In just a few short minutes, a certain familiar car is going to pull into our driveway carrying a certain familiar somebody–our own sweet Sarah who is coming home for ten days of fall break. Happy day!
I know we’ve all heard it said that crises and hard times can bring out the best in people and we have certainly found that to be true in these days following Hurricane Matthew.
We canceled church on Sunday morning (one of the few times we have ever done so) and in the afternoon, Steve drove around and checked on a bunch of church folks to see if anyone needed help. Then he made a 3-hour round trip to visit a church member in the hospital.
While he was away, our neighbors and their middle school son showed up and spent over an hour in our front yard raking, cleaning up branches, and hauling stuff hither and yon.
I love that the parents didn’t just tell their son how important it is to help others; instead, they put feet on their words. And since Steve had been busy reaching out to others, it was especially heart warming to be on the receiving end of someone else’s reach. (Note: my way of helping was to open our home for anyone who needed to shower or do dishes.)
And then to bring yet another smile, shortly after the storm Steve got a call from the youth pastor at another church who said, “I heard your youth house flooded. I want to bring a couple of people from our church to help you clean up.” (Dare Challenge also sent some guys to help.)
And let me tell you, the help was certainly appreciated. With six thousand square feet of wet, sopping mess, everything has to be removed from the building and every single surface wiped down with an antimicrobial solution. The guys also had to cut out the drywall two feet up from the floor around the whole building.
I walked through the building for just a couple of minutes with a mask clamped on my face; with my COPD, I did NOT need to be breathing in mold. You wouldn’t believe how bad the building smelled within just a day or two after the storm. We also had leaks from the roof which ruined a few additional items. (Unfortunately, our insurance didn’t cover much of the damage.)
Here are our helping angels, AKA Outer Banks neighbors.
I’ll close with some photos of our recent 3-way Skype call with Sarah, Nathan and Meagan.
Is this not one cute kid? Yep. I thought you would agree.
Even though this picture turned out a little blurry you can still see Noah’s merriment.
He turned three on October 10 . . .
and he had to show us his bike helmet that accompanied his new bike.
What really struck us funny was that his special request for his birthday was a stick of deodorant which he proudly showed to us. I guess swabbing deodorant onto his cute little manly armpits is just one more way he can be like his daddy.
I’m going to sign off for now and fasten my eyes on the front window, awaiting the first glimpse of our gal.
Have a great weekend!
What about you? Have you been a helper (or a helpee) after a hurricane, tornado or other disaster? It’s always inspire to hear Helping Stories.
I am sorry to hear of so much water damage in your youth area. I am part of a team called Early Response with my church denomination. As yet I have not gone away to help after flooding, tornado etc but have helped clean up after tornado’s in the DFW area. Being able to help is a blessing to me and hopefully the families effected. I also work with a church group that does minor home repair in the community. Another blessing to me. Thanks for keeping your blog up.
Mary,
I think it’s great that you not only do crisis work, but just regular home repair, as well. I am so blessed to have Steve to do all that stuff but sometimes I wonder what I would do if some little (or bigger thing) broke and I lived alone. I can’t imagine the smiles you must see on the faces of those you are assisting. I would would certainly be happy to see you coming if I were in their shoes. Blessings!
Looking at the photos of your youth house (even after flooding ), it looks like one cool place. I can just imagine how much the young people of your church love it and how it ministers to them. All these years later I still feel like the experiences I had in my youth group set a foundation for my adult life.
How wonderful that you have so many caring neighbours helping each other. Sounds like a special group of people.
We don’t have hurricanes up here or very many tornadoes although when I was 7 years old we did have a terrible tornado that went through the city and killed 27 people.
I’ve been on the receiving end of kind help; for the past several months my church has arranged a team that brings my family and me a meal once a weak. It has made such a difference for us and as I recover it has given me such a picture of how I want to help others facing hard times or illness on a practical level. I think it is an area I could stand to grow in.
Jenna,
Yes, we do love our youth house, althoug it’s used for many other things than for the youth, i.e., meals, meetings, movie nights, recreation, etc. It will probably take us a month till we can get back in it.
It is so wonderful that your church has been providing meals for you and your family. There is nothing that says love like someone walking in with your delicious, hot food when you are not feeling your best.
My hometown of Rainelle, WV was one of the worst affected by the 1000 year flood in June. They are still receiving help from various organizations and individuals. In fact, Appalachian Service Project just handed over the keys to the first new/replacement home. You can check out this wonderful Christian organization at http://www.asphome.org . I’m so glad to hear others have reached out to your church to help as the task can seem so daunting.
Enjoy your time with Sarah…I’ve followed you online for many years and watched her grow into such a lovely young woman (inside and out). And like others, I can’t believe Noah is 3 already!
Sue Ellen,
I checked out the APS; what a great organization! I hadn’t realized the flood in your area was a 1,000 year flood. Incredible. As you said, the task truly feel daunting and overhwelming when cleaning up from a flood.
We are so grateful Sarah is home with us for a few days; it seems like old times. She has grown up too fast–as has that cute littl nephew of hers. 🙂 Thanks for being a long time follower!
Wow. What a mess is right. Neighbors helping neighbors, one of the best things ever. It takes a village…
Hooray for Sarah coming home, 10 wonderful days to have her to yourselves. I wondered how she was finding the courses at her college. Similar in difficulty to the ones she has previously taken, or maybe easier since they are more in line with her major?
And Noah! Adorable, even if he did try to eat it, lol. The color of his hair is really outstanding, so blond.
Hi Leslie!
My courses haven’t been too difficult. In an average week, I have 1-2 papers to write and one video editing project (which is great practice, since I want to become an editor!), with lots of reading and a few online discussion posts and quizzes. It’s not easier, per say, than my community college classes, but certainly more enjoyable now that my classes relate directly to my major! I have one required general education class this semester, Making of the Christian Mind, which I have really liked so far. The lectures and readings have been very deep theologically, but practical to everyday life at the same time.
-Sarah
Lesley,
I just notciced Sarah answered your question about her courses so that worked out well! 🙂
Noah’s hair is as blonde as Nathan’s was when he was a toddler. Definitely a little platinum fella!
Ugh, those pictures bring back memories – bad ones! I’m glad you have the help to clean it up. For as much as insurance costs, they sure aren’t much help when you need to use it.
Hope you enjoy your visit from Sarah, 10 days is a nice long break.
So cute about Noah’s request for deodorant. When our neighbor’s son was around that age he asked for a dirt devil small vacuum – they got it for him and he actually used it!
Kari,
What is it about kids and vacuum cleaners? Noah asked for a toy one last year for Christmas and loves it. Let’s just hope he and your neighor’s son are so gung ho wanting to use it after they get married! 🙂
What a mess. Thank heavens for such wonderful volunteers. Enjoy your time with Sarah.
Margie,
Yep. Today I am thankful for daughters and volunteers!
I can’t wait to see photos of Sarah on break! It’s so exciting when our kids come home. If only we could keep them!!
I’m so sorry about the flooding in your youth building. I had a few floods in my basement in NY (think snow melt during which the power went out, so no sump pump). I didn’t have any help, but I persevered and got it cleaned up. And then I went out and bought a load of plastic storage containers and never again put a corrugated box on that floor!
Enjoy your time with Sarah.
Jan,
My hat is off to you for having the gumption and wherewithall to clean up a flooded basement on your own. And yes, If I were in your shoes, I would buy me a bunch of plastic storage containers, too!
so glad that Sarah is coming home – I know you all will just have the best of times. our church was also cancelled as were most here in town as we had no power or water. it is sad that insurance companies don’t cover what they consider “acts of God” but glad you had help to get it fixed. I think it is funny about Noah and his deodorant too
Becky,
We were amazed at how much flooding happened inland from us! And parts of I-95 being closed down until Novemeber 1? Unbelievable.
Wow. Your youth building is a mess. So sad. Thank goodness for great volunteers to help clean up! And what the heck with the insurance? Do you not have flood insurance? 🙁 Enjoy your time with Sarah. I never really got to enjoy the college breaks with my son because he was in basketball and they had to stay on campus (except for 7 days over Christmas/New Years) for practice, holiday tournaments, etc. And our daughter was going to a community college and renting and apartment so she never came home on breaks. Just tried to pick up more hours at her job. Isn’t Skype wonderful?!? We do that once in a while with my folks and brother in Colorado. It’s great to see them that way when it just isn’t possible to see them in person. 🙂
Have a great weekend!
LeeAnne,
I hadn’t thought about kids on basketball teams having to stay on campus so long during holidays and breaks. Wow! That is quite the commitment for them and a sacrifice for the moms who don’t get to see them as much as they could otherwise.
And yes, Skype is a wonderful invention. So fun to get to see faces and not just hear voices.
Wow, your pictures sure brought back memories. My husband and I went with a church group to New Orleans after their hurricane disaster, and helped clean out homes and did new sheetrock. (We went 2 times). In one home we did 150 new sheets. The home belonged to a police sargeant who worked in the 9th ward. Another home we worked on had asbestos in the flooring, so that had to be halted until masks were used. Some homes we had to cut the sheetrock about 1/2 way up the wall. Like you, folks were so grateful to get their homes back in order, in your case, your youth bldg. We stayed in a gym and slept on the floor. It was a wonderful 2 weeks – tired, but a good tired. Thank the Lord for your volunteers!
Sharyn,
You stayed in a gym and slept on the floor for two weeks??!! My hat is off to you! Especially after putting in such long hard days of work, what you were probably really desperate for was a good night’s sleep in a comfy bed.
BLESS YOU and your husband for the way your helped out those folks after their disaster. I know they will never forget your kindness and generous hearts.
What.A.Mess. in your youth center. Ugh! So glad you have helpful friends! And super-touched by the young man’s parents joining in the yard cleanup.
I’m just amazed that Noah is three!!! And lol-ing at the eating-of-the-deodorant. Maybe he thought it was a push-up? (Do they even make push-ups anymore???)
Enjoy your fall break with Sarah! I know you’re really looking forward to spending quality time with her. 🙂
Stefanie,
I think I remember what you are talking about. Weren’t they called push pops, or something like that? And you kept on pushing at the bottom and making the ice cream come up? Memories, sweet memories.
BTY, Noah has tried to eat the deodorant! Just where did he learn THAT!
Steve,
I didn’t teach it to him!
glad you have so many helping neighbors and friends.
Definitely be careful around those flooded areas, Becky.
2016 welcomed me with a flooded basement, and one of the
damages was to my vocal chords!!!! BIG FAT UGH. I CAN NO LONGER SING,
and I miss that terribly. (use to be the soloist at Nightingales and church)
I still “sing” with Nightingales for retirement centers because it is a very small group, and they need bodies. I think I miss not being able to sing more than not being able to walk
w/o a walker. Today I am getting an electric chair (not for in my house, but to hopefully be able to go places like the zoo and art museums and Big Lots…. i miss not being able to see the “treasures” at Big Lots. 🙂
never heard of a fall break… know you’ll enjoy having Sarah at home.
Mrs. Pam,
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about the damage to your vocal chords chords! Not being able to sing after so many years of loving to do it would be heartbreaking. Was there mold in the basements and that’s what did the damage?
Enjoy zooming around at Big Lots. Such a fun place in which to meander.
Happy Belated birthday to Noah. One year my son, who is a complete Titanic aficionado, asked for an iceberg for a present!! Glad to hear you have Sarah for 10 days and it is amazing how something so bad brings out the best in people. Have a great weekend.
Mel,
Wrapping an iceberg? Not an easy task! 🙂
So happy for the wonderful help you had with the building. Noah is growing so fast. Hard to believe he is 3! Enjoy your time with Sarah. She is just exceptional!!! Blessings to the family and church. We also canceled services last Sunday. We have water damage in the sanctuary above our sound booth due to leaking windows all around our ceiling. Not sure insurance will cover.
Ann,
I’m so sorry to hear of the damage at your church! So many people affected by all that rain and flooding.