After a night of no sleep, we met up with Tom and Tabitha from St. Louis. Fellow volunteers, they had also come to help, but were also not part of any group. Which put us at a disadvantage, as it seems to be part of a group was necessary to serve where we were. Good thing no one told us that last night when we were up past 230am, with Andrew leading a crew building a stage. So when I mentioned we pray, the three of us did, Andrew was out helping. We asked for God's direction, and to help us find someone to help. My prayer was immediately answered as Tabitha cried on my shoulder, "you are the first one I have seen praying since we arrived two days ago." So God had answered her prayer, by praying. And Tom told us The Bridge, a huge church, had Operation Blessing set up there, so we all went there to join up.
All the disorganization we had just left, was replaced by love and organization when we met the OB people. Filling out forms, for our benefit, not theirs, so they could attend to our medical needs, and also see what skills we had, within 10 minutes, a dozen of us, from five different states, were off after a short briefing with Sandy, who told us any injuries we may get they would attend to, including free tetanus shots. Just make sure to tell us-they were concerned for our safety. And so we were off to Chris Lane. Which after looking it up on Google Earth when we got home, had been a beautiful street with huge trees, and brick homes. A dead end, where neighbors knew each other, and it was a neighborhood. What we saw was much different. Yes, the homes were still there, sort of, but no evidence of brick. Or trees. Or neighbors. Except for two men and a young boy across from the house we were sent to clear.
I greeted them, his name was Tom, and he lived there, and the other man was his son, and his grandson Harley, 4 years old. Tom, his wife Margaret, and Harley had endured the tornado, laying on top of Harley in the hall. None were injured, but the home was totaled.
He had just retired as the IT teacher at the high school, and had Will, as a student. All his plans to retire were now changed due to the tornado. But he was full of the joy of the Lord, and was excited to share with me, so I let him. He showed me all the shop tools which had been his grandfathers, who was a wood worker. Somehow they had remained in the garage, although the door was somewhere next door. And he told me of his grandfather's watch, his prize, and how it was almost 100 years old, and damaged from when his grandfather had fallen on it. He had found the watch, which was displayed in a bell jar, just like my Grandpa's watch, but the glass cover was missing. He then offered me a tour of his home, or what was left of it.
Margaret was busy trying to find things, amidst broken furniture and debris. In the kitchen, a hole behind the refrigerator, where the storm had tried to suck it out. 2x4's were sticking through walls, like a pin cushion. He handed me a heavy ballast from miles away, that had come crashing through the ceiling. Cross stitching done by his wife, the set of 4, now 2, as only two remained. He showed me where they had layed down and covered Harley in the hall, only a few feet from where they had just been playing on the computer. The two bedrooms in the back of the house-unusable, but they were staying in the front two until they were able to move to Grand Lake. And then he showed me the watch, without the lens, and how sad he was it was missing. And then Margaret handed him the lens, intact, from the floor where she had just found it. Another prayer answered! And it fit perfectly!
Going outside, he showed us where seven huge trees were uprooted and had demolished a shed where he had all his brother's belongings. Which when shown to the chain saw guys, told him, "we'll get it clear, even if it takes all day." Which it probably did.
But it was time for physical work, so I asked him if I could pray for his family before going across the street, where he had rescued two women in their eighties. His face lit up between the tears, and he yelled for Margaret, "Mike wants to pray for us, get Harley!" And so the five of us gathered in front of what was once his home, and thanked God for their safety. And provisions. And the miracles He had performed. And between his tears, he thanked God for us-and this guy from San Diego who had come to help. Who had listened to him, and prayed with him. You see, so many times when you seek to be a blessing, God blesses you even more. And consistent with that, He did. A family of friends, where before we were just strangers separated by six states and 1600 miles. A disaster had brought us together. We had Jesus in common, and that was all that mattered. And I know that even though the road ahead may be rough, they will be OK. They are trusting God, a beautiful example of love rising from the ruins, and an example to Harley. And whoever else watches.
Too often we step over the Lazarus God has put in front of us. We need to remember that the best place to start to minister is where we are, and who is in front of us. Tom had made my day, and I had made his, just by listening. He had taken me into his heart, and his home, and shared intimate details with this stranger, who now he calls friend.
From Tabitha's tears, to the promise of clearing the trees to the shed, I saw God at work. Just by being there, and being available. No sermons, no theological discourses, and no denominational barriers. Just Jesus, the same Jesus who had taken Tom and his family through the storm, now ministering to us who were there to help after it.
Chris Lane, I'm gonna miss it. And although I never met the neighbors, feel right at home there. Thanks to Tom and his family. And to Harley-you see Tom had always wanted a Harley to ride, but instead chose to give him a Harley to love, and protect. Another miracle, from a God who hears, and answers far above all we could ask for, or imagine.
Good thing we prayed, huh Tabitha?
love with compassion,
Mike
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