Hi everyone! As I mentioned before, my squad through the world race went to Foley, Alabama to volunteer through Samaritan’s Purse to do hurricane relief work for two weeks. The first couple of days we were on a high from just getting to use a toilet, have hot water showers, have free snacks, be able to go to a Walmart, and be able to be in civilization. Most of all, we were super excited to start doing ministry and helping others all in the name of Jesus.
On Monday, we started working! My team (CAYA) and one other team were extremely blessed to be able to work on Keith and Joan’s team. They actually live in Gainesville, GA and they are phenomenal teachers and leaders. They taught us 14 women how to use all sorts of tools throughout the week. When we went to a house that had a work order, there were normally three categories of work to be done. Either tree work, tarping, or mud out. Tree work is normally when a tree fell and we had to cut it up and get ready for the skid steer to pick up, or it could be yard work such as raking and picking up sticks. Tarping is when the roof was damaged from the storm and we had to secure a tarp on the roof so water doesn’t leak into the house. A mud out was when mold was in the house and we’d have to take out the ceiling, carpet, and sometimes the wallpaper to get the mold out and then spray it down. We mainly did tree work, but we did some tarping and mud outs too. When we finished working on a home, we would present the homeowner a billy graham training bible that we would all sign and write an encouraging note in. It was amazing being able to connect to the homeowners and hear their stories and just be there to sit and listen.
The second week there, we had two new team leads named Sarah and Dennis from Tennesee. They worked and led differently than Keith and Joan, but still every bit as passionate and through the Lord. During lunches, we would ask them all about their lives and hear about how God has worked in their lives and brought them to each other. It was such a blessing to meet them and be able to serve under them.
During these two weeks, I found out about my love for manual labor and tools. Every time I was able to use a hammer and a crowbar would light up and be so excited to work with my hands, especially if it was nailing a tarp to a roof. I loved the combination of doing something active while being precise and accurate with my actions and movements. Similarly, every time the team leader asked who wanted to use the chain saw, I was eager to volunteer and cut up a big tree. We would work approximately 7-8 hours each day and I loved it. On top of that, I loved hearing about how God was moving on other job sites and through other volunteers. I grew such a deep love for Samaritan’s Purse and what they did. Both the work and the relational aspect. At the end of the day, we were all tired and sore, but it was a good feeling for me knowing I worked hard and made a difference in someone’s life. I met so many different people that all changed my life in a unique and specific way, and I am extremely grateful for everyone I met and am forever touched by them. I was sad to leave, but I had a strong feeling I’d be back and continue to do what I love. We went back to our campus in Gainesville for a week and then went our separate ways to have a one-week break for Thanksgiving, after that planning to return to Gainesville for two final weeks.
Fast forward to the end of Thanksgiving break. I’m in Tuscaloosa, Alabama spending Thanksgiving break with a former racer, and I received a message saying that the two weeks we were supposed to go back to Gainesville was going to be virtual, and therefore we can’t go back to campus. Since I wasn’t home, I started thinking of what I could do for those two weeks before taking my plane ride home. My first thoughts were that I could stay with people in Georgia or maybe even go home early. When talking to some friends, the idea of going back to Samaritan’s Purse popped in my head and I felt drawn to it. I spent a lot of time considering every option, but ultimately I felt like I was being pulled to go back to Samaritan’s Purse and continue serving. At the time it felt like a distant dream I will never obtain. There were a lot of logistical things that would all need to perfectly work out: getting transportation there, finding a place to get a covid test before going there, if I was even able to volunteer there, getting back to Atlanta after for my flight, still doing the virtual sessions, and so many more unknowns. I kept contacting people in Georgia asking if I could stay with them thinking that was my next step, but I felt like I needed to go back to Foley with Samaritan’s Purse. I can’t explain the feeling. I just knew.
There I was two days later on Sunday, November 29th with a calling and no idea how to fulfill it. I started by contacting the manager at Samaritan’s Purse and seeing if I would be able to volunteer. I was told to apply on the website and wait for a response. While waiting, I was quickly washing all my clothes and packing my big pack (which weighed 50 pounds!). My friend who I was staying with agreed to drive me to Mobile, and my team leads from when I volunteered before, Keith and Joan, were in Foley volunteering for another week and offered to drive to Mobile and pick me up (thank you guys again, you rock!). I then got the green light from Samaritan’s Purse, and I started scrambling to find a rapid covid testing place in Tuscaloosa (you need a negative covid test before volunteering). Piece by piece things were slowly starting to fall into place, but I still had a lot more to do before being good to go.
It was getting late in the afternoon and we had a four-hour drive ahead of us, so I had to get going getting a covid test. I drove to three places that on the website said they took walk-ins and gave free rapid tests. All of them said they were full for the day and couldn’t take me. I started looking up places on the way to Mobile and in Mobile that did rapid covid tests, but nothing was coming up that worked. Going back to my friend’s house and feeling hopeless, I felt like it wouldn’t work out and I probably would have to just stay there then head home. I kept searching on google for a testing place and saw one I saw before, but it didn’t say if it did rapid tests and didn’t say if they took insurance. I decided to take a chance and try this place. While driving there, I was pretty convinced something wouldn’t work out with this place, but I had hope. I showed up and the receptionist told me to give her my insurance and license and then go and fill out a form in my car. I didn’t ask any questions and just went and filled out the form. A couple of minutes later they called me and told me to drive my car in a drive-thru line to get my test. I thought “okay, I guess this is working out”. When it was my turn to get the test, I asked the man giving the test if it was a rapid test. He said no, and that they don’t normally give those out, but I can talk to the doctor and he can determine if I can get one. He handed me a phone that was face timing the doctor, and I told him how I needed a rapid test to be able to travel to Foley that night to volunteer and do hurricane relief work. He eventually said okay, and I was giving the test. Fifteen minutes later, they called me and said it was negative, and told me to come to get the piece of paper saying so.
Exhilarated, I went back to my friend’s house to finish packing a hit the road. The manager of the location said that most likely someone can drive me to the Pensacola airport to fly home, so everything was finally falling into place. At around 4 pm, we started driving and I got to Foley around 9 pm. I went to my room in the church and started unpacking, excited to start working the next morning, and doing the thing I love. I was the only 18-year-old there, but it was so amazing to spend time with such wise people and hear about their lives and relationship with the Lord. God was working and moving so abundantly throughout that entire week and process. I continuously felt his presence and joy.
A super cool and loving woman from Green Bay, Wisconsin was flying home the next Sunday out of the Pensacola airport and offered to give me a ride as well. I changed my flight to December 6th and from the Pensacola airport, and I flew home to Minnesota and was able to see my mom, cat, and bed for the first time in three months.
For the time being, I’m saying a sweet goodbye to the South. I’ll forever cherish my time with you and see you and your warm weather soon. Until next time.
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