Last week my squad and I had the opportunity to serve with Samaritans Purse in Lake Charles, Louisiana helping with disaster relief. Lousianna has had two hurricanes hit in less than two months. The people there have gone through so much devastation and brokenness as they’ve lost their homes and most, if not all, of their belongings. As we drove through Lake Charles, my heart broke for the people there. From the outside everything looks so destroyed and lifeless; homes caved in, trees fallen, debris everywhere. But as we entered the homes of homeowners who feel helpless and can’t physically meet the needs their houses require to be back in living condition, I saw one common thing inside of each homeowner — hope.
My faith was stretched as I came across people who lost everything, yet are still overflowing with joy and thankfulness. As I saw this, I asked the Lord how in the heck these people had such a hopeful spirit through all the devastation and heartache they must be going through, and He reminded me of when James talks about faith and endurance.
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:2-3 NLT
This is exactly what my brothers and sisters in Louisiana are clinging to in this time. Clinging to hope and joy and trusting that something greater must be coming after this. This goes for both those we met who were believers, and those we don’t yet know the Lord. I had the opportunity to visit with a homeowner, Betty, who shared so much of her heart with me and my team. From talking to her, it was so clear that she knew exactly who she is and whose she is as a daughter. She stood firm in her trust of the Lord. She shared with us one thing that I will never forget, she said that when the second hurricane hit she refused to leave her home. She said her family asked her to go somewhere safer and that she felt tired of all the chaos and was sure that the Lord was with her. I mean c’mon!!! This woman trusted the Lord so deeply that she stayed in her home as Hurricane Laura hit knowing that He is with her in every storm, both literally and spiritually. I don’t know about you but that is the faith I want to have! Revival is happening in Louisiana! God is so present here and is moving in big ways!
Team Agape after our first day of hands on ministry! I am so incredibly proud of these girls and the way they push towards growth and reflecting the Father in everything they do. Life with them is such an HONOR! Also thanks God that I got the chace to do hands on ministry with them as I thought we woudln’t get to before I leave them in December.
This was our crew for the week. My team, team agape, and Ellies team, team align, along with a couple incredible Samaritans Purse volunteers.
The main work we did all week was mudding out houses. Most rooms we walked into looked like this one. The houses were filled with an unhealhty amount of mold both visible on the walls and under the carpets. Mudding out houses means that we came in to tear up floors, knock down walls, ceilings and basically get the house construction ready that way the homeowners are able to start rebuilding.
This is the same closet/room you saw above after all the work we did with mudding it out.
Above is a picture of us praying over the homeowner, Betty, that I previously talked about. As we got to know Betty she explained to us that she had been experiencing cataracts in her eye amongst some other symptoms and told us shes been awaiting eye surgery. She shared that this has been hard as it keeps her from doing simpe things she loves such as reading and sewing. We prayed over her eye and afterwards she shared that her symptoms went away! Praise God!!
Lastly, this was our Samaritans Team leader, Palmer, such a tender man with a huge heart for the Lord. He taught us so much during our week with him from spiritual lessons to life long handy man lessons. Thanks God for Palmer.
OH AND EXCITING NEWS!!! Our squad recently found out that we get to go back to Louisianna this Sunday to partner with Samaritans Purse for one more week. Please be in prayer over our squad and Louisianna as we prepare for another week there getting to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
