Pray for Florida: How people are showing solidarity online as Hurricane Matthew nears
By Alice Foster
PUBLISHED: 14:10, Thu, Oct 6, 2016 | UPDATED: 15:19, Thu, Oct 6, 2016
express.co.uk ‘Pray That God Keeps Us Safe’: Hurricane Matthew Slams Into Haiti With Deadly Waves ruth-mawhinney Ruth Mawhinney Christian Today Editor 04 October 2016 christiantoday.com “…”Pray that God, who has control over the hurricane, slows it down, minimises its threats, and keeps the nation safe,” he said. “Pray for enough provision for the eventual victims and affected people. Pray for the Haitian government and authorities to make the right decisions to help the people who might be affected.”..”
– MATTHEW – POWERFUL HURRICANE HITS JAMAICA OCTOBER 2016
cuba
MATTHEW hurricane southeast of Jamaica strengthened to a “powerful” Category 5 storm late Friday, forecasters said, and watches were in place for that nation as well as the southeastern coast of Haiti.
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Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police issued a statement Saturday, stating they are investigating the death of a man at his home, possibly from structural damage caused by a falling tree…”
Hurricane Matthew lashing South Carolina coastal areas, Last Updated Oct 8, 2016 11:07 AM EDT “…At 5 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center, in Miami, said the storm’s northern eyewall was lashing Hilton Head Island, S.C. and Pritchards Island, S.C. with hurricane-force winds, adding that storm surge flooding was occurring in South Carolina and Georgia.
The National Weather Service’s Charleston, S.C. office tweeted an urgent message about areas of Georgia and South Carolina:..”
Six people also lost their lives in Florida due to the storm, which at one point left 1 million households and businesses without power in the Sunshine State.
In Georgia, four deaths were reported.
The storm touched down in South Carolina, southeast of McClellanville, at 11 a.m. ET as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. ..”
“…
Charleston wakes up under water: Deadly Hurricane Matthew brings more misery after it batters South Carolina and Georgia through the night, kills six in Florida and leaves 1.4 million without power
Hurricane Matthew continued to thunder along the east coast on Friday night and Saturday morning
It swept through the coast of Georgia at around 8pm and reached Charleston, South Carolina, at 1am
Most powerful hurricane to threaten the Atlantic Seaboard in more than a decade is set to make landfall
Six people died in Florida as a result of the aggressive storm which also killed almost 900 in Haiti..”
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.As Haiti reels from the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew, our team on the ground continues to work with local partners to distribute supplies to children and families in need. Because we pre-positioned supplies, we were able to begin distributions immediately after the storm. We have an international response team en route to Haiti to join our Haitian staff to best meet the needs of storm survivors.
Hurricane Matthew also tore through Cuba leaving mass destruction. We are working with partners on the ground to see what assistance they will need in the coming days.
A U.S. response team deploys later today for Florida to pre-position supplies as the Eastern seaboard braces for impact.
They will take a load of food, water and hygiene kits that can be distributed as needed. As always, our goal is to be among the first on the scene to help survivors quickly and efficiently. Similar to our responses for Katrina and Sandy, pre-positioning our teams and supplies enables us to do just that. ..” Haiti: Samaritan’s Purse Responding to Hurricane Matthew
October 8, 2016 • Haiti samaritanspurse.org “..This week Samaritan’s Purse sent two airlifts and 40 tons of water filters, heavy-duty plastic sheeting, hygiene kits, and blankets to help survivors of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. A Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was also aboard our DC-8. They have joined our field staff in distributing these relief supplies to Haitians in desperate need. The 40 tons of supplies will reach 5,000 households.
“Hurricane Matthew has wreaked havoc on Haiti,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Our teams are on the ground helping in Jesus’ Name. They’re going to do all they can to meet the needs of the suffering people there. Please pray for the people of Haiti as they recover from this deadly storm.”
We urgently need your help to reach the people in Haiti who are worst affected by Hurricane Matthew, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent years. Donate now: https://www.oxfamamerica.org/matthew
Thousands of people have lost their homes, hundreds have been killed and the number of deaths is likely to rise. Oxfam is there delivering water purification kits and construction materials…”
World Vision is distributing desperately needed emergency relief supplies to survivors of deadly Hurricane Matthew. You can help by donating to the relief effort. http://www.wvi.org/help-haiti-recover“
I decided to do this blog on this increasing growing topic after meeting a Vet that openly shared about this P.T.S.D. this morning. I was coming out of the local fitness center (R.F.C.) and as I was about to bike off after unlocking my chain, this “older” gentlemen (with a beard and a cane-thought he was blind as he held on to the rails along the wall. He appeared to be going to the P.E. Center to watch a local high school basketball game as he was wearing a West Central Knights jacket) wandered towards me to chat.
We talked about the nice sunny weather as a popular “Minnesota” topic. Somehow he asked where I was from, which I told him my parents are from the Philippines. He then told me he has had bad memories of being there? He then told me he was stationed there in the army. I then asked, “where-Subic Bay?”. He said, “yes..have you been there before”. I replied “yes too and told him I was there back in 2012 for vacation”. He openly (like many vets has had with me in the Morris area) shared he was in Vietnam. I then quickly replied, “thank you for serving”. He then replied, “not many people agreed when we returned home from Vietnam”, which I can agree with him from my history lesson. I then thought in my mind that it wasn’t his or any of the soldiers fault as I “blame” the “U.S. Government” (based on research I found). Anyways, he appeared to not want to chat more on this topic as he slowly walked away and went inside the RFC. I quickly prayed in my mind for him and thought about other Vets I know and have met.
Below are some notes I’ve collected on this topic on my facebook pic..
19% of veterans may have traumatic brain injury (TBI)
-recent sample of 600 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan found: 14% post-traumatic stress disorder; 39% alcohol abuse; 3% drug abuse. Major depression also a problem.
-in times of peace, in any given year, about 4% (actually 3.6%) of the general population have PTSD (caused by natural disasters, car accidents, abuse, etc.)
-Oddly, statistics for veteran tobacco use are never reported alongside PTSD statistics, even though increases in rates of smoking are strongly correlated with the stress of deployment and combat, and smoking statistics show that tobacco use is tremendously damaging and costly for soldiers.
*see https://www.facebook.com/groups/123846551128031/
Wes Moore joined the US Army to pay for college, but the experience became core to who he is. In this heartfelt talk, the the paratrooper and captain—who went on to write “The Other Wes Moore”—explains the shock of returning home from Afghanistan. He shares the single phrase he heard from civilians on repeat, and shows why it’s just not sufficient. It’s a call for all of us to ask veterans to tell their stories — and listen.”
Questions NOT to ask: “Did you shoot anybody?”
Questions to ask? “How are you doing?” “What was your experience like?” “Thank you for your service!….(then listen)..
Former Navy Seal and the man who is recognized as the most lethal sniper in U.S. Military history, Chris Kyle talks about his book American Sniper in an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV. Kyle also discusses why he felt compelled to write the book as a way to honor the sacrifice of servicemen and woman and their families.”
About Wingmen:
Wingmen is a gathering of men with the purpose of forming transparent, Christ-centered, masculine relationships. As Wingmen, we offer men acceptance, affirmation and accountability.
Wingmen is unique in the fact that it is not an accountability group, bible study, or networking group. It is an entity that emphasizes relationships above all else, relationships with Christ first and foremost and then relationships with other men. Our name, Wingmen, was purposeful in that fact that using military visual pictures/analogies are a powerful tool to bring home the idea of the need for masculine relationships in our lives as we conduct warfare and “spiritual maneuvers” in our daily spiritual battles. We do not dance around sensitive topics – pornography, addictions, over working, and abuse. We are a safe house — a place to get off the front lines and seek a reprieve/respite before jumping back into the battle. Wingmen is a 501C3
About Chad Williams:
Having been a featured guest on Fox News Channel, CNN News Room, Anderson Cooper 360, TBN, Daystar, Hour of Power, CBN 700 Club and more; former U.S. Navy SEAL Chad Williams draws on his experience as a combat veteran SEAL to yield an exclusive perspective rooted in teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.
Prior to entering SEAL training Chad was mentored by U.S. Navy SEAL Scott Helvenston. Just days before Chad headed off to Navy bootcamp, Helvenston took a brisk opportunity to serve his country once again in Iraq.
Shortly thereafter, Chad turned on a television one morning to learn first hand how precious and costly freedom is as his eyes met a screen that portrayed a smiling still image of his mentor followed by Scott’s birthdate separated by a *dash* March 31, 2004. What immediately followed was graphic video footage of Helvenston being mutilated and dragged through the streets of Fallujah, Iraq. Finally he was hung upside-down from the Euphrates River Bridge while an enraged Iraqi mob repeatedly chanted in Arabic, “Fallujah is the graveyard of Americans” and set him on fire.
Steeled in his resolve to walk in his Helvenston’s footsteps and become a SEAL in honor and memory of his good friend, Chad entered the military’s most grueling and difficult training known as BUD/S. BUD/S Class 254 started out with 173 sailors vowing they would die before they ever quit the rigorous training (which requires ringing a brass bell three times and surrendering their class helmet on the asphalt grinder). By graduation day there would only be 13 of those original sailors still standing there and Chad was among them.
Serving his country proudly as a Navy SEAL, on Teams One and Seven, Chad came into contact with the horrors of war first hand, even fighting his way alongside his Team through a premeditated ambush in Iraq, near the location that took Helvenston’s life in a similar scenario.
Today Chad is the author of SEAL of God and an in demand guest speaker, taking the principles and ethos learned as a U.S. Navy SEAL to better communicate the Gospel. As a gifted evangelist, Chad’s message is captivating and eye-opening as he relates to the audience the price of freedom that was not only paid for in the blood of our soldiers on battlefield but most importantly the blood of our Savior at the cross of Calvary.”
Soldier talks about his struggle with depression and PTSD. How his struggle lead him to some destructive behavior and finally to seek the help he needed to cope with his emotions. Video by Gilbert Telles | Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office | Date: 08.15.2013
Thumbs up for the troop!
Favorite this video and subscribe for news updates.
MiliSource – Your online source for up to date military news videos.”
http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/October/Wounded-Warriors-Find-Path-to-Healing-in-Alaska http://www.onewithchristministries.org/about-us-1/william-s-testimony/
“….I did not know what to do, I was afraid to go to sleep in fear the enemy (VC) Viet Cong would hurt my family. I decided the only way out where the enemy could no longer hurt me or my family was to take a lot of medication and to commit suicide. I began taking medication and took about 26 or so pills the day of January 17, 1991. I knew that by taking that much medication it could possibly kill me, I was ready to stop living. …n my last breath of air, I just put both of my hands toward heaven and said to God, “DO SOMETHING WITH ME NOW OR TAKE ME HOME”. I took my last breath. The next thing that I remembered wad seeing white and my arms were still stretched toward heaven, I was numb all over and could not move, and was so hot inside, but I felt a peace in my mind. As I looked up toward heaven I heard these words, “WILLIAM YOU MUST NAME ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HATE EVEN ALL OF THE VIETNAMESE THAT YOU HATE AND ALSO THE ONES THAT YOU THINK THAT YOU HATE, AND THEN ASK ME FOR FORGIVENESS. I said Lord I don’t hate anyone anymore, “AND GOD SAID NAME EACH PERSON.” So I started to name the ones that I hated and then ask God for forgiveness….”
“…Just take some examples: The veterans – men and women – who are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Here we are talking about more than a million vets. Simply coming back and resting for a while doesn’t heal their wounds. Our friend, Rev. Nigel Mumford is a veteran of English military who saw fellow soldiers killed and personally experienced healing for PTSD. He is now planning “Welcome Home” programs for wounded vets and is in touch with the Pentagon and UK military leaders for prospects on future programs. This is a huge need and requires experience and time that most healing ministries simply do not have. For instance, Judith and I spent an entire weekend ministering to a Vietnam vet who hadn’t been able to sleep in a bed for 20 years, but after prayer was able to sleep through the night for the first time in 20 years. And there are millions more who need prayer because human sources of healing are good as far as they go, but they don’t reach down into the very depths of the souls of vets who have been wounded or have seen friends die…” http://www.christianhealingmin.org/current-issue/202-magazine/2006-2010/hl-articles-2010-3
“…ck to that moment to relive it again and again. So what is the answer?
One of the ways to defuse the memories is to expose them. I’ve heard it said that you are only as sick as the secrets you keep but revealing is healing! When you bring the event into the light, darkness loses its power!! The enemy would have you keep the memory under lock and key in the fortress of your mind. But Paul tells us that light and darkness can’t coexist. Darkness loses its power when you turn on the light! Exposing it and releasing it allows Jesus to restore your soul!
The word restoration in itself means to be put back together to its original state. We can infer that this means “before the trauma.” And if it’s before the trauma, then those memories aren’t going to continue to wreak havoc on your soul. You may still remember that place, but it won’t be so painful. I think of it much like a scar reminds you of a past wound or surgery. You see the reminder…but it doesn’t hurt anymore….” http://www.overcomepanic.com/PTSD.html
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/05/us/fort-hood-gunman-facebook/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
Another post dealt with his time in Iraq: “Celebrating life. It has been exactly 1 year and 2 days since left Iraq seeing in Fallujah the most brutal explosion… I was left paralyzed and started a discussion over the radio… I was only focused on breathing deeply so that I don’t lose focus and continue the mission. [Those] were hours of agony waiting for an attack by the insurgency but we were able to exit Fallujah all alive. I was in vehicle #6.The worst was that #5 was a diesel truck, the perfect target. And I was only thinking about getting back with my family.”
Lopez added: “To be in the line of fire is f—– up but even more f—– is the suffering of the families.”
Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, the post’s commanding general, said Lopez did not experience direct combat in Iraq.
Psychopathology and psychiatric diagnoses of World War II Pacific theater prisoner of war survivors and combat veterans. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8422074
“…METHOD:
A group of 36 POW survivors and a group of 29 combat veterans, all of whom had seen fierce fighting and heavy unit casualties, were compared approximately 40 years later on psychological instruments assessing psychopathology constructs, negative mood states, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and on the computer-administered National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule…”
Before he fought in the galactic battles of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Adam Driver was a United States Marine with 1/1 Weapons Company. He tells the story of how and why he became a Marine, the complex transition from soldier to civilian — and Arts in the Armed Forces, his nonprofit that brings theater to the military. Because, as he says: “Self-expression is just as valuable a tool as a rifle on your shoulder.” Followed by a spirited performance of Marco Ramirez’s “I am not Batman” by Jesse J. Perez and Matt Johnson. (Adult language)
“
What happens when an American Hero comes home from war? What happens when that person is required to assimilate themselves back into civilian life; meantime, coping with what they heard and saw while in the midst of battle.
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ABC Action News, WFTS, covers local news in Tampa Bay and Florida. “ Veteran Brian Taylor Urruela Helps Other Vets Heal Through Sports By Caitlin Keating•@caitkeating Updated September 23, 2016 at 9:40pm EDT people.com “Two days before he was to leave Iraq in 2006, Army Sgt. Brian Taylor Urruela s Humvee hit a pair of roadside bombs, killing his commanding officer and severely injuring him and his comrades.
After 35 unsuccessful surgeries, the life-long baseball player from Tampa, Fla., made the agonizing decision to have his mangled right leg amputated. He thought the worst was behind him, but a new kind of suffering soon began.
“When I got out of the military, all the support was gone,” says Urruela, 27, who was diagnosed with PTSD. “I was drinking away the pain.”
With therapy and a hefty dose of determination, he pulled himself out of that hole and now he is lifting up others with him.
In August 2012, Urruela and a fellow vet founded VETSports, a sports league with 100 players in several cities.
“Sitting home when you re having a bad day is the worst you can do,” says Urruela, who lives with his girlfriend and is studying sports management in college. His work is so inspiring that readers voted him one of 30 everyday heroes through PEOPLE and Major League Baseball s Tribute for Heroes campaign. ..”
I went to film school at USC after returning from Iraq. This is what life was like for me then, and this is 100% a true story. Hopefully others – especially those who’ve lived it – can get something out of this film. It was one of the first I ever made…
by SSG Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
US Army, Infantry, OIF 07-08
Disturbing images and haunting flashbacks plague a young soldier recently returned from the war in Iraq. Re-adjusting to his former life as a college student proves to be more difficult than he ever imagined – connecting with veterans of wars past may be just what he needs.”
I live in an area in St. Paul where there is always some guy holding-up a sign or just standing there for a “handout’. I always feel convicted or “bad” when I passed them in my “comfortable” Toyota Corolla driving by. I was in the cities for a week vacation in the end of August (see month’s highlights) and I decided I wanted to something about this before I head back to Morris (we never see any people standing on the corners “begging” for a “helping hand”). I loaded my backpack with extra water bottles and had some food that I can give away in my trunk of my car. Well, as I was doing some errands before heading off on I-94 west to Morris, I did see a “homeless” guy. I then drove to the right side of the road and parked it with my “flashers” on. As I got out of my car, I see a police car coming my way. I didn’t worry as I felt I had some good intentions and thought I was legally parked. Well, I crossed the street to the “homeless guy”. I approached him with a bag of bread rolls and a “fresh” bottle of water. I then introduced myself and explained why I stopped. I told him as a Christian, I wanted to help him. I told him the quick saying “You give a man a fish and it’ll last a day, but if I teach you how to fish-it’ll last a lifetime”. I then pointed to my bread and water, which I told him this will last for a meal or a day. I then gave him a Bible tract (Mana-Bread is the Word…), which I explained to him that this will help you for a life-time. I was worried about parked car on the side of the road, so I told him I have to go and encouraged him by saying God loves him. His name was Ernest. As I went into my car, I noticed him looking back at me with peace and I drove off praying for Ernest as I headed down the entry ramp going west on I-94.
Man Offers To Buy Homeless Man Coffee, But Helps Change His Life Instead… Stefan Armitage viralthread.com “…Adam’s story begins just like many of our mornings do; on his usual run to the nearby Starbucks for a cup of coffee. However, outside the store, something had always played on Adam’s mind, and after weeks of regularly swallowing his guilt, Adam decided to act…..
“…Adam’s words express his anger at the system; “We’ve all heard someone say ‘why don’t they just get a job?’ or ‘they’re lazy.’ I saw firsthand how the “system” is set up to fail people like Tarec. There is no way he would have been able to do any of this without my help. Just like there are many things in my life I have needed someone to help me overcome an obstacle. We all need a little help.”…. Tech sales rep lands homeless man a job at Safeway Updated:Feb 02 2017 08:07PM PST ktvu.com “…”I didn’t have somewhere I could rest my head at night, where I could clean up and smell properly, represent myself on the job. From there it went back down,” he said.
The lesson August says he learned: Sometimes it takes more than a job to get out of homelessness.
He has set up a Gofundme page to raise money so Tarec can get an apartment, then perhaps a job.
“If you don’t have a home it is build anything on top of that,” August said.
“I am very optimistic to see something change in my situation,” said Tarec.
ACTION: Spread the Love #Tarecsfreshstart gofundme.com “..He still lives in a tent next to highway 101 in Marin City. The rain has made life even tougher for Tarec. He still spends most of his days alone or hanging out at Starbucks. The employees and customers treat him well. It’s hard not to. The warmth in this guy’s heart is palpable.
As for the job. Safeway did indeed offer Tarec a job and we celebrated that news with ice cream. I thought we had a happy ending and a new beginning for Tarec. I was wrong. I failed and I truly apologize if anyone feels misled. With that said, TOGETHER we have an opportunity to write a happy ending and give Tarec a new shot at life.
In retrospect, I didn’t fully understand the impossible nature of having and keeping a job with no place to call home. In an effort to find Tarec a home, I visited Homeward Bound and met with their executive director, Mary Kay Sweeney, a real life angel. She taught me “a healthy home is the foundation for a prosperous life”.
We’ve come full circle.
Tarec is still homeless and jobless, but not hopeless. And because of YOU neither am I. I can’t emphasize this enough. The thousands of comments and messages I have received over the past few months has inspired me to finish what I started. Change a man’s life. Now with thousands of my closest friends, we can accomplish that together.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kindness and support.
“Life is hard. Be nice to people.” – Alex Rayburn
“Be the change you wish to see.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Here is how the $25,000 will be used:
$10,000 – $12,000: 12 months of rent pre-paid
$1,000 – $2,000: turns a house/appt. into a home
$1,500 – $2,000: 12 months of utility bills
$1,000 – $1,500: groceries, clothes, and spending money
The additional $8,000+ will be placed into a checking/savings account under Tarec’s name…”
Update:
2.18.17- $13,783 of $25k goal
Raised by 353 people in 17 days
My question is this, what can we do as a society to help these folks?
