Yesterday, I met God’s hands and feet.
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| This scene went on for blocks and blocks. |
Five of us loaded up chainsaws, rakes, shovels, gloves, peanut better sandwiches , and Starburst jelly beans, and headed south to Harrisburg, Illinois. This region was the sight of a deadly tornado just a few days ago.
Needless to say, we went to be a blessing to others and ended up being blessed ourselves. Isn’t is amazing how God works? He is so good like that.
Harrisburg is very near Shawnee National Forest and in the distance, one can see very large hills. It is quite pretty and a very different landscape than our little section of Illinois.
When we arrived in town, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the daffodils were blooming. No signs of devastation were to be seen.
We had made arrangements to work with Operation Blessings, an outreach of the 700 club. Samaritan’s Purse was also there as well as many other smaller church organizations. After some initial confusion and driving back and forth around town looking for someone who needed our help, we finally got registered, received our armbands and were told to go to Zones 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
We joined a large group of people and headed to the affected area, preparing ourselves mentally for what we would see.
There was no way to prepare ourselves.
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| An elderly woman survived this without a scratch. |
It was awful.
It looked like a war zone.
The energy of such a storm is mind-boggling.
Unbelievable.
I looked at those homes, blown to bits, and tried to imagine the families who had lived there. Families snuggled on couches for movie nights, children on bicycles riding up and down the streets, a daughter running next door to visit with her mom, a couple perhaps sitting in their chairs reading the scriptures.
A 22 year old girl dreaming of her future. Her life ended that morning.
People living their normal lives until their lives as they knew them were over.
With no idea where or how to begin, we just started. We put on our masks, put on our gloves and got busy. It is amazing what 15 or 20 determined adults can accomplish when they get put their minds to it and work together.
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| Just a part of our pile |
As we formed a circle at the end of the day- a young mother, a busy mom, retired men from the Alton, Illinois area, a man from Champaign, a farmer, a pastor and retired state policeman, a father-son construction team who saved the day with their front loaders, 2 grandma’s and four Amish boys-we prayed for the family whose rubble we picked up, their neighbors, the town, and each other.
I saw once again how we are called to be God’s hands and feet.
What a privilege it is to work in our Father’s name.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1
I pray that the people of southern Illinois feel God’s comfort and peace.
Hugs,
Susan
Harrisburg was so crazy! My parents were freaking out but luckily Carbondale was in the middle of the two big storm systems that blew through.
What a great thing you did by helping out. I have been in 3 tornadoes and luckily have never had a house destroyed around me. It is terrifying. Looking at the damage you pictured it's amazing more weren't killed.
Hugs,
Linsey
God Bless you for you service. xo
How grateful those people must be for all the assistance you have given. We had a similar disaster here in Raleigh last Spring on a Sat. afternoon when a tornado tore through our city – several deaths including 3 children of one family in a mobile home – and so much devastation.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and the people who have lost their precious homes and belongings.
Mary X
What a wonderful thing you and your family did, helping people you don't even know. I am sure they were grateful for the help. Thanks for sharing the pictures. It does look like a war zone. Seeing that destruction, it's amazing more people didn't perish.
Bless you!
Holly
This is so unbelievable! How awesome though, that you could be God's hands and feet to these hurting people. =)
Kristina J.
How wonderful that you have helped!
Thanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
We went through this last April…I lost a good friend and her husband to those tornados…no one can know what it looks like until you see it in person….devastating…
How Blessed you are to have helped them…..
Lou Cinda
My sister-in-law and her daughters lost their home last April in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I drove from Michigan to help them start over again. No one can imagine the devestation until you see it in person. Pictures cannot even begin to explain. The volunteers were amazing and I can't say enough about the Red Cross!!! They drove around neighborhoods passing out hot meals and water to everyone which is a HUGE BLESSING when you have no electricity, no food, no water and are trying to desperately find any small crumb of belongings to attach you to your past. I know what a blessing all of you were to those people.
It's amazing what people can do when they stick together!
Way to Go!
Gail
Susan, a brother that I just met a few years ago lives in Harrisburg. I thank God that he and his family were spared.
I thank you for doing what you could do to help those who were not as lucky.
God bless you.
Patty