I’ve just gotten back from southeast Texas. This was my first return trip since spending several weeks sleeping on a Sunday school classroom floor of a gutted church in the city of Orange near Houston last fall, after a devastating summer flood. This was among the hardest hit areas from Hurricane Harvey.
I wanted to visit for two reasons. The main reason, I will not fill you in on just yet for the time is not right, but the second reason was to see with my own eyes the recovery progress that has been made since I left as a volunteer at the end of October. Also, I wanted to talk and spend some time with those whom I had worked previously in the midst of their turmoil and devastation.
Today, I would like you to know about some of the progress made, as well.
First, I just had to go see a woman known as Pastor Maxine. She is the pastor of the church congregation that had taken in 66 people during Hurricane Harvey. Each of their homes were flooded and most were physically disabled, sickly, elderly and/or lived alone with no other place to go and no one to help take of them.
Today, there are still six people living at the church.
Thanks to all of you who donated to the “Mercy Fund,” Pastor Maxine now has enough along with her flood insurance money to completely rebuild her home. It has floors and walls.
She is temporarily living in a FEMA trailer parked right in her front yard and has been living there about six weeks. Her name is on many assistance lists waiting for the remainder of her home to be rebuilt.
Thankfulness, love and appreciation comes from the bottom of her heart to you. She has been overwhelmed, beyond words, by your generosity and prayers and praises God for each of you.
Here is what has happen at the church in which I slept. Up to this time, about:
548 volunteers from around the country have freely given 16,000 hours of labor
$500,000 in supplies and money received
Because of the generosity and prayers of thousands of people, the church has not had to go into debt, even one penny, to rebuild.
The congregation is still recovering. About 50 percent of its members had either totally or partially lost their homes and, though few have been able to get back in, they are all praising God for what he has done.
While I was there, I got to attend Sunday morning worship service. This was only the second time they had actually gotten to worship there and it was Easter Sunday. What a glorious reunion it was.
The sanctuary was full and, oh, how blessed and thankful the congregation was for all God has done.
This is all I will write about my return visit for now. Hopefully and soon, I will be able to tell you about the main reason I returned.
Nita Evans of Columbus is owner of Confidential Christian Counseling, focusing her work especially with ministry leaders and their families. She also is a Columbus Police Department chaplain and a national retreat and conference speaker. She can be reached at 812-614-7838 or by visiting specialspeaker.com.
