Christian relief aid organizations, including Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, have been offering aid in Hays County, Texas since the floods that have hit the area, destroying some 500 homes and killing over 20 people. Some 1,200 people are homeless.
Parts of Texas experienced a devastating flood during Memorial Day weekend that destroyed hundreds of homes.
The two organizations have been working together to help those who have been affected by the floods. Samaritan's Purse staff and volunteers have been helping with physical needs by "cleaning the mud out of flood houses, removing waterlogged belongings, tearing out damaged sheetrock, insulation, and flooring, and spraying for mold," the organization stated.
Chaplains from the Billy Graham have been serving through "the ministry of presence."
"Ministry to the residents will come in different forms," said Jeff Naber, the manager of chaplain development and ministry for the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. "One way I know from my experience is just being there, having a ministry of presence and letting people know we care enough to come and to be with them during their time of need. Also, asking appropriate questions such as, 'How are you holding up?' and, 'Can you tell me your story?'"
After completing the physical work within the affected homes, the volunteers from both organizations would pray with victims and offer them Bibles.
"They were ready to come in, ready to help us," said Josephine Torres, a homeowner in San Marcos, one of the most affected cities in Hays County. "They gave us hope. Jesus sent people to come. They want me to be a part of their family. That means so much for me."
Josephine Torres, a homeowner in San Marcos, Texas, received help from the Samaritan's Purse volunteers.
According to Samaritan's Purse, more than 900 volunteers had worked with the organization to help flood victims during the end of May.
The flood--caused by an outpouring of rain over 24 hours during the Memorial Day weekend--was reported to have risen over 41 feet on Sunday, breaking a 32-feet record from 1929, and towering over street signs. The National Weather Service reported that 37.3 trillion gallons of water have fallen in Texas in the month of May.
Texas residents were warned of potential near-future floods, as the state heads into another storm season for the state.
