One week after flash floods engulfed many communities in south Texas, some 550 Church members gathered here Oct. 24 to help victims.

More than 15 inches of rain fell Oct. 17 causing three main rivers - the Guadalupe, Coma and Colorado rivers - to overflow. Twenty-nine people died in the disaster, which left at least $500 million in damage and a swath of debris that covered 30 counties in Texas.No members or missionaries were killed or injured during the flood. However, one member family lost their home and a dozen others lost automobiles or most of their household goods. All the members' needs are currently being met, leaders said.

To aid victims, hundreds of Church members from four stakes - the San Antonio, San Antonio East, San Antonio West and San Antonio North stakes - worked all day Oct. 24, helping both members and non-members clean up after the disaster.

Pres. Ned D. Lunt of the San Antonio West stake said he could not have imagined in his worst dreams the devastation the flood left.

"People just started crying when they saw us [coming to help]," he added.

Members giving service wore matching T-shirts with the words "Friends In Word and Deed" and "Faith, Hope and Charity" around a picture of the Salt Lake Temple. The bright yellow shirts, like "rays of sunshine," reminded victims that members were bringing the "smiles and warmth of our helping hands to lift their hearts and brighten their day," Pres. Lunt explained.

Recalling the damage, he noted that two Church members lifted, with the use of heavy equipment, the roof from one home that was inside another house and a car that was lodged in a tree.

"We had a person find a diamond necklace in the mud," he said. "She went to three houses before she found who it belonged to. The lady put her hands around [the member] and cried because [the necklace] was given to her by her mother."

When the members left the area that evening, the people they had helped lined the streets, cheering for them. In front of one home, flood victims displayed a sign: "God bless all the volunteers."

"The most remarkable change was not the work we did in their homes but the work we did in their hearts," said Pres. Lunt.

Pres. Frank J. Dittmar of the San Antonio North stake agreed, calling the work of Church members a great example of the Savior's commandment to love one another. "Everyone has been involved in helping during this time of tragedy," he said.

Church leaders added, however, that while they were deeply touched by watching the outpouring of service, they were most influenced by the faith of members who lost belongings in the disaster.

Pres. Gene Jensen of the San Antonio stake spoke of Mark Moore, a recently returned missionary who got caught in the flood on his way to a college class. "His new white truck that he bought the week before was swept away by the flood waters shortly after he had gotten out of it and made it to safety," said Pres. Jensen. He explained that the young man - who only had liability insurance - expressed gratitude that he had not been injured or killed.

Pres. Larry M. Neuberger of the San Antonio East stake told of a woman who lost her home and everything in it - including her grand piano. This is significant, said Pres. Neuberger, because she is concert pianist. "She told me that she could not believe the outpouring of assistance and concern. One donation to her was a set of bed sheets, she held them tightly and said that every time she makes the bed she will be reminded of the love and service shown to her from the members."

Rosie Hernandez, a member of the New Braunfels Ward, was evacuated from her home that was filled with 4 feet of water. "We lost mostly everything including my husband's truck he uses to get to work," she said, adding that their knowledge of Heavenly Father's love has sustained her family.

She said people today can lose faith just by watching the evening news. "But for us we know that there are still a lot of good people out there - outside the Church and especially inside the Church. I would just like to thank everyone in the ward and especially our Heavenly Father for all of the love and support we have received."