8 Days of Hope is in Kerrville, Texas. That is where the devastated community in Kerr County is marking two weeks since flash flooding in Texas Hill Country killed more than 130 by the time record-high waters receded around the Guadelupe River.
Steve Tybor, 8 Days founder and president, tells AFN the two-week mark at most disaster sites usually means the ministry has surveyed the site and visited with homeowners. By now, he says, 8 Days volunteers would be “mucking out” the homes and helping families salvage what they could.
“That's not happening,” he says. “Right now the focus is still, how do we find those who've been lost and are missing.”
In a sad first for 8 Days, which began after Hurricane Katrina, the ministry is using heavy equipment to move trees and push aside mud and debris. That work, he says, has a sad purpose.
“We've been doing this for 20 years and this is the first time we've ever participated in trying to find lost loved ones,” the ministry leader shares.
8 Days is now in a support role, Tybor explains, with the meal-serving arm of the ministry feeding first responders who are still searching for the bodies of approximately 100 missing people.
Jane Collette, who is on staff at Southern Oaks Baptist Church, tells AFN the Kerrville congregation is witnessing many people help. That includes purchasing items needed by first responders and helping restock the food pantry.
People are also dropping off gift cards that are given to devastated families that have heard they can visit the church for help.
“They come in here and they're just…you can just tell they're broken,” she says. “So we kind of help guide them. Sometimes they don't even know what they need.”
Collette also tells AFN the church needs prayer in two ways. The first is for wisdom and discernment, because the church members are trying to help shocked flood victims who don’t know what they need or how to ask for it.
The second prayer request, Collette says, is also for the church volunteers.
“Just for us, personally, probably strength,” she says.
