To: The people of Smokey Hill United Methodist Church

From: Lynn & Mary Kile

           Sabine Pass, TX.

Over the years we have evacuated from so many of these tropical storms and hurricanes that it became almost a nuisance. You pack everything up, gather your family pictures, load what you can in the car, get everything off the porch and out of the yard, then you leave for a couple of days, come back home and put it all back. We had some minor storms hit us directly and had some minor flooding, but did little damage. But in the back of everyone’s mind we all knew that one day the big one would hit us head on. This storm was no different. It was supposed to hit the central Texas Coast, we might get some minor flooding out of it and a little wind. There was a high pressure area keeping it west of us. But as time went by the high pressure area kept moving to the east and as it moved to the east the storm kept turning our direction until it was headed straight at us. We knew we were in trouble. We evacuated to my wife’s sisters house up in east Texas. Normally it was a four hour drive. We got on the road at 1 in the afternoon and didn’t arrive until noon the next day. We were in that car for 23 hours non stop. We had the air conditioner turned off to save gas, we were running on fumes and there was no gas to found anywhere and we had ran out of water. After we had arrived we stayed glued to the TV to try to get what news we could or get a glimpse of our home town. It was terrible not to know what was going on and if your house and your town made it through the storm. After a couple of days I got called back to go to work and so did the two boys. I didn’t know if I had a place to stay or not but I came anyway. As we approached Sabine Pass the first thing you notice, besides all the telephone poles down on the road, is the trees. When we left they were full and lush and green. But now they were brown stripped of all there leaves, all the tops were broken off and many were uprooted and on the ground. As we drove into town it looked like a huge bomb had gone off. There was trash and debris everywhere. Then you realize that all this debris is parts of people’s homes. As we pulled up into the driveway our hearts sank. You suddenly realize that everything you own is in the back of your car. The house you lived in for 20 years and raised two sons in is gone. You think about all the Christmas’s and holidays and birthdays you celebrated in that house and now it’s gone along with all your possessions that you have collected during 30 years of marriage. The ironic thing is we only had one more house payment to make and it would be paid off.

The Red Cross and The Salvation Army immediately came to our aide. They fed us hot meals everyday and gave us ice and water. The sweltering heat and the mosquitoes were almost unbearable along with the stench of the stagnant water and mud.

Volunteers began to arrive. Mostly faith based organizations. The Baptist men’s group, The Mennonites, The Catholic Charities, The Methodist and volunteers from all over the country. Over the past year and a half hundreds & hundreds of volunteers came and just wanted to help and they are still coming. We got gift cards from The Red Cross, The Salvation Army, The Catholic Charities and other Churches that helped us replace a few things that were badly needed and we even got help from Saudi Arabia. Seems the only place we didn’t get any help from was our own government. Although they have been promising for over a year, that help is coming. (OK,, Whatever!!!)

But I was overwhelmed by the number of people that gave up there vacations and took time off work and kids that gave up there Christmas vacations and spring breaks and drove hundreds of miles to come down here and help someone they don’t even know.

As we finally move into our new house, we will always remember how special you are to us and you will remain in our hearts, minds and prayers for years to come. You have warmed our hearts and restored our faith in people.

I know God has something special planned for you.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for all you have done for us, our church and our community.

Thank You and May God Bless You

Lynn & Mary Kile
Sabine Pass, Texas