Alysa Brings Help After Isaac
September 9, 2012
After Category 1 Hurricane Isaac blasted the Louisiana coast with strong winds and heavy rains in late August, Hope Force International was on site within a matter of days. Only seven years after being devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the state once again suffered severe damages, with flood waters in some areas reaching 10-14 feet. Following a disaster assessment by HFI leaders, Reservists began journeying to the Plaquemines Parish to be a part of the relief efforts.
Alysa Halteman of Harleysville, Pennsylvania was among the Reservists who jumped on the opportunity to bring much-needed aid to those affected by the storm. She found out about Hope Force thorough her grandmother, who attends church in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, where HFI Reservist training sessions were recently held.
"I was excited from the start to work with Hope Force," Alysa said. "My heart is to help people out through the love of Jesus, not just humanitarian work. I looked forward to interacting with the Mintons and the Dubys -- they just shine Jesus. They're the kind of Christian people you want to meet."
Before joining the ranks of Hope Force Reservists, she already had extensive involvement in ministry. Since the age of 13, she has been going on outreaches to the nation of Haiti. In her eight trips to the Caribbean island prior to the 2010 earthquake, Alysa did construction work on orphanages and once spent a month teaching English.
Alysa's global experience does not end there. In 2011 she participated in The World Race, an 11-month mission trip to 11 countries across the globe. Only 23 years old, Halteman has taught Vacation Bible School in Zurich, lead Bible studies in prisons, volunteered at a youth detention center near her home, and helped prostitutes in Phuket, Thailand find a better way in life.
"In Thailand we built relationships with and showed Godly love to the women working as prostitutes in bars". Alysa said. "Through SHE Ministries we were able to offer them a free place to live as well as alternative employment training. It was very emotionally hard, but it was worth it when I could see the joy in their eyes when they saw me. They knew I was genuinely interested in them as individuals and was reaching out in friendship."
Alysa was able to rely on her past experience in global outreach to respond to the storm destruction in the Plaquemines Parish. On her nine-day deployment, she helped tarp damaged homes and provided the ministry of presence by spending time with those who were affected by Hurricane Isaac.
"Coming down to Louisiana was fun because of the team, the work, the encouragement, the laughter, and the blessing of interacting with people," she said. "I had never seen flooding or hurricane damage before. It tugs at my heart that for these poor people, this is their home, their lifestyle, the way they've lived for generations. It takes tough people to pick up and start over again and again. Sometimes they probably want to move, but they may not have a choice."
Hope Force International is an international relief organization dedicated to compassionate action in response to crisis and disaster. The work in Louisiana will continue through September 2012. If you are interested in helping those whose homes were damaged in Hurricane Isaac, please click here:
