Crisis Response

 

Here's the oak that fell right next to the house.  You can see the size of the roots compared to Victoria.  

Crisis

We feel like over the past week and a half we’ve had a very small glimpse into what so many people experience worldwide on a daily basis.  Except we didn’t.  As we sat inside with the winds whirling around we jumped up every time we heard a loud crash to see where the next tree had fallen… but we didn’t fear bombs leaving a shell of our home.  We spent a week trying to make things work with limited electricity… but we still had plenty of food in the pantry and a generator to run the fridge.  We had to ration water… but only for flushing the toilets.  We walked out the next day to survey the damage… but overall as powerful as the storm was, lives were spared.  
 

I got a text after the storm passed asking if we could take a package to Lebanon and someone would try to get it over to Syria.  A friend of ours has a sister who is still there.  Her kids have fought over an apple because food is so scarce and shivered in the corner because they don’t have winter coats.  


I can’t help but look around and see the difference in humanity when crisis comes as a result of natural disaster as opposed to war.  


Natural disaster seems to bring out the best in people.  People step in to help each other both from our own community and those across the nation.  


People have lost a great deal here.  Farmers were getting ready to harvest crops and entire homes have been blown away.  I have faith that things will be rebuilt… perhaps different than before and I know it may take a while, but I know it will happen.  One day at a time, one brick at a time, one seed at a time.  


I wish war torn communities had the same hope.  War doesn’t end quickly though and so it’s years before the rebuilding can even begin.  By that point many able-bodied people have moved, those left often don’t have the skills or resources.  Food supplies are cut off intentionally, without MRE’s rushed in, leaving people starving.  Lives aren’t spared, they’re often targeted.  Instead of communities coming together, they are pitted against one another.  


I know the region is hurting right now.  

 

Love each other like never before and extend grace and patience with each other.  


I am thankful for the comfort shown- both from nearby neighbors and assistance from far away.  I’m thankful that the storm, while destructive, passed over quickly.  I’m thankful the rebuilding has already begun.  I’m thankful that those who are able are doing everything they can.  I’m thankful for the assistance that has poured in and reached those who need it most.  I’m thankful for the way the community is coming together and love to see the way churches are working together (both congregations coming together to clean up as well as across denominations).


Part of me wants to stay here until everything is back to normal… and yet I also feel like God is saying, I have plenty of people here… I need more laborers there.  People who aren’t weary from the refugee crisis.  People who can encourage those who are losing hope because it seems to be never ending.  People who have hearts for the hurting and can share the gospel.   Just as so many people are committed to praying for us while we’re there, we are committed to praying for you here. 

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