5th, I was blessed to lead a group of 32 medical personnel from SC to Haiti. We worked several field hospitals around Port-au-Prince and saw God working in many ways.
Part of my responsibilities was to assess tent settlements to see if we needed to send the mobile medical part of our team. One afternoon I was in a mountainous community. A medical team had just left so it looked as if we did not need to go.
As I walked through a number of the encampments, and talked with the people living there. I was overwhelmed by their need for clean water. I saw women and children carrying water buckets up the hill; and I asked "Where are you getting your water from?" They said, "the ravine." Where are you going to the bathroom? "thee ravine," they repeated. I stood there with this group of Haitians around me, needing things that I could not provide. I told them that we should pray for God to intervene and provide for their needs. We all held hands as I prayed.
"God, these folks are your children and are in need of your help right now! These children are going to get sick if they don't get clean water. You are in control of everything and we come to you with nowhere else to turn. Stretch out your hand and provide!"
The next morning we were at the PAP airport getting organized. I saw a small aviation ministry set up close by. As I was walking toward the planes, I ran into another missionary who asked if I was there for the FILTERS? What filters? I asked, as I looked around to see a huge stack of buckets being moved. This was the base for the Texas Baptist Men. Bob with TBM called out to me "Andy, good to see you again. How many filters do you want"? TBM gave us 200 drip-filter water bucket systems.
As I drove away from the airport that morning I was blown away by what just happened. God had just allowed me to see him respond to prayer in a big way. The next morning I was able to deliver the filters and share with the people what God had done. We praised and thanked God together. I just know that God is doing "big stuff" in Haiti right now.
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Love Your Neighbor!
Johnny Hudgens is a grill cook at the local Jack in the Box. A faithful member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Corsicana, TX. He heard his pastor, Paul Carter, share the desperate need for food for the Haitian people. Pastor  Carter talked about "Buckets of Hope" and how anyone could purchase the food, fill a 5-gallon bucket, and help a Haitian family of 4 eat for a week. Johnny doesn't have a car and walks everywhere. Today, Johnny made that one mile walk carrying a food-filled bucket. He said his arms were hurting by the time he got to the church but he wanted to make sure "his family" got their food! Pastor Carter asked what motivated him to participate in Buckets of Hope. Johnny said, "The Lord wanted me to help someone else who doesn't have what I have." He went on to say that, "God doesn't want me to be selfish." Johnny truly understands what it means to "love your neighbor as yourself," even if your neighbor is thousands of miles away. |
San Angelo Garage Sale Benefits
Mobile Feeding Unit
 The San Angelo Garage Sale was a big success. Over $7500 was raised to provide needed equipment for their mobile kitchen units. They plan to soon have the capability of serving well in excess of 20,000 meals per day in disaster struck areas. |
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Ted Claus & Eugene Osburn, Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief Volunteers from Elmendorf, picked up 74 Buckets of Hope for Haiti from the BBA office and are taking them to Kelley Air Base in San Antonio, where they and other TBM volunteers stacked them on pallets to prepare for loading on transport planes bound for Haiti. 