A Week in Review

UNBELIEVABLE! That's about the only word I can think of right now to sum up this past week's events. What was going to serve as some time away from the church turned out much differently than I had planned.

I'm positive that you're all aware of the events that have taken place in Nappanee as of Thursday of last week. The town looked like a war zone with all the destruction from the tornado that ripped through it...some parts of it still do. But when you look around and see all that destruction, it makes everything that has happened since then seem even more amazing!

NMC has served as the Red Cross Crisis Center up through yesterday. People were in the office from last Friday through yesterday answering phones & fielding calls concerning the disaster at hand. Volunteers graciously gave of their time, impacting a community more than I think they realize. If you've kept up on Derry's blog then you know about Frank & Carol, a couple who've been traveling the country in their motor home & happened to be here the night before the storm ripped through. They've been here ever since...they're here this morning helping us get ready to close up the food pantry & distribute the food to the local organizations who will be here long term to continue to help those affected by the storm. Frank & Carol are incredible! They don't have to be here, nobody's making them, but they want to be able to give to a community that they don't even really know!

So much has happened. It hardly seems real.

I can't imagine...
...losing all my possessions in a matter of minutes
...not knowing where my next meal is coming from
...losing my home, my car, and my job in one night
...coming to the realization that everything really is gone
...not having a roof over my head
...seeing my house destroyed but my neighbor's left untouched
...having to start over

But I have seen...
...a community come together
...people with nothing still continue to give
...love, mercy, & grace abound
...kids smiling & laughing in the midst of the wreckage because someone has taken the time to come love them and play with them
...thousands of people respond to the call for help
...thousands of pounds of water & food brought in and graciously given to those who need it
...volunteers working around the clock to serve others

It's hard to imagine that something like this really happened, but what I've seen as a result of it has been incredible!