I spent yesterday working in the home of a retired couple who lost just about everything to recent floods in their community. The American Baptist Men Disaster Relief trailor has been moved into this community, and I was working with three other men removing the hardwood floor from this couple's home. It was long, backbreaking work, and it still isn't finished. Another team will be there today to continue the work and begin removing the drywall. It will take months for this family to return to normal, but they will never be able to replace the personal items such as photos, etc. they lost to the flood waters.
Every house in the surrounding blocks was in the same shape. City streets were basically one lane with all the mounds of ruined carpet, furniture, and other personal items. I commend the city for their work removing these mounds and getting these personal items hauled off. Not only does it help with the repair work that is going on, but people don't have to be reminded of all they lost by looking at it day after day. The city has responded quickly and efficiently and not waited on FEMA and other governmental agencies to come in.
State police were pulling trailors loaded down with water and other necessary items to pass out. A woman from a local bank was walking up and down the street passing out water and soft drinks to the hundreds of workers in the neighborhood. The Mormons were there as well distributing buckets of cleaning supplies. As I was leaving the city after we stopped work I saw a city bus with a large sign saying that people could ride for free. A lot of people are coming together to help rebuild people's lives, and I was glad I could help out a little.
Regardless of the size of your church, there are things you can do in such circumstances. Sometimes people from smaller churches think because they can't put together a large work group that they can't make a difference, but that isn't true. The four of us who worked together yesterday were from three different churches. I know a group of men from an association of small churches who plan to go to this community one day next week to help out wherever they can. I doubt there will be more than 2-3 men from any one church in that group, but I have worked with these men before, and I know they will make a difference in someone's life that day.
You may not be able to physically work, but you could help fund the work others are doing. Our judicatory is receiving money from our churches earmarked to assist the persons affected by the flooding in Indiana. 100% of that money will be used for that purpose. Many judicatories permit persons and churches to designate financial gifts to be given to specific causes. A lot of people in the midwest have been hurt by recent floods, and it won't be cheap to clean up their homes and help return them to normal. Many won't have adequate insurance, and we shouldn't count on the government to provide all the assistance that will be needed either. Just ask the folks in Louisiana.
I think it is up to God's people to rise up to the challenge and help these folks. If you can physically help, that is great. Like me, you may be sore and still the next day, but I guarantee you'll feel good about what you achieved. If you can't physically help, you can help financially, and you can certainly pray for these individuals and the ones who are helping them. God's people can make a difference in the lives of the folks who have lost so much in these floods, and I challenge you to ask God now how He would have you respond.
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