Life=Recovery

Nathan & Justin:

This is an update to tell you what we are doing and what is currently going on in our lives and, more importantly in the church and in Margaretville.

On Saturday we spent several hours at church. Mom did everything including helping with preparing food for the workers to eat, assisting people to obtain whatever supplies they needed to live life. I helped many other volunteers sorted the supplies/donations as they came in and tried to place them in boxes that made some sense in terms of categories. Supplies are pouring in and we are getting them into the hands of people who need them.

There is a rather large team of volunteers from St. Bonaventure University that has been based at our church and has gone out into the community to help dig out basements (from all the mud), haul stuff away, clean, repair, etc., etc. Randall and Lettie Johnson have been going out into the community and "surveying" people at their homes to ask how they are doing and what needs they have. It is impossible to discuss all the things that are being done. One reason why is because I feel like an ant in all of what is going on. I see only my little function and yet their is so much going on beyond what I see and do.

The National Guard is in M'ville. I here FEMA and the Red Cross is there, but I haven't seen them. That is because our role (Mom's & Dad's) is limited to working at the church.

The mayor of M'ville, John Stanton, suffered a mild heart attack last Sunday. The scuttlebutt is that he, remembering the flood in 2007, was overwhelmed with the pressure of it all and succumbed to a heart attack. In any case he visited the pastor early Sunday morning and they spoke. According to Pastor Bob, the Mayor told the National Guard that they had to let people come into Margeretville on Sunday to attend church - "the people have to get to church". Understand that they has been a curfew at 6pm each night in Margaretville ever since the Guard has arrived. So, it was really wonderful to come to M'ville on Sunday.

On Sunday, church was very much full. The worship was very real, wonderful, heart-felt and sincere. We are so thankful that that our God has visited us by His grace, love and mercy. During times like this many wonder where God is and if He cares. Many, tragically, turn calloused toward God because they think He is indifferent to their suffering. Yet, if people will dare to look through their pain and cry out to Him, there is, in fact, a loving God who is deeply moved by their sorrow. I understand, being a child of God, that He not only cares but His presence is very palpable. It is exemplified is ways that defy the senses and rationality or our materialistic age/culture/ and people. Yet, it is discernible to those of the Spirit, His sons and daughters, and it is our duty pray His presence in people's lives and to allow it to manifest through our acts and words of love. People have been getting saved during this time. People who have suffered much, in some cases they have nothing left. But, through the faithfulness of some, these same people have been told about Jesus, His love for them and they have responded and yielded to His love. When people cry, some harden their hearts, yet many are at that critical place and moment in time in which they are reaching out, reaching out to something that makes sense out of the chaos, something beyond themselves. It this place of the heart and in the measure of time is when/where they find Jesus.

The sermon at church yesterday covered so much. The pastor discussed so of the things I just mentioned. He also discussed how he has seen things in people (their love, compassion, unity) that he has not previously known about - things that can only come out in times of crisis. He said that he is very blessed and pleased to see these things.

He mentioned that many groups, local organizations have had trouble trying to cope and get things together to confront this catastrophe yet with our church we have been doing things along these lines for 20 years. I think he is referring to the CAP program and its ability to distribute, its network of helping people on a continual basis, the people in our church who have great abilities, like Paul Moore (who is the coordinator of the relief effort on behalf of our church) and the many firemen/women. In any case, the church was able to get things going, respond quickly, and meet the need, no matter how great.

Well, that is all I have time to write for now. Mom and I are leaving very shortly to go back over to work there for the day. We will be doing some of the same stuff that we were doing on Saturday.

Hope you goth are well and doing well in your lives and studies. Through all of this, we constantly think of you both and pray for you. We love you both very much.

Dad