Picking Up The Pieces

We're still in Galveston for our last night! Yahoo! I'm tired, I'm so ready to come home that I can't even put into words, but yet I'm so glad I came. In hindsight, I won't likely commit to a 2-week obligation to this type of event. It's a long time to be away from everyone that I love so much.

Last night we were moved to the tarmac of the Galvatson Airport. It's a little weird to be sleeping on a runway. The sand colored tents dot our square area that has been transformed into a home away from home for thousands of volunteers.

I gaze across the landscape. It's flat and barren. The watching eyes of the air-traffic control tower loom not too far from our "base." It's like a movie really in my head. The sun is setting low, like a huge giant orange ball. It slowly descends down below the scared land we are here to work with. The wind howls across the terrain as though another storm is on the horizon. A chill goes down my arms as the north wind brings in a refreshing and needed blast of cooler less humid air. I continue my glance across the landscape and am interrupted by the armed security guards that keep our camp protected. I think, no wait, I'm almost certain that Will Smith is going to barge in at any moment. It's a little surreal to be perfectly honest with you.

I've seen so much this past 2 weeks. I've seen people hurting in ways I've never experienced or imagined. I've seen churches meeting outside in their yards because their sanctuary was destroyed or flooded and now covered with mold. I've prayed with pastors who were trying to keep their congregation together and yet still look for the members of their congregation that are STILL missing.

On this trip, I've met determination and resolve in people that I totally did not expect. They've lost everything and yet they prevail. We are so blessed to have what we have and still have it. It could all be gone tomorrow. What then?

What do YOU do, when everything you know is taken from you? Do you curse God? Do you walk away from Him? Do you trust Him? Do you cry out to Him? I don't know about you but I'm glad that I can call out to Him. I'm glad He listens and He cares for me. What a lonely life it would be if we didn't have Him.

I hope that some of these great folks make their mess into a message of hope and restoration. God wants His name to be praised from this broken city. God wants Galveston! Please keep this world away from us in your prayers as they seek to find their way, no God's way, through this disaster.

Ron