“God breaks our hearts to compel us to act.”
Amy Carmichael, missionary to India
As has occurred in the past, when I acted to help meet the need, the heavy burden on my heart lightened.
Since I moved in July, I know very few people in my new small church in Johnson City. However, when I asked if anyone wanted to go with me to help my church in NC, six carloads of people responded. It was incredible.
We all wanted to help. We just needed the invitation. The day in NC was filled with incredible moments. The church in NC had received so many physical donation items that help was needed to move some donations to a storage facility. The church, along with other NC churches, will be consolidating all donation items in a warehouse next week. Flood victims in the area will have one place to look for what they need.
We broke into teams. Some moved donations, some sorted donations, and some of us delivered supplies to specific flood victims. We also went house to house, asking people how they were doing, listening, praying, and offering the supplies we had loaded our cars with. We encouraged people who are overwhelmed that they are not alone.
The church has no water and just recently had electricity restored. Someone donated Starlink to the church, so they finally have some cell phone reception. I had a good conversation with the Pastor’s wife.
For the first few days, a few people slept on the church floor. Felicia and I cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner for everyone. We asked, ‘Where is help? I know it will come, but when?’ I didn’t expect help to arrive like this, she said, pointing to the truckloads of donations the church has since received.
Some volunteers wanted to come. I thought, are we going to cook for these too? ‘Lord, we need a cook.’ Then a disaster relief organization asked if they could house their volunteers in tents at our church. They would cook for their volunteers and ours. Amazing!
Then trucksloads of donations came, I prayed, ‘Lord, we need someone who knows how to organize a thrift store.’ Then that person showed up.
This all happened in the 12 days since the storm.
Maria hasn’t attended to her own flooded basement which she says she will do when the community critical needs are met. Hers is the attitude of so many mountaineers I’ve met.. Their houses may be flooded, or they may have lost power and water. but “Give help to someone who lost their house; they need help more..”
Much Love in Jesus,
Julia
