stories from the wake of two hurricanes

Have you ever seen a totaled car? Where the fender is so mangled that you think to yourself, “Can that thing ever drive again? Not likely.” As our van made its way through the wake of Hurricane Laura and Delta, I realized that the very same thing could happen to a house, a neighborhood, an entire town. What kind of force would have to hit a town to cause this level of destruction? Broken trees and piles of shingles covered the yard as we stepped out into our first house-repair job. Phillip, the homeowner stood there to greet us, sporting a yellow snap-back that said PRAY on it. 

Our job that day was to remove the standing water, moldy drywall, and wet carpets from Phillip’s house, clean all salvageable furniture, cut up a fallen tree, and tarp the roof. I walked up the broken steps ready to get to work and entered a dark living room. Framed photos covered the four moldy walls. Though the colors had bled from the water, I could make out graduation photos, wedding photos, a big family of four generations, a young man in the military, a couple with a baby. The carpet and couches were full of water, and black mold coated everything. “I’ve lived here for sixty years.” Phillip entered his living room. “My siblings and I grew up here. Now I’m the only one left. When hurricane Laura came, I stayed. That’s when the windows blew out and that tree fell over there.” He pointed out the window, where others on my team were getting a little trigger-happy with the chainsaw. “Then Delta came, and that’s when everything got soaked, and all this black and orange stuff started growing. I stayed for all of it. I’ve been here for weeks- there was nowhere else I was able to go.” I had an N-95 mask on, and still the stench of mold was overpowering. The strength and resilience Phillip must have had to exist in this space for weeks was unimaginable to me.

During the next 14 days, we saw dozens of houses like Phillip’s. I met a woman named Latasha who maintained three jobs during the hurricane season. She told me that, as hurricanes increased and aid continued to come, hotel prices had risen such that local residents with unlivable houses could not afford to get rooms, even though there were vacancies.

I met a man named Mike who was a reporter for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and, as a result of the fumes he’d breathed in during an accident, was paralyzed from the neck down with dystonia. 6 years later, he met the Lord, and a year after that, he sat in bed asking God to take the dystonia away. He woke up the next day with complete mobility. His wife and three kids were shocked. I was shocked to hear his story and see him walking around in front of me. He seemed so genuine and intelligent, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t immediately doubt his story. Lord, why is that my first reaction? So many things I’ve never experienced, so much I don’t understand. So many stories. Give me understanding, Lord.

Though the country around us was in the midst of a frighteningly tense election, no one really cared. They were more concerned with getting a roof over their heads again, and one that would not make them sick with mold. 

These weeks, God has been teaching me not to come into these spaces with any fancy speech, or thinking I know things that I don’t. Because all I know is Christ. All I can do is love with my actions and share the resources that I do have. By the grace of God, Samaritan’s Purse was able to complete 97 houses while we were there, and I gained 70 new brothers and sisters in Christ as well! PRAISE GOD!! He walks with ease over the worst storms. He’s working in everything, and his life is triumphing over all the death here. 

Matthew 14:25-33

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”