Last weekend I went with a group from Stevens Creek to Cave Spring, GA, to help with clean-up/recovery from the tornadoes that ravaged parts of Alabama, North Georgia and Tennessee last week.
The weekend was a whirlwind. The storms came on Wednesday evening, on Thursday morning I arrive at work to find that the Creek has decided to send an immediate relief team to the areas, leaving the next day. So…I get to work. We get the word out to the church via Facebook, Twitter and Email, inviting people to go with us on the trip, as well as donate goods and finances. We had an OVERWHELMING response. I was so unbelievably proud and impressed by my church family. They were so willing to help, pray and donate on such short notice. Still all I can say is…WOW.
While we’re putting a team together at the last minute, we’re also finalizing details, such as where we’ll work and where we’ll stay. By 2pm, we had a team and destination, as well as connections on the ground in disaster areas where we could help. I’ll say it again: whirlwind!
The team came together so quickly and so well. I was so impressed with them. Even when we didn’t have all the details they needed, they were patient and never lost their energy. We took off on Friday evening, and got straight to work Saturday morning.
We worked in a very unique community. They were located along one road in a valley, where a tornado was basically trapped and remained until it destroyed every home within seeing distance – except for 1. The home that was saved was the home of a local fire chief, thankfully the one person who would know how to create a plan to move forward after the disaster. His name was Sammy Stephens, and he’s a hero. He and his wife opened their home as a shelter and donation center for the people who had lost their homes around him. They affectionately called their home “God Mart” because within hours after the storms, they were up to their ears in donations. Is God’s timing perfect or what?
Anyhow, to make a long story short – our team worked so hard all day Saturday and Sunday. It’s amazing what we accomplished in such a short amount of time! I have to give them all HUGE props – their energy never wavered, and they never lost their smiles. Not only were we able to help the families begin to sift through the mess, but also just wrap our arms around them and share the love of Jesus in some of their most vulnerable moments.
Below are some pictures from the weekend. Some of the team, but most are of the devastation. Say a prayer for the families in Cave Spring (and everyone who was effected by these disasters). I’m grateful to be part of a church, a movement, and a faith that doesn’t hesitate to be among the first responders when disaster strikes. I’ve always believed that in moments of crisis, the church should be the ones who wave a banner of hope.
An inspiring post! And to this excerpt from it I say, “Amen!”
“I’m grateful to be part of a church, a movement, and a faith that doesn’t hesitate to be among the first responders when disaster strikes. I’ve always believed that in moments of crisis, the church should be the ones who wave a banner of hope.”
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