Flooding 101: Wow, how different it is experiencing a flood as oppossed to what I thought happens in a flood. It has been almost a week since our area experienced an incredible flash flood. Water came down in record amounts in a record amount of time. Before we even had time to consider the possibility of flooding, it was upon us! For about 6 hours we fought with the water pouring into our house and vehicles, attempting to protect anything we considered valuable. We scrambled to grab books, lowlying items, important paperwork, pictures, irreplacable mememtos. We unplugged electronics and got all the electrical items up above the water line, moved cars to higher ground, brought in the animals...a story all in itself. We tried to stop the water, but it was futile. The entire house flooded from every possible angle. Water came in through doors, under the floors and baseboards, in through the ceiling and walls; it even poured in through electrical outlets. There was no stopping it. Every room flooded simultaneously. Now to praise God: My sister was here with Alex, Chris and Taylor were here too which means there were 7 people in the house...God's number for perfect completion. With that number, and all of us thinking differently, much which would have been lost was saved. Everyone went in different directions accomplishing totally different tasks...things which never even entered my mind. Not only did that help with our own property, it allowed us to help many others. In the middle of our chaos, we realized vehicles were being stalled out front and people were stranded. My family scrambled outside to help get people out of cars and to stop more vehicles from stalling. Chris and Taylor went down the road and blocked traffic from coming through while we opened our home (not exactly a dry place at the moment) to families who were stalled. They too helped us salvage material. We formed a line to our attic and passed everything we could get up there to a dryer place. It was a long night and the days that have followed have been just as long, but praise God! All is safe...it is a mess...we took some losses, but much was also gained...somehow God knows just what is important and what is not. In the weeks that follow, when we clean up, throw out and began remodeling (whoo hoo) may God remind me how temporal everything is...and what really matters- His GRACE and His PRESENCE in the midst of every storm! Knowing He is here, even when I don't know where my Bible is...turns out they ended up in the attic. The only Bible I could find was one of Robert's from his childhood which was left up on a shelf in our office. (Really glad I put that there). He is here when the world is swirling around us and kneeling to pray is impossible. He is here when we have been up for two days and can't begin to find clothes, get showers and get to church. He is ALWAYS here. My heart hurts for those around me that are going through the same storm, but without His reassuring presence. We have already experienced a small measure of who God is in providing for us...we have been given coupons to eat out every day...we have had food. The insurance agents have already been here and been so gracious, so willing to help us. We will have our first round of insurance payments this week. Our needs are great, but God is greater! Thank you, Lord!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Flooding 101
Flooding 101: Wow, how different it is experiencing a flood as oppossed to what I thought happens in a flood. It has been almost a week since our area experienced an incredible flash flood. Water came down in record amounts in a record amount of time. Before we even had time to consider the possibility of flooding, it was upon us! For about 6 hours we fought with the water pouring into our house and vehicles, attempting to protect anything we considered valuable. We scrambled to grab books, lowlying items, important paperwork, pictures, irreplacable mememtos. We unplugged electronics and got all the electrical items up above the water line, moved cars to higher ground, brought in the animals...a story all in itself. We tried to stop the water, but it was futile. The entire house flooded from every possible angle. Water came in through doors, under the floors and baseboards, in through the ceiling and walls; it even poured in through electrical outlets. There was no stopping it. Every room flooded simultaneously. Now to praise God: My sister was here with Alex, Chris and Taylor were here too which means there were 7 people in the house...God's number for perfect completion. With that number, and all of us thinking differently, much which would have been lost was saved. Everyone went in different directions accomplishing totally different tasks...things which never even entered my mind. Not only did that help with our own property, it allowed us to help many others. In the middle of our chaos, we realized vehicles were being stalled out front and people were stranded. My family scrambled outside to help get people out of cars and to stop more vehicles from stalling. Chris and Taylor went down the road and blocked traffic from coming through while we opened our home (not exactly a dry place at the moment) to families who were stalled. They too helped us salvage material. We formed a line to our attic and passed everything we could get up there to a dryer place. It was a long night and the days that have followed have been just as long, but praise God! All is safe...it is a mess...we took some losses, but much was also gained...somehow God knows just what is important and what is not. In the weeks that follow, when we clean up, throw out and began remodeling (whoo hoo) may God remind me how temporal everything is...and what really matters- His GRACE and His PRESENCE in the midst of every storm! Knowing He is here, even when I don't know where my Bible is...turns out they ended up in the attic. The only Bible I could find was one of Robert's from his childhood which was left up on a shelf in our office. (Really glad I put that there). He is here when the world is swirling around us and kneeling to pray is impossible. He is here when we have been up for two days and can't begin to find clothes, get showers and get to church. He is ALWAYS here. My heart hurts for those around me that are going through the same storm, but without His reassuring presence. We have already experienced a small measure of who God is in providing for us...we have been given coupons to eat out every day...we have had food. The insurance agents have already been here and been so gracious, so willing to help us. We will have our first round of insurance payments this week. Our needs are great, but God is greater! Thank you, Lord!
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I am so sorry that you are going through such a "storm", sorry I could not resist. You are in my prayers. It is funny how some people think that missionaries are in so much danger but never stop to look at possibilities all around them for danger. All I tell people is the best place to be is in the Lord's will. I am glad that you are in His hands. He will provide. We love you and are thinking about you.
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