| Here is the Summary of the recent trip:
Summary of Deployment with Samaritan’s Purse to San Angelo, Texas 5-10-2026 to 5-15-2026 Disaster Response Rebuild Project It was an amazing blessing to experience my first Deployment in the Rebuild Division of Samaritan’s Purse U. S. Disaster Relief. As many of you know, I have been deploying with Samaritan’s Purse on the Initial Disaster Response side for the last 11 or 12 years. This was my first time doing this, and it was a beautiful experience; once again seeing how well Samaritan’s Purse does what they do. What a privilege it is to serve with such a first-class organization who honors Jesus in all that they do. This trip has answered a lot of the questions I had while serving on the Disaster Response side concerning what goes on after we leave an area, and I am grateful for that. These Rebuild deployments have a few distinct advantages as one compares them with Disaster Response. In Disaster Response, there is usually pretty short notice to go, whereas with a Rebuild, you can schedule up to 9 months in the future. I know that many of us (including myself) have struggled to leave on such short notice, so this would alleviate that. Also, on the Disaster Response side, you have a fairly short window of time to interact with the homeowner, while on a Rebuild, you may see the homeowner on several occasions and have many more opportunities to minister to them. Also, on these deployments you often get to see the “finished product” with the homeowner in what is called a “Home Dedication”. These are amazing, as the homeowner gets a framed “bill” for all of the work done on their house, that is stamped “PAID IN FULL” in red letters indicative of Jesus having “Paid it All”. Also, in this ceremony they present a Bible that has been signed by the volunteers that worked on their house, as well as others that are praying for them. Samaritan’s Purse also keeps a “Journal” in their break room for each open Work Order, and all of the volunteers have the opportunity to make entries of encouragement….and this is also presented at that Home Dedication. It is a highly emotional moment, filled with joy. I can try to describe the feeling that one has in these ceremonies, but words cannot really do it; it must be experienced. My hope and prayer is that this would be something our church could do a couple times a year going forward in that we can plan it and schedule it. Would you pray about your own involvement? Don’t let any lack of “construction skills” be a roadblock; it is not. The Construction Foreman on each team delights in instructing and guiding his team, and they are expert at it. I am living proof; I brought really no construction skills to the table but was gladly welcomed to serve and patiently instructed at the homesite. So, I will share concerning the particular homeowner we had the privilege of serving. She is a single Mother with 3 children. One of those children is ADHD and OCD, so he is a challenge. She also has a teenage daughter, who is now 17 years old and has decided that she wants nothing to do with “a God who would allow all of this to happen” in reference to the flood itself, but also all of the emotional and mental pain their family has been experiencing. In any event, our Team Leader was able to convince Mom and all 3 kids to come to dinner with us at the Samaritan’s Purse offices that Wednesday. It was truly a delight to watch the Holy Spirit minister to all of them through what was shared by the volunteers. (We share what we call “God Moments” from our day) The hearts of all 3 children appeared to soften and they enjoyed their time. So, the Mom’s story is amazing. She is currently disabled due to a workplace injury, so she has struggled with the Workmen’s Comp Insurer and the Government Officials that are handling her case, and as is often the case, her treatment has been delayed. She has 3 separate injuries to her shoulder, and is in constant pain, and has been for several months. She struggled to pay her bills and her house payment due to her limited income on disability, thus the family has had to go without in a lot of areas. She had come to the point that she was ready to give up on everything. She had no hope for the future as to when she might ever be able to get back to work or be out of pain. The flood event itself took place on the 4th of July 2025, and flooded her neighborhood with upwards of 5 feet of water, making her street into a river and inundating her house with about 3 feet of water. Everything in her house was damaged by the water as they had no time to get anything out (they had upwards of 8 inchers of rain on that day). Her plan for the holiday was to take her kids to her Mother’s home in another nearby town a few days before the actual 4th and let them spend a few days over the holiday with their grandma, and then she would come back to San Angelo, get some things in order, and commit suicide. BUT, when she came back to town, she found her house an absolute mess from the flooding. So, she fell down in her yard, a weeping mess, and realized that she could not carry out her plan now because of her kids not having anyplace to go. Then, with her one good arm (the left arm does not function at all because of the severe shoulder injuries) she opened her door and began to drag things out of her house into her front yard, still weeping. In her desperation of that moment, two people walked up in “orange shirts” and asked her if she needed help, and they were Samaritan’s Purse volunteers who were out assessing the neighborhood and handing out fliers with assistance information. She fell apart again while talking with them, and they had the opportunity to pray with her, encourage her, and get her signed up for help. They also shared The Gospel of Jesus Christ with her as she was not a Christian. Then, after hearing the Gospel Message, at the next visit with Samaritan’s Purse Volunteers, she prayed to receive Christ. Since that time, she has been attending church with her family at the host church for this deployment, and the family of Christians have taken her and her family in. She is now filled to overflowing with the joy of her salvation, and is quick to credit Jesus Christ for delivering her from the pit she found herself in. Samaritan’s Purse is now rehabilitating her property, which I had the privilege of participating in, and they are hoping to have it fully rehabilitated and livable within a month or so. She comes by every day, sees some progress, and cries with joy each time. When she came over, we had opportunity to speak with her and pray with her. And I can’t tell you how beautiful it was to see her and her kids every day. And she is just one of hundreds of people that Samaritan’s Purse is helping in this city. She will end up with an all new interior to her home, including kitchen cabinetry, furniture, and appliances. She will also receive a new water heater and HVAC system as those things were also ruined in the flooding. Samaritan’s Purse leadership, after careful consideration of her overall situation, were led by The Lord to pay off her mortgage. When that was done, she just couldn’t believe how good God is! She never expected such a thing and was totally blown away. (I didn’t share with her that this is not something that is usually done with Disaster Victims) While rehabilitating her home, we wrote Scripture throughout, on the unfinished walls, on the framing of the house, and carved into the new cement we had to pour in various spots. The house will be literally saturated with the Word of God. So, even though her struggles have not completely disappeared, she is filled with hope. She will now be able to navigate her circumstances in dealing with her injury and the Workmen’s Compensation Claim with confidence that The Lord will prevail, and she will get the surgeries she needs and eventually get back to working full time. She is a beautiful picture of God’s restoration process that goes on with literally thousands of people as a result of the work of Samaritan’s Purse. What an amazing privilege it is to be a part of this Kingdom Work! I have included a link for a video that was produced by one of the men who run the construction crews and have also included a few photos so you might understand more fully how all of this works. God bless you for your heart for the hurting! All to Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOxD-fjRiCI
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