Hurricane Relief Experience – Day 7
It actually got cold last night! Back home it would seem just right. I Left my sleeping bag in the trailer because I thought, “How cold could it get?” Mid 60’s I guess. Good thing I had packed a sheet in my gear.
Today they are going to open the city gates. Not entirely sure what that means. They are allowing people who evacuated to come back to the city to check on their homes and belongings. It’s also baby day. We have skids of donated diapers, wipes, and formula.
We were late for breakfast but Gilbert kept the food warm for us. Breakfast tortillas.
This morning we had the first worship in the entrance to the sanctuary since the hurricane came through. Kimberly and the girls led worship and the devotion. For worship we had a cd player that we could play and sing along to. The ad-hoc clinic doctors were excited to join us.
I started on the line again. I wasn’t there too long. In the morning meeting, Carey (COH Leader) said that NASCAR donated about 1.5 million dollars to the Convoy of Hope. Also that the #32 car became an official sponsor. He said that last weekend that car took third place!
After a half an hour hurricane Nancy pulled me off the line to bag groceries. We were gathering donated items from different skids to create a food bag. There were also toiletry bags(toothbrush, a rag, toothpaste, barsoap). I had the opporunity to hand one of the toiletry bags out later in the day. The man who recieved it almost cried. He was so elated!
(“Hurricane Nancy”)
Interestingly enough, some of the the people I did talk with asked me if I knew where FEMA was and how they could get support from them. It must have been on the radio that FEMA was in town. It’s the first I’ve heard of them being here, and It’s Friday. Rita came through last Sunday. I pondered about the paid groups like FEMA. The red tape and the way our tax dollars are handled makes me sick… yet where are they?! Faith based organizations like COH, nightrunners, and the Salvation Army are here.
A whole bunch more volunteers showed up from the Campus Crusade for Christ. They were full of energy,but a bit arrogant to the weather conditions. We warned them on drinking plenty and sunscreen. The timing and organization of the line became a bit messy.
After lunch I broke boxes, helped refill coolers for the volunteers, and re-supplied the line with supplies.
After the lunch hours the NASCAR team arrived. About 6 people. They brought their own video crew.They were all wearing COH t-shirts and hats. Apparently the driver of the #32 car Jason Leffler, was in the mix. I haven’t watched NASCAR in a long time. If I knew any better, I would have got a picture with him.They took places on the line, and then recorded the action. I’m assuming that it was for a commercial? In all they were there for about 45 minutes. They were sweating through there shirts and they would wipe their brow often. Part of me thought that it was kind of cheesey to show them in a commercial helping, when they were only there for 45min. However, the donation they made is most welcomed.
At about 4:50 I spotted a walk up group sneaking in a side way. I couldn’t find Mike within earshot, so I went to meet them. I fet that the quicker I could get to them, they wouldn’t be able to see the goods on the line, and become more upset. In my brisk walk over to them, I grabbed another volunteer who was sitting down to come with me. Only because there were 5 of them. I asked him to come with me without even stopping. He had to jog up to me to catch up. As I was explaining to the group the situation, I felt them staring me down- measuring me up. I was thankful for the other volunteer behind me. They agreed to leave. My confidence was boosted, when the volunteer said I handled that very effectively, and gracefully.
Only 1,450 cars today.
Evening:
We all went back to our site, and for the first time there was a little conflict. Some people wanted to return home earlier, others wanted to work through the Saturday, and leave for home directly after. I was one of them. I had a hard time leaving. If I had the vacation days, I would have stayed another week at least. A few members of our group were in fact staying another week. My vote was to work through one more day. There was a handful who were going to venture home on their own tomorrow morning.
Tonight, we had the most incredible worship. We went in to the sanctuary. As we were walking through the church and the outbuildings, we came across the room where the Camous Crusade students were staying. We asked if they wanted to join us, and almost in unison a groan came from the room. Quite humorous. Those guys were wiped out! We understood. We remembered what day 1 was like. A lot of the students were sunburned already.
But a handful of them did manage to join us. So did the doctors who created and manned the free medical clinic. One of the students roughly knew how to play guitar. So there we were, in a brokedown sanctuary, the students leading worship by flashlight, strumming amateur guitar and singing. I don’t have the words to express what a wonderous sight and feeling that was. It’s was a true moment I will never forget.
Just like the other nights, though becomming less shocking, I’ve had a shower. I’m going to guess its 85 or so. Still sticky. But I think I’m used to it now. The second team has left home and is in route to us now. I’m watching the police officer check the church doors. I’m nervous with the flashlight on as I write this, as not to alarm him.
I called home tonight to speak with my wife. My daughter answered. It was very nice to talk with both of them. It made me miss being home, yet it encouraged me, that there are people and groups out there like the Convoy of Hope in case something should happen to me and my family. Nighty…