Nathan and his first crew had just returned from the Tuscaloosa tornado-stricken area and gave a report about the ministry going on where the tornado hit the hardest. We were all touched by the incredible disaster and longed to do what we could. Two more teams of volunteers decided to head out to Alabama for a few more days.
My job at NGJ is putting the magazine together and since the articles were still being written for the next issue, there was a 4-day window of opportunity for me to go. Leaving home and work for a few days is never convenient; especially if you have animals, a garden and other commitments. It is amazing how incredibly God works things out when you are willing.
Our team consisted of 12 adults and several children that stayed with the Miller family who allowed us to use their home as a base. You could immediately tell they were used to ministering to people in their home. There was always a giving, Godly spirit in the Miller family. Their kindness and flexibility set the tone for all of us. Already staying there were 3 more adults from Colorado who were great coworkers.
Each day we got up early, had breakfast (in 2 sittings) and left to look for people to help. The men looked for jobs using their chain saws and skid-steer. The ladies began with sorting the mountains of donated clothing, shoes and household supplies. They eventually put on work gloves and helped move debris along with the men. While Zephyr had spear-headed the cooking at the relief center, she had been replaced and freed up to get out into the community. I personally enjoyed working along side of so many “take charge” believers who were not content to look like a volunteer. It was great to be free to drive around and just help anyone we found.
On the third day we met up with a volunteer family from Georgia. They were like human bulldozers moving things around. Very impressive. They needed a place to stay for the night and landed at the Miller’s house. We ate together that evening and made new friends.
The pictures don’t really give you the sense of devastation that being there does. Imagine a bomb going off in 95% of the homes in your neighborhood and then you can picture what we saw. Where we were working, 18 people had lost their lives. The ones that remained lost everything. Several of us got to share the Gospel.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 4
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