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 The disaster has forced the couple to "relearn the difference between wants and needs."

 "How much time do we spend thinking we need this and that, and get bent out of shape?" Wuerffel said. "Now we have nothing, but we have everything we need. I have my wife, my son, and we have food and shelter. We feel fortunate to have that because not everybody does. I think it's a perspective that doesn't just happen overnight. It's one that the Lord has been working into our hearts over a long period of time. Our spirits and our mission are strong."

Indeed, in the aftermath of Katrina, Wuerffel has been working from his parents' home in Destin, Florida, attempting to locate people and raise money for families associated with DSM, which suffered major damage.

Wuerffel said DSM's 40 full-time employees have been accounted for, and they have located at least 60 percent of the 190 students who attend Desire Street Academy, a school for boys in grades 7-12. For several agonizing weeks, an eighth-grader named Heath, whom Wuerffel and his wife support with a scholarship, was missing in the aftermath of the storm. But Danny's prayers were answered recently when Heath and his family were found safe.

"There is an eighth-grader who my wife and I provide a scholarship for to attend our school," Wuerffel said. "I am praying regularly for Heath. No one knows where Heath or his family is or if they left the city. My heart will be broken if we don't find Heath."

Many of the underprivileged served by DSM were "scattered in shelters across the country," he said.

"Many are in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and other places," Wuerffel said. "I'm being very optimistic in thinking that people were able to get to the Superdome and Convention Center and that they just don't know how or can't get in touch with us because of communications challenges. The reality is that I know some of them didn't get out. I'm sad for the day when we find out who they were."

In the meantime, Wuerffel is seeking donations to keep DSM going. Before Katrina hit, the ministry was thriving with a new church, a new multimillion-dollar high school, and a new pediatric clinic.

The University of Florida's athletic association has pledged $50,000 from a pay-per-view telecast between the Gators and Louisiana Tech, The Gainesville Sun reported.

"There has been an outpouring of love and support and God is blessing us," Wuerffel said. "Those who have supported us over the years have really stood behind us. The needs are great and will be for some time. At this point, it's too early to put a dollar figure next to the need. We're focused on re-establishing our school as a boarding school at a satellite location."

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