Graham in town to help

The fire relief effort brought a well-known figure in evangelical circles to San Diego Wednesday -- Franklin Graham, the eldest son of evangelist Billy Graham. Franklin Graham heads his father's organization, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, as well as an international aid group called Samaritan's Purse.
Samaritan's Purse is helping residents clean up their burned homes, coordinating dozens of volunteers out of Rancho Bernardo, Fallbrook and Ramona. In addition, more than 100 chaplains with the evangelistic association are here to offer spiritual assistance.
"It's what we do whenever there's a disaster," said Graham, standing in rubble of a home in Rancho Bernardo.
"If Jesus Christ were here on this earth he would be here, he would be in the Gulf Coast, he would be in Darfur," he added.
Carole Morton showed him a ring that had just been found by one of the volunteers sifting through the ashes of her home of 22 years.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"I'm going to rebuild," Morton answered.
"It's hard," he said quietly.
"It is hard," she agreed.
Graham credited the local churches in helping with the clean-up effort. "We couldn't do this work if it weren't for the volunteers."
Homeowners in need of assistance, can call (858) 244-2961 or go to maranathachapel.org or horizonsd.org.
-- Sandi Dolbee