Reposted from the WCD Facebook Page...

Hello, Alliance family!

I wanted to update you on what is going on in Slave Lake, especially since we’ve been in the news again with flooding. As CTV reported this morning, the flood waters are receding and while some properties had damage, it was mostly minor. The major need in Slave Lake right now is housing. The government is bringing in trailers for people to rent until their homes are built. Most home owners have insurance and two years will likely give them the time they need. However, I have been contacted by one homeowner who had no insurance and is asking for help. I am trying to coordinate that for their family of 5 (including one paraplegic man).

Since the fire and with the help of the Alliance family, I have been able to extend encouragement to many different groups in town. I was able to address the town council and the district council in private and bless them with a gift as well as personal letters of encouragement. This was greeted with smiles, hugs, and many thank-yous. We also blessed the local child care providers as they had to start work immediately upon return while everyone else got their lives together. They had lunch on us. Soon, all the local emergency personnel will be given a small gift of appreciation on behalf of the Alliance church as well.

The doors for ministry are wide open right now. I have gained access into the local high school and spoken personally to many teachers and students. I am also in talks to become the local RCMP chaplain. On top of that, I have joined with Victim’s Services and are conducting group counselling with employees whose managers are asking for help because their employees are “not coping.”

Thank you to all of you for your support through the National office – for the providing of resources so that we can bless our fragile town. People are under a tremendous amount of stress – living in campers while it rains, sometimes with large families. We have used some of those resources to provide significant help to those in need, and to do such simple things as provide newspapers to the people in the camping parks so they have regular and reliable information. Most of these people have no internet or television.

The town has decided to not continue sorting goods donated to Slave Lake as it was too overwhelming. Only sorted goods are allowed into town now, so the need for volunteers has dropped considerably. There is still work that needs to be done by individuals, but no longer the need for large groups.

People are growing impatient and the full weight of their situation is beginning to sink in. Some are becoming angry and at the same time there is a new sense of community never experienced here before. The needs continue to be physical for some, but the emotional and spiritual needs are becoming even greater.

Thank you all for your prayers as we continue to minister to a hurting town.

Tracy Ottenbreit
Slave Lake Alliance Church

P.S. From Ken DeMaere, Slave Lake Church Coach: With the pressure that Pastor Tracy is daily facing in doing ministry to this community, there is a need to provide some weekend speaking relief in Slave Lake – especially during August. At the moment Pastor Tracy really needs someone to speak on the August 7th weekend. If you would be open to ministering to the congregation in this way, please give our office (403 265-7900 extension 205) a call.