Ever since I took a job in Alaska as a teenager, I’ve always had a heart for “America’s last frontier” and the remarkable people who live there. We thank God for the opportunities He has given Samaritan’s Purse over the years to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of thousands of Alaskans, most recently in the remote village of Eagle, established over a century ago during the Klondike Gold Rush.

Fifteen miles south of Eagle, the Yukon River became jammed with ice, backing up the mighty river like a dam. When the river thawed in May, it inundated Eagle. Chunks of ice the size of train cars smashed buildings and left dozens of people homeless.

“It was like a tsunami of ice coming in,” said a longtime resident, who had to be rescued by helicopter.

In early July, I flew from our Alaska office to Eagle, located near the Canadian border, to see how Samaritan’s Purse could help. I walked through the devastated community and saw mangled cars, wrecked houses, and muddy belongings still scattered along the riverbanks.

We identified 13 families who desperately need assistance before winter. Samaritan’s Purse quickly dispatched construction equipment and personnel to work through the summer and fall to help rebuild their houses. Our staff and volunteers will be working with FEMA, state agencies, and most importantly our local church partner, Eagle Bible Chapel, whose congregation is reaching out to victims of the flood.

For years, the church has participated in our Operation Christmas Child project by packing shoe box gifts.

“We immediately thought of Samaritan’s Purse when the flood hit,” Pastor Terry DePue told me. “We’re so thankful that you’ve come to help.”

Alaska is a vast, rugged land dotted with hundreds of remote towns and villages accessible only by boat or plane. Extreme isolation and economic struggles have left many Alaskans trapped in poverty and despair. Alcoholism, ###########, domestic violence, child abuse, and teen suicide are pervasive problems. Conditions in some of these commmunities are as desperate as any I’ve seen in the world. And this is America!

People in Alaska need our help. Most of all, they need the Gospel. They need to know how they can find new life and eternal hope through repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ—”for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NIV).

Please pray for our staff, volunteers, and ministry partners in Alaska as we look forward to seeing what great things God will do through our work there.

‘Hands of Love’

Volunteers and church partners are the backbone of our projects in North America. Just days ago at Angola Prison in Louisiana, I spoke at the dedication service for a chapel built by our volunteers as a place of worship for guards and their families. The power of the Gospel is transforming this prison, where over 2,000 inmates have given their hearts to the Lord.

Through 2010, Samaritan’s Purse teams are working in New Orleans to build and repair houses for families flooded out by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Among them is a 66-year-old widow named Joan Bundy. She and her late husband had raised three children in their house on Tonti Street. Over the years, she faithfully supported Samaritan’s Purse and never dreamed that she would need our help.

After Katrina wrecked her home, a contractor ran off with thousands of dollars without completing repairs. A local pastor told her Samaritan’s Purse was rebuilding homes in the neighborhood. As soon as our teams heard of her situation, we quickly completed the repairs so she could finally return home.

“If it wasn’t for the people of God, where would we be?” she said. “God is using Samaritan’s Purse to truly be a blessing. Thank God for those hands of love.”

Once again, it’s hurricane season, and our Disaster Relief Units are ready to roll as soon as a storm hits. Thanks to the volunteers who work with us, Samaritan’s Purse is prepared to help thousands of hurting families in the Name of Jesus. Please prayerfully consider serving with Samaritan’s Purse. You will find a variety of opportunities—nationally and internationally—on our website.

Beyond our work in North America, Samaritan’s Purse is sharing God’s love and the Gospel message in over 100 countries around the world. On behalf of all those who are desperate for our help, we thank you for your prayers and support. May God bless you.

Sincerely,

President
Samaritan's Purse

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