Disaster Relief with Samaritan's Purse in Calhoun, GA...

2 weeks ago, we received an e-mail from Samaritan's Purse saying that they were in need of volunteers to help on a Disaster Relief Team in Calhoun GA. Calhoun had experienced an E-3 tornado, with winds of over 100 mph, that went through and destroyed over 100 homes on Jan. 31. We talked and prayed about it, and believed that God really wanted us to go up and help. So we signed up, then Dad, Eli, Jake, and myself, packed up the truck on Saturday night, left early Sunday morning and drove 11 hours to Calhoun GA; we were in Wauchula FL at the time, about 10 hours south.

We arrived at the host church about 7:00pm that night, had dinner, met the staff, unpacked, and got settled in.

The church that we were staying at let SP use their activity center for whatever they wanted! SP had bunk rooms for over 2 dozen volunteers, and use of a large kitchen and dining room, and a big parking lot for the DR (disaster relief) unit, shower trailer, SP trucks and personal vehicles.

 

The next morning after breakfast (6:30) we got our work and team assignments and headed out to the worksites. Each day, we would spend anywhere from half an hour to three hours at each home site, helping clear garbage and debris, cutting trees, clearing limbs, and tarping roofs. 

 

                     This home was built and lived in for less than a year before it was destroyed!
                                           The homeowners had saved for years to build it.

 

 

At about 4:00pm each afternoon we would pack-up the trucks and head back to the church, clean and put tools away, shower and change into clean clothes, and get ready for dinner at 6:00. During dinner we got to meet the the other volunteers; there were people from New Mexico, Idaho, Ohio, and many other states that came to help. It is amazing to see how many people are willing to travel hundreds of miles, just to help someone they don't even know!!! Many of the team did not even go home after we were done on Wednesday, but went straight to Hattiesburg MS to help out there! (a tornado went through there the second day we were in GA.)

We were supposed to stay through Sunday, but we got all our clean-up projects finished Wednesday afternoon! After we finished, we went back to the church, washed tools and the SP trucks, and started packing up. 

 

This is the Disaster Relief Unit. (I should have gotten pic's of the inside, but I didn't think of it at the time, sorry...)

When we were back in Tuscalossa, we got to work with a couple of the guys pictured on the side of this trailer...

 

 

While it was great to have gotten so much work done so quickly, I was a little disappointed that we finished early. I loved every second we were there! I loved meeting the staff and other volunteers, hearing the homeowners' stories, praying with them, and hopefully exhibiting Christ's love with everyone we met. 

 

One of my favorite things we did after we got done with each site, was when all the volunteers on that team would sign a Samaritan's Purse Bible and present it to the homeowners! The homeowners enjoyed sharing their stories of were they were when it hit, and what it felt and sounded like. We got to see before and after pictures of places that had been totally destroyed. I can't imagine being in their shoes and going through what they went through; it was life changing for me. 

The homeowners say we are such a blessing to them, but we are getting just as big a blessing by being able to serve them, as they are in receiving our help.

 

We left Thursday morning and drove back to Wauchula, FL.

Working with SP has truly been the highlight of our trips south the last couple of years (in my opinion). I love being able to go and help someone that is really hurting, by cleaning up their property days after a tornado, or building a new home (free!) for someone years after a tornado! It is such a wonderful feeling knowing that together we are being the hands and feet of Jesus, and bringing hope to people who have lost so much. It is hard to explain the feeling if you have not had a chance to do it yourself... it is pure joy.

 

I would like to go to New Jersey or New York next and help out there (if we can convince Mom to go that far north :) )

 

If you ever get the opportunity to help with Samaritan's Purse, whether it is Disaster Relief, a Re-Build project, or maybe going over seas to help in Haiti or somewhere like that, I encourage you to take it! It will change you, and you won't regret it.

John 13: 35

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

Acts 20:35

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'.

 

Philippians 2:12-16

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

 

1 Peter 4:10

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.