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Omaha Rapid Response will have their Annual Meeting @ The Shalom House 3025 So. 87th St. this Sunday (March 3) 6:00pm. This will be a dinner meeting [for current Members]. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to laurie@omaharapidresponse.org by Wednesday, February 27, 2013.
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An ORR Team is leaving this Saturday (8PM) for the NY area. We delayed the Team last week because of weather and logistics.
We have pinpointed two areas of concern:
Staten Island and the Long Beach area of Long Island.
Please continue to pray ...
there are many difficult days ahead for thousands of precious Souls in those areas. We will remain flexible as HE leads us to the people HE wants to give Hope and Love too. We have room for more helping hands also ... no experience needed, just a willing heart to Love and share Him.
Thanks so much for your prayers, time and help ... as we team up with YOU to share HIS Light in the midst of the Darkness.
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We will take our first ORR Team to the east coast, and help the victims of Hurricane Sandy. We have identified a few areas of greatest need - Staten Island, Jersey Shore, Queens and Long Island. We will muck homes, cleanup debris, cut trees ... and attend to the emotional, mental and spiritual care of the victims. ALL TO BRING HOPE, LOVE AND EVEN JOY in the midst of pain and darkness.
We are asking for your help ... we need resources to accomplish all that He has set before us: we need more Hands [leaving later this week - for a week and another one leaving the following weekend - for a week (over Thanksgiving)] ... we need a large (12-15 person) van for the trips ... and finances too. There are no rental vehicles in that area ... limited gas and a shortage of tools ... SO, we need take our own. Please let us know if You are able to help ... thanks so very much!
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Monthly prayer meeting is this Sunday - October 7 @ 5:00 pm. New location this month: Shalom House 3025 South 87th Street (2 blocks south of West Center Road / 2nd house north of Frederick Street). New schedule: We will meet on the first Sunday of each month ... join us for some food and fellowship as we pray and get updates from the recent Costa Rica Team. Hope to see YOU there!
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Don't forget to pray for Ken and the team as the head to Costa Rica today.
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Dear Friends of ORR ...
Please forgive us for the lack of updates on our website. We have been in a transition mode since early summer and many of us are just 'learning the ropes' of administering this site and blog. Thanks for your patience!
First up: we are sending a small research and relief Team to Costa Rica (CR) this weekend (9/16) to aide  victims of the recent Earthquake. Our friends at CFCI and YWAM are on the ground close to the epicenter, and are faithfully supplying real-time information to us. We will focus on those victims that have lost their homes and possessions ... and help with those damaged structures (homes, schools, churches), as our L-rd leads. Some victims are in very remote areas and have limited access to water and food also.
This may be the first of many ORR teams to assist in CR (no experience is needed) ... so ask Father about Your participation. You just need a heart to minister to our L-rd and bring Hope and Love to those adversely affected by this disaster. We have been asked to bring (structural engineer and architect) specialists there for a few days to help. The CR government will NOT let people back into their homes or businesses without an official OK. The numbers of officials (engineers) they have to response to this wide-spread damage are few and far between ... so even the government is asking for professional (foreign) help. This is a great opportunity to share our Creator's Compassion and Love!
Please contact us ASAP if you know of a professional(s) that would be willing to help ... THANKS!
Secondly: We are still in research mode in responding to the Gulf States following hurricane Isaac. All of our contacts in LA, MS and AR have said they are coping fine. Then just yesterday (9/12), we had a specific request to respond to an area in LA. We will let you know as we gather more information.
** We have moved our ORR offices to the Shalom House 3025 South 87th Street, Omaha NE. We are excited to have this beautiful office space and give thanks to Father and our dear Friends at ADAT for this easily accessible venue! Our new mailing address is PO BOX 24052, OMAHA, NE 68124. We changed PO Boxes because the new box is within walking distance of our new office! G-d is Good.
We will hold our next monthly meeting there on October 7th @ 5pm.
We welcome Your comments and suggestions about this website and ORR. You may write me personally at: ken@omaharapidresponse.org
Watch for additional posts and updates ... we will keep You informed more often. Thanks again for your understanding during this transition ... G-d bless You.
Always,
your brother, ken
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Former ORR Board Member Larry Bringewatt passed away Tuesday, June 26th at the age of 69. His death  came unexpectedly following heart surgery last Friday. He is survived by his wife Kathryn and their daughters Janet and Joan, their husbands Dave and Aaron and their 7 grandchildren, and his brother and sister and their families.
Larry became involved with Omaha Rapid Response several years ago through his son-in-law Aaron Hall then national director of ORR. Sometime after traveling on a ORR relief trip to the gulf coast, Larry agreed to server as ORR Board member. Larry had only recently resigned his position on the ORR board.
Larry Bringewatt was a man of God who brought godly stability and love to his family. We are confident we will see him again. Please keep the family in your prayers as they walk through the grieving process.
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ORR President Brian Smith is stepping down to move to Haiti with his family to continue his work among the Haitian people full time. We wish Brian the best and pray that God will richly bless the work he is doing there. Keep Brian in your prayers as he prepares for this next phase.
Omaha Rapid Response's board of directors has approved Kenny Gruber as the new President for Omaha Rapid Response. Join us in welcoming him to ORR. Kenny has volunteered with ORR for many years and has stepped up to take next step in his journey with as president of Omaha Rapid Response Disaster Relief.
Keep checking this page for updates on the transition and communications from our new president.
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 Omaha Rapid Response is looking for volunteers to respond to recent storms. If you are interested, please contact Ken Gruber at KennyG402@aol.com .
We are looking at sending a weekend team possibly this weekend, so let us know if you would like help. Donations would also be helpful for assisting with costs associated with the effort.
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At the completion of the housing project we desire to begin building toilets and showers in the community. This is a great need because of the disease spread by human waste as we saw during the cholera epidemic. Right now people take care of their "business" out in the open. These showers and toilets not only provide better sanitation, they also give dignity to individuals who are forced to live without privacy. As the year comes to an end, and we are able to reflect on the blessing God has given us please consider those that are in greater need. Please pray for them and consider giving financially to their need. Each toilet and shower unit will cost $2000. Right now, we plan to build 8 for the 50 houses that we have built.
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We would like to extend an invitation for those who desire to visit Haiti and see what God is doing. We will be taking a team Jan 14-21st. There are no special skills required, just a loving and willing heart. We are limiting the team to 6 members. This will not be the only team we will take this year, so if you have a desire to go but these dates don't work for you, please email us what would be a good time for you so that we can begin to make a schedule for the upcoming year. Trip costs are around $1500 for airfare, room and board, and projects we will complete while in country.
Please contact us if this is something that interests you and we will give you more information directly.
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Omaha Rapid Response prayer meeting is held every 2nd Tuesday of the month, at 7:00pm at the "The Hub." The Hub is located in the Old Mill Area in Omaha at 10599 Burt Cir. Omaha, NE 68114. See Map Below for Driving Instructions:
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Omaha Rapid Response prayer meeting is held every 2nd Tuesday of the month, at 7:00pm at the "The Hub." The Hub is located in the Old Mill Area in Omaha at 10599 Burt Cir. Omaha, NE 68114. See Map Below for Driving Instructions:
Come here what is going on at Omaha Rapid Response and join with us in prayer.
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The current phase of home building is basically complete. ORR is in need of funds to complete the project with an eye to continued improvements in the area including things lack adding show and toilet facilities to the community to help with basic hygiene and health. We need your help to fund these projects and many of the other things we do at Omaha Rapid Response. If you interested in donating you can donate via PayPal using the Make a Donation button on this page or you can send your tax deductible contribution to:
OMAHA RAPID RESPONSE
PO BOX 642323
OMAHA, NE 68164
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ORR Leadership will be meeting with the board of directors this month.
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Omaha Rapid Response is putting together clean-up kits and signing up volunteers to help the victims of this years extraordinary Misouri river flooding. Please consider helping those in a greater need, we as a community should and will stick together in our time of need! Always know that “We work better when we work together” If you are interested in donating or helping out, please contact our Regional Director, Darnell King: mailto:darnell.king@omaharapidresposne.org
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Brian Smith returned from Haiti after completing 16 houses. Lives are being changed, one house, one relationship at a time. There is much work still to be done as we continue to bring hope and life to the Jubilee Neighborhood in Haiti. Keep checking back here for the latest updates.
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ORR's Joplin team returned home Sunday evening after a whirlwind weekend of disaster relief in Joplin Missouri. Click on the ORR Blog link on this page to check out David Bentz post on the Joplin trip. As the Joplin team toiled, another group of Omaha Rapid Responders filled sandbags in Omaha to assist in the effort to protect vital areas in and around Omaha from the flood waters of the Missouri river. A second ORR Sandbag team will work to fill sandbags in partnership with Universal Soldiers and Angels on Wheels.
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Our Joplin team hade down in two segments meeting up in Joplin this morning. We are helping clear debris and locate valuable for the victims of the tornado. Here is one encouraging story related by Ken Grubber leading the ORR team in Joplin: "We went from one (former house) to another and helped with cleanup and tree removal. Many of these victims have gone through most of their property before we arrived on scene. They were pleasantly surprised when we found many 'valuables' that they had missed." ORR is currently involved in relief and aid activities in Haiti, Pakistan, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. We need your support. If you would like to give, you may click the donate button on this page, or go to our contact us page, you may send a check to our PO BOX.
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Omaha Rapid Response is teaming up with Douglas County Nebraska, Open Door Mission, United Way and more to help fill sand bags to hold back the flooding Missouri river this Sunday, June 12th. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please let us know, you can email Aaron Hall at aaron.hall@omaharapidresponse.org We will are working under the Douglas County Emergency Management Agency. They would like us to “register” so they will know the number of us coming, so they know how many volunteers to expect. If you plan to come for the morning shift, please click here. If you wish to come to the afternoon shift, please click here. We will working at the Levi Carter Lake Park off of Abbott drive, across from Eppely Airfield in Omaha. Remember to wear your ORR T-shirt if you have one.
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ORR will be deploying a response team to Joplin Missouri June 10, 2011. The team originally had planned to leave much sooner, but due to the overwhelming initial response Joplin received, it was necessary to delay so we would not add to a chaotic situation. Now that the initial surge of help has passed, we are deploying. Please consider a donation to Omaha Rapid Response, as we must incur expenses to send these teams. You can click the donate button on this page or go to our contacts page for our mailing address. Thanks for your support.
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Omaha Rapid response is putting together a response team to Joplin Missouri to provide relief in the wake of a massive tornado that devastated the town Sunday night. 89 people confirmed dead as of this posting. If you are interested in participating on our response team, please email Aaron Hall with your information and we will put you on the list. We are especially looking for first responders and medically trained personnel.
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Brian Smith has returned to Haiti to continue our home building project. We have several house in the works. As of this posting several with foundations poured and a few with walls and roofs already. Keep checking the blog for updates.
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Omaha Rapid Response is sending a relief team to Ware Iowa to assist that community with their recovery from the tornados which have devastated the area. We are sending a "Weekend Warrior" team May 14th and 15th in partnership with several other groups. If you would like to donate to this effort, feel free to donate online by clicking the donate button or you may send a check to our PO Box on our contact us page. If you would like to participate in this team, please email Aaron Hall at aaron.hall@omaharapidresponse.org
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Our work continues in Pakistan with tree planting efforts in the areas devastated by the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods. Click here to see the latest blog post from Pakistan.
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Omaha Rapid Response is currently building 50 houses in Jubilee, a small community on the edge of Gonaives in Haiti. Several of these homes will be built for those displaced by the massive Haitian earthquake nearly a year ago. The homes are being built in complexes of 8 houses with the goal of running clean water and electricity to each grouping. Click on our blog link for more up to date information.
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The last trip Brian made to Haiti, when the cholera epidemic was well underway, he was able to help in the rescue of a medical team out of a hospital in northern Haiti that had went into lockdown. With the group was a reporter from the Roanoke Times. She wrote a story about the medical team, which includes the rescue of the group that Brian and Emory did. Here is the link:
http://www.roanoke.com/multimedia/wb/xp-haiti_cholera
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