I kept hearing these same 6 words.......

Recently, I was a Chaplaincy Volunteer at the tornado damage in Eden, NC. We were able to minister to many folks who had been survivors of this storm in their lives. There were six words that we were hearing over and over. What were those six words? “I didn’t know what to do.” 

They came from an elderly woman who was homebound where a tree needed to be removed from her yard, as the other Chaplaincy volunteer and I talked with her, she concluded our visit with those six words. She couldn’t express her thanks enough for the chainsaw team sho came and removed the tree.

We spoke with a retired school Principal in a wheelchair who shared his story with us. He actually slept through the storm and when he opened his blinds in the morning and saw the trees down, he said those same words. With some tears in his eyes, he expressed his gratitude for the men who with chainsaws and skid-steers removed the numerous trees.

We spoke another time with a Viet-Nam vet who started his conversation with those six words. He told us that the crew who worked tirelessly to clean up the debris and downed trees in his yard were fantastic. He said that he went in after they left and, “even though it might not be a lot, it was all I could do. I left a donation on the NCBM website.”

A church south of Eden, Gethsemane Baptist, had a massive tree down. The Pastor said that he had received a bid for almost $10,000 to cut up the tree. Then he said these same six words. He was so appreciative that the crew came and cut up the tree, removed it off his van, and stacked the brush back in the woods behind the church – all for free.

Each of these, as well as several others, all felt the strain following the storm of how to relieve the situation. The trained volunteers of the NCBM Disaster Relief teams came in and made the situation a little better for many folks. God allowed us to move them from “I didn’t know what to do” to expressions of relief and joy. They were given a ray of hope in a very troublesome situation.

Prayer: Father, as You have given to each of us, may we be willing to reach out to those around us hurting and having needs. We praise You for Your watchcare over us. May we be used by You over and over to minister to those we come in contact with. Amen.

New Hope Baptist Disaster Relief Team Report May 9

Well, here it is after 9 pm on Thursday evening. I have had a long day. It started a little before 5 when I got up to shave and shower. Then, I was asked to deliver the devotion so I spent time in the Word in preparation for a short teaching on 1 Corinthians 3:9.

We as a team assembled with the others for the devotion time and breakfast. We had three assignments for this day (Thursday). The first location we went to after breakfast was not directly storm related and was not in line with what we could do. We spoke with the person's daughter and explained the situation. She was in total agreement that we needed to work on homes that were damaged by the tornado. We left there and went to a second location, where we encountered basically the same situation. Again, after speaking with the owner we then proceeded to our third location. Each of these first two we talked with them and had prayer before leaving.

The third location was a group of pine trees that had come down on the owners property from the storm. The team jumped in and in about an hour and a half we were able to cut up and pile all the debris from these pines. We were able to talk with the owner and gave him a Bible. We had prayer and returned to the host church (Corinth Baptist Church in Elizabeth City) for lunch.

After lunch we had one more assignment and when we finished there we returned to the host church and packed for our return. After saying our goodbyes to the fine folks that we had been working with we began our trip home to Laurinburg. And now, before retiring for the day, I am penning these last words about our mission.

God blessed many people in the Elizabeth City area for the last two weeks with teams of NCBM Disaster Relief crews who came to their aid. In turn, we of the teams were blessed by being able to be the hands, hearts, and feet of Jesus. We ran into a number of folks who were so thankful the NCBMDR had come. A little side story - on Wednesday evening after worship with COrinth Baptist Church, as I was going into the area where we were staying a very young girl came up to me and said, "Thank you for your time and work in our town." She smiled and held out her hand. When I held out my hand, she dropped two nickels into it. My first response was to thank her and give them back, but the account of the widow's mite crossed my mind. I thanked her, and I have those nickels as a reminder of how each of us can do what we can do.

In all, this has been a very challenging week, a very tiring week, but a week that is also a blessed and gracious week. When we have the chance,let us each serve Christ in any way we can.

New Hope Baptist Disaster Relief Team Report May 8

Well, Wednesday May 7 also was a busy day.  After devotions and breakfast, the team departed to help a family in a nearby area. The gentleman and his wife did not expect us - it was his son who contacted about the debris.  we worked all morning on dropping and cutting up a tree (about 40-50 foot tall) and moving debris from a shed that had been destroyed. The gentleman and his wife were both unharmed and still a little overwhelmed about what had happened. Damage to their house was not too severe and they were able to stay in it. We prayed and shared with them about God's love. As usual, we left them a Bible signed by all 14 members of the crew. They said they never saw a group work as hard and quickly as this team. You could sense the full appreciation for this blessing they had not expected.

After lunch we went to another house, but were unable to drop the tree because of its location between the house and work shop. The gentleman there was fully aware of this problem and still expressed overwhelming appreciation for all that the NCBM Disaster Relief teams were doing in his area. We were right at Mrs. Abernathy's house (same drive - see yesterdays blog) and we went back and dropped 11 more trees and cut and piled them up. That made 31 trees we dropped with still about 5 that needs to be dropped.  She was so appreciative - and she conceded that she had prayed that maybe we could come back and drop the trees we did today. We saw how God uses prayer to help direct the meeting of needs. We came back to the church we are housed in, tired, but very encouraged and blessed to be able to serve.

Depending upon the work needs, we will either be leaving this morning (May 8) or Friday morning (May 9). Since I am writing this on Wednesday evening, I will follow up as soon as possible.  Keep praying for us as we serve, and for our safe travel back to our homes in Laurinburg, NC.

New Hope Baptist Disaster Relief Team Report May 7

Well, Tuesday (May 6) was a very busy day. Fifteen of us left at 6 in the morning and arrived at 1pm in Elizabeth City, NC. We met a woman at a gas station in the area who stopped us and shared her testimony of how the NCBM Disaster Relief teams meant so much to her when the tornadoes went through about 3 years ago. She lost her mother and spent months in critical condition. She praised those who give of their time to go and help those in need. We praised the Lord with her, and had a time of prayer. A Dick Britt said, "This is what it's all about."

We had a quick lunch (hot dog, beans, chips, etc) and then went to our first assignment. It was a lady named Mrs. Abernathy whose house and property was heavily damaged. Across the road diagonally from her there were many homes damaged or destroyed. We cut down 20 trees and cleared a lot of debris from the back yard of her home. As I had time to talk with her, she shared her concerns about finances and that she doesn't bounce back as quickly as she did in her youth. She shared how she had been through 2 other tornadoes, and that her home had burned completely to the ground. each time she was resilient and bounced back. This time, her home is very badly damaged as well as sheds on her property. The trees we cut down were 50 years old - her father planted each one. The day the tornado came, she and her brother and son were standing looking out the front storm door when the tornado came from the back of the house. they were thrown to the floor, but miraculously unhurt. She was very thankful for all that people were doing for them. we were privileged to pray with her and to leave her with a Bible signed by all of the team.

We came back to a nice fried chicken dinner (must be Baptists) and the time to rest and get ready for another day of work tomorrow. If the Internet holds out - I will let you know about Wednesday tomorrow. Keep praying for the folks impacted by these storms, and for those of us who are ministering to them.  

New Hope Baptist Disaster Relief Team Report May 6

Early this morning a group from New Hope Baptist Church's Baptist Builders - who are affiliated with the North Carolina Baptist Men's Disaster Relief team are pulling out to go to Elizabeth City, NC to assist in the clean-up work following the tornadoes that swept through the area on Friday, April 25. The reports say that Beaufort and Pasquotank County had a number of people taken to emergency rooms when the storms passed through around 7:25 p.m. Friday. There were over 200 homes either heavily damaged or destroyed.

Be in prayer for the team as we travel and work over the next few days trying to be the hands, hearts, and feet of Jesus to these people in this time of need. We will be working on Wednesday and Thursday, and will be returning to Laurinburg on Friday. Pray for our safe travel and safety during this clean-up operation. May we be used by God to bring some comfort and the love of Christ to those who are hurting. I will be travelling with the team as a NCBM Chaplain to give spiritual assistance to those who are hurting.

Over the next few days I will attempt to update you on what we have found, what we are doing, and any special prayer requests - as Internet access is available. May God bless us as we serve in this ministry. The Internet connection there is spotty, and may keep me from reporting. Pray that it holds up.